LearnGospelMusic.com Community
Gospel Instruments => Bass Guitar => Topic started by: BUSDRIVER 2 on December 17, 2012, 04:58:48 PM
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How do ya"ll adjust to not knowing a song on the spot .
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I get through it as best I can. especially if I don't even have a chart. I hate doing that though and I think it is unfair and unprofessional to do that to someone because the person picking the song knows it.
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Well it helps that most songs share common progressions so part of it is to play it with the right feel. Also, as a guitar player, I think it's a lot easier for me to fake my way through a song that it is on bass.....sometimes!
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I HATE HATE HATE last-minute-ism...guess it's part of my personality type - like to have things practiced and planned out
That being said, I have enough experience to fake my way through most things, though I'll sigh and give up if a song is sung in the key of X, with side trips to keys of Y and Z, before ending up in a W? tonality.
And if the band is familiar with a last-minute choice that makes things smoother and easier...
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I don't have an issue if it's testimony service but I done care for it too much with a choir. I like to play my best. I didn't complain too much when I was getting paid on keys. I would suggest learning new songs and having more rehearsals but I was getting paid just the same. That's on the leadership if they like paying someone to keep playing the same thing. I would change up the music though and pray that I still could make a difference in the service.
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suffer through it
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That is one of the things that drives me nuts in the church. Because usually there is no need for things to be last minute. Anyway, to answer your question, here are a few of the tricks I use.....
- Ask the band leader what key the song is in and bounce on the root until you can figure out a progression. 1-4-5 is VERY common. 2-5-1 to get back to the top is equally common
- If there is an organist and you can see their feet you can sometimes figure out the key and progression by watching where the left foot lands.
- If you can see the pianist's or keyboard player's left hand, they usually play the bass chords
- If this is common place in your music ministry, bring an audio recorder and record as much of what is played in rehearsals as you can. Likewise if something is being played in service that you haven't heard before or that you are having trouble picking up. Work on it whenever you have time. Make note cards or charts for the stuff that you think is likely to just "pop up"
Those are all tactics I've used in the past. Right now I have the ULTIMATE fix. I lead the choir that I play for, so I select the songs. And I, with VERY FEW exceptions, will not take anything into the sanctuary that we have not rehearsed at least twice. Once to learn it, once to prove we've learned it.
Hope something here helps you.
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Busdriver2,
Who selects the music for your service? Pastor? Choir Director? MoM? More than one person? If you have a decent rapport with whomever chooses the music, your fix could be as simple as a text message on Friday or Saturday asking what the plan is.
Obviously that won't change the situation where " the spirit moves somebody" on Sunday morning, resulting in a song half the musicians have never heard.
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I just listen for the progression, then come up with my own bass line.
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That is one of the things that drives me nuts in the church. Because usually there is no need for things to be last minute. Anyway, to answer your question, here are a few of the tricks I use.....
- Ask the band leader what key the song is in and bounce on the root until you can figure out a progression. 1-4-5 is VERY common. 2-5-1 to get back to the top is equally common
- If there is an organist and you can see their feet you can sometimes figure out the key and progression by watching where the left foot lands.
- If you can see the pianist's or keyboard player's left hand, they usually play the bass chords
- If this is common place in your music ministry, bring an audio recorder and record as much of what is played in rehearsals as you can. Likewise if something is being played in service that you haven't heard before or that you are having trouble picking up. Work on it whenever you have time. Make note cards or charts for the stuff that you think is likely to just "pop up"
great ideas malthumb. and thats the best case scenario where the guy on keys knows the song. not as pleasant when everyone is clueless, or you are the seasoned musician looked to for what to do by the rest of the band.
other suggestions would be, if you have free practice time, just randomly put some music on and go. it helps you get accustomed to finding your way in a song as quick as possible. It would probably be best to mix songs you know in with a whole bunch of songs u dont know, different feels and styles. Just a music mash up.
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great ideas malthumb. and thats the best case scenario where the guy on keys knows the song. not as pleasant when everyone is clueless
I hate when that happens!
