what if u break a string during a gig?

[AEnimic]

Remember to change strings 3-4 days before the show. It'll help you even if you strum like a mindless punk. But yes,it's a show...so be mindful of the strings..unless you drive a car and have a spare guitar,you can just keep one with you wherever you go.

To change strings, I think do it between intervals. Have an acoustic hoedown.

 

[Wadi]

Break into your most sexy moves.

DANCE!

 

[fgl]

has happened to me many many times before.

In clubs where I have a back up its no worries BUT for outside or corporate events I admit I'm too lazy to bring a spare. Thank god my keyboardist plays 2nd guitar and has a strat set up on stage as well.

I normally use non FR so can fake it.... for FR - U are screwed basically but with proper manipulation of the FR using your arm and some serious "all strings" bending - shud be able to get through the solo U doing (if not the whole song)

Hahaha one I broke a string during a special "club birthday" gig - friend of mine Riki Hendrix lent me his beloved "Isabella" white beat up strat ... wah was like damm scared to damage it.

I find sometimes guitarists can be too stingy when asked to borrow their axes - not all - but many. Hope anyone reading this will remember to spare a thought for your bro who breaks a string and need to instant T-loan a guitar for the rest of the set.

 

[AEnimic]

I find sometimes guitarists can be too stingy when asked to borrow their axes - not all - but many. Hope anyone reading this will remember to spare a thought for your bro who breaks a string and need to instant T-loan a guitar for the rest of the set.

Nobody wants to borrow my axe.....

 

[monkeyhouse]

other than improvisation,
you can try to tell the crowd that you snap the string.
and have to restring.
restart the song again and apologize to the crowd and your bandmates.

that was a joke.
but seriously, is this acceptable??

nope... you have to be professional...

safest is to use or have a back up guitar... with a fixed composite bridge... to minimize string breakages...
if... for example... ur strings snap every minute... or on every song... then something is wrong with ur nut or saddles... depends on where the strings regularly break... better sand it down or change ur brand of strings... or change ur nut or saddles...
if u play 5x a week... change strings every 2 weeks...
if ur using a floating bridge... and a string snaps during the middle of the song...
and u have no back up... ur guitar will definitely be out of tune... so make sure u have ur spares and tools like cutters, string winders and wrenches with u on stage and hope u can change it and tune it up in under a minute... immediately inform ur bandmates about it so that ull not be gathering any unwanted almost fatal stares while on stage when ur solo comes up and they cant hear anything... unknowingly u broke a string... (haha... these things happen... and better learn restringing standing up... or get off the stage where the crowd cannot see u...)
if u cant... tell the vocalists to do some spills and talk to ur guests and use their hosting skills while ur tuning up...
if ur using a fixed bridge... well... u can still improvise and finish a song or two with it...
hope this helps...
happy gigging!!! =)

 

[Jugman]

ah i'd be honoured if sombody wants to borrow my guitar for the rest of the set

 

[ShredNoob]

relax, lepak.. take your time like 'slowhand' does..

 

[Elias]

Aiyah, just play power chords all the way till the song finishes then restring lor :mrgreen: Anyway, for those bands with 2 guitarists, basically not really a big issue, but for those with only 1 guitarist (like mine), the sudden loss of guitar sound will be quite obvious, so have to remedy it quickly I guess. Extra strings are a must. And a peghead tuner too...for fast restringing.

Other solution is like what others said: Borrow a guitar from another band or something. Something that is totally irrevelant to me unless there's a lefty in the other bands.

 

[zax]

i take a spare guitar along to gigs , change my strings every week and no one goes near my guitar unless they themselves own a Gibson . hahah

 

[wantonne]

I snapped my E string on my bass once right after the 30 sec intro of the set. I didn't expect it at all.

I guess every guitarist should learn to be professional. Bring a "kit" for your set which could include a few sets of strings, extra cables, tonnes of picks, adapter for your power, screwdriver set, torchlight for dark stages, etc. Basically anything to "remedy" your situation if ANYTHING goes wrong and not just you snapping your strings.

And like what some of the SOFTies here have said.. the show must go on! So just enjoy it while you're on stage and keep the crowd moving! You don't want them to wait for 10 mins of empty silence while you fix your problem.

Learn to talk to the crowd and get them laughing or engage them in some activity. Might be lame but hey, at least it's not a 10 min wait!

 

[Jugman]

I snapped my E string on my bass once right after the 30 sec intro of the set. I didn't expect it at all.

hey did this happen at the NP open house?

 

[screwlooose]

Make a lame joke about how to broke it infront of the audience, then ask if anyone could lend thier guitars.. nyahahah.

 

[wantonne]

hey did this happen at the NP open house?

haha.. nopes. It was at the Substation Garden (now Timbre) where Fat Frog Cafe was still around a couple of years back.

 

[Godspeed64]

carry spare pack, and change strings regularly. some of the reasons why guitar string sets cost less than $10 and bass string sets cost $30+++

Haha.. Once after jamming at fourtones (when we were still wearing out shoes) a bassist who just entered the studio we were using, saying that he snapped his low E string..
After paying for the session, the same fella came back and said he broke the low E string of the house bass again..
Damn damn pain!!! Especially since bass strings are like worth a two-hour jamming session..

 

[ShredNoob]

mayb u can ask the rest of the band to sort of jam awhile first, especially if you good a good slap bassist..

...aweeeeesommmmeeee

 

[visa]

I play in a 3 piece band, and once both me (bass) and my guitarist both had strings snap on us at about the same time. Somebody lent my guitarist another guitar, and I soldiered through the rest of the set without an E string. It was a fun experience, nevertheless. Both of us are able to play on without one or two of our strings, so it doesn't bother us. Don't take things too seriously and remember that live shows are all about entertaining and having fun.

oh here's a picture just for fun

 

[Blodstyre]

I find sometimes guitarists can be too stingy when asked to borrow their axes - not all - but many. Hope anyone reading this will remember to spare a thought for your bro who breaks a string and need to instant T-loan a guitar for the rest of the set.

Its not being stingy. Most of the time, the people who borrowed the guitar, plays it like they bought the guitar for $50/- like that. Its really painful when you see it doing that to your beloved.

And also becos not wanting someone else's mojo rubbing of on their beloved...


~meh~

 

[visa]

i'd lend my bass to anybody who needs it, but i'd never forgive them if they wreck it. =p

 

[zax]

Its not being stingy. Most of the time, the people who borrowed the guitar, plays it like they bought the guitar for $50/- like that. Its really painful when you see it doing that to your beloved.

And also becos not wanting someone else's mojo rubbing of on their beloved...


~meh~

totally agreed , i wont lend my guitar to any stranger .

 

[hysteria]

i'd lend my bass to anybody who needs it, but i'd never forgive them if they wreck it. =p

haha your one of the few. i know im being selfish, but if i had an expensive bass i'd never let anybody else play it.

but should bands have a contingency plan, eg the bass string snaps and the entire song gets played at a higher or lower pitch, or if its one of the guitarist, then the other guitarist should be prepared to take over the duties untill the broken string is replaced?

but how many bands are actually prepared for this scenario?