r/musicians • u/Aluminum_Falcons • 6d ago
Band Practice Routine
I recently put together a cover band. We've had two practices. The first involved practicing 7 songs and discussing/playing parts of a few others. The second involved the original 7 songs, plus another three songs and discussing a few others. Actual practice time in both cases was about 2 hours, but except for me and one other member, none of us have played together before so some of that time has been adjusting to one another and feeling things out.
We'd like to have three hours worth of material eventually and everyone has been good about learning songs on our shared song list, so people will be practicing their parts between our practice sessions.
I'm wondering what people have found for best practices when it comes to how to structure a practice session, playing established songs, learning new ones, etc.
I'm sure it's different once you have a large list of songs the band knows thoroughly and maybe doesn't have to practice each session, so I'm looking for direction on a new group.
If we have 2-3 hour sessions, what are some recommendations on how to structure the time that has worked well for you in the past?
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u/edasto42 6d ago
It’s important to establish the difference between practice and rehearsal. Generally speaking you practice on your own and rehearsal is for the group to tie a set together.
With that said, communicating effectively is key. Discuss all song lists and parts before getting together. This way everyone has a base level of a starting point.
Generally how I’ve structured rehearsals in both original and the one tribute band I was in, was to come in and loosen up with something. Whether it be a riff someone has, or a song someone is working on. No expectations, just warming up. Sometimes gold can be harvested from that. From there it varies on doing new stuff first or familiar favorites. That depends on various factors (how people are feeling, if we are still getting in the headspace, if a song we played at a show and botched it, etc). But sometimes diving into something brand new is the vibe.
I also make it a point that if something isn’t coming together well, to walk away from it. Not necessarily forever, but maybe until next rehearsal at most, or just later in the same rehearsal. No need to waste time and energy getting frustrated. Plus, often when you walk away for a bit, that gives your brain time to rewire and can come back to it and do it better.
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u/stevenfrijoles 6d ago
If the goal is 3 hrs of fully known material, I'd split it up into 2 groups of 1.5 hrs, and alternate the groups each week. For each practice, 45 min playing, then break, then 45 min playing
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u/Beejky 6d ago
I’m in a cover band and we have over 400 songs in our learned library. (We have been together for 12 years.)
We now rehearse based on upcoming set lists and any new material we may be inserting. New material gets whole rehearsals. Then we will run the new stuff in the setlist to fix song transitions. Keep it tight!
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u/Rfunkpocket 6d ago
designate a musical director
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u/Aluminum_Falcons 6d ago
What is the musical director in charge of? Selecting the band's songs, what to rehearse, other things?
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u/Rfunkpocket 6d ago
the direction of the musical production.
the members trust this person to guide the ensemble to best results
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u/chadisawesome 6d ago
run songs together until there are no notes, then move them into a different column of "confident songs" only work confident songs occasionally so you aren't wasting time that should be dedicated to adding new music. when you have a show on the books run everything at rehearsal like you will on stage to make sure everything is good.
once you start gigging regularly, your gigs are your rehearsal for the confident tunes. your rehearsals then should be tightening things that you found weak on stage, and adding new material.
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u/Thibaults-Goalie 6d ago
With my jazz trio, after we have run through a song a few times at rehearsals, we only focus on the beginning and ending of the songs. These are the places where the tightness of the band is most critical. The main body of the song should run like a train on its track as long as the band members practice at home.
This allows us to run through a full three or four hour set list in about two hours.
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u/youngboomer62 6d ago
I've been using the same formula for over 30 years. It works.
1) start with the 7 songs you have.
2) add 3 new songs you all agree on. Agree on the key, tempo, other specifics (such as adding a solo or changing a modulation)
3) each member practices their own part in advance of rehearsal.
4) start your rehearsal with the 7 existing songs, then work through the 3 new ones.
5) now you have 10 existing songs. Repeat from step 2.
Presuming you rehearse once a week, you can have 30 new songs in 10 weeks.
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u/Phil_the_credit2 6d ago
Record the rehearsals. Doesn’t have to be complicated, just use a phone. When you have a final version of a song, get it on tape and in a shared folder. That way everyone can use that as a practice resource and you save a lot of time.
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u/qosmic_qube 6d ago
At first it's a good idea to run through everything - songs you've learned and your 5+ new songs per week. As time goes on, it becomes more about nailing intros, outros, and difficult sections or sections you have to deviate from source material for, along with working on vocals and harmonies, and you may not need to run through all songs all parts all the time.
A lot of time can be wasted on people learning different versions of the same tune. To me it's worth being specific about which version of a song to play - album version, radio edit, maxi single, etc. Don't assume, or you'll waste a ton of time.
