New band - but maybe issues?

[Toto'sDad]

If Earl Scruggs couldn't get Lester Flat to play an e minor instead of major in Foggy Mountain Breakdown, well...

 

[rsclosson]

If Earl Scruggs couldn't get Lester Flat to play an e minor instead of major in Foggy Mountain Breakdown, well...

E minor would be the proper chord for Foggy Mountain.

 

[Telenator]

Tell them your thoughts and see if there's any willingness to change. If not, move on. It will just aggrivate you otherwise.

 

[MilwMark]

They do use iPads, but with there own song sheets. They sent me their song sheet to “If it Hadn’t Been for Love” by the Steeldrivers. At the end of the chorus, there is a place where it goes from Am to F, then quickly F to E, and back to Am. But they are playing it Am, F, Am, E, Am. If you don’t lead into the E from F, it just doesn’t sound right. I’m a big fan of Chris Stapleton (who wrote this one), and I think these subtle nuances make a difference. Am I being too picky?

Something is not adding up.

I suspect tab. Tab is often wrong. Especially. But not exclusively on passing chords.

What tabbers (?) often hear as a separate guitar “chord” change is (a) not there, (b) a passing bass or other instrument note, or (c) not a separate guitar chord and at most a note added or subtracted from the same chord as a walk up/down or played as a single note to accomplish same.

It sounds like you’re not saying when a song is clearly in the key of C they are playing the IV chord as a B instead of a G. You’d hear that or they’d hear that or both.

So if it’s just passing chords that may or may not be there, decide if that bugs you. If so, form your own band who will do it the way you hear it.

 

[Mjark]

I ran in to this question from two different bands that were playing the wrong chords.

My post was tongue in cheek. People should at least be open to learning and to correction. I am, I don't always hear things correctly. If our piano player tells me I'm wrong, I usually am.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

But at the audition rehearsal I noticed that on many of their songs, they aren’t playing the correct chords. These are songs I know pretty well. A couple of times, I mentioned that they were playing the song unlike the original, and showed them the correct chord progression. But they didn’t seem open to “re-learn” their song list, and just wanted me to adapt to their way.

This is insane to me. Who among us hasn't played a part incorrectly for a while (years maybe!) before being shown (or noticing on your own) the correct way? I know I sure have. I can't envision not being excited about, let alone just being open to, learning the little extra thing to make it better.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

So if it’s just passing chords that may or may not be there, decide if that bugs you. If so, form your own band who will do it the way you hear it.

Which is often more difficult than playing a chord you know is wrong.

As previously noted: I love a right and tight band, but honestly, I think I love just playing, even when it's not as good as I want it to be, more than not playing.

I think the op said he's 71. I'm 66 and I am well aware that there aren't as many people my age that even want to do a band anymore, with the hassle that goes along with it. Some have too severe medical issues at our age, some want to travel with the wife since both are retired, some want to hang out and do things with the grandchildren, some have other hobbies, some were tired a long time ago of the hassle with club owners, and the wedding and corporate events planners often just prefer a younger band rather than some of of old geezers. There are just so many reasons that it's harder to do a band at all, let alone a very good band. Is it worth it, or not. That's what I have to decide.

 

[Chud]

I'm in a very similar situation. Older guy, playing with some other older guys, doing some nice, easy gigs (which I love) that put a little extra beer money in our pockets, etc, and thinking that the ability to find another group like this could be pretty tough. Mostly covers, but a few cool originals.

Interestingly enough, the issue in my band seems to be the other way around; they want to be extremely, microscopically faithful to the original song(s), especially guitar solos. I do work hard to keep the general vibe intact and definitely get the chords right. But I also like the freedom to add my own touches, within reason and in a musically reverent and compatible way with the song, when I'm asked to take a lead. I'd say I play most of the leads about 90% the same as the recorded track, but it still drives me a bit bonkers sometimes when we finish a song and the first thing said is, "hey, on that solo, that middle part should be played like this...", especially when the other guys aren't always nailing their parts note-for-note or beat-for-beat

Anyways, I've ultimately decided that hasn't reached a point to counteract all the good stuff and opportunities it's given me to play and improve, and I assume that it's not a big enough deal that they want to replace me. Every band encounters this thing at some point.

I will say that I never expected an opportunity like this would still be out there....so even if you do leave, I wouldn't give up hope!

That reminds me of this scene lol

 

[Masmus]

I wonder if there is a post on another forum that says, we have this band and there is this new guy who is a great guitarist and cool to be around but he seems to want us to play our covers note for note or at least the “correct way “. We get gigs and people like the band already, should we ditch him for someone else?

