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What do you play for a soundcheck

#22
Heyturnup said:
I used to just thump on a couple of strings, nothing musical, but when I started doing soundchecks with bigger FOH systems, sound engineers, and even an audience present, I started to think about adding some entertainment to the process.

I've had the most reaction to the Barney Miller theme, and the Green Acres theme song. What do you do? Do you get a response you would share?
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Depends on the crowd. Disposition and lateralis by Tool are common, rearranged by limp bizkit very often, old school rage against the machine, mudvayne nothing to gein or dig. I try to turn heads a little for anyone who might not have seen us before but also playing memorable limp Bizkit lines in particular really helps lighten the little hipsters and or posers up that haven’t seen us before.
 
#23
I make it a point to converse a bit with a new soundman before things get going to kind of feel him out … if I think we may have a good one, I might even ask him what he wants to hear from me … a lot of times, since the drummer usually checks first, I can tell from that if the guy is sharp or just filling the chair and turning knobs … worst case scenario, I just make sure he is getting a signal and hope for the best .. if it turns into something other than just a short sample from me, I might do some kind of walking line that moves around the neck, usually including a couple 'double-stops' along the way … or, I might give him a nice grooving pocket type deal .. depends how I am feeling, and if we even get a chance to do sound check a lot of the times ...
 
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#28
Usually it's any combination of:
Bach's Cello Concerto Prelude in G Major (8 bars or so)
Dance, Dance, Dance by The Beach Boys
Spectrum by Billy Cobham
Mahna Mahna by The Muppets
The Boys are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy
School Days by Stanley Clarke
Addams Family Theme
 
#31
Same thing always. Every time.

My bands always played one song (usually the opening number) we knew inside out and could hear in our heads. We’d compare what we were hearing in the room to the way we knew it should sound and then adjust our gear accordingly.

When we started our show we’d have sound do additional adjustments and tweaks during the same song once there were people in the room. After that we were pretty much set to go.
 
#32
Either run up and down four or five scales to warm up and make sure I cover most of the fretboard or Saucerful of Secrets by Pink Floyd. It hits a lot of notes, but mostly I want to see if anyone recognizes it. The answer is no. Nobody knows that doing, much less the bass line.
 
#33
Heyturnup said:
I used to just thump on a couple of strings, nothing musical, but when I started doing soundchecks with bigger FOH systems, sound engineers, and even an audience present, I started to think about adding some entertainment to the process.

I've had the most reaction to the Barney Miller theme, and the Green Acres theme song. What do you do? Do you get a response you would share?
Click to expand...

Play what ever you'll be playing at gig just as you'll be playing it at the live show !
 
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#34
Common favorites: N.E.R.D. - Antimatter, Internet - Go With It, Michael Jackson - Billie Jean, Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop, A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation

The first among them tends to get the most instant headnods, and the last a lot of love from hip-hop heads. No harm in having a little fun as long as it's done in the playing style of the engagement!
 
#39
I always play parts from the tunes we'll be playing; I'll start with fingerstyle to get that dialed in, then do some of the slap and tapping parts that happen in other parts. I also make sure I give FOH any effects changes; i've made sure that my distortion channel levels are the same as the clean channel, but wanna make sure they're not surprised.

And naturally, if we're playing with a band that we've done shows with before, i'll absolutely soundcheck with one of their tunes. Just... you know... better.
 
#40
I play a very nervous and akward scale. Because I have stage fright. It could send a rhino to therapy because it's that debilitating. Funny, sad and pathetic. Just like the scale that farts outta my funny, sad, pathetic amp. It's like I'm all thumbs and toes on the fretboard. The lights are too bright my socks keep sliding down my calves because of all the sweat and cheap elastic material I call socks. And my dad's voice is ringing in my head" You're a nobody, and nobody loves or needs a bum like you!" Thanks dad. Fond memories.
 
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