Why do 97% of bands just WING the first minute of this classic hit song?

-Why do 97% of bands just WING the first minute of this classic hit song?
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Thanks!!!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Had someone on my last video say it was "elitist" to want the drummer and bassist to play the right patterns. Just trying to imagine being at band practice and suggesting that the drummer play the correct kick drum beat and having him say, "Well isn't that just some elitist shit right there!" haha. The BEST musicians I've ever played with all did their homework and honored the details. Yes they would bend parts to make it their own, but they based it off the OG's parts. This taught me so much.

[@MashaT22]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 WTH is wrong with ppl?! Now it’s elitist to learn and honor the song as the artist intended?!?! 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ I think most of us want to do our best to play it as the band did - unless it’s a pure reimagining of an original, who wouldn’t want to sound like the artist did it in the same way we all loved it years back?!

[@lucaswedderburn]

Haters gonna hate no matter what. The details matter when it comes to music whether people want to accept it or not.

[@skasteve6528]

I don't think it is elitist for anyone to want to get better at what they enjoy doing & want their band mates to improve

[@Tigermaster1986]

I'll be a bit more brutal than you, because that is a huge pet-peeve of mine. A lot of times when people talk about "making the song their own", they actually mean simplifying it, because they can't play it properly. Often that is OK, obviously - I've seen bands simplifying their own songs to play them live, but I've also seen people making me wonder why they even try playing some song, if they know they don't have the necessary technical abilities to even come close to the original. If you can't hit high notes and can't play fast guitar solos, you have no business making a song like "Child in Time" your own. Also... 5:27 This just destroyed me. I play the bass and... When you played the recording, I didn't hear any bass at all. Then you started playing and I started doubting myself.

[@robdavis8307]

It just means they can't play it correctly and are jealous of those that can.

[@MaggaraMarine]

Yeah, there's a difference between "playing a song in your own style" and "half assing a song". An arrangement in your own style still cares about the details. It's not just "let's strum these chords and add a basic drum beat". Playing in your own style doesn't mean the details matter less - it means you intentinally change some details and add some of your own details. Even simple songs have details to them. Actually, these details become even more important in simple songs, because they are what make it sound dynamic. In this case, if the bass comes in immediately and the drummer starts playing really "full" with the kick drum, there are no dynamics to it - the verse and the chorus sound the same.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

THANK YOU!

[@spicy321]

This, this and more this! The "simplest" songs need the most attention. Attention to the details, whether your own arrangement or from the recording are what spell the difference between meh and outstanding. I cringe when I hear most bands play Sweet Home Alabama because they think it's easy and just play the 3 chords over and over with no rhythmic variation or dynamics or any of the things that made Skynyrd a great band.

[@Kylora2112]

Agreed. There's "rearranging but still keeping it tight" and there's "we just don't care." If you alter a drum beat to open things up a little or drive things a little more because you're doing a lighter or harder version, cool! If you reduce everything to "kick on 1 & 3 and eighth note hi hats," it's going to sound boring as hell. I play guitar in an 80s cover band (mostly dance/pop/rock). I'll dig through isolated tracks to get the riffs and strumming/picking patterns down perfectly, but I'll put my own spin on improvised licks and solos (e.g., I try to nail the Crazy Train solo as best as I can, but the little fills in the choruses are my take on them).

[@fredoatreides5104]

Stated perfectly.

[@crocholiday]

Exactly! If you have the skill to play it like the record but don't, that's just being lazy. I had a band tell me "we do it like this to make it our own." I said "so just plowing through it minus details is how you make this your own? Interesting take." lol

[@tristandunn4628]

OCD drummer here. Pat's purposefully minimal bass drum use at the beginning stood out to me as soon as I first heard the song. He's slowly building it up, rather than just racing off as soon as the drums start. Likewise Dave holding back on the bass for a while, really helps add to that. Nice to see other people listening to and actually hearing the song

[@games_are_good]

I can’t stand hearing drum hits that aren’t charted in rhythm games on expert/pro settings, also enjoy Rocksmith it helped me get bends perfect with its accuracy. Some things took time dedicated to develop an appreciation and ear for like a 1% difference affects tone & volume mixing

[@beenaplumber8379]

I'm like this too (on bass). I want to learn the song. I want everyone to understand the full impact of the arrangement. Then we can decide knowingly whether we want to modify it. But in songs where the bass sits out for a while, like this, or All Right Now by Free, it drives the other guys NUTZ! I don't get it. Dynamics, guys!

[@joho0]

Ironically, this song always reminds me of the summer of 85.

[@dvnbrat]

LOL...exactly, Because I was playing this in a cover band in 85

[@manfredoliveras3196]

Because in 85 he has the 69.

[@Ottophil]

Summer of 96 i got my first real six string. Ironically my first band played this song too

[@DJPLAYNICE]

😂

[@garwig2]

Adams was not talking about the year

[@Testing-123]

Bassist here: I had never played this song until my band suggested it a couple of years ago. I picked up on those little nuances while learning it and when it came time for the band to rehearse it, EVERYONE told me I was doing my parts wrong. This is because each guy's previous bands' bassist played it wrong for years and they just got used to hearing it that way. They said the way I was doing it made it sound empty. Needless to say, we didn't pick the song up and never played it live. My feelings, "Sorry, not sorry!"

[@tezzerii]

Yep, I'm a drummer and the times I've been told 'you're not playing it right', when I know damn well I am because I put the time in to learn it, and it's them that's playing it wrong because they haven't bothered to listen to it properly !

