Trying out for a band

[Mahumadi]

I found a band that is looking for a bassist and they have a nice sound. I havent been playing long and havent played much in a band. its all original music, which I like because I can lay my own ideas down.

I understand that I should stay with the kick drum, check. Lay off on snare hits, is this a golden rule or an optional rule? Its just a 3 piece, including me, and I find myself playing along with the guitar when I practice to their recordings. How do you learn to lay back and just lay down a solid simple groove?

I find myself finding the melody, but straying from it when the tempo changes and when large changes in the piece occur. I have

no real order to this madness as you can tell haha, just looking for some advice or pointers.

[dalconthenovice]

learn to develop your sense of groove, you don't even need your bass for this, just listen to music and learn to feel it, not just with your ear but your body and learn to play along with it

learn to lock onto said groove and make sure to play in keys

the rest is just experience

[JimmyM]

you can do anything you want in the music, including completely ignoring the kick drum or playing all over the snare drum, if it sounds good. sometimes it sounds good to play right with everyone else in lockstep, too. it all depends on the song and there's no right answer for everything. just be honest with yourself and always ask yourself if you're making the song better or worse by what you're doing. ask everyone else's opinions if you're not sure, too.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by Mahumadi

I found a band that is looking for a bassist and they have a nice sound. I haven't been playing long and haven't played much in a band. its all original music, which I like because I can lay my own ideas down.

I understand that I should stay with the kick drum, check. Lay off on snare hits, is this a golden rule or an optional rule? Its just a 3 piece, including me, and I find myself playing along with the guitar when I practice to their recordings. How do you learn to lay back and just lay down a solid simple groove?

I find myself finding the melody, but straying from it when the tempo changes and when large changes in the piece occur. I have no real order to this madness as you can tell haha, just looking for some advice or pointers.

Are you coming from another instrument? I'm told, and I see this in myself that 6 string guitar people like to fill their bass line with stuff.

Does this new band want "stuff"? Or, is a good solid R-5 what they want. Probably a good idea, while you are fitting in, to give them what they want. Have you asked that question?

Good luck.

[togglehead]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Are you coming from another instrument? I'm told, and I see this in myself that 6 string guitar people like to fill their bass line with stuff.

Does this new band want "stuff"? Or, is a good solid R-5 what they want. Probably a good idea, while you are fitting in, to give them what they want. Have you asked that question?

Good luck.

I agree with this...and offer a counter. Sometimes bands are looking for an unknown element, also. And in trying out new people their searching for that unknown factor....your taste.

Ask them. If they have an idea of what theyre looking for...theyll tell you. If not...they say "lets just jam, man!!" =P

[Stumbo]

Who are your influences? What do they do?

Seems like a comparison could be made to a writer who is attempting to write original stories but who has not read many books or who doesn't know that many words.

It's tough to do when you're unfamiliar with different styles, formats, idioms, grammatical construction, literary references, etc.

It seems to me that listening/learning from some of the bass greats that we know would serve you well.

You might want to check out the links in my sig. below for some great TB info that may help you along the way.

Good luck.

[Thor]

Also, look through the Band Management forum, there is a
lot of discussion about band auditions in there.

[Mahumadi]

Hey guys, liking the responses, much appreciative.

They are a stoner-rock band along the lines of kyuss. Ive been playing along to a song the leader wants me to learn. I cant hear his bassline well, even with headphones, so ive been laying my own groove down. The kick drum gets lost in the mix as well, maybe due to the fact that my ear sucks?

[Mahumadi]

Im curious if anyone has been in this situation as either party. I have a horrible, horrible ear and the guitarist uses his ear solely. This is fine, but nothing is written down. To ask him to write out all of the songs seems like im asking too much and I may be getting ahead of myself, experience wise. Should my ear be tuned well enough by the time I play with a regular gigging band? Any opinions or related experiences?

[ssbass]

Originally Posted by Mahumadi

Im curious if anyone has been in this situation as either party. I have a horrible, horrible ear and the guitarist uses his ear solely. This is fine, but nothing is written down. To ask him to write out all of the songs seems like im asking too much and I may be getting ahead of myself, experience wise. Should my ear be tuned well enough by the time I play with a regular gigging band? Any opinions or related experiences?

I'm wondering the same thing about me right now. Same situation.

[sobie18]

Sounds like a real good opportunity to hone your skills and make some music.

Use this advice: Play for the song.

[Mahumadi]

Sobie18: I agree! Its good music and its helping with many skills ive neglected since my theory class and when i took lessons

the guitar tab is written out by the guitarist. I then determine which scale step each root is, and then I experiment until I find the right line to support the song. Its tons of fun and it feels so awesome playing along to something that I *hopefully* end up contributing to in the end.