RVA
Ambassador
Maybe someone can educate me in the ways of the band. What good is sending such a simple chord progression of an original song? You presumably already know how to play he chords, but how can you practice it without knowing the tune?
Another Audition???
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Either of two things are going on. Either the bandleader also sent an mp3 of the song or a link to the song (like on Soundcloud or something) for Robert to listen to, or it's just for Robert's reference so that he'll already know what chords to use when they get together and practice. It saves a little time in that they won't have to tell Robert in practice what chords to use. He'll already have them.
This kind of thing has happened to me before. You just print or write the chords down and put it together in rehearsal with the band. Honestly, sometimes these songs come together surprisingly fast.
Unless the rest of the band members are real jerks, they'll know Robert doesn't already know this song and they realize they'll have to spend some time bringing it together. Sending the chords out ahead of time just gives Robert a bit of a heads-up. It's sort of a courtesy.
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Relic
Well-Known Member
Sometimes songs are performed in different keys too.
Sometimes bands are not tuned to A-440 (think de-tune Eb or D) but the band learning/playing the song aren't going to bother with all that involves.
Also, sometimes people have different interpretation of what is being played when left to only learning a song by their ear. This is like saying, here's what I/we play so Rob can match & compliment what is already established & going on.
It also opens up the opportunity to discuss potential changes or improvements & saves time during practice. Ya know like, 'what the fvk happened during that chorus part, something sounded weird & not like the record I listened to'.
Last, it is a courtesy & time-saver. Not everybody is as advanced & accomplished or quick to learn by ear as Robert & even when they are, $#it can still go sideways during a song for all the many reasons listed above.
The Relics was a bunch of well accomplished learn by ear players that still ran into song format (getting turn arounds & verse/chorus structure correct) issues that could send one person off in their own direction while the rest of the band went that-a-way!
OK Ray, I've said too much, again.
OP
Right on, Smitty, I also review the original versions of these songs on You Tube, even though they do everything a little different than the original. Having the chord progression gives me a "head start" on composing leads. I still play an alternating rhythm behind the bandleader (chief rhythm player) although my primary job is leads and interludes.
Like on Robert Plant's version of "if I Was A Carpenter," they drag out the last few measures of the chorus in 'G' before it returns to "D" in the verse. This threw me the first time I heard it because I was ready to step back into "D," but he kept hammering away on "G" major (and he stretches the vocals out with some repeats too, so it fits) so I responded by playing a "C-Clamp G" (muting the 'A' string) and strumming it backwards (high 'e' first) along with his 'G' major and the brighter chord really woke up this area of the song. I mean, it was all done on-the-fly, but it worked.
His Fender Stratocaster really is very thick sounding, and even though I am playing my SG on the neck pickup, I am dialed in for a cleaner, brighter tone, so the two guitars have a very distinct voicing.
OP
Oh!!! and when you do a Rolling Stones tune...you are often tuned Open G, so a guitar swap is needed!!!!
OP
May take the old 1987 Squire to the practice session on Saturday. I just swapped it back to the old 1990's pickguard loaded with DiMarzio's - a 1992 Virtual Vintage Solo, a 1981 HS-3 and a 1995 YJM...
Relic
Well-Known Member
I've never done that nor have I ever been compelled to rip off an E string just to have the same set up as Keiffe. Once you learn your way around compensating for that configuration none of it is necessary for the 'average listener' to enjoy the song.
But we all got our ways. To each his own eh
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
Good luck with the project Robert. Perhaps since you didn't listen to a lot of this stuff over the years it will end up being a really cool adventure of discovery? 40 is a ton of new songs to learn and here's hoping you have a great time at it!
(I'll tell you honestly, I couldn't play all those ancient songs over and over again with any amount of conviction or lack of pure boredom so my hat is off to you! But I listened to an awful lot of that stuff over the years, so a different perspective I suppose?)
OP
I'm approaching it open minded and it's fun actually....
OP
Might be hard to nail it without Ol Keef's tuning????
Sometimes I prefer to listen to groups not play a song like the original artist. It can be more interesting to see a group's own twist.
