In my case, I'm getting the set list all memorized, etc. like a good soldier no matter how far off the reservation our leader is going on the songs (at least I instilled in him not to play chords not on the charts anymore). But also in my case, what drummer? There isn't one in our group. Worse still, bandleader's daughter wants to play drums, which wouldn't be bad because she doesn't really want to play violin anymore, which I don't blame her, she just has a few solos and little to do. Drumming-wise I wouldn't care if she sounded like Mo Tucker if she'd just do the drumming. Bandleader won't hear of it, he wants to teach her guitar. I'm thinking "she's 11, let her play what she wants, she might find something she really good at".
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tips for someone going to a gig with poor chops and no exp?
- Thread starter choo5
- Start date
In my case, I'm getting the set list all memorized, etc. like a good soldier no matter how far off the reservation our leader is going on the songs (at least I instilled in him not to play chords not on the charts anymore). But also in my case, what drummer? There isn't one in our group. Worse still, bandleader's daughter wants to play drums, which wouldn't be bad because she doesn't really want to play violin anymore, which I don't blame her, she just has a few solos and little to do. Drumming-wise I wouldn't care if she sounded like Mo Tucker if she'd just do the drumming. Bandleader won't hear of it, he wants to teach her guitar. I'm thinking "she's 11, let her play what she wants, she might find something she really good at".
+1
You're talking about Hard Rock & Metal. Remember Van Halen? Michael Anthony made the easiest $million EVER. He's probably the most over-paid ROOT player ever. I don't say that to slam him. He's solid and I like VH's music. The point is: you can stay on the root for alot of the stuff and be OK. The guitarists are going to want the spotlight anyway...so let them have it!
Find out what key each song is in. If you can get the band to help you/work with you a little bit, try to get chord charts so you know what the chord progressions of the songs are. Then you can hit the roots. The roots are probably the MOST important thing for what you're going to be doing. "Chops"?! Don't worry about it...you don't need them. Just thank God that you aren't being invited to join a Disco/Funk band or you'd be up a creek.
If you know your scales, then all you need to do is focus on your timing (follow the kick drum) and hit the roots. Expect that on the chorus of the songs, you're probably going to do some progression of I, IV, V (that's the root, the 4th, and the 5th of the key your playing in). The progression may be V, IV, I or IV, V, I or whatever...just go with what the rhythm guitar is doing...and stay IN TIME with the drummer.
If you know the I, IV, and V of the key and you lock your timing in with the drummer...you'll sound great and you'll probably even surprise yourself! It's Rock, man...it's all I, IV, V. Stay in the I, IV, V box and don't be afraid to use some rests...sometime silence is golden because when the bass kicks in AFTER the brief silence it just feels so friggin awesome!
I, IV, V
RELAX! You're playing bass...you're not doing CPR on somebody in the street.
+1
You're talking about Hard Rock & Metal. Remember Van Halen? Michael Anthony made the easiest $million EVER. He's probably the most over-paid ROOT player ever. I don't say that to slam him. He's solid and I like VH's music. The point is: you can stay on the root for alot of the stuff and be OK. The guitarists are going to want the spotlight anyway...so let them have it!
Find out what key each song is in. If you can get the band to help you/work with you a little bit, try to get chord charts so you know what the chord progressions of the songs are. Then you can hit the roots. The roots are probably the MOST important thing for what you're going to be doing. "Chops"?! Don't worry about it...you don't need them. Just thank God that you aren't being invited to join a Disco/Funk band or you'd be up a creek.
If you know your scales, then all you need to do is focus on your timing (follow the kick drum) and hit the roots. Expect that on the chorus of the songs, you're probably going to do some progression of I, IV, V (that's the root, the 4th, and the 5th of the key your playing in). The progression may be V, IV, I or IV, V, I or whatever...just go with what the rhythm guitar is doing...and stay IN TIME with the drummer.
If you know the I, IV, and V of the key and you lock your timing in with the drummer...you'll sound great and you'll probably even surprise yourself! It's Rock, man...it's all I, IV, V. Stay in the I, IV, V box and don't be afraid to use some rests...sometime silence is golden because when the bass kicks in AFTER the brief silence it just feels so friggin awesome!
I, IV, V
RELAX! You're playing bass...you're not doing CPR on somebody in the street.
+100 to what totallyfrozen said!
