Playing songs you dislike

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

We all find ourselves being expected to play on songs we don't like. How do you deal with that? I have very definate tastes in music and I have a devil of a time making an effort to contribute to a piece of music I have no use for. When we had a regular band we chose our songs more or less as a group. If one of us had a really strong aversion to something we'd usually laugh and scratch it off the list. These days most of what few gigs we get consist of being the backup band for talent nights and we never know who might be singing or what song choices they might arrive with. Some of the material people arrive with just makes my eyes glaze over. Sometimes I'll try and soldier through it but other times I just back off the volume pedal and lay out. ( either by choice or necessity Smile

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If you are a full time pro musician, which I've never been, you must be faced with this problem often and have no choice but to deal with it. Maybe there are a few who are flexible enough to enjoy most any material but most of us have pretty set preferences. So how do you handle the ones that leave you cold?

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I guess maybe I qualify since I don't do anything other than play music (I am retired from another job but do play music 'full time' -- 2 or 3 nights/wk).

I'm just happy to get ANY work and to fill my calendar with WHATEVER THAT ENTAILS. I've played Led Zeppelin, Stones, AC/DC, even Michael Jackson or Fleetwood Mac, plus lots of Tom Petty and Skynyrd/Allman Bros (I live in Florida so that's a prerequisite). Would I rather be playing 'Touch My Heart'? Some nights I'd answer yes and others I'd rather be playing songs that didn't have a steel part on the original recording. YOU CAN'T PLAY 'TOUCH MY HEART' LICKS ON rock tunes but pedal or lap steel can fit right in on a rock tune if you listen carefully.

Even though I was a rock guitarist in the 70s, before learning pedal steel, playing rock on pedal steel is a challenge to be met. It will make you a more valuable member of CERTAIN bands. These days, with the economy what it is, the more different styles your playing fits seamlessly into, THE MORE WORK YOU'LL HAVE. The more you play these other styles, THE MORE YOU'LL ENJOY IT (after you see a few extra bucks when you tally up the month's spoils). I'd add slide guitar parts or use a Leslie simulator if there were no kb player -- try to make my part memorable.

Have I played tunes I detest? ABSOLUTELY
Would I leave a lucrative gigging band because the crowd / management / band leader wanted to play a couple of tunes I really don't like? NEVER, if I want to keep working.

Playing around the house for yourself is YOUR DOMAIN. Play 'A Way to Survive' from dawn 'til dusk -- nobody will be the wiser.

Playing for money where someone else is calling the shots requires a lot more flexibility.

Or else, just don't play.

Just my slant on it.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Ahh yes, sooner or later somebody calls for "Mustang Sally" or "Plowed Mary" and if we are getting paid to perform it is our duty to do so with a smile. I am personally sick to death of "Steel Guitar Rag" but as it is the only steel guitar song that most folks can remember the name of it must be done.

Just try to remember that "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and turn it into a creative opportunity, there's lemonade in there someplace brothers and sisters... Razz

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I just remember, It's not my job to like the song. It's my job to play it. If I can't play a song I don't like the way it should be played, I am in the wrong profession. Be a professional on the job, or let someone else who is have the job.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Rich Peterson · From: Moorhead, MN

Some years ago, I sang "Green Green Grass of Home" with what were (to me) funny lyrics. A sweet old lady came up to the bandstand and asked why I had ruined her favorite song. I never forgot that.

I won't do songs that offend my morals, but otherwise, I remember it might be somebody's favorite song.

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Sometimes you're playing, & sometimes you're working...

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Well,,,, I generally would play as well as I was able. However, "Achey Breaky Heart" was not something I would tolerate sitting down. And the shovel-head line-dancers would request it every set. I've played that dumb solo backwards, with Chinese-style harmony, etc.. But the best was to get the band to add an extra beat to the last bar of the solo. Then we could amuse ourselves watching the line dancers collide with one another. And there was also the three slide guitars, slide fiddle, slide bass version of "Free Bird."

Ned McIntosh · From: New South Wales, Australia

The band I am in does a mix of rock, country, blues, easy-listening and a few other genres that crop up from occasion to occasion. We can be up to nine members, three of whom are also vocalists, so we are not short of instruments.

If I don't like the song (or it simply has no requirement for steel and quite a few don't), I'll exercise my choice not to play and just sit it out until a song comes along to which I can contribute.

I am probably valued more for what I don't play than for what I do play. Neutral

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The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

It happens sometimes.
If it's just a bar gig, I usually just say "I'm gonna check the sound out front on this one" and leave the stage for that song.
Not every song is a steel song.
I don't expect the Lead Singer to stay on stage for an Instrumental number of any kind, either.

