How does a 14 year old get into a band?

The_Orlonater · #1 04-12-2008, 06:25 PM

Well, I finally want to be in a band. I'm tired of playing along to recordings and only being in some Youth Orchestra. I was an Electric Bassist, first and plan to be that way. Here's the problem, I'm bored, I love music, and want to be in a band, but I find most musicians and kids my age to be pretty dumb( No offense to anyone, but a lot of kids my age on an instrument are, dumb and that's from some experience). I love, Jazz/Fusion, Progressive Metal/Rock,Funk, Death Metal. All the fliers I see are ages from 17/18 and up. Plus, it's music that I generally dislike, like Hard Rock, or Classic Rock like Pink Floyd , or Radiohead. I've worked hard for as long as I played, I studied my scales,modes, chord progressions, and different techniques such as slapping,Double thumping, Eddie Van Halen tapping, 2 hand tapping(Like Jean Baudin sort of) and getting speed in my right hand.

I just don't know what to do anymore. Any advice? I'm in Chicago, if that helps ,but I'd like a band over the summer, not just this Baroque Orchestra I'm going to do even though that's fun.

Plus, since TB turned me into a gear whore, I'd like a pretty cool rig.

Any advice, REALLY would be appreciated.
(Mods if this is in the wrong forum, please move it)

metalstorm · #2 04-12-2008, 08:30 PM

Work on playing bass, don't worry about slapping and all that other stuff. If you don't suck at playing regular bass, you will find a band without a problem.

Mr. Kitty · #3 04-12-2008, 08:45 PM

aww man i find the exact same problems...

if you were in my town like everybody that plays guitar or drums or even bass is into like metal. you'd fit in nicely.

but yeah...as for those techniques...
besides slapping and very occasionally double thumping there's really no practical use for any of those techniques in a band....but their really good for impressing people which might get you in teh band

what i would suggest since you can't find anyone that you know that wants to play the same music as you, is possibly posting some fliers of your own. put the kind of music you want to play and the ages you want to play with. and when putting the music type that you want to play i would choose between those types you have listed. if you put all of those you'll get a very wide range of people. you'll get some kids that want to be in a funk band and then some metal heads looking for a death metal group.

if you could put some posters in your school that might work pretty well...

and as far as the rig goes, how much is your budget? and what kind of sound are you looking for?

mattq · #4 04-12-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Orlonater

Plus, it's music that I generally dislike, like Hard Rock, or Classic Rock like...Radiohead.

i've never felt like such an old guy until right now. wow. radiohead is classic rock...

anyway, i hate to tell you this, but at 14 you should maybe lower your standards. when i was 14 i started playing, but the only people i knew that played anything were either into jazz band (boring) or punk (stupid). back then i was still listening mostly to hip hop and barely getting into any rock. but because i was snooty about music (which, really, everyone on this board is guilty of to some degree) i missed out on playing with people and getting experience which is the most important thing. playing with people in as many settings as possible is absolutely essential to being a better player, possibly more so than all the double tapping in the world. so just do it. have fun with it. play with a pick and black eyeliner and exaggerate the horrible-ness if you have to just to keep it interesting. but play. with other people.

D.Don · #5 04-13-2008, 12:21 AM

Start a band!

"Experienced bass player with visions searching mature and serious player to form a group... bla bla bla.. etc."

D.Don

JJBass30 · #6 04-13-2008, 12:32 AM

Im 15 and I play in a few bands. A lot of the people In these bands I met during summer camps and in school jazz band. At first I found myself playing with people but eventually one gig led to the other and I know play in A Jazz Quartet, Rock Band, and a variety of school related stuff. Im surprised you can't find any talented musicians at your age in Chicago. I had the problem when I was 13 but I live in a small town and there weren't as many kids at school to choose from. Anyway this coming summer look around see if theres any music camps for Rock or Jazz in the mean time someone suggested posting an ad for your own band thats a good idea to.

Also Radiohead is not classic rock, im also surprised u like Jazz and Metal but not all that spans in between. Try giving the other genres a chance It will make it easier to find people to play with

Munjibunga · #7 04-13-2008, 12:35 AM

Grow a beard.

short_steve277 · #8 04-13-2008, 01:01 AM

get a friend that plays drums!!!!!

best thing u can ever do

Spencer! · #9 04-13-2008, 01:18 AM

Limiting the styles you play limits what bands you can join.

Modo74 · #10 04-13-2008, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattq

i've never felt like such an old guy until right now. wow. radiohead is classic rock...

When people say "classic rock", the first band I think of is Led Zep. Not Radiohead. Damn.

