How long does it take you to 'nail' a new song?

TommyD

Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Posts: 85
Salina, Kansas
United States

Posted on Mar 13 2009 05:17 AM

"Breeze through" probably wasn't most correct thing to say... I guess I don't breeze through anything either! Maybe it just seems like I'm breezing through because of my memory of having difficulty earlier. But you're right, in reality I should'nt call it "breeze through."

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Woodsurfer

Joined: Feb 07, 2009
Posts: 310
Bel Air, MD USA

Posted on Mar 13 2009 06:33 AM

My record is two songs in the three hours before the rehearsal, including writing cord charts. However, the songs were easy, "Fingle Bunt" by The Shadows and "Cabazon" by Satan's Pilgrims.

Mmmf -- there are still parts of "Flingel Bunt" that trip me up. The difference, I suspect is that you are a musician and, on my best days, I'm just a "guitar player". Otherwise, I'm merely a "guy with a guitar". At least it's fun.

-- Woody

—

It takes a lot of mussel memory to avoid clams.

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BJB

Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 413
United States

Posted on Mar 20 2009 11:38 AM

Well, there are two ways to respond to the question. It can take me a long time to learn a song exactly, but it takes much less time to learn a song well enough to be comfortable playing with other musicians.

As an extreme example, I know a lot of pro musicians who are called at the last minute to sit in with bands and they can do well enough to fool the average audience. I find it interesting to watch these types of shows because the guitarist looks a little weak during the first verse, then comes on strong once they have the progression down. To me, the ultimate goal as a musician is to be able to sit in with a band and get away with faking your way through a setlist without anyone noticing.

I once got away with this when I was asked to fill in for the rhythm guitarist of with The Bonesharks at the Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. I looked over the setlist and marked the ones I knew, about 1/3 in total. I thought we could skip the ones I didn't know, but the band just plowed through the list as usual. The bass player was nice enough to call out the chords to me during some of the songs but the rest I just listened/watched/improvised. I had heard most of the songs before and that helped.

—

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.

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badash

Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732

Posted on Mar 20 2009 11:45 AM

BJB
I once got away with this when I was asked to fill in for the rhythm guitarist of with The Bonesharks at the Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. I looked over the setlist and marked the ones I knew, about 1/3 in total. I thought we could skip the ones I didn't know, but the band just plowed through the list as usual.

That happened to me once. Then I noticed I was in my underwear! And to top it off halfway through the set I realized I was late for a final exam and I hadn't been to the class the whole semester!

Man was I tired and cranky when I woke up

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25534
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Mar 20 2009 09:24 PM

BJB
I once got away with this when I was asked to fill in for the rhythm guitarist of with The Bonesharks at the Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. I looked over the setlist and marked the ones I knew, about 1/3 in total. I thought we could skip the ones I didn't know, but the band just plowed through the list as usual. The bass player was nice enough to call out the chords to me during some of the songs but the rest I just listened/watched/improvised. I had heard most of the songs before and that helped.

BJB, I was probably there.
what is your name if I may ask?
wonder if I know you?

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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BJB

Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 413
United States

Posted on Mar 25 2009 10:12 AM

Of course you know me, you know everybody! I'm Ben, currently from The Vectors, and I'm still faking my way through the setlist.

—

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25534
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Mar 25 2009 12:00 PM

Oh, hey Ben,
how ya doin?

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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Cj_Wilson

Joined: Feb 28, 2009
Posts: 13
Australia

Posted on Apr 04 2009 06:20 AM

I've been playing guitar for 2 years and playing @ a person whos been playing for 8 years level it takes me about 3 days to nail a song with easy tabs and easy chords e.g Am then hard songs like Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson and songs with chords like e.g Ab#msus it would take me about 3-10 weeks songs that go forever that have 1000 different parts take me Months (or even years)

—

Cj 'Radical' Wilson !

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Felix

Joined: May 30, 2008
Posts: 135

Posted on Apr 05 2009 03:40 AM

well we do our songs at the rehearsels. They mostly got invented during a jam session, that means the main riff, you know.

So we mostly need one reahearsel to "nail" a new song. The Problem for me is to get off of riffing because i often use riffs, no melodies.....

i really have to train writing meoldies...

cheers

—

Band: http://www.myspace.com/theterrortones

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planish

Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Posts: 473
Sackville, New Brunswick
Canada

Posted on May 12 2009 08:48 PM

How long does it take you to 'nail' a new song?

I'll get back to you if it ever happens.

—

I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing.

