The Band's Problem Solver

[Ted]

In my cover band, we have a frequent problem: When we agree to learn a song, we often work from different versions of the song on YouTube, with different arrangements: the album version, the single version, the live version, etc.

So I've solved this problem.

• We agree on which version
• I find the version on YouTube (or in my music library)
• I download the video and convert it to an MP3 (using yt-dlp)
• I change the sample rate to 44.1 kbps (using ffmpeg) – otherwise the MP3 won't play on the Micro BR
• I tag the MP3 with the relevant TITLE, ARTIST, and GENRE (using Mp3tag)
• I rename the file with a useful naming convention so they can be easily found by title in a folder (also using Mp3tag)
• I upload the MP3 to a Google Drive folder that has been shared (multiple times) with everyone in the band.

Piece of cake!

Everything is nice and organized. Then...

Every Band Rehearsal Day

Guitarist: How does that part go again?

Singer: I know! Let's listen to it! [Types into phone]

YouTube: [Plays ads, then plays wrong version]

Me: [Dies]

[bruno]

Arrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

At least they didn't whip out an old radio gram and play the vinyl at slightly the wrong speed so that you have to transpose! 

[Groundy]

 

[T.C. Elliott]

I literally learned "Pulling Teeth" by Green Day for a cover band years ago by listening to the bassist hum the parts he couldn't show me. When I finally heard the original I liked our version better.

[Blooby]

Get out of my head.

[launched]

And then you throw a huge stick in the spokes called "Alternate Guitar Tunings". Whether it's the song you cover or the band's preference, it really adds to the frustration...

[mdhastings]

Oh, Ted! These tears you see on my face are from laughter. They're not from frustration at all... really... I mean it...