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Your Song "Voted" Out?

#21
Well it sounds like he doesn't really want to play it. Forcing him to do it is not a good idea - what good is it going to do any band to perform a tune that some members aren't feeling?

You might want to rethink the song pick rotation system-it feels a bit rigid. Maybe adjust it, for example every member gets to submit 5 personal favourites for the rotation pool, out of which the band picks at least 1 tune per member.
 
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#24
lilcrate said:
So in one of my bands we have a song picking rotation. One of the songs I picked we have been working on A TON. It is a very easy song (House of the Rising Sun). The lead guitarist messes it up a lot and hasn't put in the work to learn the chord progressions. He said last night he doesn't think he plays it well and would rather not play it. The drummer and singer agreed (most likely because he keeps messing it up). I guess I should just let it go, but it is a little annoying to skip my pick because someone isn't learning the song (that is very simple to learn none the less). Anyone else relate? Should I just say oh well and carry on?
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Uh ... it's a five chord song. Can't remember the progression? Tell him to put the pipe down. Even a brain dead guitarist should know the progression by the second verse. This is the first clue that this band isn't going anywhere ... and going nowhere slowly at that. If he's using it as excuse not to play it, call him out on it ... tell him if he hasn't got chops to do it you'll find a guitarist who does.
 
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#26
I think your next rehearsal, before you do anything else, confront this. Talk about it, find out where the rest of your bandmates are. If the others won't support you, be ready to move on, because you'll never be happy with this band.
 
#28
Wow--it is not a tricky song--if you can't learn it--you are lazy.

now someone with talent & drive and soul can make it sound way better than a beginner--but to not learn it is plain lazy.
 
#29
bigboy_78 said:
IF he can't play house of the rising sun, find a new guitarist. Geez, that's like the first song you learn when your 6 years old.
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It was the first song we learned to play in our band when we were 12, I remember the guitarist being determined to get that F chord....

If it is really a case of "can't" then he needs to up his game or stop playing in bands.

If it is a case of "won't" then you need to discuss it. It is an old warhorse of a song IMO and such a cliche that I personally would not cover it. With any song the singer has to be comfortable with it for the band to do it, that is the bottom line.

The problem may be that someone who really "can't" is hiding behind the "won't".....

Can this guy actually play a smooth sounding 6/8 ?


Our last guitard "only plays blues" and can do good clapton / SRV style chops and play in 6/8. He really struggled with straight 8's and anything that required him to keep an even pulse going...
 
#30
I think it's just a different style than he is used to. He likes to play a lot of power chords and lead riffs. So he isn't used to a basic progression I guess. Or maybe he just doesn't like it. I haven't been playing long and am not very good at all, he has been playing MUCH longer so I definitely don't think he isn't capable. He can play decent, just doesn't know any theory at all and hasn't done much out of his scope.
 
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#31
I will put myself on blast, I don't mind. I know I could be messing it up (I actually know I hit the wrong note about twice but recovered). Here is our last practice of the song. It was our first take, although we have practiced it about 10+ times at least overall. A lot of those were helping him learn the changes though. Feel free to be critical, you won't hurt my feelings. I don't have the best ear either, but I don't think he is following the progression right through the solo either. IDK though, let me know what you think.



Here are a couple other songs to put his playing (and mine/ours) into perspective. I know I messed up a couple times on these as well. Feel free to be critical, I could use feedback.



I am working on individualizing the chromatic notes on the intro riff of this song still. Just not quite there yet.

 
#32
I listened to the three vids....

Like the vocals.

It sounds like a band in rehearsal to me, not quite reached the point yet where everyone is locking in with everyone else for all of the time.

With HOTRS it may be better thinking of it as a 6/8 rather than a 1 1-2-3.

the guitaring does n't seem that bad, it is just like he is a bit stiff needs to work at it a bit...



how long have you guys been playing together?
 
#33
He is definately not feeling Rising Sun at all.

I have had tons of songs vetoed or thrown out for whatever reason. Sometimes we just cant catch a groove with it, it just doesn't work or it doesn't even make it to practice. There are also the songs that you get down and everything works real well, sounds great and for whatever reason the crowd doesn't connect with it. Good example from my band is were dropping one of my favorites from the list, Red Hot Chili Peppers - Look Around. Very cool song, we play it well, kind of fun bass line and it just doesn't seem to get much of a reaction. Time to go. Oh well.

If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.
 
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#34
thefruitfarmer said:
I listened to the three vids....

Like the vocals.

It sounds like a band in rehearsal to me, not quite reached the point yet where everyone is locking in with everyone else for all of the time.

With HOTRS it may be better thinking of it as a 6/8 rather than a 1 1-2-3.

the guitaring does n't seem that bad, it is just like he is a bit stiff needs to work at it a bit...



how long have you guys been playing together?
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Since mid May. We are all fairly green to band experience and I'm green to bass altogether.

Advice on timing taken.
 
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#36
Song selection is a common issue in many bands. The best way to circumvent it is to come up with a basic list of 30-45 songs at the very beginning of a cover project. You can do it democratic or autocratically, but either way you flush this thing out earlier. You can weed out alot of issues by doing this, and once you get it done, all that's left is to promote and practice. Plus it's a nice roadmap of how to proceed.
 
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#37
OK, first of all, those three notes in "Too Rolling Stone" are important. Slow them down, and play them for a very long time. Slowly bring the speed up. They are not hammered on or pulled off; just individual notes. You have to nail that. Guitar player needs to feel the song more. He is a tad wooden.



Singer is good. He needs to let loose a hair more. You all need to rehearse to where you have confidence.

Forget House of the Rising Sun. Too much of a downer to be arguing over. You'll get songs on the set list. You guys need to learn about give and take. You guys have a chance to be good, so just keep rolling along.
 
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#38
mellowinman said:
OK, first of all, those three notes in "Too Rolling Stone" are important. Slow them down, and play them for a very long time. Slowly bring the speed up. They are not hammered on or pulled off; just individual notes. You have to nail that. Guitar player needs to feel the song more. He is a tad wooden.



Singer is good. He needs to let loose a hair more. You all need to rehearse to where you have confidence.

Forget House of the Rising Sun. Too much of a downer to be arguing over. You'll get songs on the set list. You guys need to learn about give and take. You guys have a chance to be good, so just keep rolling along.
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Thanks for the advice. I can't check out the video right now but definitely will later. That has been something my instructor has stressed to me about that song. Sometimes I can do it better than other times depending on the stiffness of my right fingers. I'm just not quite there yet. I will definitely work harder on it. Appreciate the feedback.
 
#39
lilcrate said:
Thanks for the advice. I can't check out the video right now but definitely will later. That has been something my instructor has stressed to me about that song. Sometimes I can do it better than other times depending on the stiffness of my right fingers. I'm just not quite there yet. I will definitely work harder on it. Appreciate the feedback.
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Stiffness of your right fingers?

1. Try it with a pick
2. Try it "Geddy style," just whacking up and down with your index finger
3. Try it index-middle-ring as a triplet

Try it all those ways, and the two-finger way, and do all of them half speed. Play the crap out of it half speed. Play it half speed for an hour. Just that riff. Then play it 1/4 speed. (it doesn't have to be exactly 1/4 speed; I'm just saying increase your speed in small increments.)

You can do this song. It's not particularly hard; I think you're letting it get in your head. In one month, I want you to post a vid of you nailing it.

Tell your guitar player to loosen up, too, and don't make him play any Animals songs unless he wants to.

Trust me on this. You guys really could be good. You're not as far off as you think.
 
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