Subbing

[Jason Smith]

So this year I seem to be doing so much subbing it's doing my head in.

Theatre stuff is fine as the dots are all there - but what about songs that you've never heard and there are only rubbish or no charts for?

How does everyone learn a bucketload of songs in a short time with hardly any practice time??????????

 

[Element Zero]

Force yourself to practice.

 

[Jason Smith]

Force yourself to practice.

Fair point

 

[delta7fred]

I make a playlist of the songs and listen to them on a loop while in my workshop/at the PC/eating/driving. The more difficult ones (structure or arrangement) get more listening time.

Once I know them inside out learning them is no problem. Trying to learn them before I have them internalised is a much longer process.

 

[eJake]

I make a playlist of the songs and listen to them on a loop while in my workshop/at the PC/eating/driving. The more difficult ones (structure or arrangement) get more listening time.

Once I know them inside out learning them is no problem. Trying to learn them before I have them internalised is a much longer process.

+1 listen listen listen

 

[pcake]

i, too, find listening to the songs to be extremely helpful. even if you can't remember everything perfectly, knowing where the pauses, changes and stuff go will help you play something that works.

 

[Jason Smith]

Thanks everyone - More playlists...............

 

[QweziRider]

How does everyone learn a bucketload of songs in a short time with hardly any practice time??????????

Youtube and making my own charts.

 

[twinjet]

If you're old school and happen to have an old iPod around, load your music on there. The lack of notifications and other crap makes it way easier to focus on listening.

 

[saabfender]

Force yourself to practice.

Didn’t the OP just say there wasn’t time? It’s not like there were a lot of words or a bunch of previous responses to confuse you.

When I have to get together a lot of songs for a sub gig that I’ll not likely play again anytime soon, I’ll write a mini chart next to its name on song list. A few chords and some notes on the form. Sometimes just the key is enough to jog my memory enough to get through it. After all, you’re not gonna be able to stare at it. You get a few seconds to glance at it then it’s off to the races.

Another helpful thing I do is make a CD for the car of the songs so I can learn the songs without bass in hand. If you’re subbing, you’re an advanced enough of a player that issue is knowing the music, not necessarily being able to play a suitable part.

Same when I’m around the house. I’m blasting those songs so they’re in my ear as I’m doing dishes or whatever. I play them over and over.

 

[Element Zero]

Didn’t the OP just say there wasn’t time? It’s not like there were a lot of words or a bunch of previous responses to confuse you.

I'm sorry sir but you must be confused. OP said... and I quote... "How does everyone learn a bucketload of songs in a short time with hardly any practice time??????????"

"Hardly any practice time" does not mean NO practice time. It’s not like there were a lot of words or a bunch of previous responses to confuse you. I simply offered a solution and advice. I'm sorry it didn't meet your standards.

 

[saabfender]

The solution to any musical problem is always practice practice practice, right?

 

[Element Zero]

If you can't play something, how do you expect you'll ever be able to play it without practice?

 

[Chickenwheels]

So this year I seem to be doing so much subbing it's doing my head in.

Theatre stuff is fine as the dots are all there - but what about songs that you've never heard and there are only rubbish or no charts for?

How does everyone learn a bucketload of songs in a short time with hardly any practice time??????????

Yes, in the recent past I had a regular dep gig for a band that would give me 4-8 new songs a week, no charts. I would check which version they were doing, then YouTube/Nashville number chart the song (with headphones on the couch) straight onto “notes” on my phone. If it was an easy tune, I’d just note the key and memorise. I also had to be ready to transpose, and this is where Nashville numbers helped.
This was a lot of work and a tad annoying at the time but the upside was I got a good reputation and I now know a lot of tunes, many which get picked up by other bands.
These days, 2-3 listens to most songs and I’m good to go. The skill building pays off.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Didn’t the OP just say there wasn’t time? It’s not like there were a lot of words or a bunch of previous responses to confuse you.

When I have to get together a lot of songs for a sub gig that I’ll not likely play again anytime soon, I’ll write a mini chart next to its name on song list. A few chords and some notes on the form. Sometimes just the key is enough to jog my memory enough to get through it. After all, you’re not gonna be able to stare at it. You get a few seconds to glance at it then it’s off to the races.

Another helpful thing I do is make a CD for the car of the songs so I can learn the songs without bass in hand. If you’re subbing, you’re an advanced enough of a player that issue is knowing the music, not necessarily being able to play a suitable part.

Same when I’m around the house. I’m blasting those songs so they’re in my ear as I’m doing dishes or whatever. I play them over and over.

Good stuff here. I’ve done this also.

 

[Groove Doctor]

My quick method...
Chart the chord changes immediately, so when listening to it I know the chords.

I use Amazing Slow Downer app. Transposing up an octave makes any bass line much clearer and faster to learn.

 

[Joe Nerve]

How does everyone learn a bucketload of songs in a short time with hardly any practice time??????????

I had to start learning and practicing while listening (without bass in hand). I get up to 7 songs these days that I have to know by the weekend, and I don't get charts, nor do I read music. I put them on a usb and listen to them over and over, visualizing the notes on the fretboard. I've been writing about this a lot lately, I'm sure some are getting tired of hearing it . I've discovered though that the more I do this, the easier it gets.

 

[EarnestTBass]

Be able to sing the bass line first, then pick up your bass and play what you are singing.

 

[David Jayne]

I'd think you could buy charts for most of them?

 

[delta7fred]

I've discovered though that the more I do this, the easier it gets.

^ This