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How long should it take to have a full set?

S

Snakepit72

Feb 6, 2011
143
0
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
#1
Hi everybody,
A bit of venting here, and a little bit of advice seeking. I've recently put together a new band of friends, which I'm hoping will get pretty serious. I haven't had a band to play bass in since I switched to drums in my one band over a year ago, and so I'm excited for this thing to get off the ground.
We've had two practices so far, one of which I was unable to attend, and the other was only semi-productive. Our guitar players have some songs which we worked on a bit at the last practice; at this rate we should have 2 original songs pretty much complete after practice this coming weekend.
This is where I start to get a bit frustrated. I brought up the idea of playing a party on June 22, and the general consensus was "I don't think we'll be ready by then". :eyebrow: This really got me worked up. How slow of a pace do they expect us to move at?! It's only a 30 minute set, with almost 3 full months between now and the gig.
I was hoping to be booking gigs starting in the beginning of June. All of the band members are in high school (though I will be graduating in June) and thus the summer months are the primary time during which we will be able to play shows. It seems ridiculous to me that the rest of the members (particularly the singer and the two guitar players) don't think we'll be ready to play a short set in 3 month's time. I've been in bands before, and it seems to me that we would have to move at a very slow pace if we were unable to complete a solid 30 minute set of originals in 3 month's time. There is not a primary songwriter, thus far each of us has contributed pieces to the two songs we've got. Am I expecting too much of the band to have 6 or so originals (not to mention any covers) down and performable by late June, or are they setting their sights too low?
 
#2
Learn some covers?

Originals can either come fast or slow. For example, my band cranked out 8 originals within a 4 month period, but we've gotten nothing down over the past 2 months. Within the past 6 months, however, we've managed to learn around 70 different cover songs, so I highly suggest you guys start thinking of a few good party songs to cover.
 
#3
It would seem so much easier, and probably have a higher likelihood of success, of you guys worked out at least one solid set of covers first, THEN started to fiddle with originals

You really need to get some steam built up first before you try to chug up the mountain. You need to figure out your group dynamics, interactions, and musical relationships, before tacking a larger project of originals.

It is more important to solidly have a set of tunes you can perform very well, than it is to have any originals yet.



But yeah, March to June seems like a fat load of time. If the other guys were committed, cooperative, and focused (and maybe even a little talented) it seems like a totally reasonable thing to do.
 
#4
I apologize, I should've added that we are all very familiar with each other as musicians; we met in the School of Rock, which for the uninformed is a music school in which students not only take lessons, but participate in 3 hour weekly rehearsals in order to perform a tribute show to a certain genre or artist. All of the "getting acquainted" stuff that happens in new bands has been done, this is part of the reason why I believe that we should be able to have a solid set in 3 months. Thank you for your advice though!
 
#5
30 minutes = roughly 10 songs. You think you should have 2 originals done by the end of the next practice, so you only need 8 songs. I would immediately learn 8 covers. You should be able to learn at least 2 covers per practice. If you practice once a week, that is one month.

You then have two months to create more originals. Any originals you do can drop a cover, but you always have that cushion if you have a dry spell with the originals.

Sounds very doable to me!
 
#6
This is SO typical. I help out at a local community center that puts kids together in bands. Time after time kids want to be "in a band", but have no idea how to work together, make decisions, get along, let alone actually play something. Sounds like you have a few lacking confidence etc.

You won't win with your friends that hold you back.....it will be excuse after excuse. I have no answer, except to hang in there........you'll make a contact eventually that will lead to better things.
 
#7
I dunno, I'd be more worried about getting songs together than booking gigs at this point. You mentioned you had two practices...one of which you didn't get to. So the band has had one practice. I'd say wait until you're a little further along.

If you want to be in an original band, that stuff takes time. If you guys are looking to be a cover band, well that's a different story.

Assuming it's all originals, who does the writing? Collaborative or one person?
 
#8
How much time does each member put in outside of "practice". If you only write songs when the band gets together, progress will be very slow.

Since you'll be graduating, how about looking for a band outside of school with some older musicians? Maybe from a college?

If your friends are already putting brakes on the project, you getting an attitude about it (I've been in bands before....) won't do a thing for your group. If they haven't been in bands or have limited experience, well...they may not want to play out yet.

Do you have a PA? transportation? Giggable rigs? A lead singer?

I suggest having a band meeting to discuss your goals vs. your bandmate's goals. If you're not on the same page, putting pressure on the other members mostly likely be the end of your project.
 
#9
A 30 minute set is actually only about 6 or 7 songs.

