How do you know when you're ready to play in a band?

blackshift · #1 05-20-2010, 09:59 AM

I feel like I'm close to the next step, but how does it happen for those of us who practice alone?

Any pointers?

**IvanMike** · #2 05-20-2010, 10:03 AM

Try.

Go jam with some players. Best tip, make sure the drummer is good, preferably the best musician in the band. The best way to learn how to play in a band is to play in one. Honest.

lx_night · #3 05-20-2010, 10:05 AM

You cant really know until you are in there.
I remember when i started out i was very nervous even though i knew the songs. But i kinda had to play in a band since the beginning because the church was really needing a bass player. So i decided to play the bass and have loved it since.

What is gonna help you the most is good ear training in case they are playing something you haven't practiced you can just start grooving.

TheBasicBassist · #4 05-20-2010, 10:11 AM

You're ready to play in a band as soon as you pick up the bass.

Tricia · #5 05-20-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBasicBassist

You're ready to play in a band as soon as you pick up the bass.

Yes! I agree.

SlavaF · #6 05-20-2010, 10:13 AM

Train your ear as much as you can, so you can figure out riffs/songs by ear relatively quickly. This will be a big help when learning/writing songs with a band. Also, I don't know if you practise with a metronome, but it's a good starting point, since a good sense of time is pretty important for a bass player.

Other than that, just do it. Like IvanMike said, the best way is to just practise with a band and develop your chops that way. And don't waste your time with a s***ty drummer. As long as you have a good attitude, a good ear, and a solid sense of time, things should go pretty smoothly.

bruiser1964 · #7 05-20-2010, 10:18 AM

[quote=IvanMike;9152053]Try.

Best tip, make sure the drummer is good, preferably the best musician in the band. QUOTE]

The drummers a musician? when did that happen??

+ 1 Jam with others - you will soon find your feet
Good luck

**IvanMike** · #8 05-20-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBasicBassist

You're ready to play in a band as soon as you pick up the bass.

There is an old joke - Kid's dad gets him a bass and lessons. First week dad asks what he learned at the lesson. Kid tells him the first 5 notes on the E string. Second week, same question, first 5 notes on the A string. Third week, first 5 notes on the D. Fourth week, dad asks how the lesson went. Kid says, he couldn't go to the lesson, he had a gig.

Scottgun · #9 05-20-2010, 10:20 AM

Playing in a band is like the old-school method of teaching kids to swim: chuck 'em into the middle of the pool. So dive in. You need to start sorting out who is worth playing with and who isn't. If the band ain't the right fit, have no qualms about saying so plainly up front because it's not fair to waste your time and theirs.

Joebone · #10 05-20-2010, 10:25 AM

Depends who you're playing with, and their level of sophistication relative to yours. Garage bands of high school kids who can't play well, but are working out tunes by ear in styles they dig, is the classic way for folks of that age to develop "band" skills. To get your own chops together, the ideal is to find a group of folks that are a shade better than you are, and try to play up. It all depends, but the most important thing is to just find some folks and start playing together.

elavate7 · #11 05-20-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lx_night

You cant really know until you are in there.
I remember when i started out i was very nervous even though i knew the songs. But i kinda had to play in a band since the beginning because the church was really needing a bass player. So i decided to play the bass and have loved it since.

What is gonna help you the most is good ear training in case they are playing something you haven't practiced you can just start grooving.

this is exactly how it was for me man....the very first sunday i was on the floor! lol

**butchblack** · #12 05-20-2010, 10:28 AM

Depending on the type(s) of music you like to play open jams are a good place to learn how to play with other people. If you go that route make sure you go to a jam that's beginner friendly some are, some are not. Playing jam sessions is also great for developing your ear, a very useful skill. To address your OP if you can follow along on a CD you're ready to play in a band. As you develop more skills you can play in better bands. Playing in a band where everyone else is a bit ahead of you is a good thing, it forces you to push yourself to improve. Playing in a band where everyone is way ahead of you can lead to frustration for both you and the other band members, so choose wisely.

James Judson · #13 05-20-2010, 10:33 AM

Turn on the radio and start jamming with it. The radio will be random and will blind side you (kinda like a band).

Jam with others as often as you can. Go to the local jams and just watch if your not ready to get up and join 'em. Some jams attract really good players that may intimidate you out of the house, others are geared for less seasoned players so go to all of them.

As already stated, "learn to play to a metronome", "find a really good drummer to jam with" (trouble with this is all drummers want to play with really great bass players).

Just keep doing it and doing it and doing it. Practice makes perfect and since there is no such thing as perfect, keep practicing.

CG Jones · #14 05-20-2010, 10:50 AM

Same position as OP. I have a hard time making it out to any of the local jams (timing doesn't work with small kids in the mix), so I posted an ad on a local musicians BB. Hooked up with a guitarist and a drummer, had our first jam last week.

I was nervous at the start, but loosened up pretty quickly and ended up having a great time. Personalities are very important -- the other guys knew my level of experience, and were very accommodating.

Wish I'd done it sooner!

TheBasicBassist · #15 05-20-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanMike

There is an old joke - Kid's dad gets him a bass and lessons. First week dad asks what he learned at the lesson. Kid tells him the first 5 notes on the E string. Second week, same question, first 5 notes on the A string. Third week, first 5 notes on the D. Fourth week, dad asks how the lesson went. Kid says, he couldn't go to the lesson, he had a gig.

Well said, sir!

Marginal Tom · #16 05-20-2010, 10:59 AM

+1 on jam sessions. If the other musicians include a more experienced bass player, use your headphones most of the time, and try to play along. Try to play through your amp without the headphones for longer and longer stretches (coordinate this with the other bass player(s), of course). Talk to other bass players. Try to sit in with local bands. Practice with anyone you can find, as long as you think it's helping you.

**IvanMike** · #17 05-20-2010, 12:38 PM

+3 to playing with the radio. put it on a station where the music is simple, sometimes it's better if you don't know the music or don't even like it. You'll actually have fun playing along with music you don't like after a while. Of course you can play along with CDs or music you are familiar with too. It's a bit of an extra challenge to play along with stuff you don't know, which is a good deal closer to the curve balls a band will throw at you. FWIW, I think you'll get more out of hooking up with some musicians for regular jams than open mic type stuff. And has already been said, try to make sure they are better than you. This will not be too hard, (that's not a knock at you), bass players are in demand. It helps too if you hook up with some reasonable folks you get along with. No need for stress.

Late Boomer · #18 05-20-2010, 01:18 PM

If you're asking ... you're ready.

- Tell them up front "I'm new to this".
- Ask questions: what key are we in? what's the chord progression? and so forth.
- Don't sweat the mistakes. We all make them. Most of the time nobody notices but you. Learn from them.
- When all else fails, just thump out the root notes in time with the drummer. Better yet, don't play anything for a bit and just listen.
- Be of good cheer and have some fun. There's a reason we call it playing music.

huben94 · #19 05-23-2010, 02:02 PM

Hello,

Check your community colleges for classes some have great classes that can help and also give you the opportunity to meet other musicians.

R

sirdugh · #20 05-23-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBasicBassist

You're ready to play in a band as soon as you pick up the bass.

I also agree. I was introduced to a band searching for a bass player. They said, "We hear you play bass." Me: "Well, I HAVE a bass." The day of the audition, I went to a local music store and bought a chart showing me where the notes were. Out of the 5-6 bass players they auditioned, I was picked. Go figure.

That was over 10 years ago and I'm still playing with several of the musicians from the band (and I still suck, but I have fun).