Covers or original band

[Thunderthumbs]

Personally, I've played bass for nearly 30 years now, and am self taught. During that time, the majority of it has been in covers bands.

I was just wondering what the majority of people on here have spent their bass playing days doing.....original material or covers (or maybe even a combination of both).

What have you learned as a bass player from doing what you've done? Again, personally, I've learned an awful lot (I think) about how to play to a live audience. Some of the audiences you play to in northern "clubland" clubs can be some of the hardest audiences anyone will ever play to. Learning what keeps them happy can be an extremely daunting task. You're always just considered to be just the "entertainment" for the night, rather than someone they've come to see especially........as they go in that club and sit in that seat night after night after night. My old band was once told by someone in an empty club that we couldn't set the mixing desk up in a particular place because it was their seat! We obviously, politely, told them to go sit somewhere else as there was nobody else in the place. Needless to say, it was the topic of conversation to everyone else that walked in.

I'm always looking for improvement, whether that be in technique (God forbid I'll get it right one day!), or any other area.

So what's your background, and what have you learned over the years?

[s_u_y_*]

The band I'm currently in is the one where I cut my teeth on. It is an originals band, but the odd cover thrown in, but never done straight.

It was really hard to begin with, though we're not a blues band per say the bandleader always insists on a jam for an hour at the beginning, usually a blues of some description. As I was never a blues bassist, I had to learn fast. I've really developed my sensitivity for dynamic, as he likes to vary things impulsively. Also, my relative pitch has improved. I have to pick up what he's playing pretty quickly when we're jamming. The bandleader and drummer are great musicians and have played together since they were 13 and 10 respectively. So I had to really up my game at the beginning.

I feel that being in a bandleader-led original band, who is impulsive has given me a good edge when jamming. It has taught me to listen and be responsive to what's going on.

[Rich]

I've been in both originals and covers bands over the years... at the moment, all covers and that's probably how it'll stay from now.
The main thing I've learned over the years is that [u]less really [i]is[/i] more[/u]..! When I think of how I used to overplay years ago, god it makes me cringe.
And yes, I'm self-taught too (not that I taught myself much ), and it's only recently that I've finally started to correct some of my faults...

[Dr.Dave]

I was 17 the first time I played in front of people - I'm 46 now. That's a lot of gigs. I assure you I've never played faultlessly throughout one yet , and I never will . That's one thing I've learned - more important I learned how to cope when things go wrong.

I enjoyed playing in original bands - you have to be driven - and accept that for every guy who earns a million quid out of it there's a million of us that can't make a quid. That's not the primary reason for playing your own music but , if you're anything like me , as you gain experience you feel the need to see it rewarded in some way. To put a value on your time and skills. If you're going to be a true pro you may find yourself playing music you don't actualyl like. I've never had to do that and it must be dreadful.

These days I play blues/rock covers - though most folk haven't heard many of them. I do the ZZ trib thing too which is so much fun. I still write songs - for me - and record them when the spirit moves. All from the comfort of my warm, spare room with plenty of food in the kitchen and enough 'earned' money in my pockets to buy my nice bassy toys. I've learned enough about myself to know I wouldn't be a good pro in many ways. I'm not big on compromise and I'm not prepared to 'suffer for my art'.

BUT - my fave saying - if you're getting paid for what you do , even if it's a tenner or a few free drinks - for that moment at least you are a professional , so act like one.

[wateroftyne]

I'm lucky enough to have played original material all over the world, something that has only been possible because I've had the good fortune to work with some incredible songwriters, along with a lot of hard work and quite a few gambles.

I count my lucky stars that I've had that experience. Some of my happiest times have been spent living in a van with good company. We've had some amazing adventures and played some wierd places.

In my different bands I play pubs, arts centres, theatres, village halls, concert halls, corporate do's, festivals... there's never a dull moment!

It's taught me that my gut feeling - to avoid clubland like the plague - has been 100% correct. I've done a couple of club gigs, but they were unavoidable and I ain't going back if I can help it. It's taught me that I'd rather do a lower-paid pub gig with an appreciative audience than a well-paid club gig.

I love playing covers, too. IMO a good tune is a good tune, and if the audience are digging it, then job done.

[chris_b]

I've been playing bass since I was 15, a bloody long time ago. I've played in blues, soul and pop covers bands, in function and original bands. I've recorded, toured, done TV and radio. I've played dives, clubs, US bases, art centres, festivals, back gardens, arenas and everything in between. I've been semi pro sandwiched by two periods of being pro. I've met many nice people and some real a*holes. I've been ripped off at least once in every decade since the 60's. I've not made nearly enough money but I've brought good gear which I think makes me sound better than most and learned a lot. What exactly?
1. You are not in control. Someone else (band leader, manager, record exec, etc) always is. Deal with it.
2. Look after your ears.
3. If you know you didn't play well but the whole audience loved it... smile, you made them happy and it WAS a good gig. A musician hears the bad notes; an audience hears the good notes.
4. If you did a great gig and your audience didn't like it, you didn't do a good gig. This isn't art, its entertainment.
5. Only suffer crap if it's paying you enough.
6. I should have networked more effectively. I have nearly joined some top bands but have just missed out because, "they knew someone".
7. Always give 110%, even to an audience of one! True story; once that one person gave me a gig in his band because "I hadn't given up".
8. Less is more. Understand what this means because it really is true.
9. If you're going to do this professionally make sure you have an understanding wife/partner who doesn't mind paying the bills.
10. Be cool.

