lozkerr Posted May 22, 2019 Share Posted May 22, 2019 Hi everyone, After some more less-than-impressive encounters with the world of JMB and wannabe Simon Cowells, a friend and I have decided to form our own band. First rehearsal is on the 16th June, and we have fourteen songs to learn. One of them is Pretty In Pink. And it's doing my heid in. The phrasing isn't difficult - I've cracked that OK - but I just cannot seem to get the right key. I've found some bass covers on YouTube, but it doesn't help that there appear to be several versions of the song out there and they all sound subtly different. At the moment I'm playing it in E flat major, and it sounds right-ish. The ish is what's irritating. Mr Google suggests it's in D major, which again sounds slightly odd. Or it could be senility setting in. Does anyone cover this song, and if so, what key do you play it in? I know we might have to alter it to fit our singer's voice, but I would really like to know what key the original is in. Many thanks, Laura 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 22, 2019 Share Posted May 22, 2019 I don’t know the song, I don’t think I’ve even heard it. This that I found here after a quick look is in Eb. Maybe ignore YouTube and play to the original record? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, lozkerr said: a friend and I have decided to form our own band. Sounds fun. Good luck! PS: I just checked 4 versions of P I P on YT and they're all about 2-3 cents sharp of D (They probably recorded in D and vari-speeded it up a bit to reduce 'plod'. Or recorded in Eb and slowed it down because they were all speeding off their faces. Who can say?) Edited May 23, 2019 by skankdelvar 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 I remember having to learn a Rolling Stones song once that hadn’t been recorded in standard A=440, there was a song at university too thinking about it. It’s maybe the same with this? They could have tuned to another instrument in the studio that was slightly out of tune? Just pick a key that you’re both comfortable with, and learn it in that. If you have to change if when you get a singer, it’ll probably just be a case of moving up or down a fret or two. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 Good (and unusual) song choice. Are you going to be doing a lot of 80s stuff or just a smattering? Richard Butler's voice always made me want to clear my throat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 9 hours ago, lozkerr said: After some more less-than-impressive encounters with the world of JMB and wannabe Simon Cowells, a friend and I have decided to form our own band. First rehearsal is on the 16th June Nice one! 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 We used to do this in a band waaaay back, and IIRC we just picked a key the singist was happy with (again IIRC, it may have been D) and went from there. I play at home with headphones using an iPad app which can adjust pitch (helpful for things like ACDC, which seem to be in some odd Antipodean key, possibly something to do with the way water goes down their sinks...) so you don't have to tune your bass to the track... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 One of the first songs I played with a band on bass many many years ago, pretty sure we played it in D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkerr Posted May 23, 2019 Author Share Posted May 23, 2019 1 hour ago, ambient said: Just pick a key that you’re both comfortable with, and learn it in that. If you have to change if when you get a singer, it’ll probably just be a case of moving up or down a fret or two. I've had a quick confab with my friend, who's the singist, and we're going to run through it and then decide on the key. You might be right about the original being slightly out of tune - both Eb and D sound close but no cigar. The phrasing and rhythm's OK, which is the main thing, so going up or down a fret shouldn't be too much of a problem. Thanks also for the sheet music - I hadn't come across that site before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkerr Posted May 23, 2019 Author Share Posted May 23, 2019 4 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: Decide which version of the song you want to use as a template. Decide which key you want it to be in. Send it to me and I’ll pitch correct it for you if you’re not able to. Thanks - I appreciate the offer! I'll take you up on that if we can't reach a decision between us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkerr Posted May 23, 2019 Author Share Posted May 23, 2019 1 hour ago, Rich said: Good (and unusual) song choice. Are you going to be doing a lot of 80s stuff or just a smattering? Richard Butler's voice always made me want to clear my throat Me too 🙂 There's quite a lot of eighties stuff on our list, with a few slightly earlier and later. Our first set is: Don't Get Me Wrong Hanging On The Telephone Union City Blue Pretty In Pink Teenage Kicks You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It) Bad Reputation Best Of Friends Psycho Killer I Feel You Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) Stupid Girl (the Garbage one, not the Stones) Panic Gimme Danger We had to whittle that down from a list of 60+. We're going to be busy! And we also have to find a drummist and someone who plays one of those screechy things with too many strings. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 I like that list! I was about to say "if you ever play in Bristol, let me know", but then I spotted your location... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 11 minutes ago, lozkerr said: Don't Get Me Wrong Hanging On The Telephone Union City Blue Pretty In Pink Teenage Kicks You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It) Bad Reputation Best Of Friends Psycho Killer I Feel You Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) Stupid Girl (the Garbage one, not the Stones) Panic Gimme Danger Fab set list! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 6 hours ago, lozkerr said: Me too 🙂 There's quite a lot of eighties stuff on our list, with a few slightly earlier and later. Our first set is: Don't Get Me Wrong Hanging On The Telephone Union City Blue Pretty In Pink Teenage Kicks You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It) Bad Reputation Best Of Friends Psycho Killer I Feel You Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) Stupid Girl (the Garbage one, not the Stones) Panic Gimme Danger We had to whittle that down from a list of 60+. We're going to be busy! And we also have to find a drummist and someone who plays one of those screechy things with too many strings. Some great stuff there. If 'Twisted' was in your original list, maybe think about putting it back in, the bassline is great fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 7 hours ago, lozkerr said: we're going to run through it and then decide on the key. Do it in D. Your guitarist will thank you and so will your left hand. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevsy71 Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 (edited) Make sure you are all going off the same version - there's the '81 original and the re-recorded '86 version for the film. Worth listening to all of Talk Talk Talk (and their debut album) while you're at it, I love 'em Edited May 23, 2019 by Kevsy71 wrong album title! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 1 minute ago, Kevsy71 said: Make sure you are all going off the same version - there's the '81 original and the re-recorded '86 version Good point. Didn't know that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkerr Posted May 24, 2019 Author Share Posted May 24, 2019 17 hours ago, skankdelvar said: Do it in D. Your guitarist will thank you and so will your left hand. Good advice, thanks 🙂 I tried both last night, and it's a bit easier in D. I think I'll stick with that until we get into the studio. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkerr Posted May 24, 2019 Author Share Posted May 24, 2019 17 hours ago, skankdelvar said: Good point. Didn't know that. Hm, I didn't either! We'll need to decide pronto. Good spot! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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