My band is learning "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" so I learned James Jamerson's part note for note. At rehearsal today our guitarist/vocalist said the bass line was throwing him off, lol. It is a strange line with a lot of 5ths and 3rds being played over the root chords. Just wondering if I should simplify it a bit and/or if anyone here has covered it and what they ended up playing?
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Struck Down For Playing A Jamerson Line!
- Thread starter PolkaHero
- Start date
They should learn it, you should not unlearn it.
My lawn, get off it!
My lawn, get off it!
Guitar/vocalist people always have a problem with songs they didn’t choose. Always.
This. So much this.
I would have said "too bad, so sad. You learn it." I have expressed this sentiment over similar situations a few times over the years. If they can't be bothered, neither can I.
Then I crank everything to max and continue rehearsal as though nothing had happened.
Don't tell me to learn something, only to play something almost, but not quite, like it.
IMHO it depends. If the intent is to play an authentic cover, then the guitarist and vocalist may need to get their
together. Otherwise, listen and try to find the groove. Keep in mind there are multiple recordings of the song, and maybe the guitarist and vocalist are used to a different version.
To be honest, I don't think that version grooves particularly well, but YMMV.
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That recording has piano, guitar, strings, several background singers, horns, and maybe an organ to outline the harmony. Without all that, the inversions may sound a bit weird to the rest of the band. I would suggest keeping the rhythmic groove but simplify the inversions by playing more roots.
He's the one that wanted to play it!
No, but we did have to change the key as his voice is lower. Maybe that makes these notes stick out more than the original recording.
You had me at "I learned Jamerson's part note for note".
Still, the arrangement in your band may make the official version not work well. Let them know you are playing the original version and then work as a group to come up with something close that works for all of you.
Still, the arrangement in your band may make the official version not work well. Let them know you are playing the original version and then work as a group to come up with something close that works for all of you.
I’ll be honest, the first time I ever sat down and listened closely to the bass line of that song was just now while reading this thread and I can definitely see how it would throw someone off if they were used to singing along with the melody off the recording and suddenly had the bass line right in their face in the rehearsal room.
I don’t really ever question James Jamerson’s note choices, but this isn’t exactly one of the songs that is propelled forward by one of his signature lines. Without it being buried in a mix of orchestra and backing vocal tracks, I could see this sounding really weird in a cover band situation. Personally, I would pick another song instead of trying to re-write that line. I was (briefly) in a Motown/soul band many years ago and we ran into this problem occasionally with certain songs: everyone was striving to do right by the song, but the synergy just wasn’t firing on all cylinders.
I don’t really ever question James Jamerson’s note choices, but this isn’t exactly one of the songs that is propelled forward by one of his signature lines. Without it being buried in a mix of orchestra and backing vocal tracks, I could see this sounding really weird in a cover band situation. Personally, I would pick another song instead of trying to re-write that line. I was (briefly) in a Motown/soul band many years ago and we ran into this problem occasionally with certain songs: everyone was striving to do right by the song, but the synergy just wasn’t firing on all cylinders.
Does the guitarist/vocalist play/sing it correctly or does he/she play "their version"?
With a lot of Jamerson stuff it is going to depend on the context of how you're trying to play the song. If your band is going for a note for note cover then stick with how it was recorded and it should ideally be in the same key IMO.
Personally I'm not a huge fan of the recorded bass line in that song. A lot of those tunes were largely or wholly improvised on the spot and sometimes replicating that feel isn't the best choice. If I were playing this tune at a wedding I'd play something simpler but more danceable.
Personally I'm not a huge fan of the recorded bass line in that song. A lot of those tunes were largely or wholly improvised on the spot and sometimes replicating that feel isn't the best choice. If I were playing this tune at a wedding I'd play something simpler but more danceable.
There is (or at least, should be) a big difference in approach to songs between a cover band and a tribute act.
The latter needs to be exact in the parts that are played, the sound of the voices and instruments and also the look, inasmuch as is possible.
The former is usually designed as a single song from a particular group, that is added into a set with material from potentially many other groups and even styles. In this case, the cover in question should be designed to fit in with the rest of the songs, lest it stand out in a strange way in the set and yes, throw off the other band members who are used to playing in a certain style.
You are in a BAND. Your #1 priority should be making the band sound good. The folks who are saying that you need to force your band members to play the song the way you’ve decided to learn it are giving you bad advice and definitely wouldn’t last long in a band context themselves if this is their attitude, plus their shows (if they play any) probably suck to listen to.
tl;dr do what makes the song sound best, not what strokes your ego the most
The latter needs to be exact in the parts that are played, the sound of the voices and instruments and also the look, inasmuch as is possible.
The former is usually designed as a single song from a particular group, that is added into a set with material from potentially many other groups and even styles. In this case, the cover in question should be designed to fit in with the rest of the songs, lest it stand out in a strange way in the set and yes, throw off the other band members who are used to playing in a certain style.
You are in a BAND. Your #1 priority should be making the band sound good. The folks who are saying that you need to force your band members to play the song the way you’ve decided to learn it are giving you bad advice and definitely wouldn’t last long in a band context themselves if this is their attitude, plus their shows (if they play any) probably suck to listen to.
tl;dr do what makes the song sound best, not what strokes your ego the most
No. Never dumb your stuff down if you know you're playing it correctly. Ask them why they haven't listened to the record.
I have left bands over people who wanted to micromanage my playing when I knew I was working hard to play things that were solidly supportive of the song and correct. Nobody gets to dictate to me what I play if they're the ones who are not hearing what they need to hear.
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The vocalist needs to concentrate on his part and not the bass part. Apparently he hasn't completely learned the song.....yet.
I can't say I understand this at all. Cover bands are variety acts, and variety is what the audiences expect to hear. Unless you're, say, an Americana act doing countrified versions of AC/DC and other popular music in a reimagined, uniform style, there's no reason not to keep the variety in your act.
The OP went to the trouble to learn the original bass line with accuracy. He shouldn't be punished for that. His band should step up their game.
How is working together with the band in order to make the best possible version of the song “being punished?” Lol
Did you not notice that the OP already did all his work? He learned the line, they are telling him now that he isn't playing it properly.
I don't buy this idea that dumbing down the music is a beneficial goal that somehow improves anything or produces the "best possible version." If that's the goal, you're welcome to it, but it won't make the music better.