[@DonnyRocker2012]

When these types of discrepancies in how band members hear things, my response is usually, “I suppose we could perform it that way…”

[@russellnobriga4766]

Did you notice(and he never mentions it)the proper tuning on the song is DADG, on his demonstration he is playing the D on the 5th fret Astring when the only time on the recording that note is just an accent to the D note playing on the open bottom string dropped down to D

[@TheArtofGuitar]

@@russellnobriga4766 I did forget to mention the drop D on the bass but if you listen to my pro-level version you'll hear that it's what I used.

[@russellnobriga4766]

@@TheArtofGuitar when instructing a bass player on paying attention to the details proper tuning is a big detail to overlook

[@skasteve6528]

A band that plays local bars, weddings etc. often has musicians of different levels, sometimes has a changing line-up. It would be understandable under those circumstances, that a song isn't note for note, like the original. So long as a song is played with confidence, the band are entertaining & look like they are having fun, most people in the audience won't notice any minor mistakes and if they do, they are usually quite forgiving, they just want to be entertained.

[@chewiepeanut]

Yeah that’s our bands excuse too! 😂

[@gigmond]

Generally, the audience isn't going to say anything even if they do notice. They are there to have a good time, not critique the band. The ones that don't notice specifically what is being left out or done wrong, will notice that certain bands sound better than other bands, but they just don't know why, Usually, the conversation in which someone thows out the excuse of "doing your own version" is between band members at rehearsal. And that someone who throws out that excuse is the one(s) who is too lazy to do it right.

[@stoneagedjp]

I'm just happy if I can play the right chords while singing the correct lyrics.

[@guitarcomet5]

Make up your own lyrics. I use to have fun, getting the band to sing replacement lyrics. One time I got my band mates to sing the chorus to “Amie” by Pure Prairie League… “Amie, what you gonna do?” “I think I caught AIDS from you.” “And my lawyer said I should sue” I thought it would be funny….the crowd was offended! 😂

[@sawboss216]

As a bass player that played this in a bar band for many years. I held off until the little fill at the second half of the verse. Not sure if it mattered to most of the people we played for!

[@zedmelon]

​@@sawboss216 In a bar one must find the ideal balance between - honoring the original - personal expression - drunk people usually neither notice nor would care if they _did_ notice This can vary by locale, season, time of night, patron, and even one night to the next. Ya gotta have fun with it, or it's not worth it for anyone. Cheers!

[@Guitarzan8]

I’m like you. As a guitar player, I obsess over the details. Not only will you capture the feel of the song, but you honor the song writer and musicians who recorded it. As a singer, I also obsess over pitch. Many many live music cover band singers do not. I’m a terrible audience member 😂

[@AndrewTate2Prison]

For covers I love how Randy Rhoads, Brad Gillis, etc. play Sabbath songs the way they like to play them....I think I heard "Speak Of The Devil" before I heard the Sabbath songs on records and I was like "damn...that's how you make Sabbath Bloody Sabbath come alive!" (Ozzy skips the bridge vocals or whatever it's called but probably makes sense cuz the song is pretty long).

[@santosmadrigal3702]

I believe the lead guitarist is way underrated . In fact he's not rated at all . The guitar solo in this song is hauntingly beautiful . That's the biggest part of the song , and nobody plays it , like it doesn't exist . If ever a guitar is crying out loud .

[@gman24310]

I can’t sing that well, and I’m unable to play and sing at the same time, but this describes me to a T. I always try to play a song as close to the original as I possibly can, since all I can do is play.

[@DMSProduktions]

Most cover band 'singers' CAN'T!

[@Nutsaur]

My brother knew I'd be a musician growing up because I complained that when Song 2 played I would go "Woo hoo!" all by myself and then everyone else joined in on the 2nd woo hoo.

[@jeremysteffen7853]

Reminds me of the music theory abd composition class I was in. There is a rule that says, "You need to know the rules in order to break them." One of the major rules is not to use moving 5ths. When I asked about Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," which is ALL moving 5ths, my teacher said, "He's Aaron Copeland and you are not." "Touché."

[@reneebear3641]

Knowing why those rules exist is helpful too. One reason moving fifths used to be an issue was instrument tuning, of which is not nearly as much of an issue today. Thus, the only reason that rule remains is that moving fifths dominate other parts.

[@gabbleratchet1890]

The aversion to parallel fifths went out the window long, long before Aaron Copeland. That being said, parallel fifths do genuinely sound awkward in traditional tonal harmony. Their use later was more like using a new color than breaking the rules.

[@gabbleratchet1890]

@@reneebear3641No, the prohibition came about because parallel fifths sound awkward in voice leading in tonal harmony. Most of those rules were developed for writing harmony for voice, so it wasn’t due to instrumental shortcomings. But composers later began to use them as a tonal color and composers don’t write with 18th century voice leading rules anymore.

[@vinceblasco]

And even that's mostly confined to relatively modern Western European music. Moving 5ths abound in the Balkans, Middle East, the Renaissance. If you haven't encountered him yet, I HIGHLY suggest checking out Farya Faraji's channel where he reconstructs and discusses historical music.

[@Hornfancy]

​@@vinceblascoThat's kind of the point of European Classical theory. To distinguish itself from folk traditions.

[@journeyfortwo5211]

I am only a casual listener of your channel, but I really like how you did that 'quiz' about what the bass does in that part. It simulates being thrown into playing a song live that you are familiar with but haven't studied, and really gets you thinking. I don't know if you have done this quiz thing before but I would like to see more of it!

[@Ben-vn1qt]

I love that Mike gets into every little detail that make songs like this great. It’s nitpicking, but in the best way possible 👍

[@guntherabrahamowicz4659]

The "Bar Band" version is the one to play if they want to get paid. The kick drum makes it more danceable, which means the crowd has more fun and buy more drinks. Most people are there to have fun, not discuss 80s rock music composition. True professionals modify arrangements to fit the job.