 

[Toto'sDad]

E minor would be the proper chord for Foggy Mountain.

That's what I'm saying, Lester used to like to play an E major, while Earl was playing an e minor. Earl even claimed he eventually got so used to Lester playing the E major, he kind of liked it! Shows you what CAN happen!

If you listen to the original recording made in the hotel room, you can hear Lester doing the e major. I've played with LOTS of bluegrass guys they aren't usually open to suggestions.

A large bluegrass get-together is kind of like a drum circle with instruments. Cacophony was coined as a word for just such an experience.

 

[uriah1]

I had an audition last year I thought might be cool for a 2nd band to be in. I got the time.
Well, it started good..but, later they fired up a couple of doobies. I don't care folks
interests, but, not during practice. I guess I am just an old coot. It was just weird.

 

[421JAM]

I may never find another band of guys my age who still want to perform.

This sounds to me like "letting the perfect be the enemy of the good."

Any person in a band should understand that a band will change any time a lineup changes. Now that you're in the picture, perhaps any songs the band learns going forward could be learned the correct way. Trying to change what they did before you came along is a waste of time and a fight you're definitely going to lose.

It could also be that this band doesn't want to do the songs exactly the same as the original version. There's nothing wrong with that. But if that's the case, this is a bad fit for you.

The real question is do you want to throw your last chance of playing in a band out the window just because these guys don't do things the exact same way you like to do them?

 

[Gene O.]

I couldn't live with blatantly wrong chords, but it depends on the severity of the misinterpretation.

More importantly, why isn't this discussed in the Band Wagon? I've noticed that quite a few band discussions get started in the BDC.

 

[Tom Grattan]

If you really want to play and this is an opportunity for you and you have different arrangements than you're used to, try and give the rest of the folks positive feedback. Focus on what they are doing well before you suggest that the arrangement is "wrong" or "I do it this way". You're going to get push back, especially if you're the new guy. If you really want to play in a band again maybe look further afield if you can't sync with these folks.
Rock On!

 

[Marc Morfei]

Skipping a couple passing chords is one thing.
Not knowing or caring about the difference between major and minor is another thing altogether, and a complete deal breaker. That's like the very lowest bar there is.

 

[Old Deaf Roadie]

Audiences bail out on bands that don't "sound right", and playing the song wrong is a major contributing factor in that phenomenon. Tough decision to make, especially if all the other boxes are checked.

 

[2HBStrat]

I ran in to this question from two different bands that were playing the wrong chords. They were kind of argumentative, sort of like, "How do you know that the chords are wrong?! What makes you think you are so smart?!"...

Because I have ears and I can hear that it's a Gm and not a Bb (like in Midnight Rider).

If Earl Scruggs couldn't get Lester Flat to play an e minor instead of major in Foggy Mountain Breakdown, well...

They broke up, too, didn't they?

Something is not adding up.

I suspect tab. Tab is often wrong....

Yes, Tab is frequently wrong, often not even in the correct key of the record.

I wonder if there is a post on another forum that says, we have this band and there is this new guy who is a great guitarist and cool to be around but he seems to want us to play our covers note for note or at least the “correct way “. We get gigs and people like the band already, should we ditch him for someone else?

DOES the band have gigs lined up?

I had an audition last year I thought might be cool for a 2nd band to be in. I got the time.
Well, it started good..but, later they fired up a couple of doobies. I don't care folks
interests, but, not during practice. I guess I am just an old coot. It was just weird.

Yeah, I kinda feel the same way about drinking, too. Either it's a serious band rehearsal or its a party. They usually can't co-exist.

.... Now that you're in the picture, perhaps any songs the band learns going forward could be learned the correct way....

Not a bad idea as long as the band is (1) actively learning new songs, and (2) is willing to go along with the OP's correct chords.

 

[421JAM]

If these guys cant hear a wrong chord and know its wrong, there's no way they're good singers.

 

[teletail]

Both the rhythm player and bass player made compliments about my playing at the end of the rehearsal.

Next time say, "It would be even better if you played the right chords!"

 

[itstooloudMike]

This sounds to me like "letting the perfect be the enemy of the good."

Any person in a band should understand that a band will change any time a lineup changes. Now that you're in the picture, perhaps any songs the band learns going forward could be learned the correct way. Trying to change what they did before you came along is a waste of time and a fight you're definitely going to lose.

It could also be that this band doesn't want to do the songs exactly the same as the original version. There's nothing wrong with that. But if that's the case, this is a bad fit for you.

The real question is do you want to throw your last chance of playing in a band out the window just because these guys don't do things the exact same way you like to do them?

I agree with this. I may have to just be flexible for awhile. Maybe I can influence them on new material.