So +1 on the "feeling old" thing. I knew all the grey in my beard wasn't down to stress...

mb94952 · #11 04-13-2008, 01:28 AM

Hey there my fellow bass-playin' friend,
Ahh, the days of finding a band... what an exciting time. When I was looking to join a band at your age, we didn't have the internet. I played music with guys from my school, and answered ads at the local music store.
Be pro-active - You sound bright, and motivated. Don't just look for a band. Start a band. You know what you like. Use craigslist "communities" and click on "musicians". It's free, and I GUARANTEE you will get a ton of respnses. If they are older than you, that's great !! Most players love to play with young, talented musicians. If they can drive, all the better for you ! I'm telling you, STARTING a band is one of, if not the, MOST rewarding experiences you will ever have. Try it, you'll like it !! Pave your own road !!

roflol · #12 04-13-2008, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Orlonater

Well, I finally want to be in a band. I'm tired of playing along to recordings and only being in some Youth Orchestra. I was an Electric Bassist, first and plan to be that way. Here's the problem, I'm bored, I love music, and want to be in a band, but I find most musicians and kids my age to be pretty dumb( No offense to anyone, but a lot of kids my age on an instrument are, dumb and that's from some experience). I love, Jazz/Fusion, Progressive Metal/Rock,Funk, Death Metal. All the fliers I see are ages from 17/18 and up. Plus, it's music that I generally dislike, like Hard Rock, or Classic Rock like Pink Floyd , or Radiohead. I've worked hard for as long as I played, I studied my scales,modes, chord progressions, and different techniques such as slapping,Double thumping, Eddie Van Halen tapping, 2 hand tapping(Like Jean Baudin sort of) and getting speed in my right hand.

I just don't know what to do anymore. Any advice? I'm in Chicago, if that helps ,but I'd like a band over the summer, not just this Baroque Orchestra I'm going to do even though that's fun.

Plus, since TB turned me into a gear whore, I'd like a pretty cool rig.

Any advice, REALLY would be appreciated.
(Mods if this is in the wrong forum, please move it)

pink floyd are prog nothing better than jamming pink floyd style and make a band with your mates

Montsegour · #13 04-13-2008, 05:32 AM

14 year old and already getting bored playing alone?!
Quit.

The_Orlonater · #14 04-13-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Grow a beard.

I don't think I'll be able to do that for a while, lol. Dad's side isn't really hairy, but the men on my mom's side are kind of like gorillas.
We'll see what happens.

The_Orlonater · #15 04-13-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modo74

When people say "classic rock", the first band I think of is Led Zep. Not Radiohead. Damn.

So +1 on the "feeling old" thing. I knew all the grey in my beard wasn't down to stress...

Oh, you guys misunderstood me, I hope I didn't offend anyone ,or make you look 'old.' I didn't mean Radiohead was classic rock. Maybe more like Hard Rock, or some sort of Modern Rock. I don't know, it's just that my tastes don't really like that sort of music. I might make an exception if it's maybe a Tool style band. No offense to anyone if anyone was offended. I try to stay polite on the internet, except for Youtube, then watch out.

grace & groove · #16 04-13-2008, 11:47 AM

14 and not in a band yet?! The lead singer/guitarist in Black Tide is 15! He's already been on main stage at Ozzfest. I'd just give up if I were you.

/JUST KIDDING

That's sucks man, but just keep yourself the best you can so when a band does come along... they'll beg for you to be their bassist!

PastryChef · #17 04-13-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Orlonater

Oh, you guys misunderstood me, I hope I didn't offend anyone ,or make you look 'old.' I didn't mean Radiohead was classic rock. Maybe more like Hard Rock, or some sort of Modern Rock. I don't know, it's just that my tastes don't really like that sort of music. I might make an exception if it's maybe a Tool style band. No offense to anyone if anyone was offended. I try to stay polite on the internet, except for Youtube, then watch out.

radiohead? hard rock? hahaah.

surely it must be easy to start a metal type band as you said, that was always my trouble, there are loads of metal bands in my town, but i hate metal and would like to find an indie band with a better singer than my current band.

Insanity^2 · #18 04-13-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Orlonater

I love, Jazz/Fusion, Progressive Metal/Rock,Funk, Death Metal. All the fliers I see are ages from 17/18 and up. Plus, it's music that I generally dislike, like Hard Rock, or Classic Rock like Pink Floyd , or Radiohead.

Pink Floyd's Prog/Psychadelic, if I'm not very much mistaken

Anyway, I'm 15 and I got into a band last year, a month after starting bass. For me it was just due to having friends that played instruments, but one thing I've learned is you can't be too fussy about what you play, I'm into Prog Rock and Metal (King Crimson to Opeth). But the other members are happier playing alternative, slightly trippy stuff, think 'Blur'. It pains me to listen to, but I make fun basslines, and all's good

You can't be too fussy, or you'll get nothing, so just get into a crap band, and build them up, as the guitarist improves, he'll be wanting to play harder stuff, and then you can introduce him to Dream Theater

hublocker · #19 04-13-2008, 12:44 PM

Put an ad on Craigslist in your town.

anderbass · #20 04-13-2008, 01:32 PM

If you cant find/start a band with similar interests by monitoring or placing craigslist ad's, you could also try searching for and placing your own ads on music store bulletin boards and also possibly by contacting private music teachers.

Talented Bassist are usually in high demand and you should be able to find members with similar interests and get something cool going you'll enjoy in a big town like yours. I also agree you shouldn't be so picky about your first band and think of it as merely gathering very useful band experience even if its not your personal taste stylistically.

Here's a few places you could try:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/muc/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&r...achers&spell=1
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&r...+store&spell=1