My band is going to have our first rehearsal in a few days, we've been practicing Doobie Brothers' China Grove, and our own 2 minute jig. Just wondering how rehearsals usually go, and what to plan for.
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Very First Band Rehearsal- Any Tips?
- Thread starter Bass Ace89bi
- Start date
Welcome to TalkBass!!!
Funny you should mention this today....
Rhearsals - What they are for and how they should be run.
Funny you should mention this today....
Rhearsals - What they are for and how they should be run.
If the situation presents itself, tell the guitars and drums that noodles are for soup!
Run through your material as many times as you need to be able to play it flawlessly (sticking to an arrangement, in the right key, right tempo, no flubs, no false stops/starts) - and then play it once more for good luck!
Maybe make a recording so you can listen to it afterwards for stuff you might not catch live - to identify the things that need fixing.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Most important thing, whether you are a beginner or a pro. Rehearsals are not the time to be learning stuff. Everyone should show up knowing their parts cold. Then you can spend the time working on putting pieces together. Also, it can be good to record the rehearsal - doesn't have to be anything fancy, but it allows you to hear what needs more work. Finally, no drinking or other drugs while you are playing.
A good rehearsal starts with everyone knowing what's expected in advance. They need to know what version of the song you are doing. I suggest the studio version as its the one people normally hear. Make sure as BL you know that structure cold. Make sure it's communicated in advance that everyone should come knowing their part. I like to write it out for the group in whatever format they can read. Jazz musicians -- a lead sheet, certain rock musicians, sometimes lyrics with chords over it, or a chord sheet. Some can't read a chord sheet, so having it as lyrics and chords over top works. At times I've given them the Ultimate Guitar Tab lyrics and chords and we follow that. I sent that out in advance, depending on the skill level of the players. With some, I can just give it to them at rehearsal and they nail it cold; others, I have to give it to them in advance.
Resist like the plague attempts by the band members to change the structure from the studio version unless there's a really good reason. I've been in rehearsals where the song structure is negotiated. Communication is H-E-double hockey sticks because one person means the bridge and someone else means an instrumental break. The band rehearses the song 6 times, exposing all the communication problems, and then somehow everyone gets the structure right. Everyone declares victory -- and then promptly forgets the structure for next rehearsal. Don't waste time on that! Have the song structure established and good reasons for doing it that way:
1. People can learn independently from the Youtube video.
2. It allows you to create a playlist to sub new players when people aren't available
3. It makes rehearsals shorter and more productive so you can get out and gig faster.
4. It retains members when they have a good practice.
If you have a fledgling member and you need to mentor/train them, get them there early to go over what you need to show/teach them. Don't waste other members time in group rehearsal. Group rehearsal is for Group rehearsal -- group issues like time, dynamics, getting tight etcetera. In a pro band this is unnecessary and never even customary, but I have groomed subs and new players to increae musician supply in the past.
In rehearsal, listen carefully. You should know your part cold. Then listen for places the group isn't together, for bad notes, rushing temp, dynamic issues (places you should get quiet and soft or loud and energetic to create drama), accents or other things the band missed. After a while you'll be able to forecast what they will have trouble with and have clear guidance in your head to share for how to fix it before you even get into rehearsal.
Another thing -- try what is called interleaving. I can get my band further along the path to competence when we do our rehearsal like this
Song1
Song 2
Song 3
Song1
Song 2
Song3
Song1
Song2
Song3
It's the retrieval of the information that makes for permanent learning and good habits. Therefore,you want the band to retrieve the song as many times as possible in rehearsal -- after having a chance to forget it. A less effective way is the way most bands do it...
Song 1 a buzillion times
Song 2 a buzillion times
Song 3 a buzillion times
This method is not nearly as effective as the interleaving method I shared above where you rotate through songs you don't know well so musicians have to think and retrieve.
Make sure there's time for fun and giggles, jokes, sharing how things are going.
If someone shows up unprepared, use your interpersonal skills to show disapproval while still being friendly and kind. Be careful, as they are probably volunteers, or close to it, but make sure you show some kind of disapproval like "Ouch, that means we won't get as far as I thought today" and wince. Or something kind, but indicative that showing up unprepared is unacceptable. Use your personality but don't be a dick about it.
