First gig was good, but bad

[Step]

so, tonight I had my first real gig with my new band which consists of me, my cousin on guitar, a female friend on drums, and a female vocalist/lead guitar player

the thing is, we were solid, but our songs were too easy, they didn't show off what I was capable of, and, frankly, made me look like a newbie.

the thing is: we're playing these easy songs because our drummer isn't really progressing, she doesn't want to play hard stuff, and the singer is unwilling to cross the boundaries of what she already knows.

but they're all friends of mine, and friends of my friends...

thing is, if I leave, the band disbands, I am more or less the glue between my cousin and the girls.

do you think I can leave in good conscience?

I don't really have hopes for this becoming better, I feel like they lack spirit, but I don't want to hurt anyone

pshh, okay that was my rant more or less, see if you can do anything with it

[WRBass]

How was the crowd? Did they like the show?

[Step]

yeah, it was at a school actually, lots of my friends were in the crowd, my sister and parents were too, and they all thought we were great.

BUT, my sister knows how well I can really play, and she said I was playing far below my skill level, and that's what bothers me...

[thesteve]

I'm not really understanding why or how you are being kept from playing harder things.

[IanStephenson]

No boring bass lines - only boring players.

Yes - sometimes you have to lay down something a bit basic, but that should never make you look incompetent. Nail every note 100% Make the place groove. Imagine what your favorite bass player could have done with those songs, even without changing the notes. Even if you're playing something simple, you can sound like a great player, playing a simple line.

If you were playing below your ability, then you let yourself down.

Ian

[FalextheFalex]

A song doesn't have to have a hard drum beat to have a hard bass line.

[walknbluez]

What are some of the songs you play?

[pendergasta]

as a relatively new bassist, and IMHO, simple songs are great for bass because you're not struggling to be heard. In my jam group (we don't even call ourselves a band yet), we have a beginning drummer and two TOP NOTCH guitarists. We recently added a bunch of Tom Petty songs to our set because they're easy, but they fit our band's profile, IE.- easy bass (for me), easy drums, and some great room for our guitarists to show their stuff.

How about suggesting some songs that don't push your other bandmates too hard, but that leave room for you to really groove on the bass? or maybe "dumb down" the drum portions of other songs?

One of the biggest draws for me to move from guitar to bass is the relative "openness" to explore new basslines and riffs without "messing up" the sound of a song.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

A

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

No boring bass lines - only boring players.

Yes - sometimes you have to lay down something a bit basic, but that should never make you look incompetent. Nail every note 100% Make the place groove. Imagine what your favorite bass player could have done with those songs, even without changing the notes. Even if you're playing something simple, you can sound like a great player, playing a simple line.

If you were playing below your ability, then you let yourself down.

Ian

wow...great post. This is exactly what I wish I wrote.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

No boring bass lines - only boring players.

Yes - sometimes you have to lay down something a bit basic, but that should never make you look incompetent. Nail every note 100% Make the place groove. Imagine what your favorite bass player could have done with those songs, even without changing the notes. Even if you're playing something simple, you can sound like a great player, playing a simple line.

If you were playing below your ability, then you let yourself down.

Ian

Yeah, evertything he said.

[Time Consumer]

I think time will tell if you guys mature. I just quit my band after being with them for about a year, we played metal and, skillwise, we did mature together, but musically, I want to play more melodic music that is more fulfilling to my ears, plus my gf didnt like my bandmates, which always put a damper on things. Just give it a little while, if things dont change then do something about it.

[capnsandwich]

I play in 2 different bands, one filled with top notch musicians, and my church band that has mediocre hobby players. I really love playing with my one band because it challenges me and stretches me to get better. OTOH, I also love playing with the church because musically, I get to concentrate on the WHOLE SONG, which means I get to play the role I was meant to play.

As bassists, 9 times out of 10 we're not going to stand out as musical geniuses to the crowd. We're there to be a role player which means we have a job to do and that job is to make the band sound better as a whole. Even if the songs were easy and you weren't challenged as a bassist you still have an important job to do and I'm sure the rest of the band were glad you did your job that night.

The bass is one of those instruments you don't know is there until it's not there.

[ysand]

Whatever the people above said, plus: A gig isn't for showing off. Don't become the Malmsteen of Bass.

[Parabolic Box]

Originally Posted by ysand

Whatever the people above said, plus: A gig isn't for showing off. Don't become the Malmsteen of Bass.

+1

Bass is about forgoing your ego to help the sound of the band.

[Bass Tees]

Seems like a good opportunity to stand out as the most talented member of the band.