No, you don't know the tune after all

[dkstott]

At the weekly gathering, I played my instrumental version of the Beatles tune "In my Life". During one of the breaks, a fellow player stopped me and said; "I play that tune too".

Well, I'm always interested in hearing how others play it, especially the harpsichord interlude. So I replied " Cool, show me how you play it"

His answer was "I haven't played it in years & then couldn't play any of it. He wasn't even sure what key he had played it in when he did play it".

My snarky reply was "No, you don't play that tune after all".


FWIW, I play it in the key of D, capo'd at the 2nd fret using mostly C shape chords.

[Big Band Guitar]

I was at a open mike a couple weeks ago. One of the other performers asked if I knew "Wave" I said yes he then asked if he could play the melody. I said sure, well he didn't really know it.

I don't mind if someone asks if they can play along and I don't try to make them look bad. But if you don't know the tune don't try, it's bad for both of us.

A couple of years ago the same thing happened. Another performer asked if I knew "Satin Doll". He tried and didn't do too bad noodling around but he didn't really know it.

[Beakybird]

At one of my nursing homes a resident asked me to play his favorite song.
"What's the songs name?"
"I don't know. "
"How does the song go?"
"I don't know. "
"How can I play the song?"
"I heard an orchestra do it. It goes like this. "
He then proceeded to seriously wave his arms as if he were conducting an orchestra.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Beakybird

At one of my nursing homes a resident asked me to play his favorite song.
"What's the songs name?"
"I don't know. "
"How does the song go?"
"I don't know. "
"How can I play the song?"
"I heard an orchestra do it. It goes like this. "
He then proceeded to seriously wave his arms as if he were conducting an orchestra.

Classic.

Then there's the more common scenario of people asking for songs by quoting some obscure line, thinking it's the title.

My band once had someone come up and ask the singer for a request - while she was in the middle of singing a song. You sometimes wonder what goes in people's brains....

[WonderMonkey]

Why be snarky about it? Was the guy being a jerk about thinking he knew it?

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by WonderMonkey

Why be snarky about it? Was the guy being a jerk about thinking he knew it?

Yes, there's a fine line between "I can play that tune", "I know that tune", and "I used to play that tune".
I must have been tempted many times to say something similar when I hear someone play a tune I used to play many years ago - but I always restrain myself from saying anything too confident.

The most embarrassing case I remember was when I was MC-ing a gig (small pub gig) where veteran UK jazz guitarist Diz Disley was a guest. He asked if anyone knew any Django tunes (he was a Django expert), to jam on. I'd been in a band playing Hot Club tunes some 15 years before that, so it was hard to resist jumping up and saying "yes!" In fact, I couldn't prevent a "yeah!" slipping out at the same moment I realised I could only remember one by heart - Nuages - so that was the one I said I could do (stopping him from suggesting any other famous one that I really should have known).

[mr. beaumont]

I've definitely forgotten more tunes than I know.

[Wyllys]

As I've said all too often:

Music is more than playing all the right notes in the right order...

[Mr. Jelly]

If you want some uncomfortable musical moments try auditioning people for a band. It can get real ugly.

[Nymuso]

Originally Posted by Big Band Guitar

I was at a open mike a couple weeks ago. One of the other performers asked if I knew "Wave" I said yes.

I love Wave! To me it is the ultimate Bossa song. I also enjoy Satin Doll. If I could get gigs playing only standards I'd never play anything else. Are you familiar with The Guitar Guy's website? A treasure trove of great stuff.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

If you want some uncomfortable musical moments try auditioning people for a band. It can get real ugly.

Not as uncomfortable as actually auditioning for a band yourself.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by WonderMonkey

Why be snarky about it? Was the guy being a jerk about thinking he knew it?

Ditto !! At an open mic why would anyone care what someone else does or does not know ?

[TBman]

Originally Posted by dkstott

At the weekly gathering, I played my instrumental version of the Beatles tune "In my Life". During one of the breaks, a fellow player stopped me and said; "I play that tune too".

Well, I'm always interested in hearing how others play it, especially the harpsichord interlude. So I replied " Cool, show me how you play it"

His answer was "I haven't played it in years & then couldn't play any of it. He wasn't even sure what key he had played it in when he did play it".

My snarky reply was "No, you don't play that tune after all".


FWIW, I play it in the key of D, capo'd at the 2nd fret using mostly C shape chords.

Next week maybe you should offer a copy of the notation you have of the tune to the same guy. To me the player was trying to seek a further bond to create a friendship. You kinda slapped that away. Unless the guy is an overall jerk, lol.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Not as uncomfortable as actually auditioning for a band yourself.

I thought of this clip right away. When Freaks and Geeks got it right (which they pretty much always did) they got it so right...I challenge anyone who ever auditioned for anything to watch this and not get sweaty palms.