BASS
PREPARING MAKES PERFECT | Gary Lunn
You can never be too prepared. I recently played naturally. comparably, for the specific purpose of helping to guide
for a live recording project in Jerusalem. It was we usually forget what we played or how we and inspire us through each song. It helped
an amazing honor to be a part of this event, played it within hours of the session! So, I sit immensely! We were able to rehearse the
even though the process was pretty involved. down with my charts on my iPad and listen to entire show while hearing almost every missing
Perhaps sharing with you how it progressed will the songs while writing in notes that indicate element not in the room. In two days time,
give you some new ideas about streamlining bass lines, kick patterns, rhythm figures, keys, after initially working out most of the technical
your own learning experiences. tempos, overall feel, style, and any other subtle “kinks,” we are able to play through the show
direction that I can show on the chart that will about five times.
The rhythm section rehearsed two days in help me remember the multiple aspects of what
Nashville. Just getting ready for that required was played on each song. We then flew to Jerusalem and went through
a lot of “homework.” Thankfully, the producer the rigor of loading in gear, setting up, line
was very organized, not to mention that he was After doing that for twelve songs, I was then checking, monitor checking (in-ears), and
also the drummer on the project. ready to play along with most of them once working out more “kinks.” We were joined by
or twice, pausing to focus on difficult sections about ten singers, a percussionist, an acoustic
A smart way to go about getting ready for a live of certain songs, etc. I remember that there guitar player/vocalist, and a saz player (a
recording is to pre-record the entire project in was one particular song that contained a stringed instrument with a sound similar to an
the studio beforehand. Not only will the charts somewhat difficult unison line that involved oud). After rehearsing the show in its entirety
be done, but the demonstration recordings can most of the band. I have mentioned before that three times, we were finally ready for two
more easily be made available to rehearse with. the ForScore app on my iPad has the ability performances in the same hall on the same day.
This also means that we will be performing to playback songs at a slower speed without
at the live event along with tracks from the changing the pitch. The “loop” function allows Two days later we set up at a TV studio and
recorded project. This will greatly augment me to rehearse the difficult passages over played the same performance again in front of
the live experience for everyone. After we and over until they become “easier.” After this a slightly smaller audience. Our backdrop was
have added our live “elements” to the project, process was done, I began to feel like I was the Mount of Olives, the Old City, the Garden
the producer can use his discretion to pick prepared for rehearsal. of Gethsemane, the Temple Mount, and the
which performance he wants to use in the City of David. It was pretty amazing!
final mix of the project. He can even combine For band rehearsal, I set up alongside a single
performances from different times within the guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, and the artist. Because we were playing the same show
same song on any instrument. It truly allows for Because we were to be joined by Israeli singers sequence over and over it seemed to get better
a lot of options with the instrumentation. and instrumentalists during future rehearsals, each time we went through, either in rehearsal
the small compliment of five people was all or during the performances. I have learned,
Even after having played bass on the project, that was needed at the Nashville sessions. having gone through this process many times,
I still needed to go back and re-learn what I The also you can never practice too much. I sincerely
played at the sessions. This is one of the things ran stem tracks from his laptop computer. In hope that sharing this experience will inspire
that makes the session music experience case you don’t know what “stem” tracks are, you to continuously apply the wisest use of
so drastically different from the live music they are usually reference stereo mix-down your time in practicing your ever-so-important
experience. When we are in the studio learning tracks (sub-mixes) that contain a specific craft. Blessings on the work of your hands!
a song together, the process generally goes by instrument or instruments mixed together for a pretty quickly. As we follow a chart we view it as specific purpose. In our case, he had prepared a guide to allow us to create things together. It’s stem tracks individually with programmed a lot like driving down a road and watching the percussion, auxiliary keyboards, extra guitar signs for direction as the driving part just comes parts, background vocals, among others, all
Consequently,
and
drummer/producer/band-leader
November 2018
Gary Lunn
Gary Lunn is a session player/producer/writer in
Nashville, TN. Contact him at [email protected] for
scheduling or questions.
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