Steps to Getting Into a Band

Slackerprince · #1 11-12-2008, 11:14 AM

I've been looking at craigslist and how many people are looking for bass players, and wondering what steps I need to take to bump-up from hobby player to band member.
I have plenty of good gear, a decent foundation in scales, working a groove, and keeping good time.
Should I learn some cover songs? Which ones are a good base to get started?
What do you recommend to make the transition out of the bedroom and onto the stage?
What should I expect with band members? (I expect some humorous answers to this one).
I have jammed with people in the past, but never in the capacity of working towards playing out.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks.

Slackerprince

bassbully · #2 11-12-2008, 11:38 AM

Well maybe since i am kinda new to this myself i can help. You have a good start from what you say about yourself.

What kind of music do you want to play or will you play? I wont take a gig if i dont like the music no matter what the money is ...well unless its a pro gig

Go after local bands in classifieds ex. Craigslist or run an ad yourself. I had great luck that way. Tell them about yourself your music tastes and what you are looking to do. Are you looking for a gigging band? Covers or Originals? If its covers you could be thrown to the flames and have to learn alot of songs and be expected to perform them well quickly...it can be stressful and alot of pressure. I have done it but again i enjoyed the challenge.

Original bands make little money and require more time to get up and going due to no recorded material unless they have done it.
Cover bands should get you CD's to learn the songs and then practice them at practice. Be ready to allow one practice a week unless you can do more. Know if you have time to gig ...how offen do you want to? 1 time a month or several?
Screen bands by location,music styles and if they are in the basement or garage or a full flying cover band with tons of bookings who just lost their bassist. When it comes to meeting bands and other players...good luck! There are some real ringers out there but to tell you the truth i have met some great people and made some great friends thru music.

The biggest advice i can give is be honest and be yourself. Tell them who you are what you know and listen to what they need and be honest with yourself if you can be that person. I have gotten gigs over better players due to being honest and a solid player not flash or telling the bands i can do more then my abilities. Good luck!

Slackerprince · #3 11-12-2008, 02:05 PM

Great advice.
I was thinking a rock band, probably, but I'd rather just get into a jam band that starts with a simple song and stretches it out into orbit. I like improv and exploration, and just need to know how to start and end, the rest is just fun noodling.
Hmm...maybe I'm still stuck in hobby mode. No worries, just asking for the future.
Thanks for the response.

S.

dvh · #4 11-12-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slackerprince

I have plenty of good gear, a decent foundation in scales, working a groove, and keeping good time.

The sooner you get out and play with others the sooner you will be even better at this.

jgroh · #5 11-12-2008, 02:16 PM

First things first...contact some bands. From there, if you get to audition with any of them, they should provide you with a list of some songs to learn for the audition. I wouldnt waste your time learning anything in particular before contacting a band (not that its bad to learn but chances are they wont want to play the songs you learn)

I wouldnt go for more than 5-6 (maybe a couple more) to learn for any audition unless they are working steadily and in a bind to find someone new. A band I was going to audition with last year wanted me to learn upwards of 20 originals in like 2 weeks. Not that its impossible but in my situation, I said no, Ill learn 6 to 8 and they were ok with that.

There isnt a whole lot you can do without actually setting something up other than keep practicing and playing with CDs to keep you skills sharp. Good luck!

rzpooch · #6 11-12-2008, 02:21 PM

It all depends on what genre of music you enjoy. I think the main thing I learned coming up was that most folks know parts of a tune, but not the whole tune. So I would learn tunes completely. Another thing is using the KISS principal (keep it simple stupid...lol) You can always add to a bass line later and some people like a simple groove. The cool thing is that after you set the groove you can add, or change a bit here and there or just go off! gotta love bass! Be easy to work with. Bass is usually a support instrument, so do that eh. Nobody likes playing with an @ss or diva, no matter how good you are or how desperate they are for bass. Finally...(drum roll please...LOL) Have fun! Try to be entertaining, the more fun you have the more fun the crowd has. I would rather see an ok band that shakes their tail feathers, than great musicians that just stand there.
Good luck!
rz

TimWilson · #7 11-12-2008, 03:24 PM

Are you old enough to go to bars? If so, that's where you need to be. Get next to the bands at the clubs. Learn names. Make yourself familiar to the people who are already on the scene. Buy shots - you'll be remembered. Hang out in guitar stores and make sure those guys know who you are and that you want to play.

While you're there, you'll see a bulletin board where bands advertise for players. Pull some numbers from there. Audition for bands even if you don't THINK you'll like the music - often, you'll be surprised what you might get into when you give it a shot.

bassbully · #8 11-12-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimWilson

Are you old enough to go to bars? If so, that's where you need to be. Get next to the bands at the clubs. Learn names. Make yourself familiar to the people who are already on the scene. Buy shots - you'll be remembered. Hang out in guitar stores and make sure those guys know who you are and that you want to play.

While you're there, you'll see a bulletin board where bands advertise for players. Pull some numbers from there. Audition for bands even if you don't THINK you'll like the music - often, you'll be surprised what you might get into when you give it a shot.

I kinda see where your going with the last part but i disagree. I would only try out or search for bands in the types of music i love to listen or play.This is what i told the OP. I wouldnt for anything play say death or black metal. So why would i or he try out for such a band in my example if you dont like the music or have an interest .That would be like when i was in school going out for track just to see if i would like it...nope I knew I wouldnt so i stuck to football which i loved. Give something you love 100% and you should get it back. I play in a country band and have run into several people from my old rock days that not only say they wouldnt be caught dead playing country but wont even come to one of my gigs to see me play it...same deal i guess.

