Playing the classics. Note for note?

Kman1

Joined: Aug 29, 2008
Posts: 694
Surf City

Posted on Oct 20 2008 05:25 PM

I think I searched something else by accident, because that didn't come up.

—

Sonichris
I also like to think that all early 60's fender equipment is happy to be playing surf music again. After all, its the music it was meant to play.

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Ron-Rhoades

Joined: Aug 19, 2006
Posts: 958
Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii
United States

Posted on Oct 20 2008 06:59 PM

The TakeOffs do a LOT of covers....we perform mostly at a major resort here in Hawaii and the tourists want to hear the classics. The "crowd" is different each week so there's not much room for "embelishment" but to keep our own sanity, yes, we change them a bit once in a while. By that i mean we do them as they were recorded keeping the melody in tact and certain other parts too i.e. the bass line or drum part if it's a major part of the song originally. Where we tend to make changes is in the arrangements themselves. Most of those older 60's tunes were a minute and a half long!! I love the short tunes but we'd be doing 30 songs a set if we didn't stretch them a bit and we do 3hours a week and some of them are just so classic that we want to play them longer...for ourselves....and sometimes for people dancing. If people are dancing, we stretch 'em a bit longer. On some tunes there is no rhythm guitar/bass line so we just make up parts. "Mr. Moto" is a good example. When Paul Johnson sat in with us and asked if we knew Moto... i wasn't sure if i should go sit down and listen or play the rhythm part i had made up! I'm really glad i played my rhythm part and he seemed ok with it too....so there you go. We do a Shadows tune called "Peace Pipe" which is also a really short little song so we repeat a couple of the sections to make it longer cause it's such a great tune. So, most of the classics we do like the recordings as best we can with what we have but we're not afraid to change them to make tourists OR ourselves happy. My guess as a songwriter is that the original artists are stoked that we're all playing their tunes no matter how some of us interpret them and that would include guys like Gary Hoey and others but many of you out there probably don't feel the same way judging by the way you ripped into the Deadly Surfin attics or, whatever they're called, and others.

—

The TakeOffs
"Kauai's Only All-Instrumental Surf Band"
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-TakeOffs/312866840587

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Pappa_Surf

Joined: Oct 28, 2008
Posts: 671
Winnipeg, Canada
Canada

Posted on Nov 10 2008 12:17 PM

I really love original versions by the original artists, but when another musician pays homage to the original artist by playing their song. It should be that artists interpretation. Trying to nail it like the original makes you a cover band and that's ok if that's all you aspire to. If you are a surf artist, you should be trying to move the artform forward.

By the way, one of my favorite covers is Dick Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughn doing Pipeline. That version just rips. Is it art? I dunno, but it sure cooks and I think it's a good example of putting your brand on a song in a positive way. There is no mistaking those SRV licks.

—

https://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=9353f9155b5ff32e14c998495fd00da4&#!/rich.derksen.7

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surferXmatt

Joined: Aug 27, 2008
Posts: 1570
New York
United States

Posted on Nov 10 2008 01:50 PM

My thoughts are .. if you are going to cover a song, you must either replicate it as close as possible - or do a completely fresh arrangement or new twist on the song.

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Tsar_Nicholas

Joined: Nov 02, 2008
Posts: 67
Dublin, Ireland

Posted on Nov 10 2008 04:36 PM

I think if you're going to cover a song, you just have to make it your own. We play alot of rock-n-roll covers on long gigs but we personalise them with simple dynamic twists and good old fashioned angry white boy garage thrashing.

—

The Pacifics - The Big Beat from Dublin

Evil Sons - Wild Two-Piece Trash

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4464
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Nov 10 2008 04:45 PM

surferXmatt
My thoughts are .. if you are going to cover a song, you must either replicate it as close as possible - or do a completely fresh arrangement or new twist on the song.

I see it the same way. If you are going to try to cover the original arrangement then do it as perfectly as possible. If not, create a new arrangement that is complete and not just a rehash of everyone else's half-baked bar-band version.

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The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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Twangler

Joined: Mar 26, 2006
Posts: 147

Posted on Nov 18 2008 10:36 PM

Some people call it playing a song wrong. I call it putting my own stamp on it!!

