Getting ready to get a gig

5string5fingers · #1 02-13-2011, 07:46 PM

So in a few years I plan on seeking out a gig, country to be specific. Hopefully something that will have some shows on the weekend, and player's who are older and more experience than me.

So my quest over the next few years is to get ready for this goal. So what are need to know things for me to land a successful gig? I've pretty much got the basics down, know all the notes on the bass,major,minor scales, pentatonic, root, fifth, octave but I know these are not all the things I need to know, just need a little direction. I know country music isn't very technical and usually very on the fly,quick learning stuff, so what are the tools I need to help me do that?

MalcolmAmos · #2 02-13-2011, 08:29 PM

From your profile I'm amazed that you are not connected. Well the first thing to know is how to play with others. Can you play-a-long with your CD's? Start going to jamm sessions, join a garage band. Start playing with others.

Getting gigs.....
Have a band or be a member of a band. Much easier to be a member of a band and leave getting the gigs up to the director of the band - who has worked himself up to the directors spot and has people asking him to play. Plus he and not you have to handle all the personal problems. You just learn the material and show up on time to play. I belong to two bands, believe me you do not want the hassle of arranging the gigs, playing the people, handling the personalities, worrying if Hank will show up on time, while holding down a day job and keeping the family happy.

So go join a band. How do you do that?
Sit in on jamm sessions. Meet other musicians.
Hang out around rehearsals of your church's praise band and let it be know you would like to join.
Do the same with other bands in the area. Let it be known that you want to connect with a band.
Ask other musicians if they know of a band looking for a bass.
It's all word of mouth. Talk to musicians.

Good luck.

5string5fingers · #3 02-13-2011, 08:40 PM

ha...well i understand one must be in a band to get gigs. I'm talking more about instructional material needed.

**DougD** · #4 02-13-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

So in a few years I plan on seeking out a gig, country to be specific. Hopefully something that will have some shows on the weekend, and player's who are older and more experience than me.

So my quest over the next few years is to get ready for this goal. So what are need to know things for me to land a successful gig? I've pretty much got the basics down, know all the notes on the bass,major,minor scales, pentatonic, root, fifth, octave but I know these are not all the things I need to know, just need a little direction. I know country music isn't very technical and usually very on the fly,quick learning stuff, so what are the tools I need to help me do that?

If you already know all that stuff then you are ready to join a band and start gigging

The faster you start the better you will be

You would be surprised to know just how many famous bass players literally picked up a bass and joined a band without even knowing how to play the thing

My advice would be to place a add in your local Craigslist and go to your local music store and ask if you can pout up a card. Most have a board for musicians looking for others somewhere in the store. Also another good web based site is band mix. They put you in touch with other musicians in your local area. If you can, always play with musicians that are better than you. You will learn a lot and most don't mind bringing you up to their level as long as you don't have a bad attitude

Go get em cowboy

MalcolmAmos · #5 02-13-2011, 09:09 PM

Yes you already know enough to hold your own.

It's roots and fives with some chromatic runs to the next chord. Work up a list of 35 songs - that are played in your neck of the woods - learn them or be comfortable with what to do when they say; "The next one is Kiss Ole Kate in G, ready one, and two...."

Yes you already know enough to hold your own, you just need to get your feet wet.

5string5fingers · #6 02-13-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougD

If you already know all that stuff then you are ready to join a band and start gigging

The faster you start the better you will be

You would be surprised to know just how many famous bass players literally picked up a bass and joined a band without even knowing how to play the thing

My advice would be to place a add in your local Craigslist and go to your local music store and ask if you can pout up a card. Most have a board for musicians looking for others somewhere in the store. Also another good web based site is band mix. They put you in touch with other musicians in your local area. If you can, always play with musicians that are better than you. You will learn a lot and most don't mind bringing you up to their level as long as you don't have a bad attitude

Go get em cowboy

haha..liked the cowboy comment. Yea I was actually just reading BP magazine and the bassist for Kings of Leon litterally had only been playing bass for a few months before he was in the studio and was learning how to play while they were in the studio. I guess I'll just continue to get to know the in and outs of the stuff I already know. I'm still learning, I hate that it's taken me 6 years to learn it,but I guess now the point is I'm finally learning it. Still going to be a while, gotta get an amp set up.

Deathblade Eric · #7 02-14-2011, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Yes you already know enough to hold your own.

It's roots and fives with some chromatic runs to the next chord. Work up a list of 35 songs - that are played in your neck of the woods - learn them or be comfortable with what to do when they say; "The next one is Kiss Ole Kate in G, ready one, and two...."

