It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
My YouTube Channel
i make a point these days of sending out an mp3 of the version we're working from. It's not foolproof - "oh i couldn't open the file on my phone so i just went on youtube and found a live version" - but still...
We dropped it anyway that night....and he's the kind of muso who could transpose it to any key you like on the fly anyway, but the point remains.
In terms of having a band leader, if you want to come across as slick and professional then you need someone who is prepared to stop a song halfway through if something has gone awry otherwise your engraining bad behaviour. Then sort it and play the part that’s wrong again, till its gels. Then play the whole track again. And again.
And by definition you can only do that if you know your material inside out. one you got it down like that it's so much easier to tweak things.
We use click tracks in my covers band, mainly for keyboards/synths etc.
Once the track is made up everyone gets a copy sent (with a guide lead vocal, if there are any harmonies to learn the singer will add them onto the track as well ) and a description of the format. Everyone can then rehearse along to the track at home, everyone is responsible for learning their own parts. Me and the other guitarist normally have a brief conversation about who is going to play which part, and if there is a solo who will take it on.
If time permits the song is ran at soundcheck otherwise it goes straight into the set.
Benevolent Dictatorship!
I've often found that the guy that knows the material best or is playing well within his comfort zone is the one who leads rehearsals as it's easier for them to pay attention to the whole sound while others may need to concentrate on their own parts more. You also need to be brave enough to put your hand up to stop a song if things are not right but at the same time not driving everyone crazy by stopping songs for the tiniest thing. It's a fine line and it doesn't always make you popular but if you have like minded people they will usually see the worth in it.
You also have to draw the line between 'in the moment' mistakes and on going issues. eg, if one guy is always bang on but slips up or has an off night it's not really a problem. However, if they consistently make the same mistakes or the mistakes are clearly down to laziness or complacency you need to highlight it. How and when you highlight it very much depends on how well you know each other and peoples individual personalities. If you aren't sure how to bring something up there and then, hold your tongue and think about it. It can be a bit of a juggling act but if you are all on the same page and grown up about it it's usually ok. We've had an unchanged line up for 3 years, the same 5 guys from the first rehearsal so it's a lot easier nowadays.