The one man band approach

[Atticus]

Now that both the rhythm guitarist and drummer of my current band have quit, I'm seriously considering getting a drum kit and learning drums or getting a good drum machine, and starting to record stuff by myself instead of being in a band. I'm tired of trying to coordinate practice schedules and dealing with differing direction and control issues instead of writing and playing music. It would be nice to get some more experience with other instruments.

However, if I go this route it'll mean spending more time, money, and effort with drums and guitar (which I noodle on occasionally but don't play seriously right now) instead of bass, which is my true love. I don't want to end up being poor or average at several instruments if by dedicating myself to one I can get better results. That's before considering how I plan on recording stuff. I'd probably record to Ardour(running Linux) since it's effective and free, but I'd need to acquire mics and other associated recording gear. The fact that my budget isn't exactly expansive doesn't help. It's probably a flight of fancy, but I'd like to see if it's viable before I consider possibilities. Has anybody else done taken this approach? If so, how do you feel about it?

[St Drogo]

Every musician should have a "solo project". I realise the stigma that has been attached to that term, but my statement stands. If you're truly a musician, you realise that whenever you're in a band with other people, the music you make will always be some sort of consession from all sides. Not true if you do it on your own of course.

On the other hand, making music with others is what music has been all about and is an awesome and humbling experience without which you also cannot call yourself a true musician, IMO.

Also, when you do stuff totally alone, you get to know yourself. Do your really have the chops? Do you have the creativity? Do you have the x factor? And I don't mean the x factor like in that talentsearch tv show, because everyone who's been in a similar show is a full flaming retardcookie. I mean, do you make good stuff on your own, or are you at your best when you have that back-and-forth bandmates have when writing things (nothing wrong with that)?

I'd say do this regardless of bands you're in at the moment or doing things professionally, just do it. You never know where you'll be in 2 years, you might've written the new "downward spiral" or whatever.

Good luck!

[Drop-the-One]

+1 there. Every musician should have a solo project. Project their own voice.

Plus getting comfortable on guitar and drums... as WELL as learning about recording and mic technique is going to make you a monster musician and a great asset in the end.


Keeping up your songwriting side, with the musician side, is going to be a lot of work...

[Drop-the-One]

ONE thing to remember... is always get someone else to come in once in a while... whether it's to songwrite with, help with mic setup or production.

When you stay closet for a few years, your ear closes off and you could funnel into some traps. ie. your music sounds the same, lack of a few simple tips that could make your recordings 10x better sounding etc.

so always keep showing others and taking input in mind

[St Drogo]

Originally Posted by Drop-the-One

ONE thing to remember... is always get someone else to come in once in a while... whether it's to songwrite with, help with mic setup or production.

When you stay closet for a few years, your ear closes off and you could funnel into some traps. ie. your music sounds the same, lack of a few simple tips that could make your recordings 10x better sounding etc.

so always keep showing others and taking input in mind

Ooh yeah, if you're planning to go public with your music this is muy importante. You won't believe how easy it is to go around in circles in your mind about your music and having it end up being a grotesque disfigured bile-spewing offspring instead of a beautiful unicorn farting rainbows, just because you didn't ask some fresh ears to come in.

[DeluxeRed]

On the point of equipment: a cheap midi controller will come with not only the keyboard patches but also drum kits. Not quite as fulfilling as really pounding the skins, but usable. Also, a small modeling amp for guitar, such as a Vox Valvetronix, is inexpensive and can go direct, so you can save a bundle on studio space, acoustics, and mics. At least to get started.

Good luck, and enjoy! Let us know what you come up with.

[Rockingbird]

Originally Posted by DeluxeRed

On the point of equipment: a cheap midi controller will come with not only the keyboard patches but also drum kits.

Do they really? I had no idea. I was actually contemplating getting ahold of an electric keyboard for trying my own one-man-band idea, but I think I'll try this if I can.

