Teen Bassist Looking to Start a Band... Advice?

Colbz1994 · #1 06-15-2011, 11:47 PM

Hey all thanks for looking. I'm 16 and I'm a bassist. I've been looking for a band but I'm kind of clueless as to how else I should look for one. Ive been looking on craigslist which hasn't been bad but it's been a while before any of those bands stuck. Advice on how to find musicians?

WyrdoBass · #2 06-15-2011, 11:58 PM

Hang out at guitarcenter, join music programs in school (jazz band in particular for drums/guitar. In other music classes you just might get lucky and the tuba is an awesome guitarist or something.), go to open mic nights, that kind of stuff all worked for me. I met my current band via craigslist. I'm 17 btw.

P.S. in guitarcenters there's usually a board somewhere with ads posted on it... people looking for players, looking to jam, etc.

SeaBassSteve · #3 06-16-2011, 05:26 AM

Ask yourself, What do you want? Covers? Originals? Are you happy to play with older players and learn on the way? Are you mature enough to do that.
You need to decide what you want exactly first

itsmeagain · #4 06-16-2011, 09:33 AM

I, being 17 found my current band on craigslist. It did take awhile to find them though. It wasnt one day of searching and their they were. it took a couple months for them to get on there.

stflbn · #5 06-16-2011, 09:42 AM

For someone younger or starting out I find it's a lot easier to be a part of someone elses band rather than to form your own. IMHO you have more room to focus on the music and less need to deal with the drama and personel issues that WILL arise.

elavate7 · #6 06-16-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

For someone younger or starting out I find it's a lot easier to be a part of someone elses band rather than to form your own. IMHO you have more room to focus on the music and less need to deal with the drama and personel issues that WILL arise.

i second this....i have been contemplating making my own, but im much more comfortable playing in my gfs lol. its less stress and allows you just to focus on my craft. dont get me wrong, you may have to makes some calls and find some gigs to help even the load(unless your a hired gun), but, for the most part, your just the bassist. see who need a bass player and contact them

**Stumbo** · #7 06-17-2011, 12:19 AM

It helps to have your own transportation and decent, giggable bass/rig.

You might want to check out the link in my sig. below for some great TB info on the topic.

Good luck.

Catbuster · #8 06-19-2011, 04:06 PM

Put your name out there, (CL, FaceBook, etc) saying you're looking to put a band together, and then hold some auditions, recording them and labeling the recordings. Then decide who works best with you.

shadow_FIX · #9 06-20-2011, 10:48 AM

Talk to kids at school. Ask the band/orchestra director if they know of anyone that plays guitar/keys/drums/mandolin/whatever you're into. I don't know what all your high school has, but you could also try talking to the kids in the back up band for showchoir, or playing in the rhythm section of the jazz band.

I met one of my favorite drummers and long-time friends through playing in jazz band in high school. We still stay in contact, and we let each other sit in at gigs by default XD

ForSix · #10 06-20-2011, 11:03 AM

I started my first band when I was 13. I looked for people at school who wanted to play.

It's easier doing this because you all probably live near each other, and your schedules probably match up since you're in the same school.

Jadie12 · #11 03-12-2013, 01:46 PM

Hiya, I'm Jade, i'm 15, i'm also trying to find some musicians to start a band, i'm a singer and acoustic guitar player, where abouts do you live?

VanillaThundah · #12 03-12-2013, 01:57 PM

Ask around at school or other places where you gather socially. You'd be surprised how many musicians "know" plenty of others and rarely forget who they are. Many people know people who play and they may have no clue at all about the instrument, they just know they play. You could do craigslist, bandmix, or other things.

Depending on where your stance is when it comes to beliefs, a church or other religious institution will typically be a great place to network and find other musicians with like interests. Some can be more progressive than others and may or may not have an aversion to secular music or genres. Just like with anything, the more you stretch yourself out the better chance you have of connecting with others.

fenderhutz · #13 03-12-2013, 02:01 PM

Do not invite girlfriends/boyfriends to actively participate in rehearsals (maybe once a month at most). Keep bands and relationships separate, and run from any girlfriend/boyfriend that when this young gives you grief for doing a weekly rehearsal.

Trust me, this causes more band issues than anything and will save you a life of headaches.

YMMV

Bald Steve · #14 03-12-2013, 02:03 PM

Just have fun and play, young bass bro.