One night, Trace decided to throw a disco style bass line into at least one part of every song we played. That was fun... that one time.

Spanky
023

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11058
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Nov 19 2008 12:22 AM

Twangler
Some people call it playing a song wrong. I call it putting my own stamp on it!!

One night, Trace decided to throw a disco style bass line into at least one part of every song we played. That was fun... that one time.

Spanky
023

I know a drummer who does the same thing with a ska beat.

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

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DNAdude

Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
United States

Posted on Nov 19 2008 08:21 AM

I don't see the point of playing a cover note for note. We aren't so we aren't going to sound exactly like them. I'd rather be myself than a poor imitation of someone else (or even a good imitation of someone else).

Having said that, I like to start by learning the song note for note because I think it makes me a better player to do so and then I make whatever changes seem to fit both the song and me.

—

Ralph
The Storm Surfers

Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4464
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Nov 19 2008 09:42 AM

DNAdude
I don't see the point of playing a cover note for note. We aren't so we aren't going to sound exactly like them. I'd rather be myself than a poor imitation of someone else (or even a good imitation of someone else).

Good point but I would interject that if your band is capable of doing a dead-nuts-on version of a classic there's nothing to be ashamed of in playing it for an audience. That can actually be pretty entertaining, at least IMO. I'm not suggesting that this should be the rule and not the exception, but I certainly won't criticize a band that absolutely nails the original version of a song and it's a lot more likely to happen with instrumental music than something that contains vocals.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Top

DNAdude

Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
United States

Posted on Nov 19 2008 01:23 PM

synchro
I would interject that if your band is capable of doing a dead-nuts-on version of a classic there's nothing to be ashamed of in playing it for an audience. That can actually be pretty entertaining, at least IMO.

Oh, yeah, I'd agree with that 100%. If you can pull it off, go for it.

—

Ralph
The Storm Surfers

Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.

Top

synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4464
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Nov 19 2008 01:52 PM

OTOH, if it's lameoid rendition and sounds like Weird Al Yankovic on a bad hair day might as well give it a pass.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Top

