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Author Topic: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?  (Read 1204 times)

Offline dhagler

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We rehearse on Thursdays, and by Sunday either our director or I have to hum the first few bars of the song so she can know where to go. Not to mention telling her what key we're in. ::)

I mean, I can understand having a zillion songs in your head, most of which sound alike. But isn't that the purpose of practicing: to separate out the songs so that you know what to play and when?

Just venting. ;D

Offline blacklw234

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Re: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2010, 12:45:12 AM »
Do you provide her with a CD of the songs?  I find if I don't get a song in my spirit, it is difficult to remember where the song is going. Especially if you don't like the song. And many times our MD's do songs we don't like but we still have to learn.
I play a LTD ESP C-305 Bass

Offline dhagler

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Re: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2010, 10:18:25 AM »
Do you provide her with a CD of the songs?  I find if I don't get a song in my spirit, it is difficult to remember where the song is going. Especially if you don't like the song. And many times our MD's do songs we don't like but we still have to learn.

It depends on the song. The last case in point, I did. But I am reasonably sure she never listened to it. :(

We have other issues as well but they are more differences in musical philosophy so I let those be. For example, I believe we should play a song where the vocalist(s) feel comfortable, whereas she wants to play it where she feels comfortable and force the vocalists to move.

Offline floaded27

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Re: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2010, 11:28:59 AM »
It depends on the song. The last case in point, I did. But I am reasonably sure she never listened to it. :(

We have other issues as well but they are more differences in musical philosophy so I let those be. For example, I believe we should play a song where the vocalist(s) feel comfortable, whereas she wants to play it where she feels comfortable and force the vocalists to move.

dude, its the same thing with my organist. when a song is played in rehearsal to give the choir or praise team a heads up on a new song that we'll be learning, immediately he starts trying to play it (meaning he doesnt listen at all) and i believe whatever get gets from that one sitting thats what he stays with. i dont think he listens to the song at all. ever. and if he finds that the song slightly resembles some other song he "knows" he'll play that instead. Because of that we cant really do remakes like Tye Tribett's "Bless the Lord" or Fred Hammonds "This is the Day" for example, because he wont even listen to the new version and will just play the old standard version instead. highly frustrating.

Its actually so bad, that for the youth praise team, I play keys instead of bass and we just leave him out, because we sing more current songs which would require him to listen and learn the music....and actually show up to rehearsal. And now the regular praise team started requesting I play keys, but because thats not my primary instrument, some songs I just cant play (as well as play in certain keys).

We rehearse on Thursdays, and by Sunday either our director or I have to hum the first few bars of the song so she can know where to go. Not to mention telling her what key we're in. ::)

I mean, I can understand having a zillion songs in your head, most of which sound alike. But isn't that the purpose of practicing: to separate out the songs so that you know what to play and when?

thats kind of why i hate playing songs that have just that shout run bass line, because everyone then depends on the organist to cue them. But if its a song where the bass can follow the movement of the song, everybody listens to what im playing and take their cues from me and ignore him and let him play catch up.
For my God... let "Golden Axe" prevail.

Offline B3Wannabe

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Re: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2010, 11:32:10 AM »
It depends on the song. The last case in point, I did. But I am reasonably sure she never listened to it. :(

We have other issues as well but they are more differences in musical philosophy so I let those be. For example, I believe we should play a song where the vocalist(s) feel comfortable, whereas she wants to play it where she feels comfortable and force the vocalists to move.

I always play where the voices can go, but I like pushing them too. I've experienced singers that want to change keys all the time, because they aren't comfortable. I really hate doing this after we've practiced it in a certain key for a while.

As far as your topic question, I've had that problem. Sometimes, I'll just be thinking about something else in the service, then when it's time to sing, I'm thinking, Oh crap! What key is that song in? How did it start? It's really bad, sometimes, if we've just learned the song....but once we're going...I'm hot!

Offline mjl422

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Re: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2010, 12:36:41 PM »
I would encourage her to start writing down any info that she might forget (at the very least the key that the song is in).  Also, to listen to the songs that are planned for upcoming events.

Offline phbrown

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Re: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2010, 01:01:20 PM »
I feel you pain but for the opposite reason LOL

I'm the bass player and I tend to forget basslines :(

Last sunday we played "Now behold the Lamb" which is an easy bass line but I just went blank for a while LOL.

I think I'm going to have to give a thank you card to the keyboardist and director for being patient with me.

Offline mjl422

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Re: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2010, 08:30:21 PM »
I feel you pain but for the opposite reason LOL

I'm the bass player and I tend to forget basslines :(

Last sunday we played "Now behold the Lamb" which is an easy bass line but I just went blank for a while LOL.

I think I'm going to have to give a thank you card to the keyboardist and director for being patient with me.

I'm in the same boat as you.  I write everything down.  Most of the time, I don't need it.  Bt, it has saved my life many times.

Offline hands5

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Re: Am I only one who plays with a keyboardist with a faulty memory?
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2010, 01:55:37 PM »
MY BROTHER !!!! I HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS EVERY SUNDAY FOR 2 YRS.8AM,11PM,4PM SERVICES ! STAY ENCOURAGE !
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