OP
Good point!!!!! I try to give some hints as to what it is, then change it...
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
That's all that matters, brother.
Relic
Well-Known Member
Nobody is gonna complain about you playing any Stones tune on a regularly tuned guitar, (believe me) especially if you are duplicating or closely mimicking what is being played.
Besides that, most of their songs have at least 2 dominant guitar parts so... being the 'band-leader' sounds like a simpler kind of guitar player that probably isn't going to strictly learn & follow exactly what the other (non-Keiffe) guitarist is playing... that opens up the door to artistic interpretation & it then becomes almost necessary that a compilation of both guitars dominant & essential parts be represented through you! lol
Hey man, on the real tip, I just hate the hassle of needing to switch guitars for 1 or 2 songs in a set. Tuning is usually an issue (not that precise tuning matters in a Stones tune har har har) simple because one guitar sits cold & warms when you star plsying it & then you get to go through it all again when you pick back up the guitar you just set aside which has now cooled off a bit & yadda yadda yadda I've just come to hate the whole circus monkey routine bro.
The fact is (hopefully without sounding too much like a douche) that it is rather easy to mimic Keith's approach & style if you spend some time figuring out what he is doing & try to reapply it to a standard tuned guitar. I will admit that sometimes I might leave a low note or high note out of one of his full chords if I have to do quick changes but I get dang close with like I said.. no complaints. lol
But this is ultimately up to you & if you feel it necessary to go through that for 1 or 2 Rolling Stones tunes. If you do it will probably be because you like doing a true blue Keith Richards impersonation & note because you couldn't get it close enough on a standard tuned 6 string that you could live with it & be happy.
OP
Good points. I'm really flexible in general, but what's so cool about this job is I always ask the bandleader what he wants and he tells me "do what you like. I'll let you know if it sounds good."
OP
My last band was so structured that you were afraid to suggest anything different. This is a nice change.
OP
We put in 6 hours today learning nee songs. Did Hotel California with the keyboard taking lead with the 12 string effect and me playing all the other guitar parts. Fun!!!
Best lead sound tonight - neck pickup, low gain, tone rolled off to 1 and running the DSL40C cranked up about 4 with "Lead 2" kicked in.
Its noisy as can be when the noise gate is off.
Best lead sound tonight - neck pickup, low gain, tone rolled off to 1 and running the DSL40C cranked up about 4 with "Lead 2" kicked in.
Its noisy as can be when the noise gate is off.
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OP
Had to photo all the settings so I can duplicate them...
What a noisy, feedback-ing biznatch it is at these settings. The minute the noise gate clicks off, you can hear the eggs frying and maybe some of this is due to all the amps so close to one another in the rehearsal space, but the notes roll out of the guitar so effortlessly, its almost hard to stop them as they just keep going and going. I was getting a deep feedback at the conclusion of every solo, so I just kept rolling the volume off to trim the feedback at the end of the lick.
My wife and daughter stopped by for a bit and both said they had never heard that SG sound like that...
What a noisy, feedback-ing biznatch it is at these settings. The minute the noise gate clicks off, you can hear the eggs frying and maybe some of this is due to all the amps so close to one another in the rehearsal space, but the notes roll out of the guitar so effortlessly, its almost hard to stop them as they just keep going and going. I was getting a deep feedback at the conclusion of every solo, so I just kept rolling the volume off to trim the feedback at the end of the lick.
My wife and daughter stopped by for a bit and both said they had never heard that SG sound like that...
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OP
So, last night, I was asked to suggest some songs. My first suggestion was "Revolution" by The Beatles which was unanimously accepted by the group.
Next, I was asked if we could add "Hotel California" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling" with me on lead vocals and I happily accepted.
Then I suggested "Radioactive" by The Firm and we ran through it once for fun. Neat song...but need my 12 string.
Next, I was asked if we could add "Hotel California" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling" with me on lead vocals and I happily accepted.
Then I suggested "Radioactive" by The Firm and we ran through it once for fun. Neat song...but need my 12 string.
OP
I feel like my exposure to some of the groups very old music, like Buffalo Springfield, is very good for my musical development.