Joining your first band

[BananaPlanes]

What should I know before joining a band for the first time. I know basic scales throughout the neck. what should i practice to be ready to start playing with a band.

[tangentmusic]

Timing... Learn to lock in with a drummer.
Use a metronone, click track or drum machine to work on it.
Or play along to your favorite CD's

[BananaPlanes]

Okay, ill focus on that, thanks

Edit. I'm using Beatcraft as a drum machine, just using the presets, anyone know a better drum machine online or something?

[sammyp]

along with the good advice above, the band should collectively try to pick songs it can play well ...that means everyone ...no point in picking a song the singer can't sing or the drummer can't play etc...

i use PC drummer on my 'puter ....the demo works quite well for general practice!

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by BananaPlanes

What should I know before joining a band for the first time. I know basic scales throughout the neck. what should i practice to be ready to start playing with a band.

You should be able to play the songs your first band plays. OK that means you probably should look for a band that plays the music you like.

Most bands will be using fake chord sheet music on the songs they will be playing. You are given the chord name and it is up to you to build a bass line from that.

If that means you need to spend some time learning how to build a bass line -- well .......

My point. To be with a band you first have to play the music the band will be playing. Only you know how much "stuff" you need to learn to get to that point. A band will run through 15 to 18 songs per hour so you gotta get some songs under your fingers.

Take it one step at a time. No one is going to come knocking on your door, you have to knock on theirs. Find a garage band you think would be fun to play with. Ask to sit in on rehearsals, carry there stuff, be their gofer, make yourself useful and don't step on toes. Blend in and I bet they will teach you what you need to know to start playing with them.

Most garage bands are a bunch of friends that decided to start a band. I notice you are in high school, are you in band? That's a good place to look for other musicians.

Good luck.

[Mr JJB]

I agree with all the comments here, but would like to add another one, which is probably the most important for me: get some practice playing with others.

That sounds like an unsolveable problem since one might think that the only way to get such experience is by joining a band in the first place.
However, if you trying hooking up with any other musician to play in your bedrooms or in any cheap rehearsal room, with fake sheet music so you're both playing the same piece, that will be enough. Then try doing this at least 2 hours every couple of weeks. At first, this will be a very difficult experience, but after 3-4 months, you will be amazed by how much you'll have improved.

You can't imagine how much more hearing skill is required when you play with someone else. It's like removing "auditory blinkers" and still being able to play on a straight path: at first, you suffer from sound overload, but then you learn to manage it without even thinking about it - particularly important when your partner(s) mess up and you learn when it's best to keep going, or adapt to their mistakes depending on the context.

I was lucky enough to have teachers who pushed me to play with others quite early on, so I can blag my way with most groups of musicians relatively easily.