Mark_S
Silver Member
If it's straight forward I just play along to them but break down any bits that may throw you, just as an example the track Valerie by The Zutons I count the number of times the guitar does the turnaround before the drums come in at the beginning
I did that song recently for my mum's 60th, nice one to cover that as everyone seems to love it and it is one of those songs that just "flows" on the drums once you get the groove going, feels great.
Anyway, my approach is to get a basic version up and running, and then a slowly refine it to be more and more like the original - or I make it my own and change it. It always depends on the song, etc.. I try to know the song well enough to do it more by feel than counting, though there are times you will have to count until you are used to it. One of the songs in the originals band I'm in, I've always had to count one particular bit because I just can't feel where I'm meant to come back in (it's a slightly obscure part of the song).
I try also not to rely on charts - just basic structure notes to begin with, but I throw them away as soon as possible otherwise I start to rely on them.
I'm no pro, this just works for me.