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great ideas malthumb. and thats the best case scenario where the guy on keys knows the song. not as pleasant when everyone is clueless, or you are the seasoned musician looked to for what to do by the rest of the band.
other suggestions would be, if you have free practice time, just randomly put some music on and go. it helps you get accustomed to finding your way in a song as quick as possible. It would probably be best to mix songs you know in with a whole bunch of songs u dont know, different feels and styles. Just a music mash up.
I hear ya. Lately though, if everyone is clueless, song goes undone. Yes we have left a visiting minister singing a capella.
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I never know what the song list is for Sundays. However, I do know that whatever song they sing will be familiar because they don't sing anything that they haven't practiced.
The key is knowing familiar chord progressions. Even if you've never heard the song, if you can follow the progression of their voices, you can make it through just about any unfamiliar song. I've gotten to the point where I can tell when their voices is leading me to play a 2-5-1, or 7-3-6, etc.
I hear ya. Lately though, if everyone is clueless, song goes undone. Yes we have left a visiting minister singing a capella.
I've done that many times, and am not shamed about it. They better start bringing their own musicians wit em or have some music tracks.
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Malthumb:
- If you can see the pianist's or keyboard player's left hand, they usually play the bass chords
- If this is common place in your music ministry, bring an audio recorder and record as much of what is played in rehearsals as you can. Likewise if something is being played in service that you haven't heard before or that you are having trouble picking up. Work on it whenever you have time. Make note cards or charts for the stuff that you think is likely to just "pop up"
I feel you. Our new MOM is somewhat organized. He sends out Sunday's set list on the Monday before the service.
However...I'll practice what's on the list and on Sunday morning..... some of the songs will always change. Sometimes it's a song that we haven't rehearsed in a long time. That's when I use Malthumb's tips (above). I have a Zoom recorder and I record the songs that we play on Sunday and file it in my archives. When I get time, I'll do a surprise quiz by randomly picking out songs to practice.
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First I would listen for the key of the song, then i would listen for the progression then i would come up with my own bass line. Now if i'm having problems hearing the progression then i just won't play. ;)
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suffer through it
WHY ?????
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This is so common at the church i play for. I just consider this as an opportunity to work on my improvisational skills.
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This happens sometimes for me. If i have forgotten the progression of the song i sit it out.
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WHY ?????
oh i just meant that it is so common in my experience that i know if i had the song in advance i could do the song justice so my playing is subpar so i suffer through the song
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If you are in leadership, I believe you should strive to have a monthly list of songs. If you are not apart of the planning process, you should ask leadership consistently what songs do they have prepared for Sunday. Keep asking, they will eventually come around and you have a right to know as a musician.
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Sometimes i don't know what's going on until Sunday morning right before they get up and sing!! ?/?
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After nearly 6 months of no choir or musician practice, 4 discussions with leadership, and no change, I decided to take a hiatus from playing and pay until and if a change comes. I also gave them an opportunity to find another bass player if they so desire.
It is both frustrating and detrimental to your frame of mind and skills in such a situation.
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I have been in some really tough situation here recently concerning this very thing. I left a church a couple months back because of the leadership and his family being controlling to the extreme that no one wanted even play on Sunday's because they would never tell us what was going on. Then after church they would pull us all aside and verbaly tear us down for not being prepared. And, when one of us would tell the pastor that his son (the MoM) was not communicating with us he would stop us and tell us to respect him and his family and he did not want to hear it. I have recently started attending a very open church with a very young pastor and things are starting to look up. I have been asked to play a couple of times, but have politely declined until I really feel the call to get back up there and play. The cool thing is that I already play with the drummer outside of church and we have a great friendship. I asked him how it is playing for this church and he knows what I just came from and he said this is a NO PRESSURE (he really emphasied that) situation. I said all that to say that I beleive there is a church for everyone out there and a place for us all to use our talents for God.
Prayers to you.
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to God be the Glory