[@AaronManzo1]

That is a very fair assessment, in my opinion. I would just say the difference between what you suggested and pure laziness is the fact that you were conscious of making those adjustments. Many bands I hear play this song are most certainly just lazy🤣🤣

[@sk1mmyj1mmy]

In most cases busier kick drums at that tempo don't make songs dancier. It ends up feeling herky-jerky.

[@kevindohn6776]

Umm, NO !

[@sadeau]

But the additional dynamic change of the original would IMO create more excitement and get people dancing harder.

[@brianblackburn1004]

Totally disagree, play the original and the dance floor fills immediately so a correct cover will have the same effect

[@HannahCope88]

Love this song, such an iconic tune. Night scooting in a cemetery sounds like my jam. Now you bring it up, I've actually not ever seen a band perform this song, I'll have to keep an eye out for that in the future. I think if I heard either one performed I'd have a good time. Agree with your assessment of how each version feels. Love the Jane shirt and the necklace. Congrats on 886k Subscribers! 🤘🏻🔥

[@kale1305]

Never noticed any of that before but a whole new appreciation for the restraint required to make those parts dynamic and make the song that much better.

[@DMSProduktions]

Learn to LISTEN!

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

Drunks in a bar don ‘t know any better. My friend had a request played the song then soon realized he didn’t remrber all the lyrics! He sang the same verse every single time over and over and I’m the only one that noticed😊

[@barrygarrod781]

@buzzedalldrink9131, I'd say you were correct. However, there was that one gig we played to celebrate the grand closing of a bar. We had tired ourselves previously on Freebird and vowed to put it to rest and never play again. Crowd demanded to hear it so we reluctantly started playing. A verse and a half in and I realized that due to my apathy, I had forgotten the words - and so I just winged it. UNTIL... a BIG dude got right in my face, pointed to the Eagle tat on his bicep (which was twice the size of my thigh - and I'm no scrawny dude) and said "You sing that song right, boy!" All of a sudden my lyrical amnesia was cured! 😂

[@yearginclarke]

Drunks at the bar know everything.

[@Hornfancy]

I got into a heated discussion with my gfs brother concerning the 3rd opening chord of Crocodile Rock bc I just couldn't figure it out (he teaches college level jazz theory). "Why do you even care? Everyone is drunk and would never notice". I know it's wrong, and that's all I care about.

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

@@barrygarrod781 great story ! here’s a freebird story for you. I was on vacation in New England eating lunch and a bar guy was playing acoustic and was asking the 10 people in the place,Is there anything that they would like to hear ? He was playing stuff like James Taylor and Cat Stevens you know older acoustic stuff and these two guys kept yelling, freebird ! after a while to shut them up, he did play freebird , the best he could on the acoustic and stopped when the solo would’ve began, and you know these guys didn’t even thank him or tip him!! The guy playing guitar did tremendous job all by himself with an acoustic

[@brianbishoff]

Bingo. This is a song to get drunk boomers grooving.

[@Moonless_Future]

I prefer it when musicians sound like they're having fun playing the song, and you sounded like you were having more fun on the mid-level recording!

[@gtoger]

Man, that pro level band needs to fire the singer. The tuning hurts me physically. I expect it from the bar band.

[@RanjitSouri-PinkFloydPiano]

Yes, that pro level singer was consistently flat. Is it an actual person or an AI?

[@qurn]

​@RanjitSouri The singer is the guy doing the video, He's a guitar player first, and this song is out of his range a bit. Go easy on him, he just threw it together as an example.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

@@qurn I'm not singing on this. I literally put the singer's info on the screen when the first version starts up.

[@bobdouglass8010]

i'm a decent enough singer but I cannot do this song at all

[@ImLazarusMusic]

Yeah I’m not a powerhouse singer by any means but I could’ve definitely sung that better.

[@Johannes_Tube]

Same here, it took me a couple decades to figure out the drum pattern buildup at the beginning! The first kick pattern is really effective for changes in dynamics. I didn't think twice before stealing it and using it for my own drum programming. I guess most cover bands get so carried away that they just want to launch into the song at full swing. Or maybe they see Summer of '69 as one of those songs that are "so easy you only have to listen to once to figure them out". Or a combination of the two.

[@DMSProduktions]

MOST of the time, it's the latter!

[@dglime1]

I think what makes a cover band fun to watch is their interpretations of the songs they're playing. There are some signature licks they need to remember, but it's fun to hear different versions.

[@honigdachs.]

It just once again shows you how incredibly important arrangement and dynamics are. It absolutely makes or breaks a song. Unfortunately, in my experience most musicians aren't really aware of these things.

[@DMSProduktions]

True, or dgaf!

[@bigjoe3250]

yeah our band did it instictly almost right. Especially the Drums-Variation and the two different Guitars, imo make a big difference!

[@casachezdoom2588]

I'd give that a capella singer 7.5 out of 10. He's got the right feel, but he is often flat on some notes

[@tristandunn4628]

Yeah. It's definitely not in his range, is it?!!

[@SO-ym3zs]

You're generous with your score! He was pretty hard to listen to :(

[@Jaspertine]

I'm probably shouldn't judge, cause I'm a 5.5 out of 10 singer on a good day, but yeah, it feels like he's over-vocalizing to try and cover up that he's not quite on key.

[@stevesheroan4131]

I'm just glad someone else said it first. And pretty forgivingly. Almost every note is 20 cents flat. Good voice, and consistent, but this is where I'd rather it be auto-tuned, because it probably wouldn't be glaring like most performances that use tuning.

[@DMSProduktions]

Def struggling!

