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How do you start a blues band?

#62
bigfatbass said:
Any simple form of any style is easy to play, or at least easy to grab mentally, but it can also be seriously athletic. Saying blues is "mind-numbingly easy to play" sounds like it is coming from a person who has only been around weaker players, or not too many real blues acts, or at the least, has never been challenged by challenging material. Some nights I work twice as hard as a I did playing Living Color and Fishbone all through college. (ZooTrip played so much 'Bone, the frat boys called us Fishclone, lol) Let's see you walk a 7-8 minute 210 click swing without missing a single quarter, double tagging all the appropriate accents (remember, your click is over 200 already), and all while inventing your lines on the fly and using different turns/scales/runs the whole time. Or how about holding down a real double shuffle boogie at the same click for the same length of time? Even speed metal breathes once in a while, lol. Not saying you can't do it, or can't learn to do it, but saying the blues is all easy is pure unadulterated ignorance.

I say this from the experience of making my living at it for over 18 years. Sure, playing butt-simple medium tempo blues tunes at a lame jam is no mental display, but putting ALL of those notes in exactly the right spot to make a shuffle swing, and really locking in on that kick, takes focus and skill. Really. Yeah anybody can plow through a box shuffle, and not sound like a fool, but I defy anyone who doesn't do it regularly to do it at a truly high level.

I would suggest that instead of just trying to learn a bunch of random tunes, you put together a youtube list of a bunch of solid rudimentary blues tunes and REALLY try to play along with them properly. Listen to them together a few times through first and try to notice any interplay between parts, and who plays in which pockets and things like that. Learning how the grooves are built is half the battle. Also, going for Me and My Woman right out of the gate is a seriously big piece of pie to chomp on. That tune has big dynamics and shifts in rhythm feel that are essential to doing it justice, as well as a strong vocalist. Not saying dont' do it, but that is kinda like getting your first skate board, and then immediately draining the pool for your first ride.

Good blues is also full of subtleties, like, how many of you saying how simple the blues is can tell me what is different about the opening chorus of Tore Down, if you are playing the song true to original form?
Click to expand...
^^^This!! Well said sir!
 
#63
I grew up in Chicago and did the Blues band thing many times. Nowadays, how I'd put a band together is just tell folks I have a gig, make some calls, and we show up and play our @$$es off. If I have a competent drummer that can play a swing, shuffle, and 12/8 slow Blues, the rest will fall into place. The guitarist has to play dynamically, or else it will be boring for the band and the audience. The bass player has to groove. The harmonica player needs to keep out of the way. The keys need to be able to compliment the guitar and vice versa, and both need to keep out of the way of the bass.

The Blues is an improvisational genre. At it's best, the guys in the band are feeding off each other, and getting their emotions expressed through their instruments. You need folks that can jam, period. I'll go against the grain, and say instead of learning songs, learn grooves. Learn the basic grooves for the Blues like the Uptown Shuffle, Downtown Shuffle/Humpty Dumpty, Flat Tire, Swing, Boogie, Rhumba, etc. and their variations. Learn the lingo, such as key and time signatures, measures, names of grooves, types of endings, etc. Know how to give cues for things such as stops, break downs, changes in volume, repeats, endings, etc. Know how to count in the tempo and feel. When you can do all that, the songs will come. In the end, a song is just a melody over a groove.

Here's how I do the pickup Blues band gig. We might work from a set list, or we might just wing it all night.
"Ok dudes, we're going to do Let Me Love You Baby by Buddy Guy in A. Downtown shuffle, watch me for cues. I'll kick it off on guitar, band builds up, and we start the groove on the IV. "
So, I'll play a 2 measure guitar lick to give the tempo, cue the band to start building up for the next measure, and continue vamping over the changes until I step up to the mic to start the verse. When the drummer sees me go up to the mic, he knows to close the hi-hat, and bring down the volume a little. After the chorus, I'll go into a guitar solo, and on the 2nd go around I look back at the guys and tell them to break it down, and they do something cool. I hit back to the mic, and we bring it down real low, and build it back up to the chorus, hit a short solo and then play the turn around lick for Tore Down, and the guys pick up on it, and we have some more fun. I hold up the guitar to signal the stops on the 1st verse, and then do the same and tell them to stay on the 1 for 4 more on the 2nd verse. We jam some more, and then I look back at the drummer and bassist, and play the walkdown ending and kill it.

