band rant :@ advice wanted :(

[Callum27]

Like many, the band i'm in has problems.

First of all, i hate the particular style of music we play, Metal is rubbish i'd much rather play pop, softer and alternative rock or even jazz / blues / hip hop rather than a lot of noise called Metal.

Second of all, the drummer is ok but you dropped a pin on any of his kit you'd be deafended, Seriously this guy competes with a peavey TNT, and a Marshall MG250dfx just using his fingers. We actually took away his sticks but he still refuses to use pads :@.

Third problem is that our drummer maybe able to play the most insane lars ulrich, joey jordisan superspeed rubbish, but he isn't capable of playing quietly in time or keeping a rythym. It just seriously takes the piss when me and the guitarist can learn a song and play it together in 10 minutes but it takes about 8 hours before we can do it with the drummer . We've been learning master of puppets by metallica for 2 months now not cool, not cool. The band has been going a year and a half now and after the bassist and old guitarist (newbies) quit me and the current guitarist joined and for a year they had produced no material or covered a single song until then. Since me and the new guitarist joined 6 months ago our entire set list is 5 songs. im embarassed.

Fourth problem is that our singer cannot sing and is embarassed about singing . Also he only listens to death metal / screamo stuff and he can't write lyrics at all, which is a pain when my songwriting style is music revolving around lyrics as apposed to the other way round. We can't even get rid of him as the only other singer i know is an ego maniac and me and his parents don't get on anymore. funny story but saved for later.

Fith problem is that in the band we all have very different music taste and we still havn't done a song i wanted . at one point i was thinking of leaving but then i remembered that he's the only guitarist my age who isn't still learning the powercord XD. we also thought of getting rid of the drummer, however it was his band and his brother has connections with huge bands in the area . Not to mention were all good friends apart from the singer, but he's just wierd so meh.

I don't know what to do any more, whenever i show up i put in my earplugs, (to much amusement, but il be laughing when they're deaf) and do whatever im told. After so much mind numbing c**p i honestly can't be bothered to waste my music on these guys. Another reason i don't wanna quit is that i adore making music and playing in a band is a huge thril, but with no other bands in the area to join i feel very depressed. what should i do?

[The_D]

Sounds like a bummer but at the end of the day, if you really cant stand the music they play and they wont play any of your choices then the only way is out.

The rest of your problems just enforce the first point. Maybe try and get together with guitarist on your own time and see if you can maybe work on a second project?

Really though, being in a band is supposed to be fun, be it a cover band or playing originals. It is not supposed to make you depressed. Get out now while you still care about music and the making ofit.

[Callum27]

just out of curiousity how long does it take for th average band to cover a song?

[Tommy el Gato]

Sounds like you guys aren't really trying to start a band, but are really just a group of unfocused, un-gelled musicians. I've been in a similar situation. In fact, I've been there a lot. I've never been in a decent band other than the high school marching band. There's always the guy that missed the rhythm boat, the fact that no one has the same taste, and the fact that nothing gets done. If you ditch the guy with no rhythm (In this case the drummer) then you can get by as a jam band (potentially, at least. Jamming takes a lot of discipline and concentration.) but not much else.

If you can live with these guys as a time filler while you wait for an opportunity to start/join a really good band, then that may be the ticket. You all might get something out of it.

[The_D]

I would be surprised if there is an average.

We agree on 3 or 4 at the end of a practice session then usually all nail them the next week. Some we have dropped as they sounded bad for whatever reason but mostly they will end up in the setlist for the next gig.

[Stanley Design]

Sounds like you need to move on, you aren't right for the band, and the band isn't right for you. That on top of the fact that the band isn't going anywhere or doing anything makes it an easy decision.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Callum27

First of all, i hate the particular style of music we play, Metal is rubbish i'd much rather play pop, softer and alternative rock or even jazz / blues / hip hop rather than a lot of noise called Metal.

There is this prevailing view - especially among kids of all ages - that the louder, faster and more intensely one can play, the more one can get away without having to do the work necessary to learn the fundamentals of music, i.e. playing in time, listening to one's fellow players, playing with a sense of dynamics...and the big one: playing with a sense of good taste...