Kman1 Joined: Aug 29, 2008 Posts: 694 Surf City	Posted on Oct 20 2008 05:25 PM I think I searched something else by accident, because that didn't come up. — Sonichris I also like to think that all early 60's fender equipment is happy to be playing surf music again. After all, its the music it was meant to play. Top
Ron-Rhoades Joined: Aug 19, 2006 Posts: 958 Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii	Posted on Oct 20 2008 06:59 PM The TakeOffs do a LOT of covers....we perform mostly at a major resort here in Hawaii and the tourists want to hear the classics. The "crowd" is different each week so there's not much room for "embelishment" but to keep our own sanity, yes, we change them a bit once in a while. By that i mean we do them as they were recorded keeping the melody in tact and certain other parts too i.e. the bass line or drum part if it's a major part of the song originally. Where we tend to make changes is in the arrangements themselves. Most of those older 60's tunes were a minute and a half long!! I love the short tunes but we'd be doing 30 songs a set if we didn't stretch them a bit and we do 3hours a week and some of them are just so classic that we want to play them longer...for ourselves....and sometimes for people dancing. If people are dancing, we stretch 'em a bit longer. On some tunes there is no rhythm guitar/bass line so we just make up parts. "Mr. Moto" is a good example. When Paul Johnson sat in with us and asked if we knew Moto... i wasn't sure if i should go sit down and listen or play the rhythm part i had made up! I'm really glad i played my rhythm part and he seemed ok with it too....so there you go. We do a Shadows tune called "Peace Pipe" which is also a really short little song so we repeat a couple of the sections to make it longer cause it's such a great tune. So, most of the classics we do like the recordings as best we can with what we have but we're not afraid to change them to make tourists OR ourselves happy. My guess as a songwriter is that the original artists are stoked that we're all playing their tunes no matter how some of us interpret them and that would include guys like Gary Hoey and others but many of you out there probably don't feel the same way judging by the way you ripped into the Deadly Surfin attics or, whatever they're called, and others. — The TakeOffs "Kauai's Only All-Instrumental Surf Band" http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-TakeOffs/312866840587 Top
Pappa_Surf Joined: Oct 28, 2008 Posts: 671 Winnipeg, Canada	Posted on Nov 10 2008 12:17 PM I really love original versions by the original artists, but when another musician pays homage to the original artist by playing their song. It should be that artists interpretation. Trying to nail it like the original makes you a cover band and that's ok if that's all you aspire to. If you are a surf artist, you should be trying to move the artform forward. By the way, one of my favorite covers is Dick Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughn doing Pipeline. That version just rips. Is it art? I dunno, but it sure cooks and I think it's a good example of putting your brand on a song in a positive way. There is no mistaking those SRV licks. — https://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=9353f9155b5ff32e14c998495fd00da4&#!/rich.derksen.7 Top
surferXmatt Joined: Aug 27, 2008 Posts: 1570 New York	Posted on Nov 10 2008 01:50 PM My thoughts are .. if you are going to cover a song, you must either replicate it as close as possible - or do a completely fresh arrangement or new twist on the song. Top
Tsar_Nicholas Joined: Nov 02, 2008 Posts: 67 Dublin, Ireland	Posted on Nov 10 2008 04:36 PM I think if you're going to cover a song, you just have to make it your own. We play alot of rock-n-roll covers on long gigs but we personalise them with simple dynamic twists and good old fashioned angry white boy garage thrashing. — The Pacifics - The Big Beat from Dublin Evil Sons - Wild Two-Piece Trash Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4464 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Nov 10 2008 04:45 PM surferXmatt My thoughts are .. if you are going to cover a song, you must either replicate it as close as possible - or do a completely fresh arrangement or new twist on the song. I see it the same way. If you are going to try to cover the original arrangement then do it as perfectly as possible. If not, create a new arrangement that is complete and not just a rehash of everyone else's half-baked bar-band version. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
Twangler Joined: Mar 26, 2006 Posts: 147	Posted on Nov 18 2008 10:36 PM Some people call it playing a song wrong. I call it putting my own stamp on it!! One night, Trace decided to throw a disco style bass line into at least one part of every song we played. That was fun... that one time. Spanky 023 Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11058 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Nov 19 2008 12:22 AM Twangler Some people call it playing a song wrong. I call it putting my own stamp on it!! One night, Trace decided to throw a disco style bass line into at least one part of every song we played. That was fun... that one time. Spanky 023 I know a drummer who does the same thing with a ska beat. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
DNAdude Joined: Aug 01, 2008 Posts: 404 North Carolina	Posted on Nov 19 2008 08:21 AM I don't see the point of playing a cover note for note. We aren't so we aren't going to sound exactly like them. I'd rather be myself than a poor imitation of someone else (or even a good imitation of someone else). Having said that, I like to start by learning the song note for note because I think it makes me a better player to do so and then I make whatever changes seem to fit both the song and me. — Ralph The Storm Surfers Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar. Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4464 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Nov 19 2008 09:42 AM DNAdude I don't see the point of playing a cover note for note. We aren't so we aren't going to sound exactly like them. I'd rather be myself than a poor imitation of someone else (or even a good imitation of someone else). Good point but I would interject that if your band is capable of doing a dead-nuts-on version of a classic there's nothing to be ashamed of in playing it for an audience. That can actually be pretty entertaining, at least IMO. I'm not suggesting that this should be the rule and not the exception, but I certainly won't criticize a band that absolutely nails the original version of a song and it's a lot more likely to happen with instrumental music than something that contains vocals. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
DNAdude Joined: Aug 01, 2008 Posts: 404 North Carolina	Posted on Nov 19 2008 01:23 PM synchro I would interject that if your band is capable of doing a dead-nuts-on version of a classic there's nothing to be ashamed of in playing it for an audience. That can actually be pretty entertaining, at least IMO. Oh, yeah, I'd agree with that 100%. If you can pull it off, go for it. — Ralph The Storm Surfers Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar. Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4464 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Nov 19 2008 01:52 PM OTOH, if it's lameoid rendition and sounds like Weird Al Yankovic on a bad hair day might as well give it a pass. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top

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Playing the classics. Note for note?