Playing Tunes

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Thursday Dec 16, 2004

What is the most important aspect of playing a song...

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday Dec 16, 2004

Everything: timing, intonation, texture, rythmn, harmony, melody, timbre, and of course, feeling (because you might as well not even be up on stage if you're going to spit out songs like a machine). Nothing is more important than something else; what seperates the good performers from the great performers is attention to detail.

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

It depends alot on where? In todays bar scene its more of an energy / vibe kinda thing. Nobody cares to hear alot of the finer points but they still help out.

If you're playing for other musicians then you better have Bassist_25's list together because other musicians will judge you on all that.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

If you are talking about playing covers, then its all in the arrangement and the performers' expressiveness.

For instance, Hendrix covered "All Along The Watchtower (Dylan), but completely re-arranged it and added his own expressiveness. The result was a superhit classic. 25 years later, Neil Young covered it per the Dylan version and the result was a whiney monotone with a 3 note guitar part. Not a very enjoyable experience. (Somebody really needs to tell Neil to sell that electric guitar and get back to his roots).

A band doesn't necessarily have to cover a song note for note, but it should be arranged so it is comfortable for the band's format and also to be expressive.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

Man, is Neil Young Rockpage's most hated artist of all time?

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

Well, I tend to agree with Jeff (*GASP*) about the feeling and expressiveness in a cover. I mean, anyone can cover a tune, but to make it a good cover, you need to have the feeling there, otherwise it's just a weak remake of a cover.

If you are talking about playing live, then there's only one answer for me as a drummer: LISTENING. You have to keep your ears open and listen to the other cats around you, for song structure, for the style, for the phrasing, intonation, and the feel. The more you listen, the better off you are.

For example, after years of playing with Billy Nusom as my bass player, I was a bit wary of moving into a new band situation with a new bass player. But during my summertime rocking out with Bad Daze, I found that Future Bobby (bassist_25) was one of the easiest guys for me to lock in time with. My comfort level went way up after only a couple rehearsals. I even got him to use a pick on "Mudshovel"!! LOL!

Punkinhead · Post by **Punkinhead** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

Sometimes it doesn't matter what aspect it is...It's just playing it in the first place is all the matters at times...It really varies from song to song...

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

I don't hate Neil at all...he's cool

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

ToonaRockGuy wrote:For example, after years of playing with Billy Nusom as my bass player, I was a bit wary of moving into a new band situation with a new bass player. But during my summertime rocking out with Bad Daze, I found that Future Bobby (bassist_25) was one of the easiest guys for me to lock in time with. My comfort level went way up after only a couple rehearsals. I even got him to use a pick on "Mudshovel"!! LOL!

It's all about finding the pocket.

I've started using a pick on a number of songs now. I'm no Chris Squier (or Jeff Clapper), but I'm starting to get more comfortable with having a plectrum between my fingers. Sometimes, the timbre you get from a pick is just better than the timbre from fingers.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

bassist_25 wrote:Man, is Neil Young Rockpage's most hated artist of all time?

I don't hate anybody and I like many of his songs, but the man should be more like a straight Bernie Taupin and just write for somebody who can sing and play. Once I hear that screeching...aaaarrrggghhh...and then he starts playing....AAAAARRRRGGGHHH

And then there's the dreaded obligatory request: "Man, do you know any Neil Young?"

red · Post by **red** » Friday Dec 17, 2004

Playing it with "real" feeling. Capturing what was originally played.

Mysterytrain · Post by **Mysterytrain** » Thursday Apr 28, 2011

Cool thread...

sstuckey · Post by **sstuckey** » Sunday May 01, 2011

I always liked a blend of carbon copy + originality. Keep the integrity of the song, but don't be afraid to sprinkle a little bit of yourself into it. Obviously running kick during an Elvis jam probably won't go over so well. But putting it in a Twisted Sister song might. And adding energy to your live performance is always encouraged. You don't wanna look like the band from Chuck E. Cheese.

skipisode · Post by **skipisode** » Sunday May 01, 2011

Everything previously stated, but learning to play an "instrument" (be it guitar, drums, brass, piano, voice, etc., etc.) would be the first and most important thing.