[St Drogo]

Originally Posted by DeluxeRed

On the point of equipment: a cheap midi controller will come with not only the keyboard patches but also drum kits. Not quite as fulfilling as really pounding the skins, but usable. Also, a small modeling amp for guitar, such as a Vox Valvetronix, is inexpensive and can go direct, so you can save a bundle on studio space, acoustics, and mics. At least to get started.

Good luck, and enjoy! Let us know what you come up with.

Interesting. Didn't know that, I used EZdrums for drums.which model and brand of keyboard do you have?

[Atticus]

I actually have a Casio keyboard that has a few drum kits, and as a keyboard can go direct, which is a huge plus since I already have the necessary cable to record directly with the keyboard. I just find that at high tempos electronic devices become more fake sounding. The only time I've successfully used a drum machine (Hydrogen, since it was free) was a slow song at 42 bpms, which works well for that song but I'd like to be able to go a bit faster than that. Maybe I just need to spend more time with the keyboard to see if it will work. Putting a drum kit in my music room would be a big space investment and then I'd have to worry about mics for that, but it would give me more instrument experience and if I get a band together it creates a practice space without the hassle of moving equipment. It also creates the issue of finding space or selling the thing once I'm off to college in a couple of years because I can't take my whole stable of stuff to a dorm.

My guitar set-up is an Epiphone G-400 with a Line 6 Spider IV 15 watt amp. It's not a wide range of options, but between that and the few pedals I have it'll be enough to get started. If I get this started and I'm happy with it, I might get a POD X3 board, but that will have to come after drums and recording which will take up the budget for the foreseeable future.

Maybe this is a question for the recording sub-forum, but can you record guitar and bass easily with a mic straight to computer, or using the same DI box? I know multi-tasking devices are never as effective as single-purpose devices, but on my shoestring budget it would be helpful.

[Dark Horse]

I HIGHLY recommend learning to demo your own songs - it will help you learn how parts go together, understand other instruments better, etc.


I use Audacity to demo with - it's free and sounds fine.

For drums, Acoustica Beatcraft sounds great and is super simple to use...plus it is only $40.

My interface is a Line 6 Toneport UX2 - under $200, sounds pretty darn good, and has guitar amp, bass amp, mic preamp, etc models that really help you explore different tones.

You can hear some of my rough demos at -

Rock/Psych/ stuff - SLOWGEAR

Americana/Ambient stuff - AM-16

[SuperFineLin9]

I did something like this. Me and my singer where constantly having issues with adding people on and quitting and what not so we decided to just be us. We just put out an album this year and between the two of us we recorded everything but drums, and our producer played drums for us.
we just have live and touring members come and go. its not a problem because none of them were ever officially added. and now that we have dropped the dead weight we have toured twice this year and are doing better than ever.
We do have a chick playing guitar for us and she is doing pretty well and has been with us for a while so we are thinking of adding her as a full time member.

Also, he might not be your taste of music but google the band "The Rocket Summer" he is from the same area as I am and he is doing really really well and he is just one dude.
Also the way he starts his set is he has all these looping stations set up and he will go to the drums and lay down a beat, then go to bass and lay down a line then do the same to guitar then over to the mike and keys and starts singing and playing keys. then after he does a verse all of his live members come up and finish out the song. Its pretty neat

[jive1]

Originally Posted by DeluxeRed

On the point of equipment: a cheap midi controller will come with not only the keyboard patches but also drum kits.

A midi controller has no sounds. It is used to control other midi devices. A midi controller can be a keyboard, trigger pads, a pedal, etc.

A synth, module, or keyboard has sounds.

[Beginner Bass]

Make sure that others hear it to give a second opinion. If they all sound the same, it won't do well. Change up the keys.

[MNAirHead]

I feel your pain.

I find duos to give flexiblity.. they're sonically a bit fuller.. easy gear..

Since it's just 2 folks, not a ton of politics.