spectoremg Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 I'm auditioning for a band sometime soon and I've been given six songs to learn. The band play pop covers. Two of the songs I've been given aren't in their current set and I'm pretty sure never will be - and one of them is a real bass challenge. I don't want to get into a discussion about levels of ability (and we're talking Geddy Lee) but I've got the feeling I'm being asked to do something that's unnecessarily difficult just to massage someones ego. I haven't contacted the band about it because I've some other stuff to sort before I make contact. Opinions please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 hmm.. yes, I think they are testing you...which tbf, is also the point of an audition. I'd ask them about the song and say you'll put the work in IF there is a useable end reason, otherwise, give me a more relevant song. Minus point for this band already, IMO... if they are into silly games like that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 I would say do it if you really want the gig, get the 4 good ones nailed, and get the challenge one basically done, just to show you can do it, and say that you will get it completely accurate when you have to play it live Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 [quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1473600639' post='3131504'] I would say do it if you really want the gig, get the 4 good ones nailed, and get the challenge one basically done, just to show you can do it, and say that you will get it completely accurate when you have to play it live [/quote] If this is real opportunity, a band that you really want to join and you've done your research on the band and your pretty sure your a natch, then I'd say learn it. If not cancel the audition. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1473600919' post='3131507'] If this is real opportunity, a band that you really want to join and you've done your research on the band and your pretty sure your a natch, then I'd say learn it. If not cancel the audition. Blue [/quote] I agree with this. There's certainly an element of "Let's see how good you really are" to this, though. I'd get the relevant songs down quick and then have a right good go at the tough one. Never shy away from a challenge, it'll make you a better player at the end up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1473599001' post='3131493'] I'm auditioning for a band sometime soon and I've been given six songs to learn. The band play pop covers. Two of the songs I've been given aren't in their current set and I'm pretty sure never will be - and one of them is a real bass challenge. I don't want to get into a discussion about levels of ability (and we're talking Geddy Lee) but I've got the feeling I'm being asked to do something that's unnecessarily difficult just to massage someones ego. I haven't contacted the band about it because I've some other stuff to sort before I make contact. Opinions please. [/quote] As others have said; if you want to join the band and they've given you songs to learn, learn them, practise them until you never get them wrong and go and blow them away. Or cancel and do something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 I agree with the above about learn it if you really want the gig If your 50/50 then absolutely nail the ones in the set and just be honest that the harder one is to time consuming and see where it leaves you Perhaps they are looking to do things with a new bass player that they couldn't do with the last one , hence it not being in the current set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr zed Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Maybe they want to gig this song but their previous bassist wasn't up to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 What song is it? Maybe someone on here can help you nail it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted September 11, 2016 Author Share Posted September 11, 2016 Thanks for the replies so far. It isn't a case of the song being complicated - that wouldn't be a problem, it's simply beyond my ability. What's added to my suspicion is that Bohemian Rhapsody's in there, which I can do but I doubt would ever get gigged. And to be fair to everyone the song's Spirit of Radio - the doodly bits are too fast for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Don't do the doodly bits then. Do the best that you can. They're auditioning you, not Geddy Lee. If you're not good enough, they'll go with one of the hundreds of bass players lined up ready to play who can do the doodly bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 How is this audition to proceed..? They surely don't expect you to play along to a backing track..? Are they to play [i]their [/i]parts..? Let 'em start off with the Queen one; you've got a minute or two before you even come in, and the bass is not, really, the most difficult part in that one. If the others pull it off I'd be surprised. As for the Rush number (I didn't know it, I'm not followed 'em specially, and am unimpressed by what I heard when I listened to it...), just follow the drummer. If [i]he [/i]gets it right straight into the intro, again, I'd be surprised. The actual fundamentals of the track are not that difficult on bass (if you not expected to sing, of course..!), and the 'doodly' bits are unplayable by mortals, anyway, so a 'fail' for all, there. On the other hand, if they ask you to play those pieces [i]without [/i]their input, you'd be quite right in putting your bass back in its case and getting an audition with another, more reasonable, band. Either way, good luck with it and... Break a leg..! Keep us posted, please..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 They've definitely put spirit on the list just to see if you can do it... It took me at least 3 months to get that right, I went back to it the other night and I've forgotten it, it's doubtful it'll be in their set . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted September 11, 2016 Author Share Posted September 11, 2016 Jeez I can be thick sometimes - of course no-one else is gonna be able to play it!! Talk about not seeing the wood for the trees! Job done. Many thanks for the replies guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Spirit of the radio, its only the beginning run, which is repeated later and at the end that are the tricky bits, but I can conceive of people doing that in an ordinary set (I have). But those bits you can skip out for an audition, and just do the main parts, which are mainly straight forward. I really can't imagine a cover band doing [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Bohemian Rhapsody but as was said, the bass comes in later, so you can at least see if they have done the work.[/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1473612181' post='3131643']... Many thanks for the replies guys. [/quote] [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1473612181' post='3131643'] Jeez I can be thick sometimes... [/quote] Maybe that's what they're testing, seeing just how far they could string you along..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 (edited) [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1473613001' post='3131657'] found this.. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx8jLE3qVqA"]https://www.youtube....h?v=lx8jLE3qVqA[/url] [/quote] That's surely a joke video..? It's all over the shop..! Edited September 11, 2016 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1473613208' post='3131661'] That's surely a joke video..? It's all over the shop..! [/quote] I thought it was a bit ropey as well.... Reading down I saw that it was from guitar hero but that some people thought it was genuine.. I've removed the original post to avoid confusion :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Sometimes it's (partly) about whether the candidate has personality enough to say "no". IMHO that too is interesting with candidates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Depends how confident you are but you also pull them up on a track if you think it doesn't work. It is no good you perfecting a part note for note if the drummer, for example, does only his intepretation of it. You have to make it work together otherwise you aren't playing it.. you are just concentrating on your bit. (This is often why bands don't sound together... they aren't listening to each other and working the track.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1473613208' post='3131661'] That's surely a joke video..? It's all over the shop..! [/quote] Nope. That's Geddy, I think we'd all sound "all over the shop" isolated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted September 11, 2016 Author Share Posted September 11, 2016 [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1473613474' post='3131670'] Sometimes it's (partly) about whether the candidate has personality enough to say "no". IMHO that too is interesting with candidates. [/quote]A good point - that's part of the intrigue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 [quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1473613624' post='3131673'] Nope. That's Geddy, I think we'd all sound "all over the shop" isolated. [/quote] I'd say we really really shouldn't and anyone recording onto tape with punch-ins would have had this point demonstrated to them on more than a few occsasions. Nowadays, with digital, it is far easier to clean up a track.... whether you want to waste time doing that is another thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Any band that wanted to play these sort of head games with me would be told to go f*ck emselves bloody quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 I use Spirit of Radio as a home warm up, it was very hard to start with but it gets easier with every play and I think it's worth learning for your own growth (if you like rock or Rush). However, it's actually very hard to learn properly without the drummer you'll be playing it with as it's hard on them too and everyone will play it differently. You might find that this band will do it but without the fast run down part as I doubt their drummer is Neil Peart, so worth asking the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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