DudeistMonk · #9 11-13-2008, 09:47 AM

Step 1: record something...anything...jamming with a drum loop, whatever.

Step 2: Post an ad on CL with a link to the recording, if its remotely decent you will get more replies than someone without a recording (I was getting 5 a day every time I made a post, and they where some pretty basic riffy bass lines).

Step 3: Audition and Jam, have a good time, get the gig.

Tips

1) Get recordings from everyone before you go play with them, when someone sends me a sloppy, out of time, version of "crazy train" or a song they wrote about the numbers 1 though 10... "Eight, Eight, Eight don't you know this number is really great....Nine, Nine, Nine, pretty soon I'll be feeling fine." (yeah I wish I was kidding) I know they aren't worth my time, and I write them a polite no thank you.

2) Be open to jamming requests instead of band recruiting, especially with drummers, and especially if you want to be in a jam band...I jammed with my drummer a few times we where starting to gel and I said to him "I dunno why I still have an ad on CL, we should start a band." and he said "I was going to say the same thing." Now we have a guitarist, an original song and we are auditioning vocals (we are a jam band BTW). Everyone wants to play out, regardless of what they tell you, you just might have to convince them they are ready.

MrLenny · #10 11-13-2008, 10:11 AM

Tim Wilson is right.
Hang around the scene and meet people. This is the only way to get started.
Check out bands you like and learn their material. Jammin is OK but it
rarely gets you work. Learn money tunes. If the audience does not recognize
the tunes ,well...you suck.
Good Luck.

MatticusMania · #11 11-13-2008, 10:22 AM

Do what you said you want to do, put together a jam band. Put out an ad on craigslist and you can find some musicians in the same boat as you. Maybe you'll catch a decent drummer between bands or someone also looking to step up from hobby player to band musician. I'd say go for a drummer first, from there the two of you can start doing open ended jams while you find a guitarist or other musicians to jam with you. Dont rush it, it'll come together.

Chazinroch · #12 11-13-2008, 10:25 AM

First of all good luck. I would suggest getting comfortable with the blues. Be comfortable with I,IV,V progressions and the various standard turnarounds. You may not want to become a blues player, but blues is the grandfather of rock, country and jazz, so it's a good foundation. Now, go to open blues jams and sit in. This will get you thinking on your feet and most importantly learning how to listen. Next invest the 10 or 15 bucks it cost to have some business cards made up. Your name, the fact that you are a bass player and how to contact you. Hand them out. Also check Craigslist and take auditions. This forces you to learn songs and most importantly establish contacts.
Again good luck, and let us know how you make out.

mambo4 · #13 11-13-2008, 10:49 AM

From your description of your abilities, It sound like the only step for you to take is responding to the ads you like...

IMHO you're over thinking weather or not you're ready: I guarantee you there is already someone worse than you playing gigs right now.

Bass is very much an ensemble instrument, you can only take it so far on your own.Playing in a band, esp with more experienced musicians, is the golden road to practical improvement.

Just go for it: cruise CL, pick a band you like, learn a few of their songs and audition. repeat until you are chosen.

As for what to expect from band members, you will get all types. Some will be temperamental, some will be solid dependable people, most will be in between. Egos will clash, sometimes creatively, sometimes destructively. The best you can do is be open minded, honest, respectful, and focused on the music.

thombo · #14 11-13-2008, 11:35 AM

some good advise on here so far. here is some suggestions specific to jambands...
gear:
a bass & a decent amp (300 watt min.) are all you need. some people never move beyond that and have very successful careers.

because "jambands" is such a large umbrella, this is kind of hard. that advise from above about asking bands for a few song suggestions is good. until you get in for some auditions, these are some good songs work on. They are sometimes tweaked to fit bands style... electro (particle, sts9), jazzy-funk (mmw, greyboy allstars), rock (umphrey's mcgee, moe), southern rock (gov't mule, widespread palnic), bluegrass (flecktones, yonder mtn), etc.....
good songs to learn to make the transition out of the bedroom-
-cissy strut by the meters
-chameleon by herbie hancock & the headhunters (bass & keyboard part)
-a grateful dead song or two (i've played them, counldn't suggest any)
-psycho killer by the talking heads (sounds weird, but it always comes up)

also, open jams at bars are a good place to network for bands. i had a fair amount of success from learning chris wood lines, and using them as a starting point. later, i moved on to the weather report and christian mcbride (electric tonic has some sick stuff on it).
***before i get burned, i said use them as a starting point in jams, not stealing them for songs.

vlxyooper · #15 11-13-2008, 01:57 PM

The post that recommended going to open jam or open mic nights was great advise. You might feel a bit intimidated initially, but there are few better ways to improve your playing than playing with other people as often as you can.

If you haven't worked on it already, play to the radio ...no, not talk radio. Tune to the musical style of your choice and get the bass lines under your fingers. Don't worry about not catching everything initially, the process of training your ear/fingers is the goal ...and that will come over time. When you get good at it, sitting in with others will be a lot easier ...and they'll take notice when you're making the song groove.

Transcribe the music you like. This is similar to playing along with the radio, though instead of playing to streaming audio, you can use the stop, rewind, and eve "slow down" options of today's transcribing software and hardware units.

Think about the bassists that motivate you to play and study their playing. I'm biased, but I'd recommend James Jamerson. He's influenced quite a number of players. So, even if you don't listen to a lot of Motown, you've likely heard his influence somewhere. In any event, pick a few bassists and study their stuff.

Definitely get out and network either in person at music stores or local giging places, or on the web. Get your name out there ....and play whenever you can.