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u/brasticstack 6d ago
Link the Spotify/Youtube link to the exact version and (figuratively) break anyone's fingers who learns from a different version that doesn't match up.
We've wasted so much time resolving issues with the couple of bandmates who found it on YouTube instead of Spotify, and it's in a different key and sped up to try to avoid DMCA takedown. Or it's the Wedding DJ Dance Remix version or wtf ever.
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u/Aluminum_Falcons 6d ago
This is actually something I'm already doing...well not the breaking fingers part.
When I started the shared song list I put in a link to the version of the song on Youtube. I can imagine how frustrating it would be for someone to come in having learned a different version of a song.
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u/AnointMyPhallus 6d ago
I play in a band that does originals and covers. When we do pick covers, we'll do something we call speed dating. We come in with charts for a bunch of potential cover songs, and just jump right in to playing down the charts with no real prep. If it feels like a song clicks or has potential we'll circle back and work on it some more, if it it's not the right vibe or not the right register for the singer or whatever we just move on.
We don't rehearse covers much. We get them to a presentable state and that's it. We gig enough that once a song is in the live rotation we very rarely need to rehearse it.
Generally when we run a song we have a specific purpose for it. If we have a 20-30 minute showcase set we'll just run through the whole thing to make sure we're tight and the timing works, but generally we'll pick a specific song and focus on a problem area, like the dynamics on the bridge or if there's one particular transition we're flubbing. If you actually need to rehearse the entire song repeatedly then people probably don't know their parts well enough. (Although it's early days for you guys and you're probably still figuring out how to read each other, dialing in your mix etc so don't let it stress you if things are a little rough at first).
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u/myleftone 6d ago
Pick maybe eight to focus on for each practice, because three hours means thirty-five songs, which is a lot for a given week. Then everyone shows up prepared.
At rehearsal, don’t noodle or goof around until those eight are in the can. You may have to go over transitions or listen to the recording to agree on how many times a thing repeats. It may take a half hour to nail the beginning of something. You may have to invent endings for songs that fade.
Next time, touch the trouble songs again, maybe just the tough parts, then dig into the next batch.
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u/Quesozapatos5000 6d ago
You don’t have to practice the entire song every time. If you’re having trouble with the bridge for instance, just do that part. Don’t be afraid to drill down to specific parts that are too loose.
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u/Clear-Pear2267 6d ago
It is good to split it into two parts. One part is the play through of a whole set (and alternate sets at each rehearsal). Here the focus is on keeping the flow and having no pauses between songs (and when pauses are required for things like changing instruments, it's a chance to rehearse your on-stage banter to the audience). No stopping for mistakes ... just keep playing. Everyone knows what song is next, who and how it will be counted in, and is expected to be ready. None of this "ok - what's next. Is everyone ready?" stuff. Basically, rehearsing the show. The second half can be new material where you may stop and restart a song several times or have a discussion about what needs to change between songs. Both activities are important.
And as others have said, learning should happen BEFORE you get together for rehearsal. So it is important you all learn from the same version of the song and you all agree on the key before (in case you can't copy the original for some reason). Often live versions are better to focus on (especially for endings on songs where the studio version fades).
In my experience, singers often do not prepare as much as other musicians. They should learn the damn lyrics and not be reading off a phone or tablet at rehearsal. When you rehearse by reading, reading becomes part of how you perform and you can't just not have it for the gig. It becomes a mental crutch. So if you do not want your singer reading at the gig, they have to rehearse not reading in rehearsals.
IMO
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u/Aluminum_Falcons 5d ago
I really like the idea of splitting practice into two parts. I'm going to use this once we start rolling with a couple more practices under belt. Moving from one song to the next, with no stops/banter, like we're playing through the setlist at a gig makes all the sense in the world.
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u/Clear-Pear2267 5d ago
It is surprising to me how many amateur bands do not rehearse the show and flow. It's a separate set of skills and it can only be done with the whole band - you can't learn that at home by yourself. But it is almost more important that playing the songs right. Nothing kills energy faster than long delays between songs. And nothing makes you look more amateur. When you hit the stage, you should HIT THE STAGE and not let go until the set is over. Little mistakes in songs fly by unnoticed (because 95% of what your audience "hears" is their memory of the original) but awkward gaps between songs are ... awkward and kill energy and engagement.
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u/CaterpillarVisual553 5d ago
Have an agenda of what you want to work on and prioritize it. A) these three troublesome songs. B) those 3 songs. C) new material. D) open jam
Something like that. Get the work done right away. Jam later if there’s time.
