14/15 y/o starting a band

TerraVoltage · #1 07-30-2011, 11:11 PM

I'm 14, trying to make a band. Very Very Hard. I need some help.. i'm like the only person i know who has motivation for playing music...

tom once dead · #2 07-30-2011, 11:16 PM

Put up a flyer at school, or maybe try and convince some friends to start playing music.

T-Bird · #3 07-31-2011, 12:21 AM

Hi.

Welcome to TalkBass TerraVoltage.

Your local music store is also a pretty good place for networking, as well as the local Craigslist etc.

The modern technology has made web networking easier than ever as well, record a few demos/sound samples and put 'em up on the social media of Your choice.

Regards
Sam

JohnMCA72 · #4 07-31-2011, 12:27 AM

Keep plugging away! Every dead end you follow will make you better, even though it may seem to suck at the time. I'm 55 & still dealing with people who aren't as motivated as I am.

MakiSupaStar · #5 07-31-2011, 02:44 AM

Don't waste your time with flakes. If they're not motivated, then move on and work with people who are. Now go kick ass.

drummer5359 · #6 07-31-2011, 02:58 AM

Welcome to talkbass.

It will take some time, but be patient. I guarantee there are other musicians as frustrated as you in your area looking for others to play music with as well.

Keep practicing yourself and jam with whoever you can. The chance to be part of a band will eventually happen.

FrenchAK · #7 07-31-2011, 03:04 AM

Work at it. Keep jamming with whoever, and don't limit yourself - play anything you can with whoever will play with you. The more band experience you have the better, and starting at 14 is perfect. Starting out can be rough, but dealing with flakes and unmotivated people is something that'll never end, so develop those skills early on!

hrodbert696 · #8 07-31-2011, 04:30 AM

Check with your school music department and the music teachers at your local store for potential bandmates (Hey Mr. Guitar/drum/etc. teacher, you have any students who would want to get together and jam?). Social networking sites too. Don't expect too much of other people your age, you'll have a lot of false starts and flake-outs before you get a group that really sticks together and plays seriously. Just chalk it all up to experience and learn everything you can from the playing you do get done.

Don't argue over what to play. Just take any song and start working on playing it. A lot of young groups break down in bickering over what to do instead of just doing it. Your dream band will come later.

Ubersheist · #9 07-31-2011, 10:15 AM

Also, you're right - it's hard to find other kids your age to play music with. Be open minded and think about playing with older people. The older, the better. You can learn a whole lot more from a 40 year old guitarist then probably anybody in your school or anyone you might meet in their 20s.

One of the best things I did as a kid about your age was to join the church band. I had to go to church anyway, so I might as well play bass while I was there. I got thrown in with a couple of professional players (the guitarist and the lead singer) and a bunch of amateurs (everyone else). I really learned a heck of alot at a young age about how to play with others, sound good in a group, and know my role or my position as a bass player.

Look around for other opportunities like that... Maybe there's a band at your church that needs people. Even if they have a regular bass player, they could probably use a backup at times. Just walk right up to them and ask. The worst that'll happen is they say "no."