[bassicinstinct]

I'd just like to endorse everything that chris_b said above.

My experience has been very similar (although, I'm sure, totally different too ), and I wholeheartedly agree with every word.

[Russ]

Always been in originals bands, and don't see myself wanting to do covers anytime in the future. The fun in music for me is the creative process - playing other people's music just doesn't do it for me. If I can't write the bassline, I'm not interested. If that means I'm condemned to working in front of a computer screen for the rest of my life, only fitting in music on the evenings and weekends, then so be it.

As for what I've learned... here's a few sage tips.

1) Save the drinking until after the set. If people liked your set they'll buy you drinks.
2) Pick anyone who will be working for the band carefully (management, etc) - the wrong person will totally change the band dynamic and mess things up badly.
3) If playing in a band stops being fun, get out.
4) Lead singers are always pr!cks. Deal with it.
5) Loud is good. If you think it's too loud, don't turn down, get earplugs.
6) Always be pleasant and humble, and ready to talk to people. You never know who you might meet.
7) NEVER take a pay-to-play gig.
8) Having 50,000 friends on your Myspace is pointless if only 50 of them have bothered listening to you.
9) iTunes is your new best friend as an originals band.
10) Make time to socialise with the band members away from the band.
11) The rock press have only one good feature - their expense accounts. Make them buy you drinks.
12) Don't bother slogging your guts out all the time, gigging at the same old crappy venues. Only take the quality gigs where you'll play to more than your mates.

.. if I think of any more, I'll post them.

[Russ]

A few more (mostly about technique and so on):

13) Play in such a way that you keep your wrists straight (strap height, fretting hand technique, etc) - less chance of RSI or carpal tunnel setting in.
14) Play with a light touch and let your amp take care of the volume.
15) You can play as many notes per bar as you like - as long as they're all in time and in the groove, and if it works with the song.
16) Less isn't always more, but less is usually the better option.
17) Use the technique that's right for the song. If a song will sound better played with a pick, use one. Don't be a technique nazi.
18) It's hard, but try to listen to the song as a whole, without separating out the instruments in your head, and do what's right to make the whole thing sound good.
19) A live gig is a feedback loop - take the crowd's energy and channel it back into your playing.
20) Don't ever get into the mindset that "you only play the bass" - your voice in the band is equally as important as anyone else's.
21) The ability to hang and not to be an ar$ehole is just as important as the music.
22) A gig is worth 20 hours of rehearsal time.
23) Never play for free. You're undervaluing yourself and doing other bands a disservice by setting a precedent that bands will play for free.
24) Record EVERYTHING you do and listen back to it as a group.
25) Never be afraid of constructive criticism.
26) Listen. Then listen some more. A good ear is the most valuable thing a musician can have.

Edited December 7, 2007 by Russ

[P-T-P]

For me the single biggest difference to my playing has only come about in the last couple of years (of the 20 or so since I started out). Playing in covers bands has improved my ear training so much. It was the one thing that no amount of studying ever improved.

As a result, I can now make my bass say what I want it to say, what the song needs to have said by the bass etc. with much more consistency and confidence. Rather than working out a part and reciting it, I now feel I'm much more connected to the songs, my bandmates and our audience on a much more profound level. In a funny way, it's made me want to get back into some original stuff, not as an antedote to covers, but because playing covers has made me much more capable of having something interesting to say.

[MB1]

MB1.

Continually attempt to drive our own material over annoying,unfortunately must have covers, to get the gig in the bloody first place.Have previously had such open ended sentences as," do you do anything by Radiohead?,......er No!.......,Hows about The Beatles then?(first time ive ever heard both bands mentioned in the same sentence) that was in Rochdale.Would realistically like to just do our own stuff but we'd never get out of the rehearsal room. "Eee they like there Rock in Ere Lad, do ya do some Rockers?". ........ Any Chance I Get?........Not Arf!

[JD1]

covers = money

[Boy Thunder]

I spent my formative years in an original band... I learned all I could and did as much as possible with them... We threw in the odd standard cover just to keep people happy but it was all about the writing ...

I think we did some great stuff.. but then I'm biased...

My main role at the moment is in a working covers band... (in the sig) and it's cool...... Covers DOES= cash... Being in a covers band has MADE me learn styles of playing that I had never tried before and as such, I believe, has made me a better player.. but I suppose that is for others to determine...!!

Now I'm not saying that covers is better than original or visa versa... I believe they both offer a player different sides to their playing.. I also play in original outfits as well..

The main thrill for me is playing live... be it original or covers.... I just love being on the stage...

I think, as long as you're having fun... the rest is immaterial.... unless you like cash...