Yes you already know enough to hold your own, you just need to get your feet wet.

^^This^^

Since you're nailing your flag to a specific genre, total immersion is a good option. Keep your radio tuned to a Country station & just play along at any & every opportunity. Picking up a few of those '50 Golden Greats' type compilations will help you zero in on the "usual suspects" too.

5string5fingers · #8 02-14-2011, 09:01 AM

so learn like the top 30 type country songs, new and classics.

Thanks for that tip, thats the kind of junk I come on here for. Something so simple like that didn't even cross my mind,but makes total sense.

MalcolmAmos · #9 02-14-2011, 09:40 AM

Here is the index to our gig book.

#
500 MILES AWAY FROM HOME 47
A
ACT NATURALLY 93
ALL MY EXXES 114
AMARILLO BY MORNING 115
AN AMERICAN TRILOGY - Elvis Presley 107
APARTMENT NUMBER NINE 36
ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT Gag Song 116
AULD LANG SYNE 177
AWAY IN A MANGER 176
B
BACK HOME AGAIN 118
BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN 120
BANDY THE RODEO CLOWN 41
BEFORE I DIED 121
BEGGING TO YOU 122
BLUE SIDE OF LONESOME 17
BLUE SKIES 106
C
CATFISH JOHN 165
CHRISTMAS 172
CHRISTMAS LONG AGO 73
COLD COLD HEART 123
COOL WATER 124
COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE 13
COWBOY LOGIC 48
COWBOY PRIDE 125
COWBOY’S SWEETHEART 30
CRAZY 88
CRYING TIME 43
D
DECK THE HALLS 178
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS 127
DIGGIN UP BONES 16
DON'T COME CRYING TO ME 31
E
ELVIRA 37
EXCEPT FOR MONDAYS 95
F
FADED LOVE in G 11
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO 71
FIRST TRAIN HEADING SOUTH 9
FOLSOM PRISON BLUES 128
FOUR WALLS 159
FOUR STRONG WINDS 42
FOURTEEN MINUTES OLD 61
G
GEORGIA ON MY MIND 87
GOD MUST BE A COWBOY 129
GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN 179
GOOD HEARTED WOMAN 22
GOODNIGHT IRENE 131
GOSPEL MELODY 68
GREENSLEEVES 170
H
HANK WILLIAM'S MEDLEY 15
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 72
HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY THAT I LOVE YOU 109
HE THINKS I STILL CARE 80
HE TOUCHED ME 34
HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER 7
HELLO WALLS 112
HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT 40
HEY GOOD LOOKIN’ 89
HOME ON THE RANGE 133
HONKY TONK ANGELS 44
HONKY-TONK HARDWOOD FLOOR in C 64
HORSE WITH NO NAME 90
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 76
I
I NEVER PASS THERE ANYMORE 163
I FALL TO PIECES 50
I GOT A HOLE IN MY PIROGUE 134
I WALK THE LINE 58
I WAS ALMOST PERSUADED 12
I'M GONNA MISS HER 97
I'M JUST AN OLD CHUNK OF COAL 24
IN THE GARDEN 33
IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW 135
IS ANYBODY GOIN TO SAN AN-TONE 70
I'VE GOT A TIGER BY THE TAIL 23
J
JACK OF DIAMONDS 167
JAMBALAYA 28
JINGLE BELLS 83
JUST A CLOSER WALK 10
JUST BECAUSE 14
K
KAW - LIGA 79
L
LET THE COWBOY DANCE 29
LORD I HOPE THIS DAY IS GOOD 55
LOVING HER WAS EASIER 162
LUCKENBACH, TEXAS 136
M
MAKING BELIEVE 35
MAMA, HE’S CRAZY 137
MARIE LA VEAU 45
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS 25
MY SHOES KEEP WALKING BACK TO YOU 160
MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT 66
O
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM 169
OH LONESOME ME 63
OKIE FROM MUSKOGSE 27
OLE SLEW-FOOT 102
ON THE ROAD AGAIN 86
P
PAPER ROSIE 99
PEACEFUL EASY FEELING 113
PRETTY PAPERS 168
PRICIOUS MEMORIES 166
R
RAILROAD BUM 59
RED RIVER VALLEY 69
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER 171
S
SAN ANTONIO ROSE 20
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN 173
SANTA LOOKED A LOT LIKE DADDY 138
SATIN SHEETS 39
SEVEN SPANISH ANGELS 81
SHE KNOWS WHY 19
SHE’S GONE GONE GONE 161
SILENT NIGHT 174
SILVER BELLS 74
SILVER THREADS AND GOLDEN NEEDLES 139
SIOUX CITY SUE 140
SNOWBIRD 141
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW 111
STAR SPANGLED BANNER 84
STARDUST 110
STRAWBERRY ROAN 142
SUPPER TIME 52
SWEET BETSY FROM PIKE 57
T
TAKE ME BACK TO TULSA 26
TEARS IN HEAVEN 104
TEDDY BEAR 67
TENNESSEE WALTZ 100
TEXAS 164
THE FISHING SONG 97
THE KEY'S IN THE MAIL BOX 103
THE LOST HIGHWAY 144
THE NEXT ONE’S IN G 4
THE TALKING WALLS 98
THERE GOES MY EVERYTHING 21
THEY’LL NEVER TAKE HER LOVE FROM ME 145
THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME 54
THREE WISHES 75
TODAY I STARTED LOVING YOU AGAIN 146
TOGETHER AGAIN 38
TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS 147
U
UNCLOUDED DAY 53
UNDER YOUR SPELL AGAIN 32
W
WABASH CANNONBALL 148
WALK ON BY 149
WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS 18
WATERMELON TIME IN GEORGIA 92
WELCOME TO MY WORLD 150
WHAT AM I DOING HERE 151
WHAT CHILD IS THIS (GREENSLEEVES) 170
WHEN THE WORK’S ALL DONE THIS FALL 153
WHEN I DIE, JUST LET ME GO TO TEXAS 8
WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER 56
WHERE DO COWBOYS GO WHEN THEY DIE 155
WHY ME? 51
WILD SIDE OF LIFE 157
WORRED MAN BLUES 85
Y
YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS 158
YOU AIN'T WOMAN ENOUGH TO TAKE MY MAN 101
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE 91
YOUR GOOD GIRL’S GONNA GO BAD 130