[@bishopsopening]

i agree with your final comments there : for a tribute band i agree with honoring the original material, and a cover band having some ( some ) room open for interpretation speaking of the latest, i'd be one of those people you mentioned not putting the time to learn the songs accurately, mostly because i'm a level-2 bass player with no intention to play professionally might sound like sour-grapes, but i honestly just blast a few backing tracks through my headphones at the end of the day doing my part at my bedroom gig, with no intention to ever become a professional or a remarkable bass player.. its just some escapism before yet another 10 hour day doing my desk job...

[@Johnsmusic416]

I filmed a friends band playing Summer of 69 and posted it on my KZbin so they could see it, and after it being posted for 3 years I got a KZbin Copyright Strike and they took it down. It maybe had 20 views.

[@bobbynip66]

Same thing happened to my Cover band’s video of this song. Bryan Adam’s people are pretty strict about trying to get his songs removed.

[@indiedavecomix3882]

Posting Bryan Adams covers is the same as stealing. 😂😂

[@THEREFILLSBAND]

I posted a video of my band doing this song and it quickly went over a 1000 views and must have gotten in the radar because it was just as quickly copyright stricken. I am surprised he found any cover band videos of this song on KZbin.

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

Yep he and his legal group do that with no warning. I was hit too and posted about it to Mike as well.

[@MrHellfinger]

Yeah, apparently Bryan Adams is one of the worst out there for copyright strikes. Not a fan anymore because of it. Let him die in obscurity and forgotten forever.

[@hammerpocket]

I'm sure the band I covered this with got a lot of stuff wrong, but it was 1985, we were all 14-15 years old, and we had a blast that summer forming our first band.

[@WavePotter]

Great video man! I’m a details man myself and was always the guy in the band frustrated trying to get everyone to play their parts right. Sadly, it’s rare that anyone will ever notice or care if you’re still playing at a primarily covers band level. So for me, it’s all down to how passionate I am about the particular song whether I put in the effort to learn the details.

[@PromptSupercritical]

I wonder if the reason you're hearing things differently now is the higher quality audio that is available. I just heard Wham's "Everything She Wants" in Dolby Atmos through my AirPods Pro and I had to check to see if it was a remaster because I was hearing things in it that I had never heard before. But as far as I can tell, it was the original 1984 version, just in a higher quality than I had ever heard.

[@armysniperman80]

That's funny to use AirPods Pro and high quality, in the same comment.

[@Christopher-md7tf]

AirPods Pro aren't even that great and Dolby Atmos for music is a scam, I think Benn Jordan did a great video about that. But, yes, in all likelihood, it was simply remixed for Atmos.

[@constantwin]

Airpods Pro are pretty high tier in the earphone space, they're still overpriced for the quality, but short of buying monitor quality earphones you can't really do better. If you're the kind of person who mostly uses earphones, going to Airpods Pro are a sizeable upgrade from, say, the old Apple earphones that came with most Apple products. Same with going from likely old $20 computer satellite speakers to an Atmos compatible audio system. You now have surround sound, instead of at most, a 2.1 system with satellites using tweeter-size drivers as their only speaker. A sound bar with a subwoofer would be an upgrade for the vast majority of people. Atmos may be overhyped but the spec means things have to support it, and supporting it means a better system than the non-enthusiasts ever had.

[@iurigrang]

Dolby atmos isn’t even stereo, so not only it was a remaster, it was certainly a remix too. “the original 1984 version” is a stereo file.

[@Briansgate]

played this for the first time when I was 14 in 1986. My teenage bandmates and I jammed this so many times. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

[@valcrist7428]

My Dad layed out the tracks for the drums for this song. I am glad you covered this and appreciated it.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Really?

[@DMSProduktions]

Laid.

[@bassmanpillsy4739]

Great video! Well thought out and informative. Now for my 2 cents. You mentioned being able to hear more detail and specific parts better now. I've been playing bass for 52 years now and gigging for 47 years. I found that the better I get the better I can hear all of the song. My experience was first just having to concentrate on my bass part and being only able hear that and a few recognizable guitar, vocal, drum parts. Then it was listening to the drums so I can find a groove. Then when I starting singing and working with professional singers that I realized I had to be the tie-in between the melody and the drums. So I started to be able to hear a lot more pieces of the music and how each piece contributes to the overall song structure. Most importantly I had to know the song in a way to know when not to play. Not step on the other parts. I found that learning the parts where the bass drops out is important. I find that when I drop out , when I come back in it is such a boost to the song. The crowd responds to it too, almost all of the time.

[@chipper2462]

97% of bands just wing it because 97% of people in the audience don't notice if the kick drum is exactly like the recording. They are just there to hear some music and drink.

[@fibessnaredrum2775]

Exactly. This guys far to anal about a song that's way overplayed. I've played this wrong and correct. Nobody gave a crap but me.. 😆 I'm learning if people are dancing it doesn't matter..

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Don't base your personal music standards to what the dancers in the crowd like.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

@@fibessnaredrum2775 It DOES matter. Are you gonna let the whims of drunk bar dancers set the bar for your musical standards.

[@GGGtube]

​​​​​@@TheArtofGuitari think the point is the average person isn't going to notice or doesn't have a good frame of reference to refer to. Of course you do, you are a musician... A good portion of the crowd might be ignorant. You are assuming people are familiar with every song on the playlist, some might not be. I heard summer 69' on the radio but never payed much attention to the details let alone can recall the exact details from memory (not really a fan of bryan adams 😂). If I compared them side by side the differences would be more apparent... With that being said, I lean towards perfection and playing true to the original.

[@mikedrimba3529]

Yeah he should actually. Those drunk bar dancers are the reason the band is playing at a bar in the first place, buying drinks and having fun. They're the audience members that are interacting with the band the most while playing, why wouldn't you want to cater to them?

