New band I've Been Jamming With

JoZac21 · #1 04-15-2011, 12:44 PM

I started a new band as a side project to my main one... something a little funky, but with a good amount of musical freedom. We're looking for a singer at the moment, and, not having one, we've basically been just loosely jamming on impromptu material.

Here's some stuff from last rehearsal/jam.

This is only the third time we've met up as a group (the drummer plays in my other band though - see my sig for that if you wish), and we're still just feeling each other out, but I'd love to get some honest opinions/constructive criticism. Thanks!

JoZac21 · #2 04-15-2011, 11:00 PM

Bump... any feedback appreciated.

type C basses · #3 04-15-2011, 11:49 PM

IMO

I think that guitarist may have a panic attack if he's asked to play a second chord. He doesn't seem to be a strong harmonizer. If you like his lead style, get a rhythm player to fill in the space. I liked your grooves, fretless? Sorry, I'm on tiny laptop speakers. The drummer is hitting some pockety goodness but balancing it with some pretty well placed articulations.

JoZac21 · #4 04-16-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by type C basses

IMO

I think that guitarist may have a panic attack if he's asked to play a second chord. He doesn't seem to be a strong harmonizer. If you like his lead style, get a rhythm player to fill in the space. I liked your grooves, fretless? Sorry, I'm on tiny laptop speakers. The drummer is hitting some pockety goodness but balancing it with some pretty well placed articulations.

It's not a fretless, I do have one, but that was my six string... I noticed that every time we were jamming that day he was playing either one chord or I-, bVII... I think you can even hear me say, "we're playing I-, bVII too much tonight" at some point. Honestly, as someone that played guitar as my main instrument for 16 years, I can tell he's a very good guitar player... we just need to do more than jam... play some tunes, you know? P.S. - check out the tune "Riding the Q... But Not Alone"... that's a tune I wrote... and there's some serious chord changes there and he pulls them off well.

The drummer and I have been playing together basically since I switched to bass... he's in my other band and is the only drummer I've played w. consistently since I switched to bass... as a result, we play off each other amazingly well... it's the sort of situation in which neither of us is particularly impressive on our own... but together, we make a good unit.

Thanks for the feed back... I'll try to tell the guitar player to expand his harmonies... but at the same time, the idea is playing funk, and most funk is only 1 or 2 chords... so we'll see how that works.

type C basses · #5 04-16-2011, 12:32 AM

Definitely not bad for 3 practices. At that stage, making sure you can produce some good energy is much more important that checking how many chords each other can play. So it sounds as if you guys are on the right track. Sorry for the use of such a vague term as 'energy' but its the only word I can think of to describe what I'm trying to say. Rock-er, um... FUNK ON!

Plays_For_Dog · #6 04-16-2011, 01:28 AM

I think both your bands sound great. You being comfortable and locked in with the drummer already really helps accelerate the process. A guitarist I've worked with off and on for the last 8 months are meeting with a new drummer Sunday. If we can get anywhere close to your sound cloud tracks, I'll be extremely happy.

JoZac21 · #7 04-16-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plays_For_Dog

I think both your bands sound great. You being comfortable and locked in with the drummer already really helps accelerate the process. A guitarist I've worked with off and on for the last 8 months are meeting with a new drummer Sunday. If we can get anywhere close to your sound cloud tracks, I'll be extremely happy.

Thanks a lot!... it's certainly easier when you already have a rapport with one of the other musicians... good luck with your group!

thebigmicktizle · #8 04-17-2011, 08:22 AM

Just listened to NB Funk 2. I can definitely tell that you guys just need more time playing together because the longer the jam goes the better it got. How long has the guitarist been using wah? His wah use wasn't very good imo, but I did like his soloing. Other than that it was solid dude.