Intentional tempo boost

[Phred]

Inspired by the current thread called faster or not, (or whatever) I would like to pose a question to you cover bands. Especially those of you that strive to do almost exact replicas of the songs.

 

Do you do the songs in the same tempo as they were recorded? Is it okay to intentionally tempo bump a song for the purposes of getting people on the dance floor. Do you ever slow a song down to groovify it more?

 

 

In my band we constantly adjust the tempo of songs based on the dance floor response.

 

[Skinny]

We do Hotel California and Mary Jane's Last Dance quite a bit slower than the originals. But we always do them slower. We don't adjust according to dance floor participation.

[marino]

I'll reverse your question: When I'm recording a song, I generally do it a bit faster that live. Also, shorter solos, etc. I try to achieve the most concise expression for any particular tune.

 

 

 

[Michelle ggurl]

Is it okay to intentionally tempo bump a song for the purposes of getting people on the dance floor. Do you ever slow a song down to groovify it more?

 

 

In my band we constantly adjust the tempo of songs based on the dance floor response.

 

Well, I"m not in a cover band, but I would say, since I've played in them and also in salsa bands (which absolutely are dance bands) that bumping the energy up is fine ... in fact, in salsa, it is VERY common to speed up within tunes. Part of that is the nature of the groove, part of that is just the energy. It's probably what dancers expect even if they don't say so ... the exchange of energy between bandstand and dancers probably contributes. Not to say it becomes radically faster, but even salsa recordings do this. I don't know if a cover-band crowd would appreciate the tempo changing as much, but it does speak to matching the energy and taking liberties with tempo here and there.

[JeffLearman]

Most bands playing original music play different tempos live. Just listen to any live recordings by original artists. Many faster, some slower, some completely different.

 

Do what works.

[Jeff Klopmeyer]

What he said. ^^^

[J. Dan]

We almost always play the original tempo. A few of them we bump up a little, but usually very little - like a few bpm, just depends on how it feels. There are a couple I think we play slower, but not on purpose, and it generally drives me nuts, it feels like it's dragging. I think most cover bands tend to speed a lot of songs up too much.

[BlackandWhite]

On the Santana tunes, we stick very close to the original studio recording tempos. (Unlike Santana, themselves...) Same for nearly all the others. Only exception would be the couple of songs that we change the style of.

 

I am curious to hear from those of you who "bump" the tempos: which songs does this work on? I don't think I've ever enjoyed a rushed cover song.

[JeffLearman]

"Rushing", by definition, is when you bump the tempo and it's not working. We've all heard it! But we've also all heard songs played with a bit more energy live than the studio version. If it's more than a couple BPM, I'd expect to hear more than just a tempo change.

 

Oddly, dramatic slow tunes can sometimes be "pumped up" live by playing them even slower. Make 'em wait for it!

 

That which is done on purpose tends to work better than that which happens by accident. Of course, we've all heard happy accidents too.

 

BTW, I'm a terrible rusher, especially with slow songs. Do as I say, not as I do. Thank goodness for good drummers keeping me honest. It's just the typical "amateur who doesn't practice rigorously and is hopped up on adrenaline" thing.

 

Still, it's a good question: which tunes does it work or not work on, and why?

[Phred]

Thanks everyone - this is exactly what I meant...

 

We are very conscious about which tunes we bump the tempo up. In fact, for every tune we listen to the cover and match a metronome to it, and write down the bpms. Then live, our drummer uses a flashing metronome to count the tune in. Either at rehearsal, or after a gig, we discuss which tunes need a tempo adjustment.

 

We slowed down spencer david group gimme gimme good lovin', as we found dancers having trouble keeping up. Not by much, but a little.

 

I think we play still got the blues a bit slower than the recorded version, but about the same speed as the live version.

 

To my shagrin we play sweet home alabama faster than the recorded version. That all works out great until the piano solo... Yikes!!

 

[Pale]

Oh, I have the same problem with Sweet Home Alabama. My guitar player sometimes pumps it up to 20-25 bpms faster than original. That piano solo at the end suddenly becomes difficult to play,at least with only one hand. I think Billy Powell did those sixts with both hands though.

[CEB]

Nope. One handed.

[Pale]

I play it one handed too, but I have learned to play with both hands too, for those cases someone decides to double the speed.

[CEB]

No I meant Billy played it one handed. I try not to play it. It isn't the same with out the really cool chick choir.

[Joe P]

No I meant Billy played it one handed. I try not to play it. It isn't the same with out the really cool chick choir.

 

The "Honkettes"!

[Joe Muscara]

bpms

bpms

It's BPM, no "s" (I don't care about capitalization here).

 

You are abbreviating beats per minute so adding an "s" to the end is redundant.

 

Same goes for RPM, MPG, MPH and KPH and probably others.

 

Sorry, that's a pet peeve of mine.

 

 

Anyway, back to the subject.

 

Are you sure the original tune doesn't change tempo? Sometimes they do, often when the change is from verse to chorus and back. You may want to check if you have not.

[Skinny]

bpms

bpms

It's BPM, no "s" (I don't care about capitalization here).

 

You are abbreviating beats per minute so adding an "s" to the end is redundant.

 

Same goes for RPM, MPG, MPH and KPH and probably others.

 

Sorry, that's a pet peeve of mine.

 

 

Anyway, back to the subject.

 

Are you sure the original tune doesn't change tempo? Sometimes they do, often when the change is from verse to chorus and back. You may want to check if you have not.

 

RBI

[johnchop]

We are playing the first bit of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" really slowly ... then slam into the verse. Pretty effective. Plus our singer rules, so she can do her soul diva thing for a few bars.

 

And @Joe: ATM machines and PIN numbers. GRRRRR!

[Joe Muscara]

And @Joe: ATM machines and PIN numbers. GRRRRR!

Yes! Those kinds of abbreviations too.

[Michelle ggurl]

beats per minuteses.

[Pale]

No I meant Billy played it one handed. I try not to play it. It isn't the same with out the really cool chick choir.

 

I have a cool chick choir! 3 female backing vocals! Ok, it's not really a choir, but they still rock.

[BlackandWhite]

To my shagrin we play sweet home alabama faster than the recorded version. That all works out great until the piano solo... Yikes!!

 

On rare occasions, our band leader calls an audible for The Breeze. The drummer and I have an agreement that I buy him a beer if he doesn't rush the tempo..