[@leftbas65]

I'm with you, I've always been a fan of recreating the recording as closely as possible. And not just the parts and arrangement, but any effects, too. For me, it makes all the difference.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I’m not actually for recreating a song perfectly if that’s not what you’re going for. I’m for doing it justice if you are. :)

[@Dave-nm3xc]

I think most casual listeners that aren't musicians wouldn't notice the difference imo.

[@mobsiesixsixsix9785]

No, but there's always that one guy leaning against the bar shaking his head in despair 🙂

[@_Edson__]

And he does the same even at Dream Theater concert. "Look that guy screwing up".

[@Joeypompello]

Casual listeners can’t pick things out specifically but if multiple things are wrong they can kinda subconsciously feel something’s not normal

[@mikosoft]

They would notice it. They wouldn't know what wasn't right but they would subconsciously feel something is off. If of course they aren't drunk to oblivion, then it doesn't matter anymore.

[@morphine0000]

It's about noticing on a technical level. The song will feel very different for them, even though they can't put their finger on what's different.

[@karlspear6729]

During my 57 years of playing both covers and original music, when someone says "That's not the way the original went!", I say, "If you want to hear the way the original went, go home and listen to it, if you want to hear a live band, just enjoy it".

[@billycjustice]

Yes! Absolutely correct! One would be a pompous fool for that type of criticism. That last thing I’d want to do is try to sound like the original. Then you’d be nothing more than a sideshow act.

[@skabuoy]

Thank you. 100% with you there.

[@wilpurtle4120]

You mad bro?

[@ImLazarusMusic]

I understand your point. My issue was always people playing a song the wrong way because of a lack of homework and practice. It’s one thing if you learn the correct way to play a song, and then make the conscious decision to play it differently. It’s another thing if you are unable to play the correct way because of a lack of practice.

[@legman1476]

Then you should just stay in your basement and have some friends over.

[@Skeleton_Dork]

Electric scooting around a cemetery listening to an 80's playlist sounds like the summer of '69 to me

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Back then it would have to be riding my bicycle. ;)

[@guyfromfl]

I had the same approach as you when I was in cover bands. I always listened for the details and what the song was trying to convey. My last band we sat down and nailed every bit down. The attention to detail does make you stand out. I always wanted to not only be respectful to the original but also learn from the musicians we looked up to enough to play their song. There was a reason they are among the greats and I was in a bar. Once I really embraced that approach I found a bunch of songs I had hated were actually fun to play and I'd be looking forward to them coming in the set. They usually were the ones that moved me out of my comfort zone to pull off.

[@moreld1]

Exactly. Songs I never liked or thought were boring, but had to learn for the band, turned out to be fun to play and more challenging than I'd expected. In studying the songs, the parts, the techniques, and the arrangements, I've gained a new appreciation for different styles of music that I'd never considered before. I've also become a better musician, and stepping outside the comfort zone is a big factor in that.

[@alecsputnik]

I feel like this song is rock drumming 101. Building up is the key!

[@willmcbride4435]

I haven’t played this particular piece since the 80s, but we probably did not hit all the details (but we were 17 years old and likely learning from a cassette dubbed from the radio for all I remember). But, these days I strive for more detail. I think it’s largely influenced by having better sound equipment and digital recordings where we can loop to pick out the nuances.

[@sunarf]

I was the drummer for a local rock cover band in Houston named Sideshow about 25 years ago. We spent hours, sometimes days in the rehearsal room learning the proper structure of a song before we ever played it live. Luckily, all five of us agreed to this concept and it really paid off in the end. Most of the compliments we got from the crowd were not just about how good we were but how close we sounded to the original.

[@ronmexico1975]

Hell, yeah brother, and that’s why you were successful for 25 years and not an overnight sensation, cover band or not. Lot of lazy pieces of excrement around nowadays.

[@joejones9520]

@@ronmexico1975 25 yrs AGO and WAS the drummer

[@myxoplic]

Also,on the bridge where the lyric says "we needed to unwind". The bass walks UP three whole steps after the C in the bridge and doesn't go back down to the Bb with the guitar. The bass follows the vocal climb(needed to unwind), then the bass hits back to the F for the 2nd part

[@sadpanzer5795]

Hey Mike! Would you consider making a video about Chris Poland's solos in the Rust In Peace demos?

[@AlexTway-j4u]

as a drummer who's been playing this song wrong my whole life - this is an awesome video man

[@masterodiewan1187]

Headphones are magic for older stuff!

[@SO-ym3zs]

Yeah, if you really want to hear what's going on in recorded music, ditch cell phones, earbuds, and streaming, and listen to a CD on a good stereo system or quality headphones. Night and day.

[@davidvied2507]

For everything, not just older stuff.. I wanna hear every single nuance when I’m listening to anything

[@masterodiewan1187]

@@davidvied2507 headphones for me with older stuff, new stuff as well, but it really feels like hearing it for first time!

[@Donyourmom]

@@SO-ym3zsyou mean vinyl? CDs are more compressed than vinyl.

[@dereknolin5986]

The keyboard part is THE iconic lick of the song, after arguably the palm mute crunch of the intro. If your "pro" band doesn't have that part, then there's no point in obsessing over the accuracy of the other details; it's just your own arrangement. And don't say to just use a backing track; then you're just doing live band karaoke at that point.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Yes but a ton of bands I see don't have a keyboardist and the guitar can cover that part a little. I was once in a band where the keyboardist played that part along with me and it was like (pardon the pun) Heaven!

[@dereknolin5986]

@@TheArtofGuitar There's plenty of keyboard players out there; hire one if you really want to cover the song the way it was originally done. Otherwise you're still half-assing it, even if you get the kick drums on the right beat. And maybe next time you have a keyboard player playing the part, just let the keys shine instead of trying to share the spotlight.

[@ChristianDaniels-p7x]

i understand what your talking about . but its a bar band playing to 15 people

[@Triple3hot]

Correct.

