How long?

[jnevi9nr]

after you started playing did you join a real band and went out in public for gigs? do you think it was too soon?

[MalcolmAmos]

I come from 6 string acoustic guitar. Playing rhythm guitar in the same Country band for 10 years. One day the bass said; "I'm going to play rhythm and sing at this nursing home on Thursdays. Take my bass and back me up".

He showed me how to do a R-5 and we spent an hour together. Been playing bass on Thursdays ever since.

If you know how a band functions and understand some theory using fake chord sheet music - you can gig in a very short time. Now gigging well - that comes with experience, but, to get the experience you gotta start somewhere. Jump at the first opportunity.

Did I think it was too soon to start gigging with my bass. No. You will find that the other guys/gals will teach you what ever you need to know. Now if you are speaking of a professional band, that's another story. In a "we get paid sometime" band - jump aboard the first chance you get.

Good luck.

[jnevi9nr]

whats an R-5?

[jnevi9nr]

Five Chords (D5)?

[ryanrex]

Root note and 5th. say the root chord is a G you would play the G and D alternating. I would say its the most popular bass line ever.

[jnevi9nr]

thanks. ill have to try that out.

[sleepytime]

Originally Posted by jnevi9nr

thanks. ill have to try that out.

Okay, it's been a few minutes. By now you should be able to play every country song ever written.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by sleepytime

Okay, it's been a few minutes. By now you should be able to play every country song ever written.

If you can play the National Anthem of Country Music, which is listed below you can gig with any Country band.

(G) Well, I was drunk the day my (D) Mom ..... got outta (G) prison.
And I (C) went to pick her up .... in the (G) rain.
But, before I could get to the (C) station ..... in my pickup truck
She got runned over by a (D7) .... damned old (G) train.

So, I'll hang around as long as you will let me
and I never minded standing in the rain
NO, you don't have to call me darlin, ... darlin

{Big finish} --- But, you never even call me, ... I wonder why you don't call me ...
Why don't you ever call me ... by .. my .. name.

Yep, I better hide also.

[jnuts1]

i waited about 3 years. too long. playing in your bedroom is entrirely different than playing live with people.

[ryanrex]

I play in a country band. but it's more rock in roll. I don't do a lot of R5ing with our originals but when we do merle and johnny I bust it out.

I played guitar and owned a bass and the singer of the band i'm in now said we need a bass player and i was like okay I'll try it. so the first time i played bass was with a group at band practice. but we rehearsed for a good year and a half before we played out.

[sleepytime]

Originally Posted by jnuts1

i waited about 3 years. too long. playing in your bedroom is entrirely different than playing live with people.

It was probably about 3 years for me, too. But I was playing Rush, Zep, etc and after that time I was pretty much able to step in and nail it with a band without too much trouble. 3-5 hours of daily practice works wonders.

[jnevi9nr]

anyone else?

[lethargytartare]

I'd pitch it this way for new musicians: as soon as you can get three things: (1) the courage to play in front of people, (2) a group of like-minded folks to play, and (3) a set of material you can all play together...ok, four: (4) a gig.

Play out and have fun as soon as you can. Audition for bands -- if you're not good enough yet, they won't take you. But every audition will tell you more about where you are as a musician (relative to others), what you like and don't like in other bands, etc. If you can get a band together, play out as soon as you can - you'll learn things that you can't learn in the rehearsal room. If you bomb, you'll learn other things that are valuable too. And odds are overwhelmingly good that you won't impact your future musical prospects negatively by gigging too soon, or positively by practicing for years until you the band is "ready."

Personally, the minute I had a chance to be in a band I dove in. But it was a pretty safe thing -- college buddies, small college, easy to take the plunge there. So I had been playing, not very diligently, for about 3-4 years by then. My first gig with a band that played paying shows in front of actual audiences was about 8 years after that hahaha...

Dive in, man! Even when it's a catastrophe, it can be a blast!

ltt

[jnevi9nr]

thanks for the support. I think I still got a ways to go. I think the hardest part is finding bandmates that like the same kind of music, especially in the wash dc area.

[GlennPagano]

I have been playing for eight months. I jam with people that are already in a well established band. I am currently looking for a band to play in but I have found none.

[sleepytime]

Originally Posted by jnevi9nr

thanks for the support. I think I still got a ways to go. I think the hardest part is finding bandmates that like the same kind of music, especially in the wash dc area.

In addition to the music, I look at the personalities. I look for cooperative people that want to have fun and entertain people, and that want to make the band sound good.

Ego driven wankers, head cases and tyrants are not my cup of tea.

[jnevi9nr]

I think if they have similar music tastes as me and just normal good people, then I should be fine. If there are any head cases, I will drop them in a minute.

[sleepytime]

As you find good people, be sure to keep in touch. It's good to have a network of people you can work with.

[StrangerDanger]

Originally Posted by sleepytime

It was probably about 3 years for me, too. But I was playing Rush, Zep, etc and after that time I was pretty much able to step in and nail it with a band without too much trouble. 3-5 hours of daily practice works wonders.

I bet it does. Too bad I gotta work so my family can eat.

[varunkapahi]

around a week or two i think and i hardly had any idea about what i was doing, besides the fact that i played what the teacher said