Cover band question. (learning songs)

[splatter]

Yeah I would like to talk to my buddy again to get an idea of what they are looking for, and I agree maybe 5 songs and see if we gel is a good idea too. I know the drummer is really good and I know my buddy is stellar, I am assuming the lead guitarist is good as well if he is playing these by himself. But it's also supposed to be fun, and that's how I want to keep it.
So in passing your audition, how many songs did you play, and how many do you have to learn?

I was given like 30 songs and I had 2 weeks because the singer was on vacation .
They wanted to know if I could learn 15 songs to audition with . I told them no . I can't learn stuff that fast and I wasn't going to beat my brains out trying . I learned about 9 I think . Played the lead on about 5 of them .Since then I have told them that I may not be able to learn the songs as fast as they want me to. so far they are ok with it .I'm picking up about 2 to 3 a week just depending on the song and how much lead I have to learn to go with it . Also depends on if I'm learning the lead "the way it goes " or just improving it .it also depends on how familiar I am with the song . If I've never heard it I have a hard time learning it cause I can't keep it straight in my head how it goes .

So far we have a list of about 35 and growing .Its a new band but the other guitar player and singer were in a band together before so they are on the same page as far as material goes .

Oh and I've been putting in about 10 hours a week practicing .Like you I have a family and a day job . Not to mention alot of other stuff going on

 

[Arzachel]

3 songs max for an audition

To learn 20 in a month is ridiculous unless they are really really easy

I have to learn lots of new things for our band there's no set process for me I find a way into the song which could be the intro or the solo main riff chord progression, whatever and work from there adding the other parts and perfecting them

YouTube is good for solos particularly if it has the tab as well

 

[Leendrix]

More than likely, a lot of them will be more pop based and very simple to figure out and remember.

Start off with learning the chord progression of the songs. In the event that there isn't a (good) tab available for the song, play along with the song and find the root notes, build from there with what chord type should go where.

Then if you're doing leads, play along with the song and the appropriate scale type/location, and either figure it out by ear or come up with your own version, but try and keep the really key licks - people remember that shit.

 

[ErictheRed]

Yeah, 5ish songs for the audition sounds right. You also have to know what parts they expect you to play, figure out which guitar does what on which song, etc., so really any more than that is just crazy because it will take some coordination.

 

[EDS1275]

Myself my brain is wired to do original material and whenever I tried the 'if you can't beat em join em' by trying out for a cover band I found learning tunes that, statistically, I couldn't care less of or outright bored me to tears, to be a giant torturous pain in the ass. Plus, when I have done it I wind up trying to figure out every detail because I don't want to be half assed about it. Takes way too much time to be worth it just to join some sad hack bar band

There are only a very small number of bands/artists that I like well enough to enjoy learning tunes from but they ain't going to be the kind of stuff on any bar bands set list.

The only way I might even give a thought to find it worth doing is if the band was going to be a totally pro outfit that's aimed and will succeed in the high end market... iow, make great $$$$. Just 'playing in front of people' ain't no incentive for me at all

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

Yeah, 5ish songs for the audition sounds right. You also have to know what parts they expect you to play, figure out which guitar does what on which song, etc., so really any more than that is just crazy because it will take some coordination.

especially Master of Puppets because it has the harmony section, and there's a harmony riff that happens right before they go, "MASTER! MASTER!"

It's 6 notes descending in groups of three, but it's harmonized in 3rds, "da da daa, da da daa-MASTER!" ...

....everyone misses that part for some reason when you jam that song with people. It's like an aural bermuda triangle that most don't seem to notice.


...devils in the details.

(OP let me know if you need any help w/ Master, I know it inside and out. And there's a trick to the harmony section ((the 'official' tab couldn't be more confusing to read in how they arranged the bridge harmony.))

But if you just think of the bridge harmony as: 'Em> D> C> Melody/ascending scale',....it's pretty easy to do the melody and harmonize it and not be confused by the tab.

The underlying structure is very simple,..Cherry Lane just wrote it in a confusing manner for some reason. But you need to know if you're playing the higher or lower parts of the harmonies.

Good Luck.