[@colb999]

Pro attitude is pro attitude, whether performing in front of 15 or 15000.

[@FurtiveSkeptical]

Yeah, but something worth doing, is worth doing well... pride in the craft and all that. What is there to lose? I mean the worst thing that can happen is that you learn something.🎶✌️

[@TheArtofGuitar]

You do it for your soul, not for the approval of 15 bar patrons.

[@Panch21]

As a gigging musician you can take that comment and get in the sea. And learn how to use grammar correctly.

[@h.markhorton8188]

I love that attention to detail. It’s the details that really define the uniqueness of a create song.

[@OuterLimitVidStudio2024]

New Orleans is sinking is another song where no bar band gets it, the drums in particular. There’s a slight shuffle feel the that most drummers don’t get.

[@sydhamelin1265]

One of my favorite albums "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" has a song "Carpet Crawlers", and in one bar, yes, just ONE bar, Phil opts to leave the snare out, as it kind of works with the lyrical cadence. I feel like NO band would get that right, but it's such a huge detail.

[@joeyk]

For the record, I'm ALWAYS winging it. Not just the first minute. :)

[@simonvanderheijden432]

😂😂

[@brianelza9807]

I agree with you. The details are very important. I hear all the parts. Sometimes the parts are essential to the feel of the song, and if a part is changed, it can sometimes ruin the entire song for me.

[@InsaneWayne355]

I honestly couldn't pay attention to the music during the pro/mid examples because of those vocals. They were so cringe I couldn't focus on anything else.

[@Anya-ip6fd]

Right? Flat as a pancake.

[@3GPtv]

When I play live, I like to do both. I do make the song my own, but I also try to include, note-for-note, the parts of the song that made people like it. I keep the core pieces, then go off on my own.

[@lightningstrikes7314]

'Mid-Level Bar Band Quality...' Ouch, I felt that...

[@kgabk]

Hahahahahaha 😂🤣 same here 😭

[@jonslayer518]

I used to obsess , however after being in cover bands for over 30 years, I have developed my own style of playing, so rarely keep to exactly what is played, there are exceptions obviously, ie crazy train needs to be played moreorless identical, above all just enjoy, my latest cover band has been together for 20 years, I think we have our own style of covering songs now

[@tzd]

The bass should be tuned Drop-D, btw

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I did when I recorded the pro version (You can hear it on the rocking out part) but for the video I left it in standard.

[@BigBri550]

Or play a 5 or 6 string with a low B on it.

[@geraldhartley]

I just gotta say... your drums sound INCREDIBLE! You've mastered the Art of tuning and properly mic-ing the kit.

[@ahedin]

When a band is performing I don't expect them to play an exact copy of the studio version that we hear on the album... I want to hear their version of it... If you want exact copies, maybe a DJ is a better option?...

[@gatormouth337]

As told by Bryan Adams himself, Summer of 69 is the only song that the drummer from his band did not record. They had been trying for a long time to get the drum part just right and it couldn't be done. Brian heard a ska band at a club he went to one night and asked the drummer if he wanted to do some recording work and the next day that drummer from a ska band recorded the drums for Summer of '69. The only drums not recorded by Bryan Adams full time drummer

[@mattdylan664]

IMO the albums 'If You Want It You Got It' and 'Cuts Like a Knife absolutely destroy anything Bryan Adams did later tho Summer of 69 is a great song , gorgeous Tele btw

[@DMSProduktions]

Reckless:Am I a joke to you?

[@sharper9009]

I’m a drummer and usually make a point to learn my parts as recorded whenever possible. I remember learning all those unique kick patterns and thinking they were really great choices by the drummer

[@ronaldschmidt913]

I sometimes drive myself crazy with the details. That being said, I don’t think the average person listening to the band would notice, but the band should still make an attempt.

[@ViewtifulSam]

Absolutely agree with your reflection towards the end of the video. If you don't know the original parts, then deviations are not musical choices, I think. Not a matter of right or wrong but of awareness.

[@hcb_gaming2]

I got to say, you are probly my fav guitar youtuber

[@napadrummer1143]

Appreciate your comment about cover bands and putting in the effort. People come to shows expecting to hear solid covers that honor the bands we choose to play. Grateful for your series of candid feedback without being a jerk - passionate, honest criticism! Stuff we all need to hear. Please consider doing a video on cover band back ups/harmonies.

[@jacobfife7273]

So in the recording I wouldn’t be surprised if they boost the bass frequencies after “69” to give a “bass drop” type of effect. The pro version you did doesn’t have that and nor would you be able to do that live (unless you’ve got a good sound guy or something). So personally I would probably do the long notes live there or even just a single not that rings out over that part. Also I would have the guitar play the keyboard part after the chorus as I think that’s a memorable part of the song (pretty sure it’s doubled anyways). The bass can fill in the rhythm guitar slot fairly well there. Good video otherwise.

[@StormrazorOfficial]

British Steel necklace 🤘⚡️🤘

[@MashaT22]

It’s not a necklace honoring a certain artist’s Schecter signature guitar?! 😂😂😂

[@JeffsBassment]

I confess that I played this one wrong on bass for years, playing whole open notes once the drums came in (your Option 1). Finally went back and listened to the original a few months ago and realized there was no bass there. One thing you didn’t mention with the bass part is it is in Drop D (or a 5 string). Once the second verse comes in, the bass goes to that lower D and you can hear it walk up to the A instead of down. Playing it in Drop D really fills in space that is missing if don’t have keys.

[@graemeozzie2251]

Mid level version still sounds better than Foofighters 😂

[@DMSProduktions]

My ARSE often sounds better than the Foo Fighters! LOL!

[@wizardmoto]

Foo Fighters would be a midteir bar band, if Grohl was Nirvanas 5th or 7th drummer instead of lucky #6 when tragedy cemented him into rock history forever.

