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Advice for young guy playing with older gents

#43
AaronVonRock said:
No offense to your teacher, but his suggestion of joining cover bands to play the "classics" seems like poor advice for someone like you. If you want to play originals, don't get sucked into the cover band scene. Find other like-minded people to play with.
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Ignore this. It is bad advise. Your ability to create good music is based on not only your own creative talent but also the music you have listened to and played. The more different musicians you work with, the more you will learn. I think your teacher is right and is also very astitue and looking out for your best interest. What he is really saying is, "You are doing well. There isn't a whole lot more new I can teach you. You are ready to into the world and learn from experience."
I get very annoyed at the snobbery of those who feel it is beneath them to play covers. I really points to a very narrow and ego driven vision of music.
Now watch the flames.
Oh, and I am one of the oldest guys out here still playing. We really don't see ourselves as old. We love to have younger guys coming in. Best of luck to you.
 
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#48
Gravedigger Dav said:
Ignore this. It is bad advise. Your ability to create good music is based on not only your own creative talent but also the music you have listened to and played. The more different musicians you work with, the more you will learn. I think your teacher is right and is also very astitue and looking out for your best interest. What he is really saying is, "You are doing well. There isn't a whole lot more new I can teach you. You are ready to into the world and learn from experience."
I get very annoyed at the snobbery of those who feel it is beneath them to play covers. I really points to a very narrow and ego driven vision of music.
Now watch the flames.
Oh, and I am one of the oldest guys out here still playing. We really don't see ourselves as old. We love to have younger guys coming in. Best of luck to you.
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The problem with cutting your teeth on originals is, you haven't paid your dues. If you get some experience playing other peoples' stuff, you develop a more well-rounded approach to your instrument. That isn't to say it isn't possible to create good, original music just based on your own creativity. There could be an "unsullied" player who comes up with original stuff so innovative, so fresh, so unique that the world just has to hear it. That happens sometimes.

But what usually happens is, players who go right to only playing their own compositions just don't develop much chops. I was a snobby "originals only" guy at one time, and I'm ten times the player and singer now than I was back then.

Let people flame all they want; it takes a lot of work to get down the feel and style of many other musicians.

Jimi Hendrix was a unique, original voice, and he'd tell you he spent about a billion hours playing Albert King and the like before we heard one note of him.
 
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#49
My situation is the reverse of yours. I'm 55 I just started working with a bunch of young cats 17-20. They are super focused and a really excellent band. Possibly one of the best I have ever been in. The rules apply for both scenarios. Me being the new guy it's my job to learn their gig, not re invent the wheel. Show up on time, prepared and be positive, the rest will follow. My new band Knight Patrol
KPpennyan1_zpsd57081ca.jpg
KPpennyan2_zpsa48d91fc.jpg
KPBuffalothreeupfront_zps001a6392.jpg
 
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#50
godofthunder59 said:
My situation is the reverse of yours. I'm 55 I just started working with a bunch of young cats 17-20. They are super focused and a really excellent band. Possibly one of the best I have ever been in. The rules apply for both scenarios. Me being the new guys it's my job to learn their gig, not re invent the wheel. Show up on time, prepared and be positive, the rest will follow. My new band Knight Patrol
KPBuffalothreeupfront_zps001a6392.jpg
Click to expand...

I can't wait until you start posting vids. This is pretty cool!
 
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#52
mellowinman said:
I can't wait until you start posting vids. This is pretty cool!
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I should have some stuff soon. I started out a long term sub till they could find a young cat who could rock but they made me a full member :) we get along fine I don't notice the age difference at all and we have a ball playing together. I am loving every minute of it! We do 70's and 80's rock with some originals. I am going in the studio with them to do their first cd. They are on the way up in the area and getting some really choice gigs.
 
#53
mellowinman said:
The problem with cutting your teeth on originals is, you haven't paid your dues. If you get some experience playing other peoples' stuff, you develop a more well-rounded approach to your instrument. That isn't to say it isn't possible to create good, original music just based on your own creativity. There could be an "unsullied" player who comes up with original stuff so innovative, so fresh, so unique that the world just has to hear it. That happens sometimes.

But what usually happens is, players who go right to only playing their own compositions just don't develop much chops. I was a snobby "originals only" guy at one time, and I'm ten times the player and singer now than I was back then.

Let people flame all they want; it takes a lot of work to get down the feel and style of many other musicians.

Jimi Hendrix was a unique, original voice, and he'd tell you he spent about a billion hours playing Albert King and the like before we heard one note of him.
Click to expand...
So if an originals band spends the first few years of its existence piled into a van trucking all over the country playing shows (good ones and bad ones) town to town eating bologna sandwiches sleeping wherever and whenever they can establishing presence and building momentum and eventually getting picked up and graduating to a very respected worldwide act. I believe that's called "paying dues". Not night after night of two tickets to paradise.
 