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

If I'm actually getting paid to play, which is more and more rare around these parts, I'll always do my level best. But I'm reminded of a few months back when we were backup for a talent night and two ten or twelve year old girls hit the stage wanting to do a Lady Gaga song. Well none of us had ever heard tell of it. The lead guitar player bent over and let one of them sing it in his ear after which a run was made at it but it was a minor travesty to say the least. I sat that one out and made no apologies for it. Smile

This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about. If you're doing 100% impromptu playing and you just have no idea of the air of the tune then surely it's better to sit it out than throw others off by searching around and hitting wrong notes. I will and do put a lot of effort into learning something distasteful if I'm acting in a professional capacity.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I thought the question was about playing songs you don't care for. Playing songs you never HEARD is an entirely different issue.

I'd let that guitar player be the solo accompanist. It has nothing to do with it being a Lady Gaga song -- I'm fine with that. At a talent show the contestants should provide a lead sheet or chord chart in the right key -- in advance. Absent that, I'd just have to say no.

I'd much rather play a 4 hr smoky barroom gig until 2am than a 2 hr amateur talent show for the same money. Evil Twisted

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Rich Peterson · From: Moorhead, MN

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

Just like any other job, you're expected to do some stuff which you'd rather not. It's "give and take". You have to please the people most of the time.

I figure if the band plays 70% of what the audience wants to hear, they'll happily tolerate the other 30% that we actually want to play.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

like any job, one get's paid to do what is expected from him
if one don't like it, well take dat job & shove it
go sell used cars or hotdogs
i've learned some nice parts from tunes i did'nt necessarily like
like the fo'bro wrote, if the crowd digs it, they'll offer you a beer & maybe invite you over fer brunch on Sunday
Winking

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

Two of the songs I never could come up with decent choruses on were: "The Most Beuatiful Girl In The World" and "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Old Oak Tree". Anyone else have problems with these songs ?

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I barely think about it at all. If a mechanic gets hired to fix a car does he judge the car he is working on or does he take pride in doing a good job repairing it ? By taking my personal judgements out of the equation I find myself more open to new ideas.
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Bob

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

Colm Chomicky · From: Kansas, (Prairie Village)

There are songs I absolutely hated to listen too, say on the radio. But then for some reason, it just seems a different experience playing them. I honestly don't mind at all, it is often fun. I don't know why.

But in terms of having to play a Lady Gaga song I have never heard of before, well that would be a challenge.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Thanks for asking this one, Bill, it's a worthy question and speaks to one of the major challenges of the human condition.

If you truly wish to become the best artist that you can, then you soon realize that every chance to strike the strings is an opportunity to build your chops and your ears, regardless of context. In fact, the very worst thing that can happen to you when playing music that you "don't like" is for you to miss the opportunity to build chops. This may mean spending hours on stage playing pop hooks, piano lines, horn charts, guitar parts, even backup vocal lines. Sometimes you never get a single ride or a chance to shine all night, that's just the job, but if you pay attention you always walk out the door a better player than the one who walked in.

When you decide to hang out your sign as a hired gun you must accept that, just like any other paying job, you may face inconvenient choices, sometimes with people you would never associate with otherwise, often playing music that you would never listen to or which may completely disgust you. While you have the option of declining or leaving the position, the only way to completely lose out is if to take ourselves down by ignoring this gift.

Believe me, in the course of my rather peripheral career I have played some gigs that were phenomenally beyond stupid, had my gear beer-soaked, knocked over and broken, been threatened, lied to and robbed by friends and strangers alike; so if the worst thing that happens at a gig is that 1) I have to come up with something creative to do on a song that I loathe and then to 2) hone my skills and focus executing it for a few minutes, then I figure I must be living the true dream!

Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

I have found some neat licks (to me anyway) trying to come up with something to play on I don't (didn't) like. One that comes to mind is "Twist Again Like We Did Last Summer............

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Colm said:

Ron Anderson · From: Keystone Colorado, USA

You mean like House of the rising sun?" Rolling Eyes

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GFI Student Model.

Chuck Thompson · From: Illinois, USA

Im still a bit of a newb on steel but played guitar for years. imho I think Bob H nailed it. When getting payed I dont think about liking the song - I just think about what I can do for song and singer in a tastefull manner.

If its a cover song i try to make sure that at least the signature licks are there. If someone is determined to sing some obscure song w/o charts that no one in the band knows......I might try to tactfully talk them out of it. If they still insist - I wish them luck and ask for the key. If the song crashes and dies a horrible death I figure the singer the band or the audience had it coming to them Wink

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