Don't worry about being flashy with lots of notes/whatever. If you can play something simple that makes everyone else sound good, you'll be loved (and a good bandmate). And remember to have fun!
Good luck!
-Loren
If I was, I'd be happier. It's just our bandleader's intransigence. He records with a drummer who's just not available for regular gigs (I suspect with good reason). I've sort of decided to thump out roots and fifths and leave it at that, since I'm all the rhythm section they've got. The songs don't have a lot of room for good bass parts - the music seems to be written after the lyrics and outside of breaks for guitar solos, they're some of the wordiest songs I've played to. Bandleader sings, plays acoustic and electric guitar, and there's a harmonica player (it seems a different one every time there's a gig) and his daughter plays violin parts on a few songs. I first noticed his daughter's unhappiness in playing when she wasn't progressing in technique and seemed indifferent to playing, and now she openly protests practice.
Worst thing is I came up with a good bass part for a blues he wrote. It's not on the set list, of course.
I'll second what most everyone here has said. Bass playing can be as simple or complicated as the bassist wants (or has the ability) to be and still sound really great. Most songs don't rely on an intricate bass part to make it groove. Usually, most of the famous bass groove songs, ie. Another One Bites the Dust, The Joker, Stand By Me...etc, are really simple riffs. In a band setting, playing at a bar, or a party or something else the most important thing is for the bass to hold down the bottom end of the chords while the other higher pitched instruments do their thing. That repetitive low end is what keeps the heads bobbin. I am a very mediocre new player and when I figure out a new fancier way to play a song we have been playing (that i've been doing roots and fifths) the others usually like it the simpler way cause it sounds more solid. I got some good advice from a really phenominal bassist when I first started. I was nervous that everyone would know that I was a beginner if I was just doing roots and fifths or straight 8ths. He told me that 99% of the audience has no idea what you are supposed to be doing anyway, and the 1% that might, will just think you are being a really cool "groove" player as long as you just sit back and do your thing without looking like a deer in the headlights. There are so many ways any song could be played, just make every note you hit look like it is the exact note you should be hitting. No one will know the difference unless you tell them. Biggest thing....have fun with it. Oh yeah..try and get a song list. They should not expect you to come in cold and just start playing along.
1) Don't overplay. For most musicians, the tendency when you are nervous and/or unprepared is to play too loud, too fast, and too many notes. Just be cool. As others have said here, stay within your limitations. I will always give the benefit of the doubt to the player with limited experience or ability who nevertheless has enough humility and awareness to realize his limits and not go beyond them.
2) Set up close to the drummer so you can hear him and even see his kick drum foot so you can stay in sync with that. Hopefully the drummer will give you cues as to what's happening within the songs. If he doesn't, then the singer should. SOMEBODY should, anyway.
3) Get to the gig with plenty of time to spare. If you're already a bit nervous about the gig, the last thing you want to do is be blowing in there at the last minute and doing a rush set-up before you go on.
4) Play with as much confidence as you can. If you biff a note or two (and you probably will), for the love of pete don't stop playing! Get back on course and keep going. Nothing make things harder on a band than a namby-pamby bassist playing tentative and then dropping out for 2 bars whenever he hits a clam.
Have fun and good luck. And just remember that after this gig, you won't have to claim "no experience" any more!
2) Set up close to the drummer so you can hear him and even see his kick drum foot so you can stay in sync with that. Hopefully the drummer will give you cues as to what's happening within the songs. If he doesn't, then the singer should. SOMEBODY should, anyway.
3) Get to the gig with plenty of time to spare. If you're already a bit nervous about the gig, the last thing you want to do is be blowing in there at the last minute and doing a rush set-up before you go on.
4) Play with as much confidence as you can. If you biff a note or two (and you probably will), for the love of pete don't stop playing! Get back on course and keep going. Nothing make things harder on a band than a namby-pamby bassist playing tentative and then dropping out for 2 bars whenever he hits a clam.
Have fun and good luck. And just remember that after this gig, you won't have to claim "no experience" any more!
Pump the rthym of the song......do what your capable of. The tighter you are with the drummer, and the more they cover the melody, the more important what you are doing (keeping the bottom going) is!
Flash although cool, and good in many things, takes a back seat to the bottom being maintained.
Flash although cool, and good in many things, takes a back seat to the bottom being maintained.