MM

[hbarcat]

If even half of the problems you listed are accurately described, then your band is a disfunctional mess. Forget your drummer; he's useless. Forget your singer; he's also useless.

If the area where you live is short on musicians, then you and the guitar player need to work on learning some music that you both like while keeping your eyes open for a drummer. Also, one or both of you learn to sing. If you two put in the time and effort practicing together, it's within reason that you could be a legitimate performing duo. Don't scoff at this , I've done many gigs with my electric bass and just one other guitar player with either or both of us singing (doing classic rock/folk/blues/jazz/country/pop.....pretty much anything but metal).

[jomahu]

get a drum machine!

[Joe Nerve]

Lets see - you hate the band, you hate the music, they get nothing done, the singer and drummer suck, you're miserable playing with them, they laugh at you when you wear earplugs, you'd much rather be doing something different...

Hmmm... I gotta think about this one before advising you as requested. Hmmm.... this is really a tough one. Uhh... I guess I'd have to say - GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!?!?!

There are lots of bands out there doing what you'd like to be doing and even if ya don't find one right away you may be better off developing your skills on your own than wasting your tie with a band that makes you miserable.

Originally Posted by Callum27

just out of curiousity how long does it take for th average band to cover a song?

There really is no average time. If a bunch of people who have done covers for years get together they can do a gig without even rehearsing. My experience is that most people starting out need to pay their rehearsal dues though. If everyone does their homework and learns their parts on their own my opinion is that skilled musicians should be able to bang out around 10 new songs a week (not that many do ). Bands who are just starting out in the game I would imagine should be able to nail at the very least 2 songs a week, but definitely push for more. Even the greenest of musicians shouldn't IMO take more than 6 months to get out gigging. Experienced musicians shouldn't need more than one or 2 rehearsals.

[Kronos]

Quit the band.

Why even join a band when you don't even want to play that style of music?

Oh, and by the way, to call a style of music rubbish because you don't like it is very close minded. I can't stand pop music, but it's music nonetheless. I respect some of the work that goes into pop. You just have to open up your musical horizons and realize that there is a lot of work that goes into those types of music. It's just not for you.

Like I said,

Quit the band.

[invader3k]

Yeah...just the fact that the band is taking a couple of months to learn one song shows how this band is going nowhere fast. Time to get out and move on.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by Callum27

just out of curiousity how long does it take for th average band to cover a song?

We're usually ready to play a tune live after we run through it about 5 times at a practice. More complicated stuff takes a bit more.

Find yourself a nice blues band and have fun man! Life's too short.

[Bayou_Brawler]

uh leave

[cutthroatmolloy]

once you said metal is a bunch of noise, i kind of lost interest in doing much more than skimming over the original post. doesnt sound like you know what youre talking about.

why are you in a band that you hate? leaving would be the best advice for you.

[MoD_Scotty]

You definitely don't belong in a metal band. You should never play in a band who's music you hate. That's just common sense. Unless the money is really good or something. IMO, you're better off finding other musicians or just buying a drum machine and a mixer, and making your own music.

I can't speak for your band mates, but I wouldn't want you in my metal band. There are few things worse than band members who hate the music they're playing.

[Beamrider]

I second The_D's advice: start another project with the guitarist, and see how it evolves.

About your "Metal is rubbish" statement: I would suggest you to add the magic acronym "IMHO" to any strong opinion in the future. That helps the dialogue and doesn't make you look too close-minded*.

*= joking, of course. My personal opinion - and I play mostly disco, funk and dance music and love it - is that there is some very, very good stuff in metal too. Try and listen to everything, it's not a waste of time, it'll only make you richer.

[TeeMartin]

Quit.

Grow up.

Join a band that plays something you like.

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by Kronos

Quit the band.

Why even join a band when you don't even want to play that style of music?

Oh, and by the way, to call a style of music rubbish because you don't like it is very close minded. I can't stand pop music, but it's music nonetheless. I respect some of the work that goes into pop. You just have to open up your musical horizons and realize that there is a lot of work that goes into those types of music. It's just not for you.

Like I said,

Quit the band.

+1

[TheDarkReaver]

just because you're in a metal band that sux it doesn't mean that the whole genre does.

leave, if you need to be advised on this then you really deserve to be stuck in the band for all eternity.