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Yes or no ?
- Thread starter Chris cook
- Start date
Newbie to the band and first live gig ever? 40 songs as an opener? Practice 5 times in week prior to gig? It all sounds far fetched. When I was starting out I wouldn’t have done it. Depending on the material, I could pull it off nowadays. I’d really have to want the gig long term to torture myself with that one week schedule. The band I’m in just took on a new drummer. He had his 5 song audition with us and one 3 hour rehearsal to pull off a 3 hour gig of 30+ songs. He did way better than I thought he would because he paid attention. He didn’t have to worry about that pesky melody or harmony stuff though.
If it was 30 years ago, when I was starting to learn how to play bass, I'd say "No way" and respond "no" to all your questions.
Nowadays, that's just everyday's business with the added advantage of having 5 practices with the band.
I guess this is because the local band they're opening for only has a couple of songs...
If the songs are super simple and familiar, maybe... otherwise, that's a big fat no... never mind it's my first band, first time playing in front of a crowd.
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Not if you bring cookies.
I did something similar recently. A guitar duo asked me to play with them for 3 hours at a bar. They gave me 30 songs to work on, a mix of Motown and old rock and folk music. Most were songs I have heard, but they changed keys on several tunes to fit their vocals better. I had a week to get ready with only one rehearsal with one of the players. Ok, I'm in. What can go wrong?
It went surprisingly well, actually. I was able to have chord charts in front of me and stayed with root/5 for the songs I wasn't familiar with. A mutual friend sat in on sax and clarinet. The crowd was small, friendly, and relatively sober. Only one request for Freebird... I had a good time and the owner asked us back for another night.
It went surprisingly well, actually. I was able to have chord charts in front of me and stayed with root/5 for the songs I wasn't familiar with. A mutual friend sat in on sax and clarinet. The crowd was small, friendly, and relatively sober. Only one request for Freebird... I had a good time and the owner asked us back for another night.
Established band in which you are the new bass player, correct? If yes, then the next question is, and this is not a dig, if it's your first gig, how good are you? I know guys who've not gigged and are really solid, I've known guys who've gigged and not been very good. Be honest with yourself and you current abilities. If you are a solid player, having learned your instrument at a decent level, and the songs are not Dream Theatre or something silly, I say go for it. Just keep your playing pretty simple and straight ahead, support the song, and have fun.
Do they have any charts?
They need to simplify it to 10-12 songs.
They need to simplify it to 10-12 songs.
I once had 3 days to learn 40 songs for a sub gig. I did it. It was hard. Lots of charting on my iPad, listening and practicing. But the gig was a success. Now I have those songs in my back pocket. When I got the next call to sub, it was just a mild refresher.
A new player needs to build an internal catalog of tunes. This is a great way to do it.
A new player needs to build an internal catalog of tunes. This is a great way to do it.
I’ve done it before and I’m sure I’ll do it again. I can convincingly fake my way through ANY song if I have an accurate chart. The difference between being a pro and not.
2 days after first buying my bass, no lessons, I was invited to be part of a Pink Floyd/Doors cover band.
3 weeks later, played my first gig in front of 150 people, 42 songs.
I think 1 week would be hard work but not impossible
3 weeks later, played my first gig in front of 150 people, 42 songs.
I think 1 week would be hard work but not impossible
How confident are you in your ability to play these songs and how comfortable are you about standing in front of a audience to do it? If you honestly think you can do it, then go for it.
If the band knows where you are in your ability and experience and they still want you, then they get what they get.
If the band knows where you are in your ability and experience and they still want you, then they get what they get.
If you are practicing how many times are you rehearsing? Practice is home, rehearsing is with the group. Quite a few years ago I joined a band that I thought was just a get together" on Wednesday evenings. Their bass player had suddenly dropped dead after a gig. A friend of mine asked if I would like to jam with them? Why not, I was rehearsing with my full time band every other Thursday. They had a 40 song set list and I was familiar with only about 8 of their songs. Of course I had heard the rest but never played them.
We were in our 3rd week of what I thought was "just" jamming when the drummer said out of the blue: "do we think we are ready"? Everyone, sure...I said: ready for what"? Oh, you didn't know, we have a corporate gig in 2 weeks!? Uh, no, I had no idea! Drummer said: "you will be fine, you have years of playing"! OK, I'm in if you are committed! 2 weeks and learning 30 songs later, there I was at a huge corporate event.
At rehearsal I recorded every song. We would run the entire list at rehearsal. I practiced prior to play religiously and we rehearsed 3 times before the gig at my request. The gig came off without a hitch. It was a little unnerving at times but fun! If I got a little lost no one knew it, I cover well. I stayed busy with these guys for a year until the drummer came up with vertigo. (Vertigo, one of my bands name) Can you do it, sure, but at what level? Don't go out and commit musical suicide. If you basically stink the whole band will. Good guitar players can cover a screw up pretty well. Don't let the bass or drums do it, it's very evident. If you are confident have at it! Good luck!
We were in our 3rd week of what I thought was "just" jamming when the drummer said out of the blue: "do we think we are ready"? Everyone, sure...I said: ready for what"? Oh, you didn't know, we have a corporate gig in 2 weeks!? Uh, no, I had no idea! Drummer said: "you will be fine, you have years of playing"! OK, I'm in if you are committed! 2 weeks and learning 30 songs later, there I was at a huge corporate event.
At rehearsal I recorded every song. We would run the entire list at rehearsal. I practiced prior to play religiously and we rehearsed 3 times before the gig at my request. The gig came off without a hitch. It was a little unnerving at times but fun! If I got a little lost no one knew it, I cover well. I stayed busy with these guys for a year until the drummer came up with vertigo. (Vertigo, one of my bands name) Can you do it, sure, but at what level? Don't go out and commit musical suicide. If you basically stink the whole band will. Good guitar players can cover a screw up pretty well. Don't let the bass or drums do it, it's very evident. If you are confident have at it! Good luck!
Unless the band plays a lot of Tool or Rush you can pull a lot of songs off just by knowing what key it's in.
Probably a no for me when I joined my first band. I'd been playing bass for two weeks and was building technique as well as learning new songs - I wouldn't have been able to pull off 40 songs in another week, nor did I really even have gigging gear at that point.
Now, if I liked the music and the people, it would be no problem. Part of my growth since starting is the ability to learn songs (at least to a passable level) very quickly. There is some music that I couldn't pre 40 songs in that time frame, but not a lot.
You be you - if you're not comfortable with those demands, speak up - you won't be happy with this band if that's an issue anyway.