Good thread, awesome responses, very positive.........thanks to everyone who is participating..........I fit the bill somewhat and feel bursting with confidence........thanks again........cheers
Excellent point! How many mistakes you make is trivial in comparison to how you handle them. If you do happen to hit a few notes that probably don't pass as an avante guarde interpretation of the song, own it. I crack myself up when I boot a few notes, and people only notice that I'm having a great time. If the guitarist or the singer give you the stink eye in this instance, smiling and laughing will only serve to cheese them off even more. Another very good reason to laugh it off.
I don't know the material as I have no access to it :| but with my practice im getting everyone I know to record me random music and try and "serve" the music by doing a simple bassline in with it.
oh and guys: its not a gig, its just a practice; though its at a bar i'm not sure if we'l be in a sealed off area or not... im definately poopin' bricks tho
Don't expect much. If they can't be bothered to set you
up with a song list or some material as a starting point,
it's not a good sign.
Keep in mind that not only are they auditioning you, you
are auditioning them.
Points to note:
Is their gear adequate? Is their attitude good? Are there
decent dynamics or is everything on 11? Do they use charts
or have any available for you? Is there a setlist of any kind?
How organized or focused on the rehearsal are they? Do
they drink a lot at the rehearsal? Who are the strong and
who are the weak musicians in the band? What are the
musical goals that they have, or are there any?
I'm sure I missed some, but you get the idea.
It's been said, but is worth repeating. Lock in with the drummer. I played in a Jazz band in high school and at every practice I tried to walk lines and all this flashy stuff and the only reason I didn't get canned was I was the only bassist in the school that could sight read. First time we played I played simple 1-3-5-3 on everything, all quarter notes, boring as all get out. I just focused on the bass drum and tried to ignore my urge to wank away. Afterward they told me it was the best I had ever played.
- Aug 5, 2005
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TS, don't be nervous - there's not much you can do. Just keep practicing, familiarize yourself with their music, and try to lock in with the drummer. Most rock bands seem to have ridiculously low expectations for bassists.
When I auditioned for my current band, I heard this after the audition, "Well, do you want the spot? We were really only looking for someone who could play the bass..."
When I auditioned for my current band, I heard this after the audition, "Well, do you want the spot? We were really only looking for someone who could play the bass..."
Learn a couple of crusty nuggets so that you can suggest and contribute. Sunshine of Your Love or something they can jam to. That way, you're not always following on their turf, you'll be leading on yours.
Learn a really funky rythym riff on one note. That'll show 'em!
Learn a really funky rythym riff on one note. That'll show 'em!
I've heard it said that the biggest difference between and amatuer and a pro is how well you cover up your mistakes.
Really, the only way to "get chops" is to play...even if you play "badly" at first. If you keep it simple, and stay with the drummer, not be too adventurous at first, you'll serve the need, and it will be far better than their not having a bass at all.
As you gain confidence, your chops will improve, I promise.
Well, I had another practice session with the bandleader, alone this time, and I got my points across. The instrumental parts for the solos go just fine, it's just when he sings he tends to sing a note into the next measure after the chord change should happen, throwing the beat off. He at least knows what my complaints are (I FINALLY got through to him when he heard himself do exactly what I complained about) and now we're on the same page and are doing something about it. It may or may not work. First gig is at a July 4th party, I'm not really going to stress over any minor errors. So I'm not as worried about it now, because I know which songs the problems will come on, and where in the song. Still wish he'd get a drummer, but at this late date it wouldn't be feasible anyway. I doubt a drummer without experience with his songs could actually play on them. I know one already refused to play after hearing them.
I got my first gig simply because I owned a bass and had "the look"! I had no clue what I was doing, so I turned the volume down and if anyone looked my way, I shrugged my shoulders and shot the soundman a dirty look!
Main thing is to watch the guitar players hands and listen to what everyone else is doing! If its rock or metal, unless you're out of time or tune, you can't really mess up too bad!
~ Scott
Ergo Owners Club #31, Official Conklin Owners Club #1, Bassist With Beards #90, Hoosier Bassists Club #1, Country Bassists Club #1
Main thing is to watch the guitar players hands and listen to what everyone else is doing! If its rock or metal, unless you're out of time or tune, you can't really mess up too bad!
~ Scott
Ergo Owners Club #31, Official Conklin Owners Club #1, Bassist With Beards #90, Hoosier Bassists Club #1, Country Bassists Club #1
