Song starting panic

[jimmydean]

Life is so much easier when the guitar player plays those opening riffs to a tune .

Me too buddy. It's usually OK, until once in Jackson, Ms. 35 years or so ago, I got a one-night pickup gig. Sort of embarrassing to ask BB King to hum a few bars.

Been there a little too much the past three years myself .........oh dear .

 

[fdeck]

I have this problem too, playing jazz standards. I know most of the standards that get played locally, but I can't remember the names of tunes to save my life. A trick I learned by accident is to ask: "What key are we playing this in?" Invariably, someone will play the first few notes to figure it out. Then I remember the tune.

A couple of things I've learned really help: Learning the melody and words.

 

[Zooberwerx]

It is not I but the others I worry about. At rehearsal, I'll stop a tune at the onset with an incredulous "...where are ya?!?". Can't tolerate folks deciding to join-in 3-4 measures down the block...unless the chart is written as such. That's rank amateur.

Riis

 

[joeLowB]

Two things:

- That little bass fill at the beginning of "Don't Dream It's Over" (new song for our band) (oh it drop it down to D, so, 5 string or 4, hmm), for some reason is messing with my head and I have not nailed it yet, (I mean coming in on time, I can play it), and
- For new songs I try to create 9x9 grids and write all the chords in. The first column is for Intro, Verse 1, Chorus 1, Bridge, etc.... then there are 8 columns to write in the chord changes for the song. I HAVE used these live, and it's better (being the bass player) being right about the changes than (messing) up and everyone looks at the bass player - HA HA you messed up the band loser

Thanks, @sheesh ! I tried that grid idea on a new song I have to play on Thursday and have nothing but a marginal mp3 to guide me. Sat with the grid and the mp3 and had it all written in 15 minutes.

Very practical, thank you!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I can memorize songs pretty well, given enough practice.
When playing live, once I get started on a song I can autopilot pretty much without problem.

The problem is, when going from one song to the next, I sometimes have trouble remembering how the song starts.
After the first few notes I'm off and running, but remembering those first few notes sometimes sends me into a bit of a panic.
The title doesn't always help. When the bass doesn't come in till after a few bars, I breathe a sigh of relief.
I usually have some sort of little written cue for myself but it would be nice to do without it.

Anyone else can sympathize? Any suggestions?

Michael

Occasionally this happens, but I’m 73…lol

When you make out your song list add the key of the song. 99% of all songs your first note is going to be the root of the key if it is the first note is at the beginning of the first measure. If there is a pickup to the first measure just add what the first note is.

Hope this helps.

 

[roccobass]

I used to have difficulty coming in and coming out the quick pedal part Leland Sklar. I dunno why. Bizarre. You definitely have to be on it on the intro. It took countless times to get it right. Even now it still bugs me. Love the song though.

 

[roccobass]

Two things:

- That little bass fill at the beginning of "Don't Dream It's Over" (new song for our band) (oh it drop it down to D, so, 5 string or 4, hmm), for some reason is messing with my head and I have not nailed it yet, (I mean coming in on time, I can play it).

I love that song. I see your point. His intro is kind of in two parts that resolve on the D. I have standard 4 string tuning so I’m starting out at the 5th position on the A string.

It’s all about feel. IMO, the key to this is the slight hesitation hold Nick Seymour does when he comes back to the D both times. It’s almost like he’s swinging it. IMO