 

[SteveGangi]

Ok so I have a month and a half to learn maybe 20 songs maybe more for a band I am going to try out for that play covers. For the record for the majority of my playing carreer I have only been in original bands playing guitar and singing. This is the first time that I have been not singing in a band and just playing guitar (which I am happy about) But I am curious to know from you guys who are in or were in cover bands how do you go about learning a large amount of songs in a short time. I know a month and a half isn't a short time, but with working a day job and having a family I have been trying to find ways to put in at least a couple of hours a day in to learn at least two a day. I have heard alot of the songs but never played any of them so it's all new for me. I have gotten through about 9 of them and am familiar but not perfect. And some are a bit of a challenge (Master of Puppets, Mr Brownstone, Cult of Personality) I am playing just rhythm not lead. Just wanted to hear how you guys manage this type of time management.

Write stuff down.

Seriously.

You need the set list so you know the order of the songs, and at least what key each song is in. Chord charts are your friend.

At least make a small cheat sheet or index card you can place somewhere and refer to as necessary.

 

[hecube]

From experience, you will work like crazy to learn the 20 songs, possibly pulling it off in time for the audition.

The kicker: during the audition, you will find out that the band doesn't know the songs and was planning on learning them...

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

From experience, you will work like crazy to learn the 20 songs, possibly pulling it off in time for the audition.

The kicker: during the audition, you will find out that the band doesn't know the songs and was planning on learning them...

...because the bass players kid got sick, the drummer just broke up with his girlfriend and is depressed, the singer just hasn't gotten around to it yet, the rhythm guitarist broke a string a week ago and hasn't replaced it, wait your audition was Today!?......



very true, hecube.

 

[Ides of March]

especially Master of Puppets because it has the harmony section, and there's a harmony riff that happens right before they go, "MASTER! MASTER!"

It's 6 notes descending in groups of three, but it's harmonized in 3rds, "da da daa, da da daa-MASTER!" ...

....everyone misses that part for some reason when you jam that song with people. It's like an aural bermuda triangle that most don't seem to notice.


...devils in the details.

(OP let me know if you need any help w/ Master, I know it inside and out. And there's a trick to the harmony section ((the 'official' tab couldn't be more confusing to read in how they arranged the bridge harmony.))

But if you just think of the bridge harmony as: 'Em> D> C> Melody/ascending scale',....it's pretty easy to do the melody and harmonize it and not be confused by the tab.

The underlying structure is very simple,..Cherry Lane just wrote it in a confusing manner for some reason. But you need to know if you're playing the higher or lower parts of the harmonies.

Good Luck.

Thanks bro. Appreciated. Yeah I thought that bridge was something like that but I thought there was another chord after the C. If I have a problem I will let you know.

 

[Ides of March]

I am waiting to speak with my buddy about it because I am kinda confused now. And a lot of the songs are in different tunings, D#, C, C#, drop D, Standard so I will probably be using a couple guitars. And also there are some songs that seem to be based around one guitar player (Rock N Roll, War Pigs, Cult of Personality, Perry Mason) so I was wondering what I was gonna do during solo breaks where there was no rhythm behind it as well. I was assuming I would just go off of the root notes and play those behind the solos but not sure. I was just gonna pick like 5 or 6 songs and get them down and jam to see if we jive or not. And go from there. You guys are right there is no point of killing myself and learning everyone and it doesn't work out during the tryout.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

there is, B7,...but the melody doesn't really play that as an arpeggio so much as a melody/scale.

The whole bridge is really: Em, D, C9, Asus2, B7, B7/Eb .. as slow arpeggios. (though later they distort the arpeggios and palm mute the f**k out of them in an awesome display of controlled, slow, down-picking)

The harmony/melody line just reflects those chord changes for the most part, but they kind of simplify it a bit to be more Em, D, C, ..then melody/scale over the next 3 chords.

It's a really fun song to play.

And if you can pull it off and play it 99% down-picking like Hetfield? ..You're a damn Monsters!

It's one of those songs you basically have to play every single day to keep your forearm/downpicking endurance up,....if not your arm will buuuuurrrrnnnn, halfway through the song.

...then you start alternate picking the riffs and grow a monstrous appreciation for James Hetfields skills.

The man is a down-picking Machine. A true Master of flat picked, downward string thumping!

....(Disposable Heros is another one that can just destroy your picking forearm. )

James is a bad man.

 

[Ides of March]

there is, B7,...but the melody doesn't really play that as an arpeggio so much as a melody/scale.