The numbers are the pages. Small numbers were put in first.
Google will be able to find fake chord sheet music on most of these.
Google: chords, "name of the song" -- the comma and the quote marks help
Here 's 500 more; http://www.textbooks.com/BooksDescri...rce=googlebase

Have fun.

HeadyVan Halen · #10 02-14-2011, 09:56 AM

Your never 100% ready for anything in life until you jump in...ok, now the philosphy lesson is over, go and gig!

It will be different than jammin' with the CD..even if everyone plays every note spot on, it will feel different which isn't bad, just know that. Making the transition from bedroom to bar-room is easier once you remember that you ARE PERFORMING not just playing..what that means to everyone is different, but if the energy you/your band gives off is something like a funeral, the vibe given back will be the same. Remember people hear with there eyes too.

Also, you will be surprised that many of the things that sound good in a guitar store or at a friends house (after coacktails of course) have no place at a gig...You can play Portrait of Tracy? Great!..just don't play it at the bar

dvh · #11 02-14-2011, 10:02 AM

Just get out and play with others. You'll wonder why you waited this long....

Rusty the Scoob · #12 02-14-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvh

Just get out and play with others. You'll wonder why you waited this long....

x2. It's not that big of a deal, and while it's important to be somewhat competent on your instrument, the only way to really learn how to play gigs with a band is to go do it.

5string5fingers · #13 02-14-2011, 11:25 AM

I've played with others many times. I've been in a few rock bands,but they never went any where and lasted long because no one else seemed to have the commitment. I'm not asking how to get ready to play a gig..I'm asking about things I need to know, skills people are looking for from a bassist, that will help me get into a band.

I know i need to get out an play, but check the last sentence of post 6. I have no amp. I've recently had to sell a lot of my gear because of money problems.

MalcolmAmos · #14 02-14-2011, 11:39 AM

Well I wondered about all that gear and you saying you needed an amp.

What do you need to know?

How to design a bass line. When the band gives you a chord chart (some fake chord sheet music) it will be up to you to come up with the bass line that will work under those chords. Roots, fives and eights with chromatic runs to the next chord - we've already narrowed it down to that.
How to turn that bass line into a groove. Get roots, fives and eights to all the chords you will come in contact with into muscle memory - so you do not have to think about what you are doing. If you are thinking about what's next the groove is not going to happen.
How to augment the other members efforts, i.e. don't step on their toes, and lay down a steady beat. That comes about after playing with others. If others have to be your CD's so be it.

The rest of what is needed you will learn on the job.

