How did you get started playing in a band/group.

lopxtc · #1 07-10-2007, 12:20 PM

Now Im far from being ready to be in a band, only been playing since Jan and really now just working hard with scales/modes/trying to learn songs, but I wanted to know how people here got started with playing in bands.

Im 31 and never played an instrument before, and this is something that I am working hard towards succeeding at and like I told my wife if I only ever get to play on a stage in front of people once then I will be happy.

For those in my age group did you start playing with a younger crowd or did you get lucky and find a group of people in your age range.

Aaron

Phalex · #2 07-10-2007, 12:42 PM

I never really wanted to be in a band. When I was a teenager, I used to smoke pot and play bass in my parents basement. That was as far as I ever wanted to take it. A good friend of mine used to have jam sessions while smoking pot with a group of guys in his parents basement, and they needed a bass player. One of those guys threw a big party every year (Still does) and thought having a band would be a good idea. One of the guys from the party band got into a bar band that needed a bass player, and here I am 25 years later still doing it. (Many different bands later) Smoking pot, I discovered really messes with my playing ability, so these days, I just have a couple of free toddies at the bar.

That's my long story, but I really don't think it matters when you get started. There are probably better, quicker routes than I took. Still, if you know some guys that like to get together and jam in a garage or a basement, it's a good way to learn how to play with other people.

skaismyhero · #3 07-10-2007, 05:01 PM

"I never really wanted to be in a band. When I was a teenager, I used to smoke pot and play bass in my parents basement. That was as far as I ever wanted to take it."

LOL!

anderbass · #4 07-10-2007, 07:47 PM

I started playing at the age of 32, after I received an acoustic guitar for Christmas. I contacted a old friend (that used to play in bands) and asked if he would get me started on my new six-string.

I soon found myself wanting to play along with him, and stumbled across a deal on a electric guitar which I plugged into my home stereo, microphone input jack.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I found myself accompanying him by picking the root notes and quickly decided I really wanted to be playing the bass. By the next weekend I had purchased a bass and amp, and soon after that, we added a drummer.

This all occurred within 30 days of receiving my first guitar.

This band played some wild house party's, starting just 3 months after forming, but sadly broke up a year later.
I have now played and gigged in many bands over the past 15 years, but still look back on my first, with many fond memories.

louieeadg · #5 07-11-2007, 06:58 AM

Um...yeah. My brother and his best friend started writing songs and enjoying themselves. While listening to these songs and feeling an intense urge to do something, I said, "hey, I want to get a bass" out of nowhere. He said, yes. Then one day, while owning my bass for 2 months I saw a friend that used to live close to me and he graduated college and came back to the hometown, just like me. I said, "what's up." He said, "nothing. about to play some music." I said, "really? can I play some music?" He said, "I didn't know you played music." I said, "yeah, bass. I didn't know you played music." He said, "Yeah, drums." I said, "alright."

So we played. And it was good. Now I'm in two bands.

K_Shizzle · #6 07-11-2007, 10:23 AM

I was asked to join...

God of Rapture · #7 07-11-2007, 10:45 AM

I'm one of the original members.

PaulMacCnj · #8 07-11-2007, 10:47 AM

I started jamming with a friend who plays guitar and his wife sings. Then he finds out that his dentist is a singer/guitarist and he joins us. Next, we find out that a neighbor is a drumming and we move our equipment over there. Yeah! We have a band! Well, until the typical band crap starts and there's a falling out with the drummer. We get all our equipment out and go back to guitars/bass/vocals, no drums. Ahh, but then we find out that one of my friends Karate students is a drummer and we're back to being a band!

If I may offer some advice, try to jam with other people as much as you can. You may not feel confident enough to jam with musicians that you feel are a lot better than you, but it will make you yourself become a better musician. Hopefully, you can find people that aren't snobs and are willing to work with you. Try to stay clear of the ones that are critical for the sake of being critical. They will make you feel like crap and lead you to giving up.

tycobb73 · #9 07-11-2007, 10:54 AM

I'm 33, got a familly, didn't want to dedicate my life to music, just wanted to have fun. so after not jelling in about 4 auditions, i put out ads in all of the usual places and put my own band together. Being a band leader is easy if you have even an ounce of managerial skill.