The whole bridge is really: Em, D, C9, Asus2, B7, B7/Eb .. as slow arpeggios. (though later they distort the arpeggios and palm mute the f**k out of them in an awesome display of controlled, slow, down-picking)

The harmony/melody line just reflects those chord changes for the most part, but they kind of simplify it a bit to be more Em, D, C, ..then melody/scale over the next 3 chords.

It's a really fun song to play.

And if you can pull it off and play it 99% down-picking like Hetfield? ..You're a damn Monsters!

It's one of those songs you basically have to play every single day to keep your forearm/downpicking endurance up,....if not your arm will buuuuurrrrnnnn, halfway through the song.

...then you start alternate picking the riffs and grow a monstrous appreciation for James Hetfields skills.

The man is a down-picking Machine. A true Master of flat picked, downward string thumping!

....(Disposable Heros is another one that can just destroy your picking forearm. )

James is a bad man.

Totally. I have a great respect for Hetfield and his rhythm playing. And Yeah I agree with getting the endurance up. I have this, King Nothing and Symphony of Destruction, The Trooper and Run to the Hills on this list as well. So there is alot of variety and styles to play which I love. I really like the idea of playing different things so I get better on technique.

 

[EDS1275]

I am waiting to speak with my buddy about it because I am kinda confused now. And a lot of the songs are in different tunings, D#, C, C#, drop D, Standard so I will probably be using a couple guitars. And also there are some songs that seem to be based around one guitar player (Rock N Roll, War Pigs, Cult of Personality, Perry Mason) so I was wondering what I was gonna do during solo breaks where there was no rhythm behind it as well. I was assuming I would just go off of the root notes and play those behind the solos but not sure. I was just gonna pick like 5 or 6 songs and get them down and jam to see if we jive or not. And go from there. You guys are right there is no point of killing myself and learning everyone and it doesn't work out during the tryout.

yeah, check them out. there's almost nothing worse than a band that has chosen songs geared towards a lead guitarist that likes nothing better than to hear himself play while you stand there providing pointless support because they all figured the solo parts sound a bit 'empty'

 

[mudfinger]

Lots of good advice already delivered, Ides.

Personally, I wouldn't stand for it. I have never auditioned for a band. I have, however auditioned plenty of bands. Make sense?

"Pick 3 songs, let's meet next week." Any deviation from that is horseshit. Rehearsal space for the audition is on THEIR dime, and after it's done, you let them know that you'll get back in touch with them after you've thought about it.

Again, any deviation from that is horseshit. Drama, headgames, whatever you want to call it. Don't play.

They need a lead guitarist. They need to know that you can lead them, and the only effective way to prove that is to play like a master, and give zero ****s about whatever hierarchy was in place before you showed up.

I'm not saying you should be rude; far from it. You should be pro, unmoved.

If you secretly covet the gig, make good with the drummer, that's the one person you should treat with deference.

Whatever you do, never, ever, ever, ever show fear or hesitation.

 

[mudfinger]

Wait, what?

Did I misread that? They need a rhythm guitarist? Uh...no. That band is fail in motion, don't go anywhere near it.

 

[Ides of March]

Wait, what?

Did I misread that? They need a rhythm guitarist? Uh...no. That band is fail in motion, don't go anywhere near it.

Yeah they have a lead guitarist I would be just rhythm.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

They need a rhythm guitarist? Uh...no. That band is fail in motion, don't go anywhere near it.

...what am I missing MF? what's setting your alarm off?

 

[EDS1275]

Yeah they have a lead guitarist I would be just rhythm.

i love playing rhythm. but i also like doing the solo on a tune that i can really relate to. iow.... a healthy variety of rhythm and solo playing. being stuck solely in one job or the other would drive me nuts.

 

[mudfinger]

Yeah they have a lead guitarist I would be just rhythm.

...what am I missing MF? what's setting your alarm off?

The current lead guitarist doesn't have the salt to play rhythm for his own band, mostly.

But, that implies an ego issue, as well. If that guy was serious about his band, he'd be only too happy to share leads with the next guy to further the cause.

In my experience, everyone is all in, or they aren't, and if they aren't, failure is inevitable. The best you can hope for in that instance is picking up the pieces and forming a new act.