In extreme cases when everyone confesses they didn't learn the songs beforehand, I have on occasion indicated I was well prepared, but don't see the point in rehearsing if no one else or the majority is prepared. Suggest everyone goes home and uses the time to learn the songs. Reschedule.
That sends a really clear message that showing up for rehearsal isn't worth the drive over there!And that Mr. BL expects you not to waste everyone's time. I wouldn't do this in first rehearsal -- give people a chance to learn the norm of preparedness through your body language at first. You don't want to kill the goose the first time it tries to lay an egg.
Resist like the plague attempts by the band members to change the structure from the studio version unless there's a really good reason. I've been in rehearsals where the song structure is negotiated. Communication is H-E-double hockey sticks because one person means the bridge and someone else means an instrumental break. The band rehearses the song 6 times, exposing all the communication problems, and then somehow everyone gets the structure right. Everyone declares victory -- and then promptly forgets the structure for next rehearsal. Don't waste time on that! Have the song structure established and good reasons for doing it that way:
1. People can learn independently from the Youtube video.
2. It allows you to create a playlist to sub new players when people aren't available
3. It makes rehearsals shorter and more productive so you can get out and gig faster.
4. It retains members when they have a good practice.
If you have a fledgling member and you need to mentor/train them, get them there early to go over what you need to show/teach them. Don't waste other members time in group rehearsal. Group rehearsal is for Group rehearsal -- group issues like time, dynamics, getting tight etcetera. In a pro band this is unnecessary and never even customary, but I have groomed subs and new players to increae musician supply in the past.
In rehearsal, listen carefully. You should know your part cold. Then listen for places the group isn't together, for bad notes, rushing temp, dynamic issues (places you should get quiet and soft or loud and energetic to create drama), accents or other things the band missed. After a while you'll be able to forecast what they will have trouble with and have clear guidance in your head to share for how to fix it before you even get into rehearsal.
Another thing -- try what is called interleaving. I can get my band further along the path to competence when we do our rehearsal like this
Song1
Song 2
Song 3
Song1
Song 2
Song3
Song1
Song2
Song3
It's the retrieval of the information that makes for permanent learning and good habits. Therefore,you want the band to retrieve the song as many times as possible in rehearsal -- after having a chance to forget it. A less effective way is the way most bands do it...
Song 1 a buzillion times
Song 2 a buzillion times
Song 3 a buzillion times
This method is not nearly as effective as the interleaving method I shared above where you rotate through songs you don't know well so musicians have to think and retrieve.
Make sure there's time for fun and giggles, jokes, sharing how things are going.
If someone shows up unprepared, use your interpersonal skills to show disapproval while still being friendly and kind. Be careful, as they are probably volunteers, or close to it, but make sure you show some kind of disapproval like "Ouch, that means we won't get as far as I thought today" and wince. Or something kind, but indicative that showing up unprepared is unacceptable. Use your personality but don't be a dick about it.
In extreme cases when everyone confesses they didn't learn the songs beforehand, I have on occasion indicated I was well prepared, but don't see the point in rehearsing if no one else or the majority is prepared. Suggest everyone goes home and uses the time to learn the songs. Reschedule.
That sends a really clear message that showing up for rehearsal isn't worth the drive over there!And that Mr. BL expects you not to waste everyone's time. I wouldn't do this in first rehearsal -- give people a chance to learn the norm of preparedness through your body language at first. You don't want to kill the goose the first time it tries to lay an egg.
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Just remember all mistakes are the fault of the drummer.. What they did/didn't play.
All recommendations so far are for cover bands with no imagination to create their own songs.
If you do originals, play as you feel it and talk with the other guys if it sounds good. Have fun.
If you do originals, play as you feel it and talk with the other guys if it sounds good. Have fun.
This advice is valid for original bands who already have finished material; you just need to find additional time to work on making new material.
OP - just be as prepare as you can and have fun! If afterward you're feeling like you were far more prepared than the others, that's a huge red flag.
That's a songwriting, jam or arranging session. Or "practice".
Rehearsals are the same whether covers or originals - you're rehearsing songs that everyone should be able to nail first try - doesn't matter who wrote them - while perhaps sorting out anything nebulous, choreography, harmony vocals, etc. that can NOT more effectively be done solo / at home.