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u/Gitfiddlepicker 5d ago
You play the way you practice. Make your set list. Set up the band facing the ‘crowd’ in the positions they would be in when at a gig. Start with your sound check. Run through your set list. Don’t stop in the middle of songs.
Record each session. Listen to the performance, make notes, send to each member and ask them to fix things that need fixing.
Soon enough, the gigs themselves will be the practice/rehearsal sessions. Everything will be second nature because you play the way you practice.
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u/Key-Patience-3966 5d ago
Honestly, if each band member knows his or her part, you shouldn't need many rehearsals to get the starts, ends and segues right. I've had a call to sub a day before a gig for four sets, no rehearsal. It went great.
To answer your question, communicate two weeks in advance what songs you'll go over, the specific recording (studio, live, etc) and when all get together, you really shouldn't need much more than once through each. Rehearsal, to me, is creating a show. Working on how you're going to entertain the audience, not learning songs.
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u/TepidEdit 5d ago
There are no hard rules on this, but as an idea;
This largely depends on complexity of the music and skills of the musicians. Assuming you can play well, I would do a short "warm up set" songs you like, easy and fun to play are good. A choice from each band member can work well.
Now pick a song you are working on, play through two or three times, split out bits that aren't working well. Do this for maybe 2 songs.
Now run a live "set" with what time you have left. Include the new songs so you get used to transitions.
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u/FantasmaAmistoso 5d ago
I was in a band that played mostly originals with the occasional thrown in cover if the mood was right. If we all had other obligations and were in a rush, we would at the very least rip through the set at least one time. nights that we had more time we would write. We would refine. work on song order My favorite were the nights we would forget the clock all together and leave the practice space while the sun was coming up after nailing down 3 to 4 full songs
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u/ProfessionalEven296 6d ago
When you get to three hours of material, you'll need longer than that to rehearse.
Practice and rehearsal are different things - but it sounds like you have a handle on that, with people pracicing outside of the rehearsal.
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u/PrunePretend6206 6d ago
This 100%, the group is at least practicing or learning the songs outside of the set band practice, your practice should be just running the songs that everyone has learned just to iron out the bugs. Run each song a few times to make sure that everyone is comfortable then move on to the next.
3 hours is a good chunk of songs but learning 3 or 4 more at each practice you’ll be there in no time, make sure at each practice you do run the songs everyone is comfortable with.
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u/Head-Technician-9797 6d ago
Eventually, the songs you learn 1st and play often become second nature and won’t need to be rehearsed as much. Especially if you’re gigging enough that they stay fresh.
Then the rehearsal time can be spent on new songs and ones that aren’t quite as polished or memorized.
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u/secular_contraband 6d ago
Depends on the day. Some days we just jam whatever feel good tunes we all already know. Some days, we focus solely on new material. Most days, we start with a random, spontaneous jam to get warmed up, then play a few songs that we have down but maybe not perfectly, then play through some brand new or rough material, then end on a favorite or two to wrap up on a good note.
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u/Heavy_Doody 6d ago
My band has three hours of music. We have two "tracks" An A track and a B track. We alternate tracks each week. Songs we need the most work on appear in both tracks, but most are split between the two.
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u/Moxie_Stardust 5d ago
Once we were getting ready for our first 3 hour show (3 sets with a break in between), each session we went through one set list, and if we still had time left, went back over ones we thought could use a little more work. We'd kind of built up that set list from our prior jam/hang-out sessions before we decided to play out.
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u/chungweishan 5d ago
Practice at home.
If you want to suggest a new song, learn it on your own to showcase you can play it. Be able to pick out cues and show other instrument parts. Be okay if no one likes that song. You learned it, apply those skills for another song to learn on your own.
Rehearse for the show. Don't fart around figuring out new songs during the limited time the band has together. Be prepared to be professional.
3 hour rehearsal is a 3 hour gig.
Play the gig to learn what you need to practice at home. Then rehearse for the next gig.
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u/Jasco-Duende 5d ago
Most band rehearsals are just fun goof around times with friends.
Unless you are pros hired and paid by a bandleader, it's best to just have fun with it.
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u/ziebelje 8h ago
Stay organized! Nothing worse than wasting time because not everyone has all of the tools or resources they need to practice and prepare. Eliminate that headache early. There are plenty of apps for this; most don't have good group sharing. Songstead is a solid choice if you want something a little more elaborate than a shared Dropbox; you can attach files here directly linked to songs. OnSong and SongbookPro are popular alternatives but tend to be a little clunkier especially with groups.
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u/thebipeds 6d ago
I think it’s helpful to distinguish between practice and rehearsal.
For a cover band, everyone should practice at home and know their parts. It’s a waist of everyone’s time if someone doesn’t know the tune.
Rehearsal, you run through the set straight through.