[@mushafasa]

I'll never be able to play any original song with the same intricacies the composer put into it, but every time I play my instrument I strive to improve my skills even a little.

[@SFtheWolf]

I actually wish more cover songs outright reharmonized the original or changed its lyrics

[@arcsine]

This is wild. I love this song and jammed it for ages and NEVER noticed how much the specific bass drum patterns open it up like you said. When you compare it side by side - that 'Footloose' feel you talked about with the mid-tier version- really throws off the song. It starts to sound less 'arena rock'. Great video hope you'll do more.

[@Guitarplayer724]

I hear the beginning of We're an American Band played incorrectly most of the time by cover bands. It's not hard to play, but the timing is tricky, at least to me. lol

[@rdhudon7469]

As a bass player I found out I and pretty much everyone else have been playing whole lotta love wrong . JPJ dropped a video showing everyone how we got it wrong . He is using a pick strumming chords and muting ...not hard to do but mind blown !

[@ImYourOverlord]

Played it in a band during the '90s, and again a couple years before the Blight hit and shut down live music at open jams in the East Bay. I knew when not to play bass, and when to come in. As there's not much happening for bass in the song, I found a nice rhythm that works, and included some walks and little embellishments at the end of some lines. Worked well for our performances 🙂

[@mediocrecoverbandguitarguy2416]

I think being obsessed with getting it perfect goes to show a players dedication to their instruments. If a band covering a song can put a good spin on while still respecting the original that's great too, most of the people who are listening don't really notice, except us a$$hole musicians. Also isn't the E dropped to D on the recording?

[@FacePomagranate]

I got worried when I recognized the video from practicing for my cover band... Very relieved when I heard it was the drums the were the main culprit. I was on bass and absolutely nailed the part where I didn't play at all on the first verse.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

I forgot to notice there was a difference! But I still enjoyed the video!😊👍

[@NeonRadarMusic]

Im so glad you posted this cause today I was teaching a kid Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day and while listening to the song up close, it made me fully appreciate what a great drummer Tre Cool is and how a simple change in kick pattern can change the entire emotion of a song and how the guitar plays off it. Drummers need more love.

[@michaelmoore7975]

Most covers aren't accurate. A lot of bands just put their own interpretation on it. Play in a different key. Sometimes you have to get creative. We used to play _Locomotive Breath._ The intro is a piano and guitar. We didn't have a keyboard player, so we started the song with guitar. With the volume all the way down, fret the G chord and strum it 1 time good and solid. Now, roll on the volume, let it sustain.. Before the chord decays and when the drummer is ready, he gives a 4 count, then start the actual song. Locomotive Breath also has a flute solo. We played a harmonica solo instead. And it sounds awesome! We would play Sunshine of Your Love. The drummer would hit the cymbals like most songs. But Sunshine has no cymbals until the end. Nobody could tell it was wrong. We played a song we called "Rogaine". It was the same music as "Cocaine" but different lyrics. People loved it. "When your hair falls out, you got to check it out, Rogaine." And you know what? Nobody cared. Which inebriated audience member could tell the difference, anyway... and what is the importance of their opinion ? I'm concerned with interpreting the music just enough so it is easily identified. The rest is artistic/creative license. We play for what 99% of the audience wants....they want to be entertained. Entertained without having to put a lot of thought into it. That's why songs with complexity, musicianship, technical structures and clever phrasing are lost on the ignorant ear. The most popular songs are often the most simple ones. But if I had grown up studying music, theory, could read music, knew notation, or had a lot of scholarship, I would be very exacting and particular with interpretation. Every note struck the way it was meant...nuance, subtlety, dynamics I wouldn't be doing it in a bar. It only rewards you when you're actually playing to _other musicians._ A much smaller audience. That's what they want; the approval of other musicians. Steve Vai even said, "it'd be nice to sell some records" And yet his music is hailed by the "real" musicians in the know. Believe me, I get it, but I'm playing to the crowd. A simple crowd. A crowd that cannot be appreciative of music in the same sense of the learned aficionado. So I make it fun and stress-free. For me and my audience. Good fun. No matter if I hit the wrong note, omit the solo, substitute an instrument, use only power chords, whatever....if they're smiling, laughing, clapping, showing their approval...that's what matters. It pays the bills and puts food on the table.

[@bassmanpillsy4739]

Part 2. LOL As far as playing the parts exactly as it is on the record. I think you nailed all of the possible reasons. I played in many tribute bands and learning the exact parts is a must. Especially since the rest of the band is doing the same. People pay a lot of money for tickets to these shows and I have to assume it is because they are fans of the original act. So give them what they should be expecting. Playing in cover bands can have different outcomes. There are some that will try to get all of the original parts and rehearse those parts. There are also cover bands where the one who got the gig and has hired me only just pulls up the chords on Ultimate Guitar (for right or wrong) and just plays to that. I am all for that style too because the crowd still loves it and I still get paid. I have fun either way. I have no problem with learning the parts, as you say, to learn the basics. Some songs require playing the original parts. Try playing Brickhouse or Come Together or Sweet Emotion without them and look at the audiences faces. Now try playing those parts where the drummer is playing some completely different song. My point is; know your gig, know your bandmates and know what is working at that specific gig. And if you never took the time to learn your part please don't tell the bass player that they are playing the bass line wrong.

[@robbiegarnz7732]

Come come ..on the kick drum! Lol!

[@spencersegelov5308]

I completely agree with everything in this video- I’ve noticed most drummers at a bar level and slightly above don’t care a jot about bass drum placement and of course, the rest of the band tend to not understand drums at all- the space in this original arrangement is really important (as you note) The other thing you can use this video for, is explaining the concept of taste and maybe even feel - these are nebulous concepts for many beginner and amateur musicians

[@shortcutsunny]

Great break down, thanks!