EDIT: Avoid Craig's List, maybe talk to some of the teachers at the local music stores and see if any of them have younger students looking to jam.

fenderhutz · #15 03-12-2013, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bald Steve

Just have fun and play, young bass bro.

And what he said.

bluewine · #16 03-12-2013, 02:08 PM

I was a teen bass guitar player about 45 years ago.

Best advice, find a good guitarist around your age. Jam together for hours on end and develop your own style, bond then the 2 of you can start a band together.

Blue

AltGrendel · #17 03-12-2013, 02:18 PM

You're going to get drama, just get use to the idea. There are plenty of threads here if you need details.

BayStateBass · #18 03-12-2013, 02:27 PM

There are a lot of great tips here for the OP.

I would get behind recommending talking to a school music teacher, orchestra director, etc. Try to get involved in or get to know others who play in the school bands, there could be some great potential bandmates there who are looking for something just like you.

Now, about actually forming a "band". There are a few things I'd recommend. Think about what you want, what results you are looking for, and this will help you pick out people to play with. First off, you have to decide if you're just putting together a jam band, a garage band, or want to work toward putting together a band that performs for others. Keep in mind, none of these are a bad thing. Jam bands and garage bands can be a lot of fun and can really help you hone your skills once you are playing with other musicians. For some, this is all they really ever want. If this is the case, your pool of musicians to choose from will be deeper. If you want to play shows for an audience, there will be fewer people that you'll be successful with. Be upfront with talking to people about what you want to do; a performing band is a lot of responsibility and is a lot of hard work. You also need to decide if you are doing something genre-specific, covers or originals, etc.....and be honest with people you talk to about what you want to be able to do musically.

And....if this is going to be a band you are putting together for "public consumption", be willing to put the work in. By assembling it yourself, that makes you the band leader, and it's often a difficult and thankless job with a ton of responsibility. I was the BL in my last band, it was a blues-rock 4 piece and it exploded almost as fast as I was able to put it together because I had no idea what I was doing, I did everything WRONG. Be organized, plan practices, have clear cut expectations of what each person should do and find people who are willing to take on their parts seriously. Again, organization and hard work are key to building a performing band.

If it's just going to be a jam band.....then find people you like, who like the same kind of music you like, and rock it out. And enjoy yourself.

Now, I think this is important.......and don't take this the wrong way, but if this is your first band, it won't last forever. Try to get as much experience and knowledge as you can out of it. The chances of finding the perfect people the first time....usually doesn't happen. I was heartbroken when my first attempt at building a band fell apart. I had played for other groups but wanted to start my own....I probably will be hard pressed to do that again, really.

If you are going through CL, again, I would be upfront about what you are looking to do, be relatively detailed, and weed out the applicants that don't sound like good ones.

If there is a local music store that gives lessons, ask if you can post something on the bulletin board. People who see it will be from your area, a lot of them may be in your age group. In addition, the teachers there may have students who are looking to get into a band.....so you might find something there.

In the end, have a good time and get out there and make some music!

**Stumbo** · #19 03-12-2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

I was a teen bass guitar player about 45 years ago.

Best advice, find a good guitarist around your age. Jam together for hours on end and develop your own style, bond then the 2 of you can start a band together.

Blue

+1 to finding a guitar player or two.

Jam to some drum tracks. Record your jams. Play covers. Work on vocals/harmonies. Keep your own song book of tunes you know with lyrics, chords. Be a source of music knowledge.

How's your knowledge of music theory?

VanillaThundah · #20 03-12-2013, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

Best advice, find a good guitarist around your age. Jam together for hours on end and develop your own style, bond then the 2 of you can start a band together

As long as it's not another bass player, this role could be filled by any other member (except for maybe a keyboard player lol). The goal here is to find another bandmate, not just another band member. If the two of you focus on writing material or being the core, it will go a lot farther than you trying to do it all on your own (what I did for years on end). I've typically had the most success when at least 1 other person has agreed to do more than show up and jam. Ideally you want as many members as possible, but just make sure you can become the songwriting engine with this other member. I'm currently there with my singer, which is perfectly fine with me. He gives me free reign over composition and even likes to do lyrical collaboration with me. No matter who comes through the band, the songs we do belong to us and we can do what we want with them.