Does this guy have a point or is he being stupid? (guitarist conversation)

Fassa Albrecht · #1 09-24-2008, 02:20 PM

I've been in conversation with a guitarist who I've been trying to get to join my band. I phoned him to have a chat about some stuff and the following conversation took place:

Guitarist: Look, you're pretty young, I'm not sure that you SHOULD be in a band.
Me: Look, I've been playing in two bands for the last year. I know I can play in a band.
G: still, two years is a fairly short period of time. I know I wasn't ready for a band after two years.

This continued for a while until the end of the call.

But seriously, does this guitarist actually have a point? Is two years really long enough to start doing original songs? Bear in mind this guy has been playing for 20 years.

Either way, I'm beginning to doubt my bassplaying even MORE than before.....

Greyvagabond · #2 09-24-2008, 02:25 PM

Well, the period of time can vary, obviously, from person to person, so I guess it all depends on the type of band. More info? How close in seriousness/musicianship were your past two bands compared with your current one?

Clank · #3 09-24-2008, 02:28 PM

It sounds like he doesn't want to play in your band but he doesn't have the stones to tell you. I'd move on.

MatticusMania · #4 09-24-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

But seriously, does this guitarist actually have a point? Is two years really long enough to start doing original songs?

That means nothing man. I started writing/playing original songs on the bass before I even got my bass! I had started by writing parts on an acoustic guitar until my bass actually showed up. If you have the creativity and songwriting skills it doesnt matter how long you've been playing.

I've seen some guitards who have been playing for 10+ years who couldnt write an original song to save their life...

creativity, and thusly, music, is all subjective

though maybe mixing up someone with 2 years playing experience and someone with 20 years experience just might not be the best idea

Fassa Albrecht · #5 09-24-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyvagabond

Well, the period of time can vary, obviously, from person to person, so I guess it all depends on the type of band. More info? How close in seriousness/musicianship were your past two bands compared with your current one?

No, I'm CURRENTLY in two bands...my church band and a university band.

My church band is pretty much as serious as any gigging band here. We're organised into set teams, with a proper rota and the expectation to be highly proficient in your chosen instrument. We're also expected to attend band meetings and actually help run said band.

The other uni band I'm quitting for the REASON that the musicians are mostly amateurish and difficult to work with.

My hope for the band is to be a truly professional gigging band, with studio work and gigs given the same amount of effort as any professional musicians.

paganjack · #6 09-24-2008, 02:37 PM

sounds like the guitarist is already displaying signs of GIIES
Guitar Induced Inflated Ego Syndrome

it's an epidemic

Fassa Albrecht · #7 09-24-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paganjack

sounds like the guitarist is already displaying signs of GIIES
Guitar Induced Inflated Ego Syndrome

it's an epidemic

Either that or he expected something from my band advert that he didn't find.

paganjack · #8 09-24-2008, 02:41 PM

yeah it still could be worth trying him out- i mean you can never really know if you'll gel with people until you actually play with them.
although sometimes i find that it's easy to tell when i really don't want to play with someone beforehand...

Fassa Albrecht · #9 09-24-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paganjack

yeah it still could be worth trying him out- i mean you can never really know if you'll gel with people until you actually play with them.
although sometimes i find that it's easy to tell when i really don't want to play with someone beforehand...

That's the thing. The other thing is that when I mentioned one of the influences of the band is Rush he expected me to be Geddy Lee Mk2.

scottmabe · #10 09-24-2008, 02:44 PM

Its really quality over quantity ....

SpectorBass308 · #11 09-24-2008, 02:45 PM

Your probably a better bass player then you give yourself credit.

Fassa Albrecht · #12 09-24-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpectorBass308

Your probably a better bass player then you give yourself credit.

Unfortunately I'm not the worlds most confident bassist....

Greyvagabond · #13 09-24-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Unfortunately I'm not the worlds most confident bassist....

Hogwash! Dive right in, and I'm sure you'll suprise yourself! Don't let this guy get to you!

MyUsernameHere · #14 09-24-2008, 02:51 PM

If he's been playing for 20 years, how old is the guy? It might just be that he doesn't want to play with someone as young as you more due to the age difference and not your inexperience...and doesn't want to come straight out and say, "I'm an old fart, don't think I'll fit in."

Fassa Albrecht · #15 09-24-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyvagabond

Hogwash! Dive right in, and I'm sure you'll suprise yourself! Don't let this guy get to you!

Yay! *rushes off to find bass*

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyUsernameHere

If he's been playing for 20 years, how old is the guy? It might just be that he doesn't want to play with someone as young as you more due to the age difference and not your inexperience...and doesn't want to come straight out and say, "I'm an old fart, don't think I'll fit in."

The guy is 35-ish...

Trust me, if he doesn't want to be in the band, he should say so. I'm NOT gonna take offense...

musicelectronix · #16 09-24-2008, 03:00 PM

Guitarists are subject to reverse discrimation on TB... I think the guy has a slight attitude problem - nothing to do with the instrument he play- , but the point he was trying to make is somewhat valid. He considered you guys amateurs compared to himself, which is obviously true as in you don't have the experience he has. But when it comes to creativity and original songs, he don't have the right or the sufficient information to say something like that.

Creativity correlates with the proficiency and experience, because you need to know the instrument to a degree in order to express yourself with it. Not unlikely any other forms of art, but also not as much as people make it out to be. I say 2 years can considered to be enough in this retrorespect. But are you really ready to play live? That would depend on how perfectionist and self-conscious you really are..

Fassa Albrecht · #17 09-24-2008, 03:02 PM

The ONLY way I am going to find out whether I am good enough is to get out there and actually play the damned bass, in a band, at a gig.

People would think I was asking for the world...all I want is a band.

bassmanslap · #18 09-24-2008, 03:04 PM

Guy sounds like a typical stuck up guitarist.

Simple solution... Find another guitarist, there are PLENTY of really good guitarists knocking about, he would probs turn out to be a d*ck anyway.

Fassa Albrecht · #19 09-24-2008, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmanslap

Guy sounds like a typical stuck up guitarist.

Simple solution... Find another guitarist, there are PLENTY of really good guitarists knocking about, he would probs turn out to be a d*ck anyway.

Don't worry, I have four more to talk with yet.

Phalex · #20 09-24-2008, 03:11 PM

He has a point. That doesn't mean he's not being stupid. They are not mutually exclusive things you know.