Im new at bass any tips i can share with my band?

[Accursed Anger]

I'm in a band that is just getting started... Got any tips I can share with the guys?

[Twobass]

Practice as much as you can.

[Burlington]

Get a metronome.

[Accursed Anger]

Originally Posted by Twobass

Practice as much as you can.

Ok... We were planning that anyway but Ty for the advice... Any thing else?

[Accursed Anger]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Get a metronome.

That's a really good idea

[JmJ]

Practice listening.

[Qvist]

Pay attention to the sound of the WHOLE band, not just yourself (that counts for everybody). Have a good objective view on your rehearsal, practice and songwriting processes. And most of all, have fun

[christoph h.]

record your rehearsals.

[jmac]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Get a metronome.

Jeff Berlin would be so disappointed in you.

[jmac]

Originally Posted by JmJ

Practice listening.

+1, great advice that is seldom given.

[pedroims]

play as a band and not like four different guys playing different songs, listen what others are doing, make a team with your drummer, dont make originals that sound like a solo of bass, drums and guitar played at the same time and of course HAVE FUN.

[Breslin dp]

Practice one on one with the drummer as much as you can.

[JTE]

A big "amen" to record your rehearsals. And schedule time to LISTEN objectively to the WHOLE of the sound together. As they say, the tape don't lie- this can eliminate dissension about who sped up, who hit the wrong note, where the song falls apart, etc. Use it as a tool to improve the band.

And that's the other critical point. Strive to sound like a band. You want to sound like people who play music together, not people who play instruments at the same time. The music and the together are the key points. The coolest guitar lick in the world, the hippest five against four tom tom fill, the sickest bass line don't mean anything at all if the flow of the SONG suffers for it or it draws attention away from the group.

And, understand that there WILL be friction. Choose your fights carefully and understand the ultimate goal your band has.

John

[bassguitar808]

make each song unique to itself

in

arrangement

tonality

dynamics

[elzeder]

+1 to the Metronome
Preferably one you can hook up to the PA
It might be annoying, probably will drive you nuts, but it is the most helpful thing to play sharp, heavy, correct and when you will be recording it will be that much easier.

[Raymeous]

As JmJ said: Practice Listening. This is huge.


This is huge as most of the time people are listening to themselves and not the SONG. Is what you're doing good for the song or is it something you're doing for your own ego? If you're so busy listening to what you're doing and not paying attention to what the others are doing you may be missing out on pulling the song together.

Listening to what the others are playing brings me to VOLUME CONTROL. Loud does NOT mean better. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but volume control will help you on so many levels its stupid. If you keep the volume down you will be better able to hear what the other members of the band are playing, which means a better/tighter performance, which means more gigs, which means more money. Also if you can control your overall volume that can open up a bunch of gigs you couldn't otherwise get. Finally from a song writing aspect volume control makes for some of the best dynamics during your songs or your set.

I hope this helps. Just remember to play for the betterment of the song.

[Accursed Anger]

Thanks every one for the ideas nxt band meeting I'll bring all of them up... Keep them coming and once again thanks

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by jmac

Jeff Berlin would be so disappointed in you.

Well then he can chime in with some tips....

...oh wait....

[kesslari]

Good advice here.
If you play with dynamics, and in particular learn to practice at lower volume, LISTEN to one another, and play TOGETHER rather than as 4 guys playing their instruments more or less in tune and at the same time, you will make some great music.

Believe it or not, as simple as this sounds, it is the key to sounding good as a band.
And simple as it sounds, it is something you can, and should, strive to do better for your entire career. You'll never hear a truly great musician say "I'm done learning to listen better and interact more gracefully with other musicians - I've got that down, gonna work on my riffs now".

[Accursed Anger]

Thanks for all the ideas... Next band meeting I'll bring them up ... Keep them coming and once again thanks