Rusty the Scoob · #15 02-14-2011, 11:49 AM

Ok, that's a different question.

Getting into a band is easy... you're a bass player!

Finding the right gig is harder... with some experience you'll soon know how to sniff out a good solid working band out of all the practice-room-heroes. I look for the following clues:

Are the tunes club-worthy? Or obscure stuff that nobody's heard of except for the band-member that picked them? If somebody in the band refuses to play anything but Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, and Eric Johnson, run far, far away. (this mostly applies to cover bands... original projects are a different animal of course)

Does the PA look like it's ready to go out to a club? Or does it look like it hasn't moved in 10 years?

Does everyone in the band seem to have their sh-t together or are they flakes? Anybody have trouble returning phone calls for days? Does everybody have cases for their gear or are they carrying their drums around wrapped in old blankets, etc. Are the cords and mic stands new or is it a bunch of crap repaired with duct tape? Some field fixes are unavoidable of course, but gigging pros know that it doesn't make good business sense to have everybody standing around diagnosing a sketchy XLR or speaker cable every gig.

If all that looks good, then examine the leader. If you don't know who the band leader is without asking, that's a red flag. He/She should be on top of everything and be very motivated to work on booking. It helps a lot if this person relies on the band for income.

A good working band will book gigs even without a solid lineup. Practice room heroes will put the band together and think about booking gigs "when they're ready". Gigging pros know that a band will never be ready until the first gig is booked, and really won't hit it's stride until several gigs have been played.

As far as you owning an amp... it's not a big deal. You can gig with any old Peavey or whatever budget amp you can find as long as it's loud, fairly clean in tone (unless dirty is what you're after, but be careful with that as it's an instant mix killer), and is reliable. Most major cities will also have a backline rental service where you can rent an amp if you really can't afford or borrow one. If the band has good subwoofers and good monitors, you might not even need an amp at all.

As far as what you need to know as a player - just don't suck and you'll be fine. If you can thump roots correctly and keep a beat, they'll be happy.

DavidE · #16 02-14-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

so learn like the top 30 type country songs, new and classics.

Thanks for that tip, thats the kind of junk I come on here for. Something so simple like that didn't even cross my mind,but makes total sense.

Bingo. When you're done with those, add more to the list. If you're playing a 4 string, I'd suggest a Hipshot Xtender to drop your E to a D for some of the newer country.

THand · #17 02-14-2011, 12:14 PM

Having attended ABAC way back in the day, there used to be a place called the Agrarama. Especially during spring and summer they had country and bluegrass acts playing there all the time. If they still do this, go hang out and get to know some of the bands. Maybe they'll let you set in some with their amp, or hook you up with an amp for cheap. Used to be some pretty cool old cats that gigged there that would love to share what they know. Good luck!

5string5fingers · #18 02-14-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THand

Having attended ABAC way back in the day, there used to be a place called the Agrarama. Especially during spring and summer they had country and bluegrass acts playing there all the time. If they still do this, go hang out and get to know some of the bands. Maybe they'll let you set in some with their amp, or hook you up with an amp for cheap. Used to be some pretty cool old cats that gigged there that would love to share what they know. Good luck!

Yep I live right up the road from both of them. Will have to check out this summer and see if they have anything going on there.

As for an amp I've already got a rig in mind that should be plenty of power, also planned on getting an hipshot extender soon, not only for country, but for rock as well.

devine · #19 02-15-2011, 08:45 AM

Sounds like your ready to get jammin'! Try and hook up with some guys that are around the same level as you via adverts in papers etc. Learning 'on the job' is as important as sitting in a room at home practicing scales. In fact you'll be surprised at how fast your playing comes a long when you start to connect with other musicians. If you get in a situation where you feel out of your depth don't be embarrassed, see it as a learning experience... i've had a lot of these in the past!

Also, try and play lots of different styles of music, in the end it will give you a deeper understanding of music itself and in turn make you a better bass player.

Good luck!

Scott.

http://www.scottsbasslessons.com

http://www.scottdevinemusic.com

bassbully · #20 02-15-2011, 09:47 AM

Country is allot of Fun. I played in a country band for 2 years after leaving a rock band. One thing I noticed you have to be a clean, focused player. You cant get away with sloppy playing using loud distortion etc like rock. It will also depend on if you are playing old country and standards or Gasp: nu-country. Old country is locking down lots of root/fifths and walks to the next chord. New country is rock with country lyrics and is different.
Find a band and get rippin. Its fun and the only way you will learn is to get in and try.