i'm 14, should i feel bad about not being in a band?

Asa Samuel · #1 07-22-2007, 10:15 AM

i was in a band with a 15 yr old guitarist, 17 yr old singer and 17 yr old drummer but the drummer and the singer kicked me out cause they said that they would have trouble getting into under 16 clubs, when the guitarist is only 15.

i dont know anyone else who plays any instruments yet.

should i feel bad that i cant get into a band at such a young age?

Smallmouth_Bass · #2 07-22-2007, 10:19 AM

Just keep on playing and practicing. At a certain point, your playing abilities will override any age issues and getting in a band shouldn't be a problem.

RWP · #3 07-22-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smallmouth_Bass

Just keep on playing and practicing. At a certain point, your playing abilities will override any age issues and getting in a band shouldn't be a problem.

+1 Keep getting better and in a few years you'll have you pick of bands. I can remember my mom taking me to practice and gigs when I was to young to drive. She was so nice to be supportive.
Humping bass gear with your mom at 14 is a bummer.

steve66 · #4 07-22-2007, 10:42 AM

Dont feel bad about not having a band. It seems like everyone is looking for a Bass Player, so the opportunity to get into a band is good. Just practice, practice , practice. Play everything, not just the stuff you like. Learn to read music and learn the music theory behind what you are playing. Get yourself a drum machine or at least a metronome and work on your timing. Record yourself often. Try not to limit yourself to one band. When the opportunity comes around, audition for other bands. This keeps you in the "loop" so other musicians get to know who you are and your name gets around.

Good Luck

Asa Samuel · #5 07-22-2007, 10:47 AM

its just i dont know anybody who plays anything other than this one guitarist.

prsbass · #6 07-22-2007, 10:47 AM

At 14 you shouldn't feel bad about anything. If those guys gave you some lame excuse for getting rid of you it means they are to immature to tell you the truth.
If you don't take lessons, start.
Practice everyday.
You'll get what you want if work for it.

PocketGroove82 · #7 07-22-2007, 10:49 AM

Instead of egging their parent's cars, go practice and take lessons till you become a hot player. Then, when they come around asking for gigs, you can tell them no. =D

tplyons · #8 07-22-2007, 10:59 AM

I was in my first band when I got my first car.

SilverZero · #9 07-22-2007, 11:07 AM

I was 14 just a short while ago, and in a band. Now I'm 25, much better in my abilities, and my priorities are such that I don't know if I could even be in a band that traveled out of the area much. But I still jam with my friends from the band occasionally (they didn't get huge, mostly because of their own priorities as well).

The one regret I have is not staying at my practice when I quit the band and went to college. Here I am, 11 years after I started playing, and I can only imagine how much further I would be if I had kept a solid practice routine going. For you, 2012 may seem like it's a long way off, but when you get there, you can be either 5 years along and not much better in your skills, or 5 years older and the best bassist in town. It's never too late to start, but it's always too late to go back.

Stumpy · #10 07-22-2007, 11:18 AM

No.

Get your chops up, get your education (bass) up, practice, work with anyone who will jam with you, and practice. Did I mention practice?

There is plenty of time to join a band. Make sure that you are ready for what you want to do and then ... an opportunity will come your way.

JMO

FrigginChris · #11 07-22-2007, 11:32 AM

i wasn't in my first band till i was 17.

ebladeboi123 · #12 07-22-2007, 12:26 PM

This won't help, I was in my first band at 12... But honestly being in a band isn't that great. I wouldn't really consider my band together from 15-16 where I really tried to improve my chops, as did everyone else, and we got it going again (new drummer this time, our old one was a better player but the new one wants to be here which is the difference) and its going very well. So I'd say get some private lessons with a good teacher, learn to reach music and charts (even if you don't want to, it's one of those things you should do anyway), and just be the freaking best 14-15 year old bass player (heck be the best bass player) in your area and I'm sure all your HS goonies will be lineing up for you to play bass for them.

KeithBMI · #13 07-22-2007, 02:35 PM

No. The good stuff starts around the end of high school / beginning of college.

Asa Samuel · #14 07-22-2007, 02:37 PM

thats the thing, i dont go to school, i get taught at home.

so i dont really know many kids around here anyway.

bassphreak · #15 07-24-2007, 10:21 AM

even if you don't need to, check into lessons at your local shop or ask around there. you'd be suprised to find others in a similar situation. you can throw an ad in the paper too or online. i have a local shop that has a musicians page, also have a local free paper that occasionally runs ads. jamming with someone can be great and help you progress in the right situation. good luck.

satchmo · #16 07-24-2007, 10:33 AM

I agree with everything up here.

Don't worry about being in a band right now, if you can, that's cool, but if not, that's cool too.

I joined my first band as a guitarist at the age of 22, and now 7 years later, I'm a novice bassist considering a move across the world for the band I'm in.

The only advice I can give different from others here would be to encourage your best friend to become a drummer and then just jam jam jam and more jam.

Guitarists are a dime a dozen, but bands will fall over themselves for a decent bass player.

Wesley R · #17 07-24-2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWP

+1 Keep getting better and in a few years you'll have you pick of bands. I can remember my mom taking me to practice and gigs when I was to young to drive. She was so nice to be supportive.
Humping bass gear with your mom at 14 is a bummer.

paying 1/2 of my first couple of amps and my first bass. For driving me to every music store in the twin cities, countless practices, auditions and gigs. Teaching me to ride the bus, hitchike etc.
Bless all parents who support their children.

Practice, jam, gig, have fun! You are 14, sometimes band sittuations are great, sometimes they suck.

Best of Luck,
Wesley R.

SpectorBass308 · #18 07-24-2007, 12:51 PM

Pretty soon your going to smoke all the other bass players in town.

blipndub · #19 07-24-2007, 03:22 PM

Yes.

The only way to learn how to play is to play with other people. When you try to jam with someone who spent their teenage years practicing by themselves it's a drag. They know chords and scales but have no soul.