New band - but maybe issues?

[itstooloudMike]

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

That’s funny. But I thought about it.

 

[schmee]

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?

If the rest is quite good, you should maybe join up and start working those small issues as it goes along. It's hard to find good singers and people who are near or ready for getting gigs.
Think about if you are being too picky also. Every passing chord doesn't have to be there necessarily. If someone is playing and singing it's harder to do and focus on singing. Does it work with you doing it with the bassist maybe? etc etc.
Work the problems along the way.
If it's not working you can always quit.

Then there's watching the stars at their concerts and realizing how many don't play their originals anything close to the recordings!

The other issue is if they are using tabs or online chords, they are very often not what was on the recording. If you bring up "that's the chords I found on line" in a group of long time gigging players you're going to get a round of laughter.

 

[Toto'sDad]

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

2HBStrat said:

They broke up, too, didn't they?

It took twenty-five years, I don't think itstooloudMike has that long to wait.

 

[Cam]

This thread reminds me of a late 70's time, when I watched a guy in a band thinking he was playing The Beatles Can't Buy Me love using only C, F & G major chords on a Les Paul into a Super Reverb. Shudder..... The gear was cool.

 

[FenderGyrl]

Hard to find old people that still play...so that's a PLUS.

Playing music that's 50 to 60 years old, not many people in the audience are going to know the songs anyway ...
so that's a PLUS.

Since they have put their spin on the songs and your playing lead, no worries for you to learn solos... just jam ...
so that's a PLUS.

Now that you're there all new songs going forward will have your input.

I would just ride that horse and jam.
Sounds like a low pressure way to just get out and play. It is what it is. After 25 years of not gigging... why not just go with the flow. At least for a gig or two to see if you still have that itch. If not...let it go.
FG

 

[2HBStrat]

...Playing music that's 50 to 60 years old, not many people in the audience are going to know the songs anyway ......

I would say that just about everyone will know songs from 1963-1973, unless the band is playing deep cuts.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

After 25 years of not gigging... why not just go with the flow.

right. After 25 years not gigging, it's very surprising that he knows the arrangements better than they do, and if he does in fact know the songs better so far, then eventually he's going to have to play some that he doesn't remember as well. At that time he's going to appreciate it if they are patient with him. You quit this band because they are missing a few chords, and you may find the next group of guys aren't as patient with a 71 year old fellow that hasn't gigged in 25 years.

 

[Flat6Driver]

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.

The Dead did a lot of covers. I was listening to a Podcast where they mentioned how Bob Weir played or sang this one song a certain way and someone must have said something to him and he never did it wrong after that point.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

The Dead did a lot of covers. I was listening to a Podcast where they mentioned how Bob Weir played or sang this one song a certain way and someone must have said something to him and he never did it wrong after that point.

that's surpring because I'm not sure the Dead was ever concerned about doing a song exactly the same way one time to another

 

[Flat6Driver]

Last summer I joined a group of retired guys. (I'm not). The keys player/leader/host was very particular/inflexible about various things and arrangements. BUT, he was usually the one to train wreck the songs. I bailed partly for that reason (heaven help us if I suggested we just jam through a song to see if the key worked for the singer) and because I didn't have the enthusiasm that a bunch of retired guys could have.

Anyhow, two weeks after me the singer bailed. I kept in touch and they went through a series of guitar players and singers. I think other things were afoot because last I heard, the rhythm section quit with one of the newer guitar players and formed their own band. The keys guy hung it up as with his hopes for being in a band again.

 

[Flat6Driver]

that's surpring because I'm not sure the Dead was ever concerned about doing a song exactly the same way one time to another

I think it might have been the lyrics. I don't recall the details now.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I think it might have been the lyrics. I don't recall the details now.

I was just kind of joking anyway

 

[Flat6Driver]

I was just kind of joking anyway

Ha ha. I've become quite the afficiando over the past several years. I think on the web people think they are just randomly jamming away. It's not true, you'll hear a jam but then a hint, a tease, and know what's coming next. So there's enough regularity in the songs. It's usually only audio so I don't know how other than the leading notes they'd signal each other.

For another thread....

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Certainly there are cues to changes, regardless how long the jam may be. Ocassionaly visual, but most of the time in the music. Speaking of that I never liked visual cues as much as a musical cue because I may get totally distracted by the baby doll in the crowd! Getting old but gratefully not yet dead : )

truth be known, the distraction offstage these days is more likely to be a bar fight that an attractive lady flirting with me. What a drag it is getting old.

 

[dspellman1]

Yeah this would bother me a lot, for two reasons. One, if they weren't good enough as musicians to learn the song right, and two, if they are incapable or unwilling to play the song right when the correct chords are presented to them. Doing a cover song "your way" with your own arrangement is one thing but doing it half-a$$ed because you're incapable or unwilling to play it right is quite another.

Good Luck.

I left a band fairly quickly when it became obvious that they were half-a$$ing every song and that they were incapable of doing it right and didn't want to hear about it.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I left a band fairly quickly when it became obvious that they were half-a$$ing every song .

a band

Only 1? Then you've been lucky.

 

[CV Jee Beez]

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

 

[Stedgett]

Clapton played Layla all wrong acoustically….wasn't anything like the original…..but I abhor the note for note robot mind set…..one can keep the vibe of the original while still being creative…..if your not being creative whats the point….just play the cd…..let the flames begin…lol.

There are not enough likes for this response, in fact I like changing it up and have been doing it that way for years. A situation like that is what I call opportunity. I've always had the ability to adapt.. or go home.

 

[dspellman1]

a band

Only 1? Then you've been lucky.

Very. Mostly I managed to avoid bands that didn't take craftsmanship seriously, and I've been lucky enough to have been asked to join bands that were pretty solid.

 

[Area51]

Well, after not gigging with a band for 25 years, I auditioned for a lead guitar slot a couple days ago. Seemed like a good fit from their posting. These three guys all sing well, and play bass, rhythm guitar, and drums. They’re all retired (like me), and play 60s and 70s rock. My thinking was, how can this not be a good fit. They have been working together for about a year, and have developed a set list of about 30 songs. 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. I’m struggling with this concept. I hate playing something wrong. Some songs it wouldn’t make much difference, but others just sound bad the way they are playing them. What should I do? Just learn their “adjusted” versions, try to get them to change, or pass on the band entirely. I may never find another band of guys my age who still want to perform. I’m really torn about this. Need advice.

You're the new guy. They have a repertoire of song. It doesn't sound like there's anything really wrong with the songs. So, if it's a good group of guys, they play regularly and get out on occasion, go with it.

Eventually you will all be adding new songs and some old ones may go away. You'll be an established band member and can have input on how they're played.