Remember your first gig?

[slukather]

I never learn tunes note for note - thats way boring!

I don't think any guitarist plays a song note for note, it must be a ego thing.

Scott.

 

[SteveB]

I don't think any guitarist plays a song note for note, it must be a ego thing.

Scott.

Although I haven't played covers for years, when I was in cover bands I played the songs verbatim. I know when I hear a band play a cover, there are certain elements that I'm listening for in the song, and it's very disappointing to me if they aren't there. So, I played 'em note for note or I didn't play 'em.

 

[Colin]

I know when I hear a band play a cover, there are certain elements that I'm listening for in the song, and it's very disapointing to me if they aren't there.

Imagine a cover band playing My Sharona and not playing the solo the same as the record? Or Jump? Some songs you just can't get away with if you don't play them the same as the record.

 

[robelinda2]

yeah but i'm so sick of playing that Sharona solo, i stick to the main bits but add some stuff to get me excited!

 

[CudBucket]

Yes I do remember it. Westchester Community College 1979. I was 13. We did Day Tripper, Johnny B. Goode and a 3 chord original I wrote. Am, G, F, E. Over and over again. I played my burgundy Hondo II Les Paul copy and borrowed my drummer's brother's amp.

We didn't even tune up. To eachother. I swear.

 

[Bungo]

What I find weird is hearing an original version of a cover that we do, thinking that we are playing a pretty true version of the original, and then discovering just how far away from the original it has swung!

This can really mess with your head, as the next time you play it live, you start confusing the two versions up.

I find it's best not to go back and listen to the originals after a while!

 

[SteveB]

I played my burgundy Hondo II Les Paul copy and borrowed my drummer's brother's amp.

Dave, I had that same guitar! It was a nice color. I think I have some old pics of me playing it somewhere... I'll have to dig them up someday. (Right now my stuff is all divided between two houses, and will be for the next 3 weeks or so..)

 

[CudBucket]

Dave, I had that same guitar! It was a nice color. I think I have some old pics of me playing it somewhere... I'll have to dig them up someday. (Right now my stuff is all divided between two houses, and will be for the next 3 weeks or so..)

I was so proud of that guitar. It was my first electric and my parents paid $100 in 1978. That day they even sprung for a $40 solid-state amp that had a 5 or 6 inch speaker in it. It had one knob that you would turn to click on the amp and then adjust the volume. It had a vintagey looking blue tolex and light grill. It was absolutely horrible I'm sure but my memory of it is how juiced I was the first time the house was empty and I cranked it up and played the main riff from Day Tripper.

 

[robguitar]

Mine was my high school talent show. We were the first act and my English teacher (who was running the show) tripped on my distortion pedal and turned my volume all the way down.

Curtain opens, we start, and no guitar. I was like the proverbial “deer in the headlights” with a side order of cold sweat. The other guitarist casually walked over to me, looked at the pedal, turned the volume up, and we unleashed the fury of our rock.

 

[slukather]

Imagine a cover band playing My Sharona and not playing the solo the same as the record? Or Jump? Some songs you just can't get away with if you don't play them the same as the record.

I'm not saying that l changed a solo completely, l'm saying a run or something like that, man l'm glad l don't play in covers bands anymore, l don't think l could play those 2 god awful songs anymore, although in my Sherona, l played most of the solo the same, some parts were changed.

Scott.

 

[Colin]

i stick to the main bits but add some stuff to get me excited!

That was my point

 

[Dizzy]

Was about 16, playing at quite a big party - with no backup guitar.

Bad moment : Was about 1/2 way through 2nd set, playing Guns 'n' Roses' "My Michelle"

Broke B string...... no big deal..... yeah right !

Guitar happened to be Washburn w/ floating Trem ! - i.e. big pitch issues !

Bluffed my way through the end by compensating B string tension with right hand on trem bar...... pulled it off ok (there weren't too many horrified faces).

Thank god it wasn't Sweet Child O' Mine !

Then kept them waiting for a string change !

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Although I haven't played covers for years, when I was in cover bands I played the songs verbatim. I know when I hear a band play a cover, there are certain elements that I'm listening for in the song, and it's very disappointing to me if they aren't there. So, I played 'em note for note or I didn't play 'em.

You just have to get the hooks of the song. Its what the punters are expecting.