please help..!

[jimmywinter]

hello to everybody..in about 10 days i have an audition for a blues-rock-funk -soul band that gigs in clubs , and looks very professional judging from their site..the thing is that while i can play rather good rhythm for the songs they told me to learn, what about the solos?(and licks, overdubs etc.)
i' ve been playing for about four years.. i'm wondering how should i approach this,should i learn the songs note for note or just play my own thing ? what would you do?

[ifallalot]

I commend you for going to audition after playing for such a short time.

I have been playing since 13 and I am scared to audition for any professional-seeming band.

Are there clips of them playing? Are they playing note-for-note covers or putting their own spin on things? That to me would tell me whether I would try to go note for note on the solos

[KokoTele]

Play to your strengths. If you can learn the solos note for note and pull them off, do it. If you can play your own thing better, do that. You stand a much better chance of getting the gig if you play your on stuff well than if you do a mediocre job of someone else's solos.

Also keep in mind that very few bands are as polished and professional as their website makes them out to be. A good site just means that they have someone who's good at marketing.

[cnote]

The best way is to ask the band. Whoever the lead contact is, shoot them an email or phone call (whatever their preferred method) and see what their expectations are. Then do that for your audition.

[emu!]

If you can learn the solos note-for-note...that should impress them. But, if you can't or don't have the time...play some cool licks.

[jimmywinter]

thanks for the replies..they stick pretty much with the originals..i'm not sure about the solos though..i mean one of the songs is ''do you read me?'' by rory gallagher..there are two solos in this song.. it's going to be a drag just trying to REMEMBER all that stuff..

[kelnet]

Originally Posted by jimmywinter

thanks for the replies..they stick pretty much with the originals..i'm not sure about the solos though..i mean one of the songs is ''do you read me?'' by rory gallagher..there are two solos in this song.. it's going to be a drag just trying to REMEMBER all that stuff..

If learning the solos is going to be a drag, you might not be ready for a band.

[cnote]

Just do yer best. It's a lot to learn and most bands I've been involved with understand it takes a little time to get 100% up to speed on all the tunes. Learn whatcha can, try not to play over your head.

Most important, be on time with working gear and a good attitude.

[uriah1]

Are you doing both leads and rythms..is there another player...?

just be comfortable, and do rhythms/beat/tempo/groove well....comp the other stuff
be you

[Mid Life Crisis]

Agree that you should play whatever it is that you can play well, but with one proviso that if there are signature licks or phrases in the solos then you should at least have them down. Songs like Cissy Strut or anything that Steve Cropper played on for instance just wouldn't sound like the song at all if you didn't play them like the originals.

[jazztele]

Agreed...I'd like to see the song list. There's places you can improvise and places you gotta play it "straight."

Mind you, the thing that ends most auditions is bad time. If you can lock in with the rhythm section, you'll be better than most guitar players they'll come across.