peteb

My go-to is an active jazz, but I like my P bass and take out which ever one I fancy. Some band leaders seem to prefer the Precision, but I think both sounds will work in just about any type of music. I’ve just got a Stingray as well, which is obviously a different sound again but still something I think would work for any gig.

This is a bit of a moot point at the moment as my band have just had to replace singers recently and have just had to change singers recently. This means that we have desperately re-jigging the set to get songs in to suit the new singer whose range does not go quite as high as the departing one. I would say that first of all the proposed song has to suit the singer’s voice and range (I think that the band can manage most guitar based rock songs – we’re not talking Mahavishnu Orchestra covers here). Also, it has to be something that the audience want to hear us play but not the more obvious choices that they can hear any other band do every week. Unfortunately, we have had to delve into the standard rock cover songbook to put a set together with the new singer but we are trying to rectify that as soon as possible.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1508185518' post='3390397'] If the pubs are in residentially zoned areas, is that why you don't have 4 hour gigs? Blue [/quote] Yes, but this is because of a number of reasons: partly because of a curfew when the live music has to finish (usually at midnight round here); also because most people do not tend to go out until 9 o'clock or later to these type of 'music pub' venues; and once they get there the audience tends to stay and watch the entire performance rather than the band just being part of a night's entertainment when they are on a crawl round a number of bars, which people are more likely to do on a night out in a town centre.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1507810255' post='3388097'] When I played covers the drunken idiots were also few and far between, but then we mostly played charity events with audiences that appeared to consist almost entirely of friends and family of the other band members. However since then I've been to see several covers bands play what I would assume are more "normal" pub gigs because I know people in the bands. Most of the audience ignored them and those that didn't used the presence of a live band as a excuse to act like dicks. And these weren't what I would consider to be "rough" pubs. [/quote] Currently I play pretty much exclusively what would be considered to be 'music pubs', where punters come to see the band. I can't think of a recent gig where the band was ignored by any significant section of the audience and there is never any trouble, even (especially) in the biker bars where there could be potential for violence if anyone was foolhardy enough to cause any problems.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1507749124' post='3387762'] Over time I'm getting the feeling that my local bar scene and cover band culture is different than in the UK. First of all our patrons are music and people lovers. I never see anything remotely like this "drunken idiots" crowd you speak of. [/quote] In my experience the gigs full of drunken idiots are few and far between. Most 'music pubs' are not like that at all. You would feel completely at home at all the gigs I do these days.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1507752351' post='3387799'] Good point. I'm not sure what my selling point would be for an agent. A 64 year old rock bar band bass player. Doesn't sound promising does it. Lol �� Blue [/quote] A good, reliable bass player with plenty of gigging experience may well be of interest to an agent who has a working band on his books in need of bass player...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1507679405' post='3387257'] Support local live music when you can. I'm well into my 60s and I don't get out to see much as I use to. On weekends when I'm not gigging I really don't want to be in a bar or pub. However, that's not really cool because bands that play the same circuit that we play have come out to see us on their off night. Blue [/quote] Perhaps you should make the effort to get out and see more bands and get your face known. If other local musos see you at gigs when they know you're not working, especially if you get to know them socially a bit, then they are more likely to think of you when they need a new bass player. These days connecting with players (and fans) on social media is essential and may well be where your next gig comes from!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1507618330' post='3386734'] I don't think it's the lack of interest it's the lack of need if they've got a decent job. [/quote] The thing is that there are plenty of good players out there who want to play but are just to busy to commit to a full time band at the moment but want to keep their hand in and maybe play the occasional gig.

Me and a few friends are putting together a band with the intention of gigging once a month, playing quite indulgent blues stuff not much money. Three of us are gigging regularly with other bands and the singer wants to back into it after recovering from nodes on his vocal chords. We are just doing it for a bit of fun, playing stuff we all like and getting the singer back on stage. It doesn't matter that we won't be working constantly or earning as much as we could doing something else.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1507580514' post='3386567'] A WMC in Bradford , think it was called the Thornhill or Thornton Labour club. 1979 and I was 17. 1973 Fender Precision that I'd bought late in 78 for £150 - took me months to save for it on my trainee wages. Still gigging with it. Marshall 50w valve head - think it was a JTM 45. 1x15 and 1x12 cabs my Dad made for me. Thin Lizzy , UFO , AC DC stuff plus some originals. There was a stripper on before us. Well dirty. Coke bottles , the works. I went in the dressing room after her spot and she was stark naked , she grabbed a towel and covered up ( I could never figure out why after what she'd just been doing ). Anyway I was so gobsmacked all I could think to say was 'We've got a towel like that at home' ! [/quote] Thornton Labour Club - remember it well...!

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1507461681' post='3385551'] More recently, I'm not sure if people have heard Lance Lopez who is an incredible player if you like your blues fast and raw. [/quote] I was lucky enough to play with Lance for half an hour or so at a jam session a few years ago. Not only can he shred with the best of them,but he is a fantastic funk rhythm guitar player as well. Great player...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1507244045' post='3384276'] Cool story, I've always wanted to play Jail Break. Such a cool authentic rock song. Blue [/quote] Be careful what you wish for! My rock covers band has just got a new singer, so we have desperately being trying to rearrange the set to honour all the gigs we in the next month or so. This has meant chucking in a few easy songs that the singer already knows to get a set together, including Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy - 40 years since I last played it...!