There's lots of resources out there, so take advantage of it. Listen to a lot of Blues, because it's all about the feel. But, don't stop there. Watch the masters and see how they command a stage and band. Find bandmates that can watch each other, listen to cues, and understand the lingo. Otherwise, the Blues can be a very tedious venture. Go to the local Blues jam, meet folks and hone your chops. If you guys don't have a drummer, practice with a drum machine. You can do a lot with a shuffle and slow Blues beat. If you work on the basics, the rest will come into place easily and you'll be gig ready in no time.
 
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#64
bigfatbass said:
Good blues is also full of subtleties, like, how many of you saying how simple the blues is can tell me what is different about the opening chorus of Tore Down, if you are playing the song true to original form?
Click to expand...
The first chorus is sung on the first 4 measures instead of on the IV and the turnaround. The same for the last chorus.
Another thing I see folks screw up on this one is not remembering the 8 measures of stops on the I for the 2nd verse.
 
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#66
jive1 said:
I grew up in Chicago and did the Blues band thing many times. Nowadays, how I'd put a band together is just tell folks I have a gig, make some calls, and we show up and play our @$$es off. If I have a competent drummer that can play a swing, shuffle, and 12/8 slow Blues, the rest will fall into place. The guitarist has to play dynamically, or else it will be boring for the band and the audience. The bass player has to groove. The harmonica player needs to keep out of the way. The keys need to be able to compliment the guitar and vice versa, and both need to keep out of the way of the bass.

The Blues is an improvisational genre. At it's best, the guys in the band are feeding off each other, and getting their emotions expressed through their instruments. You need folks that can jam, period. I'll go against the grain, and say instead of learning songs, learn grooves. Learn the basic grooves for the Blues like the Uptown Shuffle, Downtown Shuffle/Humpty Dumpty, Flat Tire, Swing, Boogie, Rhumba, etc. and their variations. Learn the lingo, such as key and time signatures, measures, names of grooves, types of endings, etc. Know how to give cues for things such as stops, break downs, changes in volume, repeats, endings, etc. Know how to count in the tempo and feel. When you can do all that, the songs will come. In the end, a song is just a melody over a groove.

Here's how I do the pickup Blues band gig. We might work from a set list, or we might just wing it all night.
"Ok dudes, we're going to do Let Me Love You Baby by Buddy Guy in A. Downtown shuffle, watch me for cues. I'll kick it off on guitar, band builds up, and we start the groove on the IV. "
So, I'll play a 2 measure guitar lick to give the tempo, cue the band to start building up for the next measure, and continue vamping over the changes until I step up to the mic to start the verse. When the drummer sees me go up to the mic, he knows to close the hi-hat, and bring down the volume a little. After the chorus, I'll go into a guitar solo, and on the 2nd go around I look back at the guys and tell them to break it down, and they do something cool. I hit back to the mic, and we bring it down real low, and build it back up to the chorus, hit a short solo and then play the turn around lick for Tore Down, and the guys pick up on it, and we have some more fun. I hold up the guitar to signal the stops on the 1st verse, and then do the same and tell them to stay on the 1 for 4 more on the 2nd verse. We jam some more, and then I look back at the drummer and bassist, and play the walkdown ending and kill it.

There's lots of resources out there, so take advantage of it. Listen to a lot of Blues, because it's all about the feel. But, don't stop there. Watch the masters and see how they command a stage and band. Find bandmates that can watch each other, listen to cues, and understand the lingo. Otherwise, the Blues can be a very tedious venture. Go to the local Blues jam, meet folks and hone your chops. If you guys don't have a drummer, practice with a drum machine. You can do a lot with a shuffle and slow Blues beat. If you work on the basics, the rest will come into place easily and you'll be gig ready in no time.
Click to expand...

