Band assistance: Working through the tough times.

Yngwie 4String · #1 05-09-2007, 11:58 AM

Yeah I was looking around at posts and stuff, and I thought it might be a good idea to set up a thread to help people out with problems they are having in a band. Kinda like a support group or something where youd post your problem and then people would come in and help you out. So if ya need help post it here, and Im sure we can help ya out.

Silas Martinez · #2 05-09-2007, 06:06 PM

Interesting coincidence, this post showing up at this point.

I just found out this morning that I have a tumor in my left hand. Probably benign, the doc says - I'll know more soon (I hope). I've been through a couple of MRIs, and am a bit freaked out about the medical terminology being thrown around (CV abnormality with this and that, indeed... recommended catheterization, etc..)

Where this fits in is that it has me thinking about stopping playing for a while. I'm pretty freaked about the whole thing, and honestly, I just don't want to make the condition worse - and it hurts to play, and slows me down.

My bandmates are very supportive, and say they'll wait for my condition to improve, but it sucks that I get upset even thinking about going to practice.

Chili · #3 05-09-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaspir

Interesting coincidence, this post showing up at this point.

I just found out this morning that I have a tumor in my left hand. Probably benign, the doc says - I'll know more soon (I hope). I've been through a couple of MRIs, and am a bit freaked out about the medical terminology being thrown around (CV abnormality with this and that, indeed... recommended catheterization, etc..)

Where this fits in is that it has me thinking about stopping playing for a while. I'm pretty freaked about the whole thing, and honestly, I just don't want to make the condition worse - and it hurts to play, and slows me down.

My bandmates are very supportive, and say they'll wait for my condition to improve, but it sucks that I get upset even thinking about going to practice.

wow, that sucks, i wish you all the best man, hope it gets sorted out, and you get right back on bassin lol

Herrlster · #4 05-10-2007, 02:28 AM

I'm praying that all work out for you in the end man.

Here's my problem...

My drummer is starting to irritate me. The only time we ever jam or play is a day before a gig to make sure we have our stuff together and of course, while we're playing the gig.

When we jam, he always wants to go through songs we already know and have down. When we try working on new originals or new covers he always sees to complain. When he finally plays the songs, he'll screw up, we'll start over, he'll screw up again, we'll start over, he'll screw up AGAIN, get pissed and go for a smoke.

Oh yeah, did I tell you guys the only reason why we jam or play gigs?

Well its when he needs money for rent or booze or food... really! He'll message me, "hey man, we should do a gig soon, I need some money for blah blah." Then we go and book a gig and we try to get a few jams in before the show but we can never get ahold of him until the day before the gig (but when he hears we want him to come out and have a few drinks, he's right there in a few minutes...)

We want to record a demo soon but he always complains, he has no time, no money, no way to get here and there... but really, he has all the time in the world, he doesn't work. He just drinks and gets hung over and is always depressed/pissed/caught up because of his cheatin' gf.

I really want to just can his @$$ but the guitarist doesn't want to because he's like his best friend...

He really just makes me want to quit the band and just join/start a different band...

invader3k · #5 05-10-2007, 07:47 AM

You either need to sit down with that drummer and tell him that he's performing below expectations, or fire him and find someone reliable. He won't change on his own.

Vileem · #6 05-10-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaspir

Interesting coincidence, this post showing up at this point.

I just found out...

That really sucks, but fortunatley you can still work on your right hand tapping.. if you're into that

Yngwie 4String · #7 05-10-2007, 12:43 PM

Ive seen a video somewhere of a guy who plays with his right hand only, the dude has a hook for a left hand, and he used a lefty bass. I dunno how that works though. At any rate if playing makes you happy then keep playing if it doesn't then take a little time off and see if that helps.

As for the drummer problem: I think the dude sounds like more of a problem than anything. The bottom line is you have one life, so if its sucking do something about it. Also we all know that when your not happy and the band has bad chemistry you cant make good music (Watch metallicas Some Kind of Monster, then listen to Saint Anger

). If you think the guy will eventually come around then stick it out for a little longer, but based on what youve said I dont see it happening. Thats all I got.

Silas Martinez · #8 05-10-2007, 10:04 PM

Thanks for the kind words. I've found that I can still play my more narrow necked basses, so I'm rearranging gear to account for that (see an ad in classifieds from me, if you're interested)... I'm not stopping.

As for the drummer issue, I played with a band with that issue once. Drummer was guitarists best friend, but a real loser. He wouldn't lose the drummer, talking to said drummer did no good, and with the problem individual I just didn't see the project going anywhere, so I walked. Life's too short to play with really frustrating people.

Herrlster · #9 05-11-2007, 05:44 PM

Hey man, you ever think of trying out one of those torzil twist basses? Or even getting a fanned fret bass? Aren't those more ergonomic or whatever it's call, don't those kinda make playing easier, less strainful? Maybe one of those could help out, but hopefully you wont have to go that way. Hopefully you can just continue on playing regular basses afterwards. I hope for the best for you man.

Well, we're playing a gig on the 23rd (and we're not getting paid for it

(I wonder how the drummer feels about that

)) We're supposed to jam this weekend and actually work on newer stuff. So hopefully things will start to pick up. If not then after this gig I'm just gonna tell them it's either he gets his act together or I'm out.

**Mickey Shane** · #10 05-21-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaspir

Interesting coincidence, this post showing up at this point.

I just found out this morning that I have a tumor in my left hand. Probably benign, the doc says - I'll know more soon (I hope). I've been through a couple of MRIs, and am a bit freaked out about the medical terminology being thrown around (CV abnormality with this and that, indeed... recommended catheterization, etc..)

Where this fits in is that it has me thinking about stopping playing for a while. I'm pretty freaked about the whole thing, and honestly, I just don't want to make the condition worse - and it hurts to play, and slows me down.

My bandmates are very supportive, and say they'll wait for my condition to improve, but it sucks that I get upset even thinking about going to practice.

Having the tumor surgically removed would probably make you happy. Leave that to the Doctors discretion, but tell him that it's making your hand hurt. Tell him that you want to get over this suffering. A temporary recouperation down time and you're back in action. Just think positive. It doesn't sound like it's threatening the use of your hand.

I like to think that I could switch to lefty playing if I ever needed to. I do know all of the notes.

Good luck!