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Location/Venue: A youth club summer disco in Bingley[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Age: 16[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Bass: Fender Musicmaster[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Amp: Marshall Supa lead / bass 100w[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Set list: S[/font][/color]uffragette City / Jailbreak / Wishing Well / Smoke On The Water / Let There Be Rock All in all the gig went pretty well but it was obvious that the lead player wasn't cutting it,so we decided to get another one. The guy we got in was a lot better player and wanted to join us as we had actually played a gig! Unfortunately he was also a bit of a d*ck, so the band broke up after one solitary gig...!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1506676029' post='3380296'] A band I dep with has just driven up from Surrey to play in the Orkney Blues Festival. If they'd asked me I'd have done it. Never turn down a good gig. [/quote] I've played the Orkney Blues Festival. If you ever get the chance, do it - great fun...!

Oh, saw the black one last night and thought that it was unusual. Had to remind myself that I would never use it and have already arranged to pick up a Stingray in a couple of weeks time (swapping for a jazz bass I'm not using so much these days)

Is that the black one that was on the various Facebook bass selling groups??

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1504555133' post='3365689'] That's sort of what I thought Dave. And outside of NYC, I'm thinking your public transport is better than what we have in most US cities. Blue [/quote] That's probably true, but generally our public transport is considered to not be as good as the other major European countries. And yes, most of us do want a car to have the freedom to go wherever we want. Having said that, I didn't own a car when I lived in London. As far as dating goes, I'm not sure that English women generally judge a man by his car (although there will be plenty who do) but it certainly makes things easier. When I was 30 years old I used to date a girl living in Leeds (the next city from where I live - a 20 minute drive away) when my car was stolen from outside her flat and burnt out. We used to joke that one of us had to get two busses and a train whenever they wanted to get laid! I think that it is fair to say that both of us were glad when the insurance was sorted out and I got another car...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1504553672' post='3365672'] Good to know, so most of these "no car needed" posts are probably from young guys that live in the city. They're the 10%. Blue [/quote] Not necessarily young guys, but [b]mainly [/b]those who live in London

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1504552636' post='3365660'] I'm starting to think we have more of a car culture here in the States. The only people I know that don't own cars live in NYC. Without a car I wouldn't be able to buy groceries or even get to a doctor appointment. Blue [/quote] The certainly is more of a car culture in the US but don't be misled - for 90% of musos over here a car is pretty much a necessity...!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1504123069' post='3362889'] Many newbies have no clue what it takes to play 3 four hour bar gigs Friday, Saturday & Sunday. [/quote] To be fair, neither do I

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1504013403' post='3362110'] Well, as the OP I quite enjoy lighting the blue touchpaper and lobbing the metaphorical firework into a forum. Don't stop on my account I definitely haven't said the questions been answered either. I think it has simply polarised opinion. [/quote] My answer to your original question is that Tab is a useful tool for learning songs you have heard before quickly but if you rely on it too much you may slow down your musical development and it is not used in any professional situation...

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1503752582' post='3360720'] Mostly always the case with this musical style of gig, along with non Big Band Jazz as well (although chord charts or fake books do appear at times). Professional shows/TV/film sessions/selective recording sessions/backing turns or acts. Depping in certain function bands and corporate event productions/cruises/classical concerts and broadcasts, amature drama orchestras and bands, marching bands, forces bands, arranging/orchestrating and engraving (the list goes on and on). Fluent, or good reasonable sight reading is still big business. TAB readers/musicians who want to make the step up to any of the work or opportunities mentioned above these days, would know deep down, that TAB knowledge only would not be enough to get you anywhere near the front door. They will have to raise their game. However, not all do and are perfectly happy doing what they do with TAB, which is mainly (I guess) for education and learning purpose. It is pointless ramming it down their throats. The OP question was about using TAB when learning songs versus ears. TAB is no more EVIL than Notation is '[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]incomprehensible gibberish'.[/font][/color] [font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]I became fluent in sight reading over a period of time, I didn't just wake up and it happened. Luckily enough, a lot of my reading experience was gained in the heat of battle when I was young [/color][/font][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828](winging it on gigs/cruises and shows using my ears, and accommodating MD's of course)[/color][/font] [font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828] [/color][/font] [/quote] Surely it is undeniable that if you want the gigs that you mention then you must be a proficient reader. Equally there are many pro gigs where reading is a non issue. As far as tab goes, it is just a tool to show you how to play a certain piece that you have already heard. I would say that if a guitar player wants to learn to play Eruption, then an accurate tab will be of more use than notation! But obviously it has no professional applications and you will learn more developing your ear rather than using tab as a shortcut.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1503730982' post='3360539'] To quote Marcus Miller: 'why wouldn't you'? [/quote] Because of all the (blues and rock) gigs I've been offered, I have never once been asked if I can read or even seen anyone with a score. When I have been up for gigs that I would consider a step up from what I usually do, whether I could read or not has been a non issue, more can I commit to going away for a few weeks at a moments notice! I'm currently helping out with stage management with one of the biggest blues festivals in Europe. You see quite a lot of the same players turning up in 'name' artist's backing bands - all jobbing pros, many of whom I imagine can read. However, I very much doubt (to the point of absolute certainty) that when they were offered the gigs that they are getting paid for over the weekend that they were given any score to learn, or even asked if they could read. Certainly they there is no musical score backstage whatsoever...!

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1503525368' post='3358993'] It's not 'huffing and indignant puffing'. It's called having a professional attitude. The flavour of your post suggests you know more detail of this incident than the rest of us are privy to. Care to share it? [/quote] To be fair, most of the old time pros I've met would have an attitude closer to the drummer in question