I think I'm about to get kicked from my first band.

[Fastfwd]

And that's before playing with them even once

It started after I got an answer to my ad of being a beginner buitarist looking for a band. I was also willing to learn and play bass.

some guy asked me to join them. He played guitar, found a singer, drummer and basist and told me I'd be 2nd guitar.

At first it was going to be a band to have fun, learn to play songs and eventually do some gigs.

As it turns out the bassist told the other guitarist that he's a pro and will tell us every mistake we make so we can become better. Now since I'm a beginner that other guitarist told me that I would do the first repetition with them and if it does'nt work I'm out.

I guess it's all fair. Why keep me if he does'nt want me but it's strange how the focus suddenly changed because a pro bass player decided to join that band instead of another beginner.

[perfdavid]

I hate people like that bass player. Dude, if it works great, if it doesn't find a band that fits your goals. The best thing to do, is you be the one to put it together. I'm in a band and I know that thye are a dime a dozen. If mine doesn't work, I will start another one. Keep a positive attitude and things will eventually work out for the best.

[invader3k]

Sounds like people in the band don't have the same priorities. Originally it's supposed to be a band just for fun, and now you have a supposed professional in the group, who's going to criticize your every mistake??? Not to mention you're a beginner, which they all knew ahead of time.

I'd still go to the practice/rehearsal, but explain up front that you're new to this. If that's not good enough for them, than cut your losses and move on before you get stuck in a bad situation.

[IanStephenson]

Just wait for a week or two, till they call to tell you they've kicked out their "pro" bass player. (or as the bass player will tell it, he moves on to a better project).

Sounds like the bass player is a wannabe - if he's so great why's he hanging out with you guys (no offence!)? Good musicians will help out beginners, but only jerks get a kick from being the best player in the band. Just means no one else will work with you.

Great musicians get a kick from being the worst player in the band! Nothing better than looking round and thinking wow - this band are awesome - How did I end up here?

Ian

[Fastfwd]

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

Great musicians get a kick from being the worst player in the band! Nothing better than looking round and thinking wow - this band are awesome - How did I end up here?

Ian

That was my aim. I became a good badminton player by always playing with people better than myself. I figured guitar and bass would work the same way.

[Lowner]

Hang in there Bud! If you get kicked out then so what. I have been kicked out of a band before it ever started because some people didn't like my gear. I hey thought I should be palying very high end stuff which i would never be able to afford, any ways..unless I hit the lottery. And i got kicked out of a band because I was told I didnt play in time. Now I just found a band and the drummer and guitar player both think I play in time rather well.

My point is hang in there. You will find a good band that you like being in and it willl be a blast. Good luck finding new band mates.

[FrigginChris]

just stick with it as long as it's fun, playing in a band for however long is a learning experience that no teacher or cd/book can give you. if it lasts cool, if it doesn't, so what? just take what you can from it and don't let that "pro" musician ruin it for you

[bigtexashonk]

Try not to take it personally.

Getting past your first band is a right of passage and one of the first steps of your musical education.

"Bands come and bands go. You just gotta keep playing."
- Del Paxton from "That Thing You Do"

[MagnaKen]

Years ago, when I was in your position I had a couple of buddies, one who sang and one who played rhythm guitar. We were the core of the band, but kept running through lead guitars and drummers. There were a lot of crappy players who had great big egos and didn't last long, but inevitably when they came to join us, they would try to influence the band in their particular direction. My recommendation, find one or two persons you can get along with and share your musical vision. You can build a band slowly yourself, and the chemistry of the players is much more important than the particular skill set anyone has. Most of us can get better or more skilled over time, but you will be spending a lot of time with these guys and should be a little choosy about who you team up with. On the other hand, you may also find some perfect stranger who introduces you to music you never considered. Have an open mind, and take your time.

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

Sounds like the bass player is a wannabe - if he's so great why's he hanging out with you guys (no offence!)? Good musicians will help out beginners, but only jerks get a kick from being the best player in the band. Just means no one else will work with you.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Again no offense, your an ametuer (that's not to say that you suck because your an ametuer. It's just means that your a beginner), and I have no idea why a pro would want to play with an ametuer.

[paulraphael]

That situation is a drag, and I hope it doesn't damage any friendships.

