Live or Studio?

[bridge]

Guys,
Whenever our band decides to learn a new song, inevitably, we all go off and listen to it, come back next rehersal, play the song, and someone has learned the 'live version' and the rest the studio version. (yes. i know, it should be decided beforehand!!).

However, just out of personal interest, what versions of songs do you prefer to learn?

[gary mac]

We tend to go for the original recorded version.

[Lozz196]

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1361174656' post='1982091']
We tend to go for the original recorded version.
[/quote]

Same here.

[Ed_S]

Depends if it fades out on the CD, especially solo-to-fade; listening to how the band that wrote it decided it should end live can be a useful pointer, even if you don't follow it to the note.

[bridge]

[quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1361175440' post='1982102']
Depends if it fades out on the CD, especially solo-to-fade; listening to how the band that wrote it decided it should end live can be a useful pointer, even if you don't follow it to the note.
[/quote]
Agreed, I also prefer studio version, but the above does make sense, however, when you get into a song, and the drummer is playing something in an entirely different way, and his reasoning is he prefers listening to the live version,it gets annoying, especially as he cannot comprehend the fact that many bands/musicians, 'wing it' or improvise when playing live.

[Coilte]

We usually prefer the studio version. This way, if we want to put our own personal stamp on the song,
at least we are all starting from the same point.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Coilte

[BigRedX]

It doesn't matter so long as you all use the same one.

My covers band usually choses the single version as it will be the one the majority of the audience know and it will be missing all the unnecessary guitar solos.

[ben604]

We do the studio version, that's what the punters are likely to have heard. Our guitarist goes off and watches the live stuff though, to see if there are any funny chords/get hints for the solos that you might miss by ear.

[chris_b]

The cover band will probably do the single/hit version which is usually a studio take, but I'l always listen to any live versions that are out there.

I don't always play what's on the record so, as the live version has usually grown and developed from the studio version, you can hear where the number was going in their heads.

[Norris]

Usually starts out as the studio version. 6 months down the line is another matter...

The key thing is to all agree on a specific version to learn

[MacDaddy]

Whichever has the nearest instrumentation to the band doing it.

[Benplaysbass]

We normally do the studio version but one of the guitarists will always come up with I learnt the live version its 5 minutes longer. I never play the same as the record, enough to make the song recognisable to the general public, but it does help with the structure of the song if all the band works from the same version of the song.

[spike]

Studio version and one of us will upload an mp3 to Dropbox so we are sure we are all learning the same version

[risingson]

It's nice to hear what a band might do differently during a live performance of a very studio-orientated version of a song but if I've got covers to learn then it's usually from the studio version.

[Paul S]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1361183292' post='1982231']
It doesn't matter so long as you all use the same one.
[/quote]

^^ this ^^.

Once we've settled on which tracks we want to play we'll usually decide if there are any particular live versions of any tunes we play that suit us better or whether to just stick to the studio version. For example, we open with UFO's 'We Belong To The Night' and play in the style of the 'Live in Hammersmith' version, which has more aggressive arpeggio lead playing during the opening chords, but at the slightly livelier pace of the studio version.

[iamtheelvy]

Normally studio recording for the arrangement, but then live recordings for reference for solos, breakdowns, endings etc

[JTUK]

Live..always live for me..but you just need to agree on what reference track you use.

[Roger2611]

We tend to favour the studio version then argue when our version doesn't sound the same!

[Bilbo]

The dots.

I never learn anything. I am a bad bass player and will go to hell.

[Guest bassman7755]

Would default to the studio version but with some bands (like deep purple) particular live versions are the ones that people sort of expect to hear. So I suppose the right approach is - what ever version the punters are most likely to be familiar with.

Edited February 18, 2013 by bassman7755

[lojo]

Radio version arrangement unless otherwise stated

Though , I will look at live versions, to hear how it's actually played live

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1361183292' post='1982231']
It doesn't matter so long as you all use the same one.

My covers band usually choses the single version as it will be the one the majority of the audience know and it will be missing all the unnecessary guitar solos.
[/quote]

Likewise

[yepmop]

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1361174656' post='1982091']
We tend to go for the original recorded version.
[/quote]

+1