So what are the mistakes all band who put clips up on YouTube, MySpace or aother websites make?

- Playing too fast. You have to be aware that you are not in a rest
state when you play, and you have to relax the tempo or
it'llallsoundlikemuchruntogethergollythisisfunwecanplaysoWHOOEEEfast.

- Rushed fills. Just don't. Just don't. The one is not negotiable. If
you can't get back around, don't go there.

- Playing too loud. Bars are usually crappy acoustical spaces. You
can't drive 'em. They'll *ring*. And then it sounds like mooofuhuhmooof
uhuhuhmoof...

- Not having the vocals loud enough in the room. I don't *CARE* if
you can't sing - non-sing loudly. Knopfler drowns on his adenoids in every song, and he's a Major Dude. And back that dang reverb down.

- Having too much stuff in the mix. Harder to describe, but *leave
space*. Back off during the verses, not just in loudness, but in
how much is being played. *Relax*. Especially you, Mr Drummer. I
think Tom Petty starts off every song on acoustic, and one of his
bass players acted like every note takes a minute off his life. It
sounds fantastic. Likewise Rick Rojas on "Heart Of Gold". Obviously,
Yes covers will be different, but space is a precious commodity.
"... left room for God to walk through the room" - Quincy Jones, on
the "Songs In The Key Of Life" DVD. Le Q knows, man.

- Lack of dynamics. Closely related to #4. Up to an including
cessation of playing your part. Try it. It's cool.

- Playing too many notes. We still play Musting Sally. I do the
Mitch Ryder version, a single note guitar part, like a bass
part. I also play the rests. We have *never* played that song when we
don't get a compliment on it. *Leave space*. When in doubt, leave it
out. If you are Talking Heads, the space is very strangely distributed,
but it is there...

- General indistinction. Summed from all of the above, plus a
pair of plastic pole speakers run *way* too hot. But you said turn
the vocals up? Yes, I did. But you have to have something with more
testicular fortitude than a grocery store PA up there. All specifications are lies - you have to *listen*, or get
outside support on what to get. Plastic is a Bad Sign.
And once, just once, get a demo on a pair of Meyers. Oh. My.
This will get worse - all PA boxes now have been cost reduced
a lot recently. :(

- Vocal mush. Usually because... and I am not making this up - people
think the clip light on Mackie/Behringer boards is a pilot
light. It's not. Never light the lights - that's Bad. And don't
crank the treble, especially because it's likely to emphasize just
how badly the crappy crossover in your cheap pole speakers is,
never mind the sparkin' rock peizo tweeter.

- Poorly chosen harmony parts. You have to practice harmony. When
you practice harmony, use a piano and somebody who speaks triads.
You have to stay on your part. Don't cross over unless you intend to.
Phrase together. High parts come in late, leave early, like a pyramid,
but it's better to be precise.

- Sound badly adapted to the room. Usually too loud, but sometimes
it's just EQ that's not correct for the room. Carve off ten minutes to check the room when you set up - the drummer will get a beer for you.
Well, we can hope... beer goes right to yer behind, anyway....

- bandsaw guitar tone. Back them knobs down. Yes, the camera makes you
look fat, but your amp probably does sound like that. This is something
everybody on alt.music.4-track learned over time, and it made a
*HUGE* difference. Jimmy Page wasn't using that much distortion,
dude...

- drums out of tune. I don't mean Bb, but the drums are both too loud
and too thin. And the kik is just absent. Kik drums can hang with
non-master volume Marshalls when they are set up and operated properly.
Yeah, by John Bonham. Well, it shows what is possible.
That hole in the front head? Might be a bad idea.... depends.

- Clanky bass tone. Dude, Jaco did it with a 360. You can do better. This is a tough problem. I still fight this myself. Camera mics
amplify this exponentially.

- Cymbals and hi hat are too loud. I don't know how drummers figure out the ins and outs of this, but choice of instrument there makes a *massive* difference. Even if you have to help the drummer with purchases, it makes a night and day difference.

- Improperly crossed and tuned PA. Biamping is hard.

--
Les Cargill
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Coated 2-plys on maple toms?
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  • Re: I Know Everything!
    ... > of THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A DRUMS THAT ARE TOO LOUD. ... decent sized club I cannot imagine a drummer playing "too loud". ... I have never commented on a brand of guitars I haven't played. ...
    (alt.guitar)
  • Re: Im a click track guy.
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    (alt.guitar.bass)
  • Re: Question on band dynamics
    ... The drummer and I have been friends for about 30 years (since 10th ... grade) and have been playing together in the garage, ... continuous friend. ... I know lots of guys who play, ...
    (alt.guitar.beginner)
  • Re: Volume and hearing myself
    ... This really reminds me of my big band playing days. ... I see this as the same scenario when you go into music stores or play at ... I think you need make sure the drummer can " play a nice melody" ... Once the cymbals start crashing and the bass starts thumping, ...
    (rec.music.makers.guitar.jazz)