General Music Chat

sorry joe it took so long to reply to that but ive been sitting here playing freebird ,dang thats a long song heres a twist ,if your a band looking for a singer and you have an audition and you gave them say 5 songs to practice and they showed up with sheet music then what would you think. Im not being mean im just wondering

If I came in a club and you were singing I dont think I would pay any attention to the stand. Ha Ha

I never like seeing bands using them cause they kind of block the stage few, but recently I got involved in a side group and I didnt know all the songs so they gave me a book and stand that had the lyrics and chord changes and I made it thru a wedding gig, so Im 50/50

In my main group Aint Yo Mama a music stand would get destroyed if it was there, but our singer probably can pull about 400 songs out of his head at any given time.

If you need a stand use it. The only problem might be if you really know the songs yet you are looking at it all the time, it might be a distraction.

Get busy the song on your profile sound like you have a great voice that should be shared with the world.

I watched a interveiw with Sir Paul McCartney . His anscer was,he needed it to recall old stuff,get it done.So they work,but there is something special about ,real freedom in proformance. Hope that helps. Peace!

Ghost, what do you do, about a four song set?

I don't know about the sheet music (I guess I could use it to make notes or doodle on), but if the singer showed up with printed lyrics, I would have no problem with that.

However, on stage, that singer needs to know his part. The band I'm with right now is doing "Southern Cross" by CS&N. It has a LOT of words. When the lead vocalist hits a section that he doesn't know, the song stops until he can figure it out. A lot of the time its not so much an issue of the lyrics but rather the actual phrasing. I personally don't want him to rely on reading the lyrics because, although he may get the words right, it seems to drain out the spirit of the song (nevermind the fact that he's still trying to sing the first line when the rest of the band is beginning the third). Wouldn't it just be easier (save time in the long run and make for a better performance) if he just memorized the song? Just my point of view...

actually I do 5 the ballad of jed clampit takes them right up to last call:lol:

yeah I've used a cheat sheet or two, but that was long ago. Learn the material!

If your lookin' into a damn ol' music stand, then the odds are ya ain't playin' Rock & Roll!

(Sorry Robin, just my oppinion),

Howlin'

It isn't that I don't know the material.....It is just there for that nudge. I know, I know....I shouldn't need to rely on it. Trust me...I do NOT sit there and stare at the book and sing....I know the part that usually messes me up and a quick glance (yes I know exactly where the spot is on the page) just gives me that nudge. OMG You guys are the best! I love and take to heart ALL the suggestions. It is still a divided issue...Ok more leaning toward the not using the stand. LOL I did not expect to get such a response from this question.

Robin, it's a whole lot harder to sing when you are also playing an instrument, but I found that all I need is the first 2 words of the verse.
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So why don't you use a hand-held card with the first 2 words of each verse on it, or something similar?
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Like, for instance (simple example), "House of the Rising Sun:"
There is
My Mother
The Only
One Foot
There is.
10 words for the entire song, and natural memory will remind you to sing the 1st verse again at the end.
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Divide a 3 x 5 card into 4 quarters - 1 song per quarter.
2 sides per card = 8 songs per card.
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Robin, I peeked at your profile page. It said gigs played under ten. I believe the more gigs you play (hopefully you WILL play more) the less you will need a music stand. You'll be FORCED to memorize the lyrics. RhythMan had a good idea about putting the first few words of each verse on a card. If I can remember the first line of each verse the rest comes easy. My "cheating" consists of writing down the first lines of a verse. Most of the songs we play are rather obscure so the lyrics aren't that important really. I have been known to make up entire verses when I forget lyrics. Depending on the song you're playing you may need to concentrate memorizing on some more than others. Some of the covers we do are lyrically pretty lame, so if I change the words so what. If you try without a stand and you forget some lyrics DO NOT STOP SINGING. Learn to make something up on the spot. I know it sounds hard to do, and it is, but if you practice this way you'll soon find that you actually know the words much better than you thought. You'll soon be able to play anywhere without the "crutch" music stand. A few cheat cards with a few word on it or a few lines isn't a bad thing, especially if the song is new to you. A lot of the people responding here have beaucoup experience, there's a lot of good advice here on the forum. Hope some of it helps. Later...

Dont use them for a important show or if you want to impress for a job or tryout. Use the stand and conceal at a show for cues, if you dont think or have a bad feeling about the song, drop it.

I refuse to use a music stand onstage, VERY unprofessional. I've done American Pie, Turn the Page, Southern Cross, Rocky Raccoon, Desperado, Wildwood Weed and a bunch of others with lots of lyrics, and I've never, ever taken a music stand on stage. I did use a cheat sheet 10 years ago for one song that my brain refused to memorize for some strange reason, the Travelling Wilburys' "End of the Line". I was the one who wanted to do that one, I could sing it no problem riding around mowing the yard, get onstage and I would lose the words every time. I can still do American Pie, Southern Cross and Rocky Raccoon, why not that one??? I have no Idea...we finally dropped it from the playlist. I hated having to use a cheat sheet.

Rehearsals are a different story, I have no problem with a lyric sheet or music stand in the practice room, but I think if I were to audition a singer I would expect him/her to have a few specific songs memorized and ready to go to show the willingness and determination to be prepared. Otherwise, a music stand would not be an issue. The songs for the audition would, of course, be agreed on beforehand. for recording, I'd prefer it memorized, but a lyric sheet wouldn't be a problem I don't think.

I've always been big on memorizing. I memorized everything in high school band - marching band, concert band and jazz band. Every note of every song, as well as memorizing songs for the rock band (3 piece) I was in after school. I never used the sheet music, I suck at reading music anyway and would figure out the part note by note then memorize it.

I never used a cheat sheet doing fill in gigs, but I never had any idea what we would play either. At times I would have liked that, and I think if you're doing a fill in gig with little time to work up the material, a music stand as unobtrusive as possible would be acceptable. Once you get a couple of months of rehearsals, you no longer have a legitimate reason to use one, you should have it memorized.

I keep a mini-notebook w/lyrics and nuances to tunes done our way.

I just turn the pages at end of tune and keep it right on top of the bass head.

(If I need it, I just kinda stroll over to it and take a peek)

We have a female lead singer who uses one. I don't like the way they look onstage but trying to remember the lyrics to 40 plus songs is tough. I don't use one when I do solo work and there's rarely a gig where I don't screw up but most times it's never notice. Not everyone knows every word to every song so I'd rather take my chance then have one onstage
Mike

I'm sure it looks cooler and more pro without a stand. But I'll keep mine for now. The percentage of our original tunes I can play without it goes up
but it's not %100 yet so....