General Music Chat

Hey, Julie, no, I don't think you're being a snob.

But - you can only expect more out of the people you are playing with IF they have more to give.
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You are apparently working with someone who has less talent than you require.
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On a test - he'd get a 'C' or a 'D.' Hey - average is 'C,' right? - a score of 70, or 75?
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Not everyone CAN do it. It may not be his fault . . .
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I know your goal is NOT to sound like just another hack band.
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You have an 'average' bass-man, one who is not able to learn the songs well enough. Or maybe he doesn't CARE enough to practice the required amount of time.
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But - if he ruins the songs, you sound better without him.
It's better to have silent spots in a song, instead of wrong notes, eh?
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He's had his chance. Don't let him ruin your chance.
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The bass player I work with is also in another band. Lat month, they just finished recording their 100th cover song, (for demos). And he doesn't even read music.
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No excuse for not learning 40 songs (40?) in 5 months!
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Julie if you think he's holding you back, maybe it's nearing time for you to start planning differently.
Best wishes.
Alan

Thanks, Alan. You're helping confirm what I guess I already knew. I need a band that's tight, experienced, versatile, talented, & committed. I've been told by some of the best musicians I've met that I don't even know my own level of talent, & that I shouldn't settle for second-best. Guess it's time I started to believe them. Like Joel Osteen says, if you're holding on like heck to the little bit you have, then your hand is closed & God can't put anything better in it! You have to be willing to open your hand & give up what you have to make room for something better.

Julie,
Yeah - you can't get to 2nd base if you keep one foot on first, eh?
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I mentioned planning.
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If you should decide to eventually leave your band, it'd probably be better all around if stay on good terms with everyone.

But, for now, it's an opportunity for you to practice, anyway
Probably what I'd do in your position would be to, first, stay on good terms.
You can encourage people, but it you try to change people, it will always bring on resentment.
Maybe they are doing the best they can with what they've got, I don't know.

But, in the mean time, I'd be looking around for a better band. Don't even tell the guys in your band you're looking. You don't need their approval.
Keep it secret - you don't want to burn your bridges behind you, in case you need to go back for a little while . . .

And practice with them in the meantime.
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Maybe you could experiment with some different singing techniques, or something . . . Listen to different singers, and try some new things with your voice . . .
What you try is up to you - I'm just suggesting you start trying something different than whatever it is you've already been doing.
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Keep showing up for practice.

But always Keep a couple of demo recordings with you everywhere you go.

Don't be satisfied with your present ability, either. No matter how good you are, you can always get better.
Keep looking ahead.
I don't know - sound like the start of a plan?
Alan

You guys are right,Mediocraty seems to be the mundane these days.No one stands out anymore.I look at these profiles and I see dozens of musicians who sound like so&so,or want to be likes. what ever happened to indivduality.Technicality Is great but you can take it to far to soon. I could see a bassplayer player of forty years play 75 of 100 songs from rush but one who played for only 10 playing all 100 will be impressive to see . I hope you can see what I am trying to explain hear.I can see being very technical but if you are play with someone that had no part in writeing the songs is going to take longer to learn the songs than someone who wrote the song.Especialy if they never heard the song play. But the number one thing is never give up. As long as you have that you can have the world. I hope this is not to long.Sometimes I forget to stop.

That's pretty much what I had in mind to do. They already know that if I get an opportunity for more I'll take it in a heartbeat. They have day jobs, wives, kids, etc; so they won't have hard feelings if I leave them for a touring band. Right now we're spinning our wheels over revolving guitarists, so I'm using the downtime to network & record a demo.
Sure, learning new songs is a PITA, especially when you're switching band genre or learning somebody else's originals, but these are mostly classic rock covers everyone has heard a gozillion times. Check out the playlist to see what I mean. (Ruby Soho link below)

You have a point,But, I don't practice cover songs.In fact I make a point not to practice these songs. Why shoul I limit my Imagination and my music abilities practicing someone elses music unlese I am going to be payed for it.Otherwise no way. Now do you se my point.

Of course we'd be getting paid! Playing originals is great, & eventually I hope people will be covering MY songs, but right now I'm in a cover band. Covers are what we do. There are several clubs here who are eager to put us in their rotation, but I refuse to put on a mediocre show, so I won't book the band until everyone is ready.
I don't really think playing covers limits your creativity. I feel I can stretch my boundaries by being as versatile as possible & playing songs from several genre. My originals vary from light Christian country to bluesy pop-rock to flat out metal, & I credit that versaility to playing lots of different covers from lots of different genre.