IMO the bottom line is this. If the guys you're working with think they can't do it, then it's a done deal. Their goal will be to prove they can't and it ain't giong to happen. If on the other hand their attitude was, "we're going to make this happen no matter what!", there would be no problem.

If you can get them to agree to make it work, and convince them they can do it, then you'll have to do whatever it takes. Could very well mean hanging out at one of your houses several times a week for hours getting things ready acoustically. Since you're new at it you'll have to find what works best. Actually, all bands have to find what works best. Experienced people may be able to arrive there a bit quicker though. Could be the guitarist coming up with a basic skeleton, the adding a melody, then bass, lyrics, etc... could be you coming up with a riff that the guitarist takes off on... it takes a bit of time to find what'll work. Also, the personalities in the band mean a whole lot. If you got a guy who hates everything everyone comes up with, or has to tweak and change things every time you get together, it could make it undoable. Wish I had more time to elaborate, gottta get to work....

If everyone is willing, open minded, and not afraid to work - it's totally doable. If they refuse to believe it, you may need to find other people to play with. You can even keep playing with them at their pace, just work with others also.
 
#11
Well it really depends on the chemistry & drive of the band.... I just stepped out of a band where we had been playing together for a year and only had 5 songs written...... Just re-joined my old band (Now that one of the guitarist is gone, Long Story) and we have written 8 songs plus we have gotten 5 covers down in a months time......
 
#13
Do you have a list of songs already?

Here's how I work. I already have a setlist. I give the list to each band member. I also provide mp3's and sheet music (If I have it). If the musicians are competent and know their sh**, they should be able to come back at the next rehearsal ready to go! If anyone comes back with any sort of excuse why they could not, or did not work on the tunes, I don't want them in my band! Period!
 
#14
In my band we managed to have 25 originals down within about 8 months, so it all depends on how many ideas you and the others have, we all had ideas (even the drummer) so each practice we would work on the different ideas and get them as whole songs.

So I think that you would definitely be ready by June, and as everyone has said just learn some covers to fill the space where you dont have originals, plus people always love to hear good covers!
 
#16
Depends on how much time you ALL put into it. If you decide on a set, you can all learn the songs at home and if you have regular, scheduled rehersals, say one a week you should be able to have it done in 6 months max and that means solid versions of the songs, not just winging it with minimal work. Maybe you can do it quicker.. who knows? I say six months because life gets in the way. What's a set?? 25-30 songs? Two hours?? Three sets of about 45 min. ea??
I'd say six months, give or take...
 
#17
Get organized. If someone is writing originals - let 'em write - but otherwise, pick your songs - make your sets - set your rehearsal goals and agendas and get busy.

In order to be a viable band, you need to be able to put together a good show - not just make it to the end of each set with minimal mistakes. That takes knowing your material inside and out - having it well-rehearsed and executing it like you mean it.

That's all easy if you make your list, set your rehearsal agenda and everyone does their job.

Your job(s)?

1) Make the list [pick a bunch of songs you like and think your crowd will like too]

2) Pick 5 of them to have ready by next week's rehearsal - everyone work on the same songs, of course - and come to rehearsal knowing your part. Use the time you are all together to rehearse - not 'learn stuff'. You learn stuff on your time - rehearse on the band's time.

3) Lather, rinse, repeat for each rehearsal. Everyone has a week in between to do their homework. If you can't learn 5 songs in a week, you may want to hold off on thinking about booking summer gigs - at least ones that you will be able to be prepared to play.

If you can learn 5 songs a week, you should challenge yourselves to learn even more. The more homework you all do, the more stuff you all have to JAM on in rehearsal. The more you JAM in rehearsal, the better your live shows will be.

All of this will make your 'originals' 100 times better, too.
 
#18
If you are a jam band all you need is one song and play and start improvising. The problem is the audience, unless they are drugged they might drift away.

Anyway is to pick a group of covers you like *and make your own arrangements* out of those songs. Then add more original material along the way. It's pretty easy to learn three-chord songs and write new arrangements around them. That's how Beatles started, too.
 
#19
IMO, I'd rather see an original band do a handful of strong original tunes mixed with some covers than see an original band do a handful of strong originals mixed with a bunch of bad tunes. Too many bands won't reject enough of their own tunes, and throw out crap just to be all original or because they won't objectively listen to their music.

If you're looking to do an all original show, it depends on the songwriting and arranging skills of your band. It could take up to a year or longer, if you are very serious about putting together a show and CD of strong originals. If it's a cover show, it shouldn't take more than a handful of practices as long as the tunes aren't too complicated.
 

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