Some singers

Tony Farr · From: Madison, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

I have een working with a guy that really likes traditonal country music, Price, Dickens, Pierce, etc. Last night he called for Waltz Across Texas, I had been kicking it off in the same key for over ayear. After starting it he wants it in another key which was not a key for him. Mad

so I just stopped. He turns to the guitar player and said you kick it. Well that didn't sould good at all and he had to go back to original key. When a singer tells me the key of the songs he is doing after a couple of times he doesn't have to say anything except what song he gonna do. I'm about ready to throw in the towel on him. Evil or Very Mad

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

I can see it if this was just a band practice but if it was during a show it would come off soundin a tad unprofessional to me.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

From where I sit behind my BIGSBY or Emmons or Rick, I'd say that his conduct marks him as a died-in-the-wool AMATUER that likely failed to learn the very basics of MUSIC and/or performing same. I'm also inclined to believe this is the (very low) level that he has attained and very likely will never rise above it.

Another point I've long been aware of: Is that if the guy starts out in "A"....and it's not the correct key for him on this specific date, they start jumping all over the guitar neck without any real knowledge or understanding about what they're doing.

Instead of moving up that half-step to B flat, or down a whole step to "G"........they'll instead jump to "D", then perhaps "F", etc. etc.

If they persist in displaying this lack of knowledge about how to play music, I'd simply leave the band.
Once you've played with real top-knotch musicians, to play with anything less is "a real downer!"

Ray Harrison · From: Tucson, Arizona, USA (deceased)

Respondeing as a singer.
If I change a key, it's because of my voice on that night. Not very often, but sometimes I may drop a step, or half, or raise it a half or whole step.
I know as a bass/ guitar player what changing the key does to the song but I also have to be aware of what my voice is capable of on that particuar night.
Apparently this fellow is just a singer and doesn't realize the complications of moving the song.
My guys are used to my changes and as I said it doesn't happen very often.
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Bill Dobkins · From: Rolla Missouri, USA

Just lookat it like this! Shocked

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Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I deal with all sorts of singers and its always something. If they are good people it helps. If the money is good it helps too. And it really helps if it is fun. I work with plenty of people that don't know what they are doing and often it can be a pretty positive situation. I do put up with tons of goofy crap though. I have a couple rules of thumb that I stick to. If the money is under 3 digits the only thing a singer is allowed to tell me is "thank you". I also stay away from vicious, drug addict morons even if the money is there.
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Bill Cutright · From: Akron, OH

Not really enough info in the original post (for me, anyway) to make a for/against commentary.

Implied that the new key was more than just a half/whole step, temporary, compensation for the singers physical feeling that show ( which, that is a good topic in itself, and, one of my reasons for now carrying a guitar that’s tuned down a half.)

Otherwise, (and, I’m not sure where ol Ernest did it – will assume, C ), let’s say he wanted to do it in F, or G…, without having worked that out, and unless they really wanted to put a different melodic interpretation on it -- not a good idea.

On the other hand, we may, ourselves, been victims of an instrumentalist that is reluctant (or, inflexible) to alter a key, due, in part, to their own memorization or limited knowledge… one steel playern, I sometimes associate with, won’t do Night Life unless it’s in C (original, as we all know, is D).

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

How many remember the Singer that the crowd, usually relatives, insists that he be allowed to sing a song with the Band. He picks out a song, and we what key do you sing it in ? Then he say's "I Don't Care !"
Now we know we are in trouble. We say sing a little of it off mike so we can find a good key for you. He starts singing and we finally determine what key he might be going to sing it in. We give him a good introduction and expect him to come in. He never utters a note but justlooks at us. OK, just start singing and we will find your key. He (or she) starts singing in only God knows what key and as soon as we find it he changes to another Key. If we are lucky we might finally get together but it might never happen. We finally get through it and then the audience wants him to sing another. This is what can drive a Band to Drink and Drugs. One of the Joys of being a Musician. Once in a while you get someone that really knows what their doing and then everything is right again.

Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

Tony,

If you don't want him, send him up here to Knoxville. If he likes to sing traditional country, I can tolerate the key changes, etc...

I understand your frustration. Someone suggested that you quit the band. If it's fun don't let this run you off. If you're not having fun, you should quit anyway, unless you need the money. If that's the case, then just play, get the money, and go home. Mistakes among friends in a band are often the most fun part of the gig. Sometimes the ego can get in the way of having a good gig and making a living. The audience seldom knows the difference and they don't care anyway. Again, if you can't work it out, send him up here to Knowville. I'll trade you two Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks wanna be's for him.

Laughing

Jack Harper · From: Mississippi, USA

rick..........
but what if he runned off with that "knoxville girl"
would that not be tony's fault......
or ..maybe he chooses to stay in madison due to a
.......prior committment!

country......

Tony Farr · From: Madison, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Thanks guys for the comments. This guy has an EGO complex, and thinks no one else can ing but him. He's been around long enough to know that you don't stop in the middle of a song on stage and do what he did. If it was a practice it would have been different. He's not paying enough attention to his music at times. On another song the same night he could not remember the first line, after 3 trys we told him to do something else. He plays at, rythum ,and is playing the wrong key while trying to sing. I think that's his biggest problem on stage. We've told him but Mad

he no listen to us.

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

Working in a Bar situation can be very difficult at times mainly because it's a crowd feel, tons of request more than having a prepared song list..But having good musicians and keeping them I found the best way was not to embarrass them..Thus a worked out song list with keys maybe not always in an order but the Band was always aware of the arrangement and Keys..As the years progressed we never went on stage without a prepared set list..All I had to do was say a key word and the drummer went into the count and the band into the intro..There were times when colds or some other affliction would pop up and I would work out the Keys to fit that night..I was always lucky to have Good Musicians that worked hard to make me sound my best...

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Find a good singer without a big ego and stick with them. They are a rarity.
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Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

Jimmy Lewis · From: Harrisonburg, Louisiana, USA

I have worked with a lot of singers and most of the so called front men have an ego that is as big as a mack truck.

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