Learning to Play in a Band

[Groove Finder]

Hello everyone!

I'm relatively new to playing the bass and am always looking for opportunities and experiences locally as well as online to learn and advance in my skill set. I recently came across this ad on Craigslist and was curious as to what everyone thought?

As a beginner, I wouldn't know where to begin with a band and would have anxiety about screwing everyone else up - is this the fastest/best way to learn?

 

[Malcolm35]

I played rhythm guitar --- until our bass player said; "I'm going to sing and play my rhythm guitar next month when we come here. Take my bass and back me up.

He told me to put the I chord's root on the A string and the IV's root would be up a string same fret and the V's root would be down a string same fret.

Find your I chord's root in the first five frets and once you know where the root chord is located the IV and V will always be up a string or down a string same fret. Piece of cake. Find a C note, where is the F note, yep right where it is supposed to be. Where is the G note, yep again where it is supposed to be.

Pound roots to the beat. We will get around to adding other chord tones into your bass line later. There is a good link active today find it and get in the shed. Pound roots and lock with the kick drum's beat. less is more, do not step on toes and you will get asked back.

The guys will help you with the rest.

 

[fearceol]

Playing with others is a great way to learn, but it could be done by jamming with like minded people...not necessarily "a band" as such.

Having said that, I believe there is nothing to lose by availing of the opportunity offered. Be honest when replying. Tell him exactly where you are with regards your bass playing. Try and find out in advance what songs the band will be doing. If you DO screw up..so what..? You will have told them in advance that you are new to learning the bass. @Malcolm35 's post above will be of use too.

Playing along to songs and working out the bass line yourself with out using tab is a great way to train your ear, and also for preparing yourself for playing with others.

Best of luck with it.

 

[BassChuck]

If a child, in the first year of their life, was able to ask you, "how can I learn to walk?"? You'd probably say, "get on your feet and give it a go.... oh yea, and when you fall (and you surely will) get your ass off the floor and have another go at it".
Same with bass. get with a group of people, pick a song, learn your part and try to get it all happening together. And yea, it will suck, and yea, people will get lost, and yea it may take a while before the song sounds good. Do it anyway. If you can tell one song from another, you know enough to eventually get it together.
You learn more from failure than success. A bad idea is better than no idea. Active is always better than inaction.

 

[Malcolm35]

One of the first bands I played with was The Dallas Banjo Band.
I played rhythm on the back row and did a lot of air banjo, but learned a bunch being around the other guys and gals.

Video, dallas banjo band - Bing video

I'm not in the video.

 

[RyanOh]

I think the #1 best way to improve as a musician is playing with others. I'd check out that ad, it sounds like the right set of expectations and they are willing to work with you.

It may not work out for any number of reasons, but completely worth a try.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I think of playing with other musicians as a conversation. As long as we all agree on the topic, and speak a common language, we can communicate fine even if not everyone stays the same number of words. However, if I know nothing about nuclear physics and sit down at a table of veteran scientists I'll be in over my head and unable to do contribute more than a nod and shrug.

I'd suggest finding others to jam with just to get a feel for what it's like to support or respond to another musician. You can work on your basic music alphabet first so you can speak the same language as them, and practice some basic technique to speed things up. If they say "I'm going to play A, then C, then G" you want to be able to locate and play those notes without stopping to count your frets.

As for anxiety, that comes from setting expectations. Accept that you'll make mistakes and it will be a learning process. Everybody does when they start out. If they are expecting perfection then you aren't in the right environment to learn.

If you're into reading, look up Zen Guitar, Effortless Mastery, or The Music Lesson for some perspective on learning and growing your skill as a musician. And lastly, remember that you learn the most when you are uncomfortable and the least when you are safe and unchallenged.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I would be wary of an unknown person offering free bass "lessons".

Learn the bass line, learn the song, concentrate on staying tight with the drummer.

 

[AxtoOx]

Have you seen this band?Do the gig? Own a PA?
Have any idea if they can play, but your naturally a little self conscious
They may be big fish in a small pond.
Personally I'd go towards networking.

 

[Roughneck94]

Here is my experience I bought a bass, never touched on before. Signed up for our worship band at church two days later. Went to meet and greet practice told them I had owned a bass for exaxtly a week. But I would practice and work at it and if I ruined their sound or they wanted to boot me they could with no hard feelings. That was 2 months ago. I have been on stage for the last 6 weeks wvery Sunday. I screw up multiple times every week but it gets easier