On a lighter note, I think getting thrown out of a band is a sacred rite of manhood--like giving your boss a piece of your mind before walking out, or getting slapped by a woman in public.

Congratulations!

[CamMcIntyre]

That bites man. I'd try to find some of your friends that play and see if they're up for jamming/forming a band. The best way, IMO, for someone to get their feet wet with regards to a band is to go in the situation that you're most relaxed. Speaking from experience, i play best when i'm relaxed, so if i got a place where there was a lot of tension in the air-i don't play so well.


IanStephenson
Great musicians get a kick from being the worst player in the band! Nothing better than looking round and thinking wow - this band are awesome - How did I end up here?

Is it bad when i think that about the program i'm in for school? I listen to the upper classmen bass players in their combos and i think "wow, i don't know how i got in here, but i'm glad i did".

I find being the worst player in a band is also motivating. If i'm playing with cats that can play circles around me-i know that i'm learning a lot from them just through playing and it often makes me more motivated to put in even more hours practicing/playing along with recordings.

take it easy.

[ldiezman]

Good luck and all... but I have never known any pro players to start up a band with beginner players... No offense to you at all, but I would not join a band who doesn't have any experience on the road or in the studio... I think this guy is just going to push you around when really he doesn't know what being a "pro" player is really all about.

[Robbiethebassis]

Originally Posted by MagnaKen

Years ago, when I was in your position I had a couple of buddies, one who sang and one who played rhythm guitar. We were the core of the band, but kept running through lead guitars and drummers. There were a lot of crappy players who had great big egos and didn't last long, but inevitably when they came to join us, they would try to influence the band in their particular direction. My recommendation, find one or two persons you can get along with and share your musical vision. You can build a band slowly yourself, and the chemistry of the players is much more important than the particular skill set anyone has. Most of us can get better or more skilled over time, but you will be spending a lot of time with these guys and should be a little choosy about who you team up with. On the other hand, you may also find some perfect stranger who introduces you to music you never considered. Have an open mind, and take your time.

So true. I've been in a band with a couple of my buddies that I've known since 6th grade. one plays guitar, the other drums. we've been through probably a dozen singers and about 6 guitarists. it takes a while before you find a match. I still havent. it seems like no one can sing anymore.

[QORC]

yup. different goals for different members. That's a frequent problem. You should get goals squared away and up front.

that being said - I sympathize a little with the bass player. Any song worth doing is worth doing RIGHT. I hate people that don't really learn the parts and give you the old "no one will notice" routine.

[jellisii]

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

...

Great musicians get a kick from being the worst player in the band! Nothing better than looking round and thinking wow - this band are awesome - How did I end up here?

Ian

++ on this one. I've been there, and it rocks. Lessons learned in that group were huge and applicable *right then*, as well as later in my carrear.

[PrimusNut]

Originally Posted by CamMcIntyre

I'd try to find some of your friends that play and see if they're up for jamming/forming a band.

Great advice. I am starting a band with a couple of my friends, one which i have known most of my life (a great guitarist i might add), and another of my friends who is going to take up drums (hope this works out good or we wont find a drummer very easily). The best people to start a band with is people you have known for a while.

Best of luck.

Curtis

[KarateKid25]

Originally Posted by Fastfwd

That was my aim. I became a good badminton player by always playing with people better than myself. I figured guitar and bass would work the same way.

++ There. Its the same as anything really, if you surround yourself with something then you head that way. People become like their partners in relationships. In karate I started training with high level students so within 2 years I was a black belt. At work Im surrounded by older people. After about 8 years I notice I have taken an older persons (more mature) view on the world as opposed to my other 25 year old friends. When I started playing guitar, its because I was inspired by a friend who is an awesome player. I just used to try and emulate him and i got to a reasonable level pretty quickly. If I had two friends, one good one not so good, Id probably look more too the not so good player, because the really good player would seem out of reach...If that makes sense

Anyhoo...Getting into a bit of a psychology lesson there... I think you can see what im getting at tho Surround yourself with the right people and have fun

[PrimusNut]

yeah, try playing with a guitarist who shreds.. not easy to keep up lol, but it made me a better bassist, ans he taught me a lot of stuff.

[Fastfwd]

It's done. I'm out.

Bummer.