Members Tedddy Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 I hope i impress them! any tips for mi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassplayer7770 Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 My best tip is simply to know at least 5 songs they play really well. If you know more, then that's great! Also, make sure the tunes you're learning are songs they're still currently playing. Knowing the tunes well should help boost your confidence. Other than that, have fun and show it! Good luck! I may be doing some auditions soon as well. I still haven't found an official new home just yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedddy Posted December 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Should i learn note for note or impress them by adding my own 'flava' by improvising? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members freetime Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 if you're doing a solo get the catchy parts of the solo down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassplayer7770 Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Should i learn note for note or impress them by adding my own 'flava' by improvising? Good question. Perhaps you could learn note-for-note. At the same time, try to figure out what the chord progression is so you can also improvise if needed. If in doubt about what the band will want to hear, maybe you could simply ask if the band stays pretty true to the originals or tries to "make them their own". Edit: When I learn covers, I usually determine what parts are "essential", and I learn those parts note-for-note. If there are parts that seem improvised on the original tune, then I might take some liberties with some of my own improvisation. Does that make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedddy Posted December 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 i have to do Proud Mary, Highway to Hell, White Room, janis joplin, and some song by Pink. i'm not so concerned about playing the songs, i'm more so concerned about how i come off as a person. I can be a bit of a butthole. So I was thinking of perhaps drinking prior to the audition or perhaps partaking of other certain substances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Should i learn note for note or impress them by adding my own 'flava' by improvising? Yes. I'd learn it as written, they may want it authentic and get mad if you try to show off. After a tune or two of that, ask them if it is ok if you play around a little and if they say go for it, that's when you pull out your own fills and variations. You don't want to show up and come off as a total wanker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedddy Posted December 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 yeah the ad said 'no gunslingers' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassplayer7770 Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 i have to do Proud Mary, Highway to Hell, White Room, janis joplin, and some song by Pink. i'm not so concerned about playing the songs, i'm more so concerned about how i come off as a person. I can be a bit of a butthole. So I was thinking of perhaps drinking prior to the audition or perhaps partaking of other certain substances. For those songs, it might be best to stick close to the original basslines, but, again, it never hurts to be ready to improvise if asked to do so. If drinking a beer settles you down a bit, then go for it. Do you know if the band drinks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members catphish Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 yeah the ad said 'no gunslingers' gunslingers probably refers to hired guns. Guys who want to get paid on time, every time for every show, and most likely won't rehearse with the band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 yeah the ad said 'no gunslingers' Chances are they want a stay at home bassist then. If there is 2 guitards, even more so. You are barely above a drummer in their eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burdizzos Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Impress them by knowing the chord changes and making sure that your timing is on point. Keep the "flava" to a minimum, most cover bands don't want a bunch of extraneous crap from their bass player. Take the time to create a spreadsheet chart of all of their songs and their chord progressions. Even if you do not get the gig, it will probably be helpful next time you audition for a cover band because they are bound to do some of the same songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedddy Posted December 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 i'm going to bring my shortscale Squier Bronco. Do you think they will laugh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members catphish Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 If you're doing white room you had better be able to jam out. Or at least learn some of Bruce's licks from the song to fake it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FailBoatCaptn Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 cleavage. and lots of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedddy Posted December 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 If you're doing white room you had better be able to jam out. Or at least learn some of Bruce's licks from the song to fake it. no problem there, I make jack Bruce look like Sid Vicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassplayer7770 Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 i'm going to bring my shortscale Squier Bronco. Do you think they will laugh? If you're getting good tone that fits the songs well, then why should they care? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wades_keys Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 If you're doing white room you had better be able to jam out. Or at least learn some of Bruce's licks from the song to fake it. Most of that song is attitude, playing loud and with distortion. Not a lot of fills in that one, but the critical part is the descending bass line that lands on the major third of the G chord (B) right before the ascending Bb, C, D. If the guitarist plays a full version of the G chord against that B note, it might wind up sounding "wrong/different" and the bass might get the blame. If that happens, be ready to suggest kindly that the guitarist try a G/B (g chord with B in the bass). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members catphish Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Most of that song is attitude, playing loud and with distortion.Not a lot of fills in that one, but the critical part is the descending bass line that lands on the major third of the G chord (B) right before the ascending Bb, C, D. Disagree. Live anyway, Jack goes pretty crazy. Not super flashy, but definately NOT just the descending bass line from the verses. The characteristic line of the jam is actually an ascending minor (i think) phrase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wades_keys Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Disagree. Live anyway, Jack goes pretty crazy. Not super flashy, but definately NOT just the descending bass line from the verses. The characteristic line of the jam is actually an ascending minor (i think) phrase. That could be - but more people are familiar with the studio cut and if you go in there doing a live version it may not come off the right way. Crossroads is much more intense fill wise, IMO. It could be he's viewing the ascending line in a G minor context (G to Bb being a minor third). Of course the chromatic fills are critical (EG "Shadows Run to themselves" Bb, A, Bb, B,C C,B,C,C#,D) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frunobulax Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Impress them by knowing the chord changes and making sure that your timing is on point. Keep the "flava" to a minimum, most cover bands don't want a bunch of extraneous crap from their bass player.Take the time to create a spreadsheet chart of all of their songs and their chord progressions. Even if you do not get the gig, it will probably be helpful next time you audition for a cover band because they are bound to do some of the same songs. if anything underplay the songs. find the kick and establish a big fat groove. that'll sound better than any flava you want to add. the exception to this is if the bassline is essential, then play it like the record. i think cheatsheets are fine. if you can play a buncha songs, start to finish, it shows that you could be closer to gig ready than the band might be expecting. have fun, remember you're auditioning them as much as they are auditioning you, and wear pants! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 If you're getting good tone that fits the songs well, then why should they care? Many do. I did something like that once, pulled out an utter POS ugly ass beater bass that actually sounded ok. When it looked like they were done judging my playing with their eyes, and were about to ask me to leave, (they had made a few comments on my professionalism and poor gear by that point) I pulled out my "backup" bass for a tune. It was an Alembic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Disagree. Live anyway, Jack goes pretty crazy. Not super flashy, but definately NOT just the descending bass line from the verses. The characteristic line of the jam is actually an ascending minor (i think) phrase. I disagree solely because it isn't always the best idea to tell a guitard he is playing a song wrong, while in your audition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frunobulax Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Many do. i think i got the gig for the blues band because i turned up with a Pbass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassplayer7770 Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Many do. I did something like that once, pulled out an utter POS ugly ass beater bass that actually sounded ok. When it looked like they were done judging my playing with their eyes, and were about to ask me to leave, (they had made a few comments on my professionalism and poor gear by that point) I pulled out my "backup" bass for a tune. It was an Alembic. Well, they shouldn't assuming good tone is achieved. There's a great band in town, and the guitarist often plays a Squier guitar and sounds great! I guess some bands will be picky. For example, there have been ads on Craigslist recently asking for 5-String bassplayers only... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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