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TommyD Joined: Feb 11, 2008 Posts: 85 Salina, Kansas	Posted on Mar 13 2009 05:17 AM "Breeze through" probably wasn't most correct thing to say... I guess I don't breeze through anything either! Maybe it just seems like I'm breezing through because of my memory of having difficulty earlier. But you're right, in reality I should'nt call it "breeze through." Top
Woodsurfer Joined: Feb 07, 2009 Posts: 310 Bel Air, MD USA	Posted on Mar 13 2009 06:33 AM My record is two songs in the three hours before the rehearsal, including writing cord charts. However, the songs were easy, "Fingle Bunt" by The Shadows and "Cabazon" by Satan's Pilgrims. Mmmf -- there are still parts of "Flingel Bunt" that trip me up. The difference, I suspect is that you are a musician and, on my best days, I'm just a "guitar player". Otherwise, I'm merely a "guy with a guitar". At least it's fun. -- Woody — It takes a lot of mussel memory to avoid clams. Top
BJB Joined: Jul 28, 2008 Posts: 413	Posted on Mar 20 2009 11:38 AM Well, there are two ways to respond to the question. It can take me a long time to learn a song exactly, but it takes much less time to learn a song well enough to be comfortable playing with other musicians. As an extreme example, I know a lot of pro musicians who are called at the last minute to sit in with bands and they can do well enough to fool the average audience. I find it interesting to watch these types of shows because the guitarist looks a little weak during the first verse, then comes on strong once they have the progression down. To me, the ultimate goal as a musician is to be able to sit in with a band and get away with faking your way through a setlist without anyone noticing. I once got away with this when I was asked to fill in for the rhythm guitarist of with The Bonesharks at the Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. I looked over the setlist and marked the ones I knew, about 1/3 in total. I thought we could skip the ones I didn't know, but the band just plowed through the list as usual. The bass player was nice enough to call out the chords to me during some of the songs but the rest I just listened/watched/improvised. I had heard most of the songs before and that helped. — If it ain't broke, fix it until it is. Top
badash Joined: Aug 18, 2006 Posts: 1732	Posted on Mar 20 2009 11:45 AM BJB I once got away with this when I was asked to fill in for the rhythm guitarist of with The Bonesharks at the Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. I looked over the setlist and marked the ones I knew, about 1/3 in total. I thought we could skip the ones I didn't know, but the band just plowed through the list as usual. That happened to me once. Then I noticed I was in my underwear! And to top it off halfway through the set I realized I was late for a final exam and I hadn't been to the class the whole semester! Man was I tired and cranky when I woke up Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25534 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Mar 20 2009 09:24 PM BJB I once got away with this when I was asked to fill in for the rhythm guitarist of with The Bonesharks at the Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. I looked over the setlist and marked the ones I knew, about 1/3 in total. I thought we could skip the ones I didn't know, but the band just plowed through the list as usual. The bass player was nice enough to call out the chords to me during some of the songs but the rest I just listened/watched/improvised. I had heard most of the songs before and that helped. BJB, I was probably there. what is your name if I may ask? wonder if I know you? — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
BJB Joined: Jul 28, 2008 Posts: 413	Posted on Mar 25 2009 10:12 AM Of course you know me, you know everybody! I'm Ben, currently from The Vectors, and I'm still faking my way through the setlist. — If it ain't broke, fix it until it is. Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25534 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Mar 25 2009 12:00 PM Oh, hey Ben, how ya doin? — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
Cj_Wilson Joined: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 13 Australia	Posted on Apr 04 2009 06:20 AM I've been playing guitar for 2 years and playing @ a person whos been playing for 8 years level it takes me about 3 days to nail a song with easy tabs and easy chords e.g Am then hard songs like Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson and songs with chords like e.g Ab#msus it would take me about 3-10 weeks songs that go forever that have 1000 different parts take me Months (or even years) — Cj 'Radical' Wilson ! Top
Felix Joined: May 30, 2008 Posts: 135	Posted on Apr 05 2009 03:40 AM well we do our songs at the rehearsels. They mostly got invented during a jam session, that means the main riff, you know. So we mostly need one reahearsel to "nail" a new song. The Problem for me is to get off of riffing because i often use riffs, no melodies..... i really have to train writing meoldies... cheers — Band: http://www.myspace.com/theterrortones Top
planish Joined: Jan 09, 2008 Posts: 473 Sackville, New Brunswick	Posted on May 12 2009 08:48 PM How long does it take you to 'nail' a new song? I'll get back to you if it ever happens. — I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing. Top

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How long does it take you to 'nail' a new song?