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#54
I think doing covers is essential. Playing music that isn't necessarily your bag is a great way to broaden your horizons and make you a better player. Sure originals are great but unless you are in a market where that is the norm, you are going to be playing covers or not playing much at all. Learning your instrument is only part of the gig. Working with band mates on and off stage, dealing with the crowd, sound companies and venue/stage managers other bands at mutli band shows are all part of the whacky world of live music. You can be a great player in your bed room but there is so much more to it.
 
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#55
The fact that you are asking advice on this matter is a good thing. I am 64 and very musically active so I wanted to weigh in.

things to keep in mind:
Though you are young, you should be professional. This can reassure the others.
No drama.
You probably need way less gear than you think.
Dont over play.
Always be on time maybe show up an hour before the gig.
Knowing your theory will help you get by the unexpected.
Do socialize with the others when appropriate
Take whatever pay that is offered
Dont expect anyone to do originals
Dress appropriately
Get the Real Book
Lock in with the others and watch the balance
Have fun and the young ladies will be looking at you (added plus)
Be prepared as well as possible
No shredding.
Make good music with minimal fuss.
Exchange contact information after the gig.
Get back to us with your experiences
 
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#56
godofthunder59 said:
My situation is the reverse of yours. I'm 55 I just started working with a bunch of young cats 17-20. They are super focused and a really excellent band. Possibly one of the best I have ever been in. The rules apply for both scenarios. Me being the new guy it's my job to learn their gig, not re invent the wheel. Show up on time, prepared and be positive, the rest will follow. My new band Knight Patrol
KPpennyan1_zpsd57081ca.jpg
KPpennyan2_zpsa48d91fc.jpg
KPBuffalothreeupfront_zps001a6392.jpg
Click to expand...
There is the vests I was talking about:roflmao:
 
#57
bassliner50 said:
The fact that you are asking advice on this matter is a good thing. I am 64 and very musically active so I wanted to weigh in.

things to keep in mind:
No drama.
You probably need way less gear than you think.
Dont over play.
Knowing your theory will help you get by the unexpected.
Dont expect anyone to do originals
Dress appropriately
Get the Real Book
Lock in with the others and watch the balance
Have fun and the young ladies will be looking at you (added plus)
Be prepared as well as possible
No shredding.
Make good music with minimal fuss.
Exchange contact information after the gig.
Get back to us with your experiences
Click to expand...
Bassliner should've weighed in earlier this is the only post the OP needs. Good job.
 
#58
godofthunder59 said:
I think doing covers is essential. Playing music that isn't necessarily your bag is a great way to broaden your horizons and make you a better player. Sure originals are great but unless you are in a market where that is the norm, you are going to be playing covers or not playing much at all. Learning your instrument is only part of the gig. Working with band mates on and off stage, dealing with the crowd, sound companies and venue/stage managers other bands at mutli band shows are all part of the whacky world of live music. You can be a great player in your bed room but there is so much more to it.
Click to expand...


Winner Winner Chicken dinner!
THAT IS the point.
 
#59
10cc said:
So if an originals band spends the first few years of its existence piled into a van trucking all over the country playing shows (good ones and bad ones) town to town eating bologna sandwiches sleeping wherever and whenever they can establishing presence and building momentum and eventually getting picked up and graduating to a very respected worldwide act. I believe that's called "paying dues". Not night after night of two tickets to paradise.
Click to expand...

No, that's NOT what's I mean by "paying your dues." I don't mean paying your dues through suffering. I am talking about paying your MUSICAL dues, by learning a lot of the basic styles of the genre. Becoming well-versed in the Gospel According to Chuck (Berry,) the Gospel According to Jimmy (Page,) the Gospel According to Jimi (Hendrix,) etc, if you are a guitar player; the Gospel According to Jamerson, the Gospel According to Sir Paul, the Gospel According to Geddy, on bass; and as a band, playing together through the different changes and styles that other great bands have played in the past.
Most original bands I hear, and I mean an overwhelming majority, have no substance, and that's why so many of them fail. You do know most original bands fail, right? I mean thousands upon thousands of them. Way more than succeed. I'll bet the ration is 10,000 utter fails to every 1 success.
How can you play interesting music if you have never played interesting music?

Two Tickets to Paradise? I have never heard a cover band play that song. If you think that's what being a cover band is about, you are sadly uninformed.

Being in a cover band builds versatility. And without that, you become pretty darned repetitive.
 
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#60
10cc said:
There is the vests I was talking about:roflmao:
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? Whats so funny ? The band does have a "uniform" leather pants and vests. They were surprised and very pleased I did own leather pants, lace up at that. They were hoping I wasn't going to show up in shorts and sandals. I did go out and buy a vest, no studs for me but I am going to have the band logo embroidered on the back though. ;)
 

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