You nailed it!

in all seriousness, that is very close to how my band has run for about 5-6 out of 8 years. the first 2-3 I had other members who were difficult to work with and the transition to what it is now (about what you described above) affords the opportunity to play when a regular cannot make a gig. we re fortunate to have a Lot of really good talent locally and I have friends who can sit in - step up and take the front when its their turn, and step back when its not. I always try to have at least two singing guitarists, or at least one, and a singing ........ other........sometimes harp, sometimes keys. we also have sit in friends, who are really on par. It ALWAYS makes the nights interesting, spontaneous and because they are all A Game players, a really good show. I provide PA and hire the band guys, and do 99% of the booking so I have a lot of say, but have the guys with the front talent do that part, except I make some announcements, call outs, etc. when needed.

Like minded people - it works.

I have had people come up to tell me anyone can play this, or tell me how good they are and how easy blues is. FWIW - I find that usually those guys, the ones who smirk, and downplay blues musicianship, are guys who can play the notes, but its not from their soul, or they are just asshats. I find that a guy who comes up and talks, mentions he plays, etc.....will lead you to believe that he can barely tune his own instrument. Its when you hear them that you learn what they have in their pocket.
 
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#69
Frankjohnson said:
You nailed it!

in all seriousness, that is very close to how my band has run for about 5-6 out of 8 years. the first 2-3 I had other members who were difficult to work with and the transition to what it is now (about what you described above) affords the opportunity to play when a regular cannot make a gig. we re fortunate to have a Lot of really good talent locally and I have friends who can sit in - step up and take the front when its their turn, and step back when its not. I always try to have at least two singing guitarists, or at least one, and a singing ........ other........sometimes harp, sometimes keys. we also have sit in friends, who are really on par. It ALWAYS makes the nights interesting, spontaneous and because they are all A Game players, a really good show. I provide PA and hire the band guys, and do 99% of the booking so I have a lot of say, but have the guys with the front talent do that part, except I make some announcements, call outs, etc. when needed.

Like minded people - it works.

I have had people come up to tell me anyone can play this, or tell me how good they are and how easy blues is. FWIW - I find that usually those guys, the ones who smirk, and downplay blues musicianship, are guys who can play the notes, but its not from their soul, or they are just asshats. I find that a guy who comes up and talks, mentions he plays, etc.....will lead you to believe that he can barely tune his own instrument. Its when you hear them that you learn what they have in their pocket.
Click to expand...

People who underestimate the blues are not musicians. There. I said it.
 
#71
Thanks a lot guys. A lot of really good info in here. Much appreciated. I myself have been doing all you've said and then some to up my game. It's the other guys I worry about. After reading this post, they are on their own from now on. I can get guitar players any day of the week and I certainly don't have time to babysit and develop someone else's budding singer/ songwriter career. Last nights jam was really I good step in the right direction. Trimmed sons of the fat. I just hope we can keep it going. Thanks for all the tips.
 
#72
Right now our biggest hurdle is no DRUMMER!! I know we need one but it's easier said than done. I can get a heavy metal drummer tomorrow, OBVIOUSLY that's not gonna work.
We're using some drum tracks for have on my boss rc-3, garage band, and Fender b- Dec. It'll work for now. But I want more variation.
Where can I download since quality drum beats without paying an arm and a leg?
 
#73
bherman said:
I play in a blues band (just starting up actually) with one guitar player, a singer, and a drummer. I'd add a second guitar player only if he/she could sing and was happy to mostly play rhythm. The one thing that kills blues bands is endless soloing (unless its Stevie Ray and BB, in heaven).

Just my opinion -
Click to expand...

Honestly, even when Stevie and BB (as great as they were) did it killed it for me then.
 
#74
A lesson I learned from the second band I was in:
Drums, keys and bass - we wanted to have a goodtime boogie dance band.
Added a guitar player who wanted to do more mainstream pop songs - the bandleader (keys) was an easygoing guy and said ok.
Added a woman singer who wanted to do more folky stuff - bandleader said ok
We ended up with a weak unfocused set list that didn't please anyone - either in the band or in the audience.
The lesson: choose the genre you want to play and stick to it.
There are many styles of blues - which do you want to play?
If you have a keyboard player you may want to stick to more Memphis style blues.
But don't lose your focus trying to cover the whole field!!!!
 
