I don't like the new guy.

[whero]

From the original post, it doesn't sound like the three of you have played together; you've just seen the two of them together (once?). I wouldn't necessarily rule out joining them based on that. If they've only just started playing with each other, perhaps the new guy was still finding his role in the act and, over time he'll get less busy. Perhaps he feels the need to fill some space, and with a bass player added he wouldn't.

I'd say it would be worth asking for a rehearsal session with the two of them to see how it goes. If he's still overplaying in that context, it's your opportunity to raise it constructively. If your friend doesn't agree, that's where you can bow out gracefully.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

A friend of mine is a singer/songwriter in kind of the soft rock/folk genre. He's an okay acoustic guitar player, good singer and fantastic songwriter (briliant lyriscist). I have played with him a few times and have played bass on his CD.

Recently he had a new guy join him. The other guy plays acoustic guitar. I recently saw them at a local coffee shop. The new guy is good but over plays and noodles around. He is basically soloing through my friend's songs. It was really kind of distracting. Luckily his volume was a bit low.

Well my friend wants me to play gigs with him. I would love to.....but not if the other guy is playing with us.

What should I do?

I would say this to your friend: "I would love to.....but not if the other guy is playing with us."

Job done.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I'd say yes to one gig and see what happened. Then you'd have a better idea of what a trio might sound like. You can always bow out after that.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[pepj]

Why is this a problem again...say, no, its not your thing.
If your friend asks why...there is your chance.

 

[kevmac]

A friend of mine is a singer/songwriter in kind of the soft rock/folk genre. He's an okay acoustic guitar player, good singer and fantastic songwriter (briliant lyriscist). I have played with him a few times and have played bass on his CD.

Recently he had a new guy join him. The other guy plays acoustic guitar. I recently saw them at a local coffee shop. The new guy is good but over plays and noodles around. He is basically soloing through my friend's songs. It was really kind of distracting. Luckily his volume was a bit low.

Well my friend wants me to play gigs with him. I would love to.....but not if the other guy is playing with us.

What should I do?

Tell him you'd like to do a jam - rehearsal to see how it feels and do just that.Maybe with another player aboard he'll be less busy,or not.If he's still overplaying you could suggest toning it down,but that may not work in which case you can give them a polite "no thanks".

 

[39-Bassist]

be honest and tell your friend how you feel.
then just see what he says and go from there...just be honest.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

It is possible that the noodler just does not really know the songs - the chord changes and timing? He noodles because he feels he has to play but isn't quite sure of his place just yet. It's easy to riff around and "follow along". He might come on line after a short period of time. You could always postpone a commitment and go hear them in a few weeks.

 

[Marko 1]

Are you getting paid? If so, don't be so delicate,

just play the dang gig and enjoy it.

 

[51PRI]

So Anyway, I'd say yes to one gig and see what happened. Then you'd have a better idea of what a trio might sound like. You can always bow out after that.....

I agree. Tell your friend you will play one gig as an audition situation and see how it goes.

 

[bobba66]

Whatever you do, don't noodle! Never! Ever!

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

This is a possibility, though I suspect remote. There's tasteful noodling and then there's everyone else. But it could be worth one shot.

Whilst I do agree with you, taste is subjective. The noodler may think he is doing it tastefully, whereas the OP feels he is overplaying.

 

[E2942]

Are people supposed to make up fake excuses now to save feelings or something?
When did The Truth start hurting everyone so much?

 

[Jay Corwin]

I vote for the honest conversation.

A couple of years ago my buddy from a previous band tapped me to play bass in his new band. He sent me the demos to work on. I sat down for one night working on them, and realized it just wasn't floating my boat....at all. So I called him the next day and told him, this isn't my cup of tea - I'd be a bad fit after the honeymoon period. I didn't waste his time. He found another bass player and moved his project right along. We are still friends to this day.

 

[bigswifty1]

Are you getting paid?

Good question, I don't think the OP mentioned this. Busy overplayers can be a pest when playing live, but if I'm submitting an invoice then that is the problem of whoever I'm submitting an invoice to.

If this is a "sitting in to help a mate" situation, well all bets are off.

 

[pepj]

Are people supposed to make up fake excuses now to save feelings or something?
When did The Truth start hurting everyone so much?

That is today's world. Some pretty strange or more likely 'fragile' people around. Of course, context helps but yep, you need to sugarcoat it, it seems.

 

[Bass Viking]

A
The new guy is good but over plays and noodles around. He is basically soloing through my friend's songs. It was really kind of distracting. Luckily his volume was a bit low.

Some people think they have to fill up every bit of empty space with notes. They think it’s more about them than the music. Somehow I doubt adding a bass is going to remedy that.

 

[alembicguy]

A friend of mine is a singer/songwriter in kind of the soft rock/folk genre. He's an okay acoustic guitar player, good singer and fantastic songwriter (briliant lyriscist). I have played with him a few times and have played bass on his CD.

Recently he had a new guy join him. The other guy plays acoustic guitar. I recently saw them at a local coffee shop. The new guy is good but over plays and noodles around. He is basically soloing through my friend's songs. It was really kind of distracting. Luckily his volume was a bit low.

Well my friend wants me to play gigs with him. I would love to.....but not if the other guy is playing with us.

What should I do?

Grow up and help a friend out.

 

[Nashrakh]

That is today's world. Some pretty strange or more likely 'fragile' people around. Of course, context helps but yep, you need to sugarcoat it, it seems.

The irony being that those that scream "snowflake" the loudest are themselves the biggest ones.

 

[mahsidivad]

Since there's writing within the project, you might consider saying 'Let's see if we can craft the songs into compositions/ arrangements'. There are great examples of 'space', orchestration and nuance you can gather and provide as a starting point. If everyone's in on taking a producer/ arranger approach it would be a lot easier to apply constructive criticism and put a nix on noodling if there are actual parts for this guy to play. Much better off with 2 acoustics playing together instead of just playing...

(electric band) we used to deliberately turn down when rehearsing to improve interplay and dynamics. Had a guitar player once who absolutely could not. He literally said he loved rehearsal because it's the only slice of his life where he could rip and riff at full volume so it was great for him (while it lasted) at the expense of everyone and everything else.