[@VilleHalonen]

Even if you don't play anything, this sort of a breakdown really helps highlight the nuances of the original! I've never really dug it, as that sort of big mid-80s hit rock sound just doesn't speak to my soul, but watching stuff like this definitely makes me a better listener.

[@iainthomas5249]

Cover bands are just that: cover bands, not tribute bands. If you are in a tribute band, yes play the song exactly how it's played originally but as a cover band, that's not the expectation. Simply play the song so that the crowd has fun. Take that "perfection" rehearsal time to learn another song.

[@ronmexico1975]

And going off your advice… sound like idiots. “Just do it the easy way, bro… “They’ll” never know. But as a whole, that’s the difference between a good sounding cover band and an amateur one that rushes things.

[@iainthomas5249]

Umm...... Nope. In fact, any half decent cover band should be able to play Summer of 69 without practicing it, it's that easy. We played it at every gig but never during rehearsals. It killed every night. We rehearsed but made sure we used our time wisely.

[@loganbender1562]

$5 says Bryan Adams plays it "wrong" live as well. It's very common for live rock bands to NOT play it as recorded.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I bet you $1000 he doesn't play it note for note live, but that's not the point of my video. If you watch his live performances though, he stays pretty true to the structure and anyhow it's his own song so he can do whatever he wants. ;)

[@benpowersguitar]

Always good to listen to music with fresh ears. Great video.

[@AlanH2B]

Yeah I'm with you for covers, get it as close as possible to the orginals. Usually bands who say they put their own twist/sound on it just play a dumbed down of it, basically the "it kinda goes like this" version.

[@GaryHubbs]

You did our local boy right Mike cheers 🤘🤘

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I'm not from Canada! hehe. Close though. :)

[@GaryHubbs]

@@TheArtofGuitar I meant my home town hahaha!

[@tylerpartin8183]

As a student, it absolutely matters to learn how the originals were done. It's how you learn to understand and reproduce the sounds in your own head. As a professional, it depends on how much I'm being paid to learn/rehearse a song. For a $100 gig, I'm not spending multiple hours per song to learn a set. For a $1000+ gig with multiple rehearsals, I'm going to try to figure out which pick they used on what guitar as well as every note in the solos. As a musician, I came up around jazz players who very rarely, if ever, just played anything the way they heard it. Of course they COULD, but they could also take those musical ideas and expand on them. It's fun to hear things a different way, even if it's not as good. There's also a magic about the idea that what you're hearing/playing will never happen again. I'm very much in the mindset of, "If you want to hear the recording, just listen to the recording. If you want to hear music, go listen to musicians."

[@classiccatsviolin9558]

Love this video! Thanks!!!!!

[@mattevans060972]

This is going to be such a useful resource for cover bands. Helpfully you’ll be doing it for the next 40 years and produce a massive archive!

[@dappawap]

We are lazy. Drum does sound better with proper pattern.

[@sunburstmike8745]

As always, you've made an entertaining and informative video. Your original insights to how music is created is so helpful and refreshing. As for me, I played for many years just at family or friend gatherings and was almost always the only player. I "amalgamated" song parts to "get the SONG across" and make it fun. A lot of times I hadn't realized this until I'd get together with another guitarist or keyboard player. They would show me that what I was doing was not actually in the song at all. This was true ... because I made it up. I didn't do it to "make it my own" but as I said to just get the song across in general for everyone. Btw, unless you're a great artist "interpreting a song" or a very professional musician "covering the song" then those terms are just code for "I really just don't know to play the effin' song correctly" ... so just admit it because it's alright. Hey, who can say they baseball like Derek Jeter? So, just have fun at YOUR level and watch these AOG videos to get better!

[@78diegox]

the jane shirt 💀

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I love you for knowing that!

[@jakekimball7425]

Thanks. I came in the comments for confirmation. Is that Jessica Jones?

[@Hornfancy]

I completely respect everything you're saying. I arrange songs for my 2 person group (with no tracks) and often try to be as faithful as possible. That said, I do feel like some songs played live (even by thr original artists) take on a completely different life bc some studio versions lack the energy for a live show. Or, maybe they're just impossible to replicate outside of the produced product

[@chyldstudios]

Love this song!

[@tstaab1]

Agree and always appreciate when it's not watered down for reasons of not wanting to put in the time to learn it properly. Of course there are many degrees of correctness and everyone has different ideas of where to draw the line. One more point, to mimic 2 guitars when I'm the only guitarist avail, at "me and some guys from school", I'd strum the D chord letting the high E and B strings ring while continuing to chug only the d and g strings. Also I'd only turn on the chorus pedal at that point which may not technically be right, but adds to the illusion of a bigger sound.

[@-KingOfKhaos]

Needs more cowbell!

[@bbwibb02]

Usually what I like to do is learn it exactly as it was done originally, and then decide what I want to keep and what I want to tweak. Because there are three guitarists in my band, that often means adding extra harmonies, doing three guitar solos rather than one, maybe taking the verse riff and developing it into something more exciting the second time around, etc... In other bands I've been in, we've also done a thing where we essentially just start with a "good enough" version (aka we play the song the way we remember it) and then learn it the "right way" and decide what to keep from our version vs the original. Both ways have yielded fun results. But then there are times where we decide to just do a song note perfect, and that can be okay too. It really just depends on the song and how we are feeling.

[@rallumonslefeu3451]

7:22 I never quite noticed how Bryan Adams had a wonderful voice ; I took it all for granted until I heard those terrible vocals...

[@TheArtofGuitar]

They're pros for a reason. I'm always amazed when I hear isolated vocals, you can really see why the pros shine above the crowd of singers.