Got a request last night for "That's All"...you know,"I can only give you country walks in springtime...". Played it occasionally on upright with a jazz group in college in the 60's. Never played it on keys.

It went OK, and I realize that I frequently attempt to play tunes I've never played before. Of course, I have to have a real good grasp on the structure, and, If I get stuck, I medley with another similar tune (structure and key). The customer is pleased to even hear part of the tune requested. Can't remember when I ever comletely bombed, but often ,I think I miss the mark a little. In this instance, I hadn't even heard the tune in 20 years. No major clunkers, but still...


Anyone else do this? A wise decision on my part, or not?


Russ



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 08-27-2008).]

Used to do it all the time. What would hang me up in the older songs was the bridge. So I would often play the bridge from another song and then go back into the one requested. For instance, Stars Fell on Alabama with the bridge from I'm in the Mood for Love. It usually always works.

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

me, too, Joe. just told the client it was medley...I intended it that way!

Usually works.


R.

Often when i'm playing with people and someone else is leading. Seldom when I'm leading. Lots of times I'm playing with people I've never met before, or maybe once before, and they call something I'm familiar with to a degree, but have never played it before. As long as someone else can do the melody, that's usually enough to get my mind working to remember the changes. Especially if the bass player is good and can lead into the changes as they come. But yeah, I'm often playing tunes I barely know or haven't thought about in ages. It's a little tense on the nerves, but really good for me as a player. Keeps my ear working; and also reminds me of some great tunes that I should know better.

It happens all the time Russ. And, like Joe, I frequently get a brain fart that leaves me searching for the bridge, so I just kick into another song's bridge, then revert back to the orriginal. The audiences love it! I was playing Pennsylvania 6-5000 a few nights ago using a new style I downloaded from Eileen in the UK. The bridge ended up being from Tuxedo Junction, which sounded great.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Yeah... got to watch out for that 'bridge to nowhere'

That's the thing that trips me half the time, playing half remembered tunes. That's the half I DON'T remember

Speaking of tunes where you forget the bridge...

Crap...I forgot what I was gonna say.

Eddie

Our philosophy is, if you can only do a half-Assed version of a song, don't do it at all, as it can make you look "shaky" and kind of ruins the memory of a (hopefully good) song.

That's just us.

I hasten to add that most of the people here are probably better players than me, and thus it's also a lack of instrumental Talent on my part that would more ruin the attempt.

What we DO occasionally try is a Chorus or Verse/Chorus of a song A cappella, with some off the cuff harmonies (a tricky but satisfying thing to do) - this probably isn't the response you were looking for, but it's another view - a Vocalist's view if you know what I mean....

You can almost always ll V l yourself back to safety if you get stumped. I can always follow the breadcrumbs home with a few turnarounds!

Those old tunes...in the key of E flat...got me a few times on the bridge..for example Old Cape Cod ...and...I wish you love...The two can replace each other at the bridge...

My saving grace were my female vocalists steering me back on course after a measure or two....But guess what? They didn't even know I wondered away....so I am sure the audience had no clue too...

Besides I like the change up..


When I work as a duo..it is common to play request off the cuff..If my girl knows the tune ..it makes it easy...If I know the tune..it makes it easy for her..

And there is always Dave's solution...2..5...2..5..until you get your bearings...or finish with the 1 chord..and take a break..

I don't know...I just found it easier to say something like...."I don't know that song!"

Lucky

I remember one night..while working with one of my favorite girls..A fellow came up to the stage and placed $100 bill on my keyboard...requesting an old standard..

Kath didn't know the tune..I played it thru one time...Then we went on to another song (same feel)..she sang the second tune..and I closed it out with the last verse of the requested tune...At the break the fella was so happy..we filled his request...Sorta..

True story...

So you get that request you are not too sure about...or just plain don't know.

My response: Where ya been? I just played that 5 minutes ago.

Sometimes it even works.

Eddie

Personally, I don't enjoy trying to figure out a tune on the cuff. Have I done it? Yes, but I hate it...Sometimes its even worked out fine, but I still hate it...

To try and manage my way through a song I don't know, not to mention coming up with some lyrics is something I try to avoid.

I'd usually just say, I don't know it...but I can play something else by that artist, or something from a similar era, etc.

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Bill in Dayton

Yea, I do it all the time, but like others, I often bomb on the bridge. I'm hoping that those listening don't notice, haven't heard the song for awhile, or assume it's the "modern" version of the song.

Glenn