EssexBuccaneer

I use ultimate guitar for their pro-tabs, and often YouTube play-along tabs/lessons. If a piece is too challenging then I’ll simplify it and build up to the ‘proper’ version. I have learned some stuff by ear, starting with root notes and adding my own frills around them. it works for me.

Here’s one I like taken by my Guitarist’s missus at a recent gig. Playing my Fender pupped Chinese tat/custom thing.

A bit late here, but on Saturday we played a cancellation at The Chadwell Arms in Grays. A slow night, but we played well and added a couple of new songs to the setlist which went down well. The landlord/lady had a good chat with us after and told us how much they love having us down. They’re increasingly frustrated with the low numbers (was relieved to hear that it’s not an ‘us’ thing 😀). Despite the turnout, the punters had a good time, and wanted an encore to our encore, so we were pleased with our night’s work.

First rehearsal with our very own PA tonight, went smoothly. First run through of Cars and You Shook me all night long as well, both immediately gig-ready so well pleased with our night’s work.

This is a double win, because with enough beer the HB will sound just as good as anything else 😊

I like to tinker, and I wouldn’t get that pleasure from a high end bass, not to mention being terrified to gig with it because of the inevitable punishment it would take. I like low/mid range basses that I’m not afraid to upgrade and play around with. Just ordered a Seymour Duncan pup for my HB five-string and I’ll take great pleasure from gigging with it.

Am so sorry for your loss.

To an extent, yes. You have to keep the crowd happy. But also you have to enjoy what you play. One of the things I looked for in my current band is that the setlist isn’t a carbon copy of every other covers band’s setlist. Yeah we play Guns N Roses, but not sweet child o’ mine. Yeah we play Green Day but not Basket Case. The band has to be interested and invested in the songs they play - not simply acing as a playlist chosen by the punters.

Just back from rehearsal. Targeted a few songs that are nearly there rather than running through our set. Are You Gonna Go My Way (for some reason we couldn’t nail the timing coming out of the solo) and You Could Be Mine (GnR) are now gig-ready. Numan ‘Cars’ and AC/DC ‘You Shook me all night long’ are homework for next rehearsal.

Every band I’ve been in has rehearsed weekly or fortnightly, regardless of gigging schedule. Are you guys telling me that isn’t the norm? 🤔

Middle aged straight men are hardly a demonised demographic. I say that as a middle aged straight man.

I watched it this year as I do every year, because Mrs Buccaneer loves it. It’s trash, we all know it’s trash, so we have a drink and laugh at how appalling it all is. And yes, the U.K. entry was laughably bad. I’m surprised it received any points at all from the judges. Pathetically bad but also lacking the charm that some other horrendously rubbish entries have historically used to their own advantage.

A mixed bag tonight at the Chadwell Arms in Essex. Set 1 was riddled with issues, which we realised was down to the singist’s radio mic interfering with my wireless. It’s happened before when we’ve rehearsed in a smaller room and the pub was pretty intimate tonight. I wired up for set 2 and it was a million times better. The small crowd loved us, the pay was good and we’ve got a few adds on social media and some pledges to come see us at other local gigs.

I was reminded why I seldom read these lists after hunting twice for Nicko McBrain (assuming that I must have missed him first time around)

Hi all, some advice would be appreciated. When being paid for gigs, we don’t take a share each, but the money is ‘the Bands’ for use on a PA, lighting, consumables etc. Our gigs have so far been cash-in-hand with the guitarist looking after the money in his safe at home. However we’re playing a gig soon who will pay us electronically via concur - as such we’re thinking about setting up a band bank account. Has anyone experience with this? Does one person control the account and act as treasurer? Are you all signatories to the account? Are there fees for a multiple person account? Anything else we need to know?

Just back from tonight’s rehearsal. Whiskey In The Jar (Metallica version) went faultlessly so it’s slotting straight in the set. Played some stuff we’ve not touched for a while, but it all came together right away. All ready for our first gig of the year next week. It’s been a slog having 4 months without playing to an audience but such is life for a new band, I guess.

The drummer is indeed human. I’ve yet to find a human capable of keeping perfect time, 100% of the time. The drummer is basically an unreliable metronome. And the rest of the band follow it.

Imagine you’re playing, in time to a metronome that’s out of sight behind you. No flashy lights on this one to keep time with(!) Then randomly I sneak in and gradually up the tempo of the metronome, bit by bit. What is going to happen to your playing?

I promise you they can.

If the drummer speeds up or slows down, the rest of the band as a rule of thumb will speed up or slow down accordingly. And if you’re rigidly sticking to tempo whilst the rest of the band speeds up around you, who is going to look like the problem to an audience?

The drummer controls *everything*. If he can’t, it’s time to get one who can.

Venue specific, but I’m also prone to wander around and amongst the crowd as well!

Steinberger L series. I don’t care how revolutionary you tell me they are. Ugly as sin.

“Well, perhaps I’m mistaken. I might not have *quite* found my sound just yet…”

Some of the greatest guitarists and bass players around are self taught and have little theoretical knowledge - Steve Harris springs to mind. i never learned theory. I wish I did, and I’ve tried the ‘for dummies’ book but ditched it very early on. When I want to create something I’ll hum it in my head and figure it out from there. Is that common? I have no idea, but it works for me.