If everyone shows up to a rehearsal NOT able to play their part in any give song to a metronome without any other instruments then they've been lazy. Fact. If people are OK with that, good for them, but it doesn't change a thing or negate anything in this post.
I realize some people use these terms interchangeably, but words have meanings and that's what these words actually mean.
That's a songwriting, jam or arranging session. Or "practice".
Rehearsals are the same whether covers or originals - you're rehearsing songs that everyone should be able to nail first try - doesn't matter who wrote them - while perhaps sorting out anything nebulous, choreography, harmony vocals, etc. that can NOT more effectively be done solo / at home.
If everyone shows up to a rehearsal NOT able to play their part in any give song to a metronome without any other instruments then they've been lazy. Fact. If people are OK with that, good for them, but it doesn't change a thing or negate anything in this post.
I realize some people use these terms interchangeably, but words have meanings and that's what these words actually mean.
Stick to business, take no breaks, if others knock off for water, or some other weak move, like bathroom, etc. run arpeggios in all 12 keys, or make other good use of your time until everyone is back in place. Usually say something snotty, like, "ok, if we've all returned, lets get back to work"...
Not really!!!
You've gotten some good advice. in the previous 9 posts. I have nothing to add.
Not really!!!
You've gotten some good advice. in the previous 9 posts. I have nothing to add.
I don't know, I've never done a rehearsal or anything of the sort. I was just asking what to expect and how it SHOULD go. We're trying to be an original band, but writing original music is tough, so we just want a mix of covers and originals for now.
I was just trying to suggest that it will go according to the expectations of the people involved. If everyone wants it to be productive and a good hang, then it will be those things. If everyone wants it to be loosey-goosey with plenty of beer and a lot of fooling around, that's what it will be. The point is, you should have a conversation with your band mates about what they want out of rehearsal and to see if you can all get on the same page. If some of you are there to work and some are there to party, it will not end well.
Bring earplugs. Better to have them and not need them than....
It's worth it to spend some time at the end of the rehearsal to sum up the initial impressions of volume and set up a better arrangement/placement of amps so that next time everyone can hear everything properly if that wasn't the case immediately.
If you are a control freak type of personality try to let go of things and enjoy yourself first and foremost.
If you are flaky by nature, learn the material days in advance. Learning stuff last minute almost guarantees you not to have fun, which further means you won't be in the best mood and that spreads onto the rehearsal atmosphere.
Establish immediately the rule that there is no playing of any sort while someone is talking.
It's worth it to spend some time at the end of the rehearsal to sum up the initial impressions of volume and set up a better arrangement/placement of amps so that next time everyone can hear everything properly if that wasn't the case immediately.
If you are a control freak type of personality try to let go of things and enjoy yourself first and foremost.
If you are flaky by nature, learn the material days in advance. Learning stuff last minute almost guarantees you not to have fun, which further means you won't be in the best mood and that spreads onto the rehearsal atmosphere.
Establish immediately the rule that there is no playing of any sort while someone is talking.
Their really is no blanket "usual". This depends a great deal on how competent the BL (or Music director) is and how dedicated/seasoned your members are.
In a prefect world, the BL is prepared and organized and your members how up prepared and you run through he song s few times just to polish transitions, intros and endings. With only two songs, you should be looking for more songs with in 15 minutes.
In a worst case scenario, everyone shows up late and unprepared and you can't even get through one song cleanly, while everyone argues about form/chords/lyrics. I would walk out of thi situation - will probably just be a long time headache until you can't take it anymore.
Middle ground may be that you know your parts, the others kind of do and you manage to be able to cobble together the two songs well enough to dial them in for next rehearsal.
I agree with @PauFerro. Well all of it, but specifically in his reference regarding how to stage songs - don't just keep running one song into the ground. Spend the time you need for everyone to understand their parts, then work on another song. Then come back to reinforce what you figured out on the first song. This is a much better way to retain stuff.
Bottom line - learn your part and be ready - that's all you have control of. If you are the BL/MD have a good solid rehearsal strategy dialed in and stick to it. Good luck!
cool beans, ace!
you made the original post on monday: have you had your rehearsal yet? how did it go? share what happened, please!
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