Ever broken a string on stage in the middle of a song?
07-01-04, 02:58 PM
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Ever broken a string on stage in the middle of a song?
How did you handle it? I guess to open this thread up to more people (since I don't know how many people here actually have ever played string instruments on stages), feel free to tell me what you would do in such a situation... or even share a story about what you've seen someone else do.
Did you keep playing through it?
Did you stop the song and replace the string and start over? Maybe joking about it with the audience?
Did you have a roadie bring you another axe?
Did you throw your bass or guitar across the stage in anger and dive into the crowd as the rest of the band rocked out?
Did you rip all the rest of the strings out and then choke the nearest fan with them?
Did you keep playing through it?
Did you stop the song and replace the string and start over? Maybe joking about it with the audience?
Did you have a roadie bring you another axe?
Did you throw your bass or guitar across the stage in anger and dive into the crowd as the rest of the band rocked out?
Did you rip all the rest of the strings out and then choke the nearest fan with them?
07-01-04, 03:34 PM
#2
Moderator
Re: Ever broken a string on stage in the middle of a song?
Originally posted by Trigger
Did you keep playing through it?
Did you keep playing through it?
Did you stop the song and replace the string and start over? Maybe joking about it with the audience?
Did you have a roadie bring you another axe?
Did you throw your bass or guitar across the stage in anger and dive into the crowd as the rest of the band rocked out?
Did you rip all the rest of the strings out and then choke the nearest fan with them?
In all seriousness, most guys I know usually have a backup guitar in case they break a string in the middle of a song. Usually, you finish the song with the one with the broken string, then finish the set with the backup. If you're really fast at replacing strings, you can do that between songs. The big problem with breaking a string in the middle of a song is that often all the other strings will go out of tune, since the tension on the neck shifts. Then you have to retune while playing. Some guys can, some can't. I can.
07-01-04, 03:48 PM
#3
The last time I saw Mogwai in concert the lead musician broke a guitar string during one of their songs, so he pulled all but one of the remaining strings out and played the rest of the song like that (around ten minutes.) I don't think that's the traditional response.
07-01-04, 03:55 PM
#4
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I've done the bar band thing, and can't really say it better than wendersfan did
I've broken bass strings on stage
You play through it, and when the song ends, either you have another axe handy or you do a fast string change (and you should always be prepared for this sort of thing)
In a bar band, you are your own roadie and tech
Trashing an instrument? Not me...I have pride in my stuff
I've broken bass strings on stage
You play through it, and when the song ends, either you have another axe handy or you do a fast string change (and you should always be prepared for this sort of thing)In a bar band, you are your own roadie and tech
Trashing an instrument? Not me...I have pride in my stuff
07-01-04, 04:13 PM
#5
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Never start over a song thats you're more than 10 seconds into, it just looks bad. Extra guitar is good as long as its in tune. If you have no extra string tune the remaining 5 and play the rest of the set; most people watching wont notice or care.
Ive only broken a bass string once or twice while on stage. I never carry extras and the ones on my bass have probably been on there atleast 5 years. If i broken one on stage i'd just play around that string by either moving everything up or down and octive or by playing the note on the adjacent string (up or down 5 frets).
Ive only broken a bass string once or twice while on stage. I never carry extras and the ones on my bass have probably been on there atleast 5 years. If i broken one on stage i'd just play around that string by either moving everything up or down and octive or by playing the note on the adjacent string (up or down 5 frets).
