Subbing

[saabfender]

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

Hmmm. 30 or so charts at 5 bucks a throw for a hundred dollar gig?

 

[Chickenwheels]

I also find now the lyrics, or even key parts of the lyrics, helps guide me and jog my memory on the gig. Certainly listening to the song as a whole rather than just the bass line helps.

 

[DWBass]

I make it easy on myself. I only sub for band's that I already know the music. Or at least 85% or more of the music. R&B, Soul, Motown and Funk is my wheelhouse. Makes it easy on my brain.

 

[Paulabass]

I read guitar chord charts first. Then figure out what the bass is doing. I rarely (if ever) play the recorded bass line. If I get a call described as classic rock, I just show up without prep.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I like cheat sheets. Not full charts, but some of the chord changes, to get my head (and hands) in the right place.

 

[IamGroot]

Note for note covers take time to transcribe and learn. It gets easier with practice.

Just covering songs is easy if your ear is trained. Learn the melody and everything else is usually easy.

Earlier suggestion to sing the bass line ( and the melody) is excellent and i am being taught in music school. Look at the song form, analyze the changes , and you should be good to go.

 

[Jason Smith]

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.

But how do you visualise the notes if you don't know what they are??
Have I missed something?

 

[Jason Smith]

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.

Thanks - the mini chart sounds like a great idea

 

[IamGroot]

But how do you visualise the notes if you don't know what they are??
Have I missed something?

Joe is using his ear to hear and figure out the song. No instrument required. Being able to play by ear is a sign of a really good musician.

 

[Joe Nerve]

But how do you visualise the notes if you don't know what they are??
Have I missed something?

Not sure I understand the question, but I know 'where' the notes are on the fretboard. I don't visualize a "D", but I visualize the 5th position on an A string. The note letter doesn't really come into play for me, but rather the string, fingering, and fret. I visualize my left hand as though I'm playing it.

If you meant how do I do that without knowing the song or what actual note is being played (could be an A, but I wouldn't know without perfect pitch), it's a hit or miss thing that I'm getting better with. I can almost always now pin out an open E, A or D in a song, and if I'm listening to other songs I DO know I can pretty much get my ear in tune. Regardless, if I'm off on the first note I can easily transpose later. The point for me is to get better at distinguishing the sound between intervals. If that's mastered then I'd imagine any song can be learned just through listening, repetition, and memorization.

The best thing about this kind of practice for me is that I go into auto pilot when performing live. Hard to explain, but I think it's similar to speaking. When we say a word, we don't have to think of the sound and letters when we say it. "Fantastic," isn't F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C, our lips and mouths just know what to do, and the word comes out. If I know know a song by heart through repetition, I never have to think of the actual notes. My fingers know where they're going as if on auto-pilot.

 

[David Jayne]

Hmmm. 30 or so charts at 5 bucks a throw for a hundred dollar gig?

I was thinking maybe just a few, for the ones you don't already know (unless you really don't know most of them??). If so, ok yeah point taken especially for that money. Usually when I sub it's mostly popular music that we've all heard for decades. No sweat. I chart the oddballs or buy a couple, which I add to my library for next time.

 

[eJake]

In the end, developing your ear is like losing weight. There is no magic pill (someone else's charts) or easy way (not leaving your comfort zone) to do it.

Learning covers is a skill, just like touch typing or fixing a motor. The more you do it, the better you'll get.

There were times I used to freak out if I had 30 tunes to learn in a week. Now it's not a big deal. Even when a band asks me to learn a bunch of songs that we don't end up playing. None of that time spent developing my ear was ever wasted.

 

[BassChuck]

What I've never understood is why a band that gigs a lot doesn't take the time to have chord charts for their songs? Sub guitar, keys, bass even horns could use them. And if you're not doing that, you've consigned your band to playing the songs 'just like the record'. OK, fine to do that, but don't you have something different to bring to the table? Something that makes you stand out (musically) from a DJ?

If you've got those charts ready for a sub, you can call someone the day of the gig and survive emergencies.

 

[IamGroot]

What I've never understood is why a band that gigs a lot doesn't take the time to have chord charts for their songs? Sub guitar, keys, bass even horns could use them. And if you're not doing that, you've consigned your band to playing the songs 'just like the record'. OK, fine to do that, but don't you have something different to bring to the table? Something that makes you stand out (musically) from a DJ?

If you've got those charts ready for a sub, you can call someone the day of the gig and survive emergencies.

Or call a sub who only needs the song name, performer, version and key.

I got my charts.