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#75
aaronious said:
I put an ad on my local craigslist looking for guys who want to jam and play some blues. I was pretty specific that we play blues. The thing to do around here is country, heavy metal and 80's butt rock tribute band stuff. All fine and dandy just not my thing.

I've had 5-6 guys respond, of course they are all guitar players. So it's me, 3 guitars and a keyboard player with some singing skills. One of the guys has a shop that we play in. We are going into our 4th jam session tomorrow night. We had a few good moments and a few bad moments. We all agreed to learn a handful of songs. I'm not expecting any miracles as we are all beginner to intermediate players, but we got no where with the songs we picked, then a few guys wanted to do "some originals".

Talking to the guy with the shop we play in, we'll call him Hector. Hector and I agree that we should keep it all blues and pick 4-5 songs that we all commit to learn then expand on that.The logic being, once we have a few songs under out belts, we will all feel more confident and be able to branch out and learn from there. A few guys have never played blues and can't quite grasp the 12 bar concept yet, so we think its a solid plan. Crawl before you walk sort of thing.

So my question is, is this a good strategy. I've never been in a band before and they guys who have seem kinda lost. I think we need a plan, some direction and then head in that direction. I'm fine with originals, as long as they are blues and only after we have everyone on the same page. What would you do?
Click to expand...
1) have the man keep you down, have a woman break your heart, General feeling of malaise
2) write songs
3) ????
4) profit?
 
#76
aaronious said:
Right now our biggest hurdle is no DRUMMER!! I know we need one but it's easier said than done. I can get a heavy metal drummer tomorrow, OBVIOUSLY that's not gonna work.
We're using some drum tracks for have on my boss rc-3, garage band, and Fender b- Dec. It'll work for now. But I want more variation.
Where can I download since quality drum beats without paying an arm and a leg?
Click to expand...

If you build it, they will come. Good drummers are out there, but they won't answer ads. They are too busy playing. Start asking around, but get tight on everything, so that someone can walk in and play with little fuss. Hell, pay for a session drummer for one practice. Even if the drummer doesn't stick with you, at least you've made one more contact with a serious musician.

Do you just need drum samples? Or do you want a sequencer, too? Garage band is a little limited in that area, IMO. I use Reaper with addictive drums. I just use their free sample pack - limited, but has enough basic sounds, and swing/shuffle beats to get started. Reaper has a decent MIDI editing roll, too. Pretty easy to put together basic swing/shuffle patterns. I don't know if the current XLN demo packs allow you to import the samples to a DAW, though.
 
#77
mellowinman said:
Or, if you wake up in the morning, and find ............

When you wake up in the morning and the light is hurt your head
The first thing you do when you get up out of bed
Is hit that streets a-runnin' and try to beat the masses
And go get yourself some cheap sunglasses !
Click to expand...


seriously, people come and people go. Dont expect to get something going overnight. Another thing....NOTHING GOOD LASTS FOREVER.
Try and decide two or three "styles" that you want to peruse then go for it. When you go to the grocery store, you dont try to grab everything you need when you step in the door. You go down the bread isle and choose your bread. Then you go down the can isle...first there is canned soup, then canned beans, then canned vegies.....you get the picture.
Dont worry about what is on the pasta and rice isle till you get there. Right?
Decide what you want and then search for it. Be flexible but focused. Things change and people change. What you want right now might change too, keep an open mind. Not everybody can be Buddy Guy....right? Not everybody can be Albert Collins and that's ok.
 
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#78
Sounds like you are rolling nicely in the right direction. I would say be patient and get solid with whatever rhythm tracks fit the bill, and keep trying to find a jam night that is more blues friendly. I know you said your town doesn't have much in that vein, but other like minded souls are out there, if you poke around enough and just keep playing I'll bet you'll find some.
 
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