Guys -
You can spend your entire life learning other peoples' music, or you can spend your life learning your OWN music.
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If you think that the cover songs are better than what you could write, well, that's what you should do.
Like Julie says - doing covers will give you an opportunity to practice a lot of different techniques.
But - imagine if the Beatles only did covers . . . what a waste of talent, huh?
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Maybe you can write (and sing or play) BETTER songs.
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You should try it, no matter what. No matter what . . . Find the time. . . don't wait for someone to ask you . . .
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Take a step towards what you always really wanted to do, anyway . . .
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Hey, you can still play your covers for cash, if need be . . .
But, with practice, you WILL be writing BETTER songs. Believe it.
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Nothing is stopping you except for the fact that you happen do be doing something else, instead.
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Friends, after writing your first 10 songs or so, you'll find yourself quickly getting bored doing other people's stuff.
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And, it's a GREAT feeling when the song that your audience likes the best is one YOU wrote.
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If you get ideas, tape-record them right away. Lyrics you can write down, but music HAS to be recorded, and right away. Otherwise it always loses something - you'll forget one note (or chord), or you may bring the song one direction when you should be guiding it another, or the rhythm is different . . .
When you write (instead of recording), you have to translate from sound to paper: visual. By changing mental gears like that, one loses the feeling of the moment, and much of the song. Hey, you can write it down later . . .

I guess I got off the track a little . . .
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Anyway, if people hear one of your originals and like it better than the covers you do, then you've started something good. Really good . . .
Even if it just blends in - you're still on the right track.
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And, if you're doing ONLY covers - where is it carved in stone that it's against the law to try an original once in a while?
It's easy, you say "Here's a song I wrote called ' - ' . . . 1, 2, 1-2-3 . . ."
Go for it.
Take a step towards what you always really wanted to do, anyway . . .
Alan

I have several originals, but have only taught one of them to this band. Strangely enough, it's the song I get the most requests for: an "original" version of Amazing Grace. Same traditional song, but we souped it up with a rock-grass riff, changed the arrangement, & added a verse. People even ask to hear it at open jams. I enjoy playing covers, but there's no feeling in the world like watching my audience jumping up & down singing along with my original songs.

Julie,
Hmmm - maybe not so strange after all, my friend.

Sounds like a good place to focus your talents . . .
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I've got a feeling that there's a lot more music locked up inside of you,
just waiting for you to turn the key to unlock it . . .
Alan

Thanks, man. Now I'm all choked up (sniff)

BTW, I finally used my redneck ingenuity to get a sound file on my bio page. Since I use MSNTV instead of a computer, uploading songs is an exercise in futility, but this one was already on another site. It's just me singing with an acoustic guitar. The song is called You Can Get To Heaven (With Holes In Your Jeans). Just follow the My Bio link to the Songs page. Click on the song & you'll get redirected to a mirror site where you can play it. Leave a trail of breadcrumbs so you can find your way home. Best I can do for now. Hope you like it.

Julie,
Here's the shortcut to your song:
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http://www.angelfire.com/band2/julieand ... songs.html
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It's easier for people to just click on this instead . . .
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Try it - let me know if it works ok.
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Hey, go to my profile, (click below) and check out 2 short 60 second wavs I posted.
Bradley Boogie, and Frolicking Fingers.
Come to think of it - you'd probably like Molasses Blues, too.
All are 60 sec. until I buy recording software . . .
Ok, I'm gonna download your song, now
Alan

Julie, Microsoft stopped me from listening to your song.
I need a liscense.
Here's their message:
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The file you are trying to play was ripped (copied) from an audio CD.
During the ripping process, the file was "protected." This limits the number of computers on which the file can be played.
To play the file on this computer, you must download a license (a process known as "license migration"). A license acts an electronic key that allows you to "unlock" a protected file and play it.
To download a license for this file, click Download License.
Notes:
Microsoft keeps track of the number of license migrations that have been performed for this content. Microsoft does not collect any contact information (such as your name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address) to perform the migration. For more information about the information that is sent to Microsoft, see the Privacy Statement.
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Julie,
When I tried downloading the license, I got a message saying I can't, because the license has already been downloaded 10 times.
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Now one can listen to it anymore.
Hmmmm.
Alan

Well, crap. I can't even listen to it myself, because the format is incompatible with MSNTV. Playing songs on this thing is so much of a PITA I don't even try. Sometimes it locks up, & sometimes the machine just kicks off altogether. Was supposed to start working on my demo today, but had to postpone a few days. I'll get something uploaded soon, I promise.

Julie,
Good luck with it.
For the songs I posted, I just sat down in front of my computer, plugged my guitar into the microphone jack, and started "Windows Recorder," which comes with Microsopft XP."
Trouble is, it's a 60 second maximum recording time, and single track.
When I get some extra dough, I'll get some good software.
Did you listen to my 3 cuts?
Hey, I know I'm only a guitar player, and not a singer, but . . .
Alan