Friend asked me to play on his CD.

Will it be fun?

 

Ask how much freedom you have, playing your part... remember he's driving the car... I hope you called 'shotgun', before the drummer...

... front passenger is way better than back seat, or worse... trunk.

 

If he's a friend, and I'm assuming, has asked you to play knowing you've got some experience in a band situation, I'd imagine he'd at least consider any ideas you have.

I would suggest the ideas well in advance of actual recording, if you've all got the time to try any suggestions out.

 

Doesn't sound like much fun, but it comes down to how much you want to help out your friend. If it was a good friend and it wouldn't take more than an afternoon and if I didn't have anything better to do, I'd do it.

 

Talk to him about what he's looking for. Record 1 bass part that you think will help. If he says you have some leeway, tell him you had an idea for this song, play him the track you recorded, and ask him if something like this works. He may not have thought of something like that, and may give you a lot of room.
I would do it if he's a friend, and I could cut all in a day. Just my 2 cents.

 

As you said, this is a vanity project, being recorded in a home studio. I don't see it going anywhere. If it interests you, sit down over a pot of coffee, and ask if he wants to discuss the songs, or just have you put down bass lines. You aren't going to be making any money on this mo matter what. Perhaps ask if you can use them as examples of your playing for your portfolio. Then decide if you want to do it.

 

If he is a friend and wants bass on his CD, why not? Be honored he asked you too.
What are friends for?

 

Personally, I would. But that is easier said than done. I have a few guys I know who always ask me "Hey can you come lay a bass track on this one song I made. Nothing serious." and then it turns into me telling them I won't be starting this new band with them 7 times. However, I digress..

If it is definitely just a one time thing, go for it. You will learn something while trying to help produce some tracks.

 

Doesn't sound like you will have fun or even want to do it, and I dont blame you...life is too short to volunteer to be miserable. Pass.
Rock on.

 

If being a producer is of interest to you, then here's a low-stakes way to get some experience doing it. It can be rewarding way to get involved without having to be the artist/financier. And you don't have to sign up for the whole project, you can just do one song (that's the beauty of home recording and releasing stuff yourself). If it's fun/productive, then offer to do more.

Keep it positive and make sure you hash out some general understandings up front (definitely don't wait until the day of the session to bring this up), and be firm about what you will and won't do (join the live band, take days off from work, accept pizza & beer as payment, call in favors from "session players" you know, etc.).

 

If you're recording this project on a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation - GarageBand, Reaper, Pro Tools, etc) you don't necessarily have to be in the same room, house, block, city, state or even country to record on that stuff. If you have a DAW recording set up you can record your tracks at your leisure on your own setup then upload your tracks to dropbox or where ever then your friend can fly them in at his or her leisure. I used do that all the time.

 

When I have done this in the past it takes forever for me to get to it. The reason being that when you are not excited about a project there tends to never be any “spare” time to lay down those tracks. I know I would rather do just about anything with that time than play on a track that I don’t care about.

 

I've been asked to play on friends' cd's as well. If they're good friends, just do it. In my case the band is terrible, but they asked and they're friends so.....

 

Been there done that and walked on land mines. I've done a few sessions where the demo tracks were lame, and i learned to gauge how much the artists is wedded to his demos - if they want it as recorded, then that is what I ask FIRST. If they want my suggestions then I ask and proceed with much caution. I had one session where they asked for my ideas and I redid most of the groove and made it into something much better. Everyone liked it but the artist, even his GF. And he got real attitude - y about it. If it were me, I would say sure and do it. Then ask him if he wants your creativity, first for the bass part, then for the entire instrument tracks. Just keep you radar going for any signs of displeasure, and if your friend gives off the vibe that you are stepping on his toes, just say "well, I was just throwing it out there. No biggie."