DWBass · #10 07-11-2007, 11:14 AM

Hmmm.........I recall learning the instrument just because I wanted to play it but some friends of mine heard me playing and asked me to join their band. Through that, other folks heard me playing and all of a sudden, most of the local R&B bands were recruiting me even though they already had bass players. Basically I knew every R&B song in existance back then (early to mid 70's) and played them well and I sang too.

lopxtc · #11 07-11-2007, 11:36 AM

Cool thanks for the advice all. I was thinking about posting around to the local stores seeing if I could find other beginning players around my age. Im still just learning, but I figured maybe find some people that dont mind a newbie hanging around to learn.

Aaron

dave_p · #12 07-11-2007, 12:39 PM

lopxtc the unix guru from ao?
whats up?

i started at 21, im now 39. i found a bunch of guys a little older than me completely by accident about 6 months after i started playing. its a great and valuable experience to work with other people as soon as possible. i played quite a few gigs with that first band. mostly house parties and a theater once. never made a dime but had the time of my life.

i have since been in a string of working bands and have made money as a bass player. your goal of one gig is certainly attainable, and will just lead to more gigs.

i took up drums last year at 38 and started practicing with a band of guys my age 6 months after that. i was fortunate enough to already know everyone (bass player is the drummer from that first band that took me in, ironic huh?)

you find situations in the weirdest places. post in music stores and on forums. there are others in your boat.

i made my greatest advances by biting off a little more than i could chew and then trying to live up to it. so dont pass an opportunity because you dont feel you are up to it yet.

and one last thing. dont ever sell music gear for paintball gear. music gear actually hold its value.

lopxtc · #13 07-11-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_p

lopxtc the unix guru from ao?
whats up?

Yeap this is me ... or that is me, which ever you prefer. I still lurk around AO now and then, but not much. I quit playing paintball back around 2002/2003 after the Commanders Cup in San Diego. Got to be to expensive and just not fun anymore. Realizing that I just paid about $1000 (air fare, hotel, car, entrance fee) to play for about 32min (8 rounds, about 4 mins each) just really sucked LOL. Sold all my gear and never looked back.

Got into bass this past Dec/Jan ... always wanted to play, but never had the dedication as a kid. I have a Squire VM Jazz Bass, and a Schecter Elite-5.

Aaron

Phantopeth · #14 07-11-2007, 02:39 PM

I have several stories about how groups of mine have formed, but I'll stick the first one since that's how it all started.

After picking up the drums in my sophomore year of high school (I took lessons in the 6th grade for maybe 6 months, and then lost interest. It was my 10th grade discovery of Led Zeppelin that brought my around

), I was asked to jam by a friend of mine who's (whose?) band's drummer had reciently left. I wasn't joining the band, it was done: just jammin.

So even though I sucked royally back then (hah), they stuck with me, and asked me to play the drums in the "pitband" of a one-act play that our bass player Eli was directing the following school year (I would then be a Junior). In the band was also 2 horns players, amongst the usual guitar/bass/drums.

After the one-act ran its course, we were so proud of the music we had written for the play that we decided to make a band out of it. So that summer we acquired a vocalist, write some lyrics, and played a handful of gigs here and there before 4 of the 6 band members left for college in the fall.

From a certain point of view, that summer was the beginning of my life as I know it

Pilgrim · #15 07-11-2007, 04:56 PM

I'm 57 and took up electric bass again in the late 90's after a 25-year layoff. Back in the 60's I played in a couple of dance bands, mostly playing upright bass.

I have now been in a surf band for about 3 years. I just kept asking around to see if anyone knew anyone....etc. Eventually I connected with two or three groups - the first couple didn't take, but the third one did.

Most of the time, the connection will be finding someone who knows someone who plays in a band and needs....you.