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overwhelmed with new band
- Thread starter outlet3000
- Start date
It is a known fact that I am an extraordinarily average bass player (but, please, don't tell anyone). And yet I've been in regularly gigging a band for 8+ years.
Stick with it. You've got no where to go up but, like the rest of us.
Stick with it. You've got no where to go up but, like the rest of us.
Learn from them, learn the tunes and play them to the best of your abilities, participate in the song writing process, be a good band member and have fun.
Congratulations to you.. playing in a band is a great thing.. enjoy it.
Congratulations to you.. playing in a band is a great thing.. enjoy it.
... and now, for something completely different...
I pretty much started on bass the same way. I bought a bass and woodsheded for a few months. I got bored playing by myself and went out for an band audition, and offered the part. I felt overwhelmed and that they took me only because there was a shortage of good players.
Within a few months I was learning with their help, support and practice. Playing with others especially those better than you is huge. After maybe 6 months they and others were sayin how good I was. Most thought I had been playing for years. When that band started dragging their feet I left and jumped right into a good gigging band. I have been doing it for now over 15 years.
Keep the faith, listen and learn from the others and practice. Soon you will gain confidence and ability. Good luck.
Within a few months I was learning with their help, support and practice. Playing with others especially those better than you is huge. After maybe 6 months they and others were sayin how good I was. Most thought I had been playing for years. When that band started dragging their feet I left and jumped right into a good gigging band. I have been doing it for now over 15 years.
Keep the faith, listen and learn from the others and practice. Soon you will gain confidence and ability. Good luck.
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Congrats on finding a band! That's a huge step. Like other people have said, even though it's daunting as all heck, playing with people better than you is the best way to improve. And I say this as someone who also has some pretty bad anxiety and is just re-taking that step towards playing in a band. It's hard, it's scary, but the worst case scenario is it doesn't work out and you just learned and improved a bunch.
Stick with it. Nothing helps you improve as thoroughly or as rapidly as being the least skilled member of a band. Once you're on a similar level with this band, go find another band with better players and start the process over again.
That's great, you got yourself free teachers! Go for it! Record a rehearsal and practice at home!
Consider this: at some point every great bass player you can think of—every single one—was a poorer player than you are right now.
The only difference between them and you is time and effort.
Keep at it and continue to associate with better musicians.
The only difference between them and you is time and effort.
Keep at it and continue to associate with better musicians.
I have been playing with guys that are better than me for the last 35 years. Have fun , enjoy yourself. My motto is 2 notes in time are better than 15 notes out of time. Find a simple grove that is within your ability to play and you will go far.
When it comes to women or other musicians: if they like what you're doing...don't talk them out of it.
Buckle up. You are about to get a LOT better fast. Good for you!
Set your feelings aside for a while. Ignore them. Focus on your bass playing.
You'll be just fine.
You'll be just fine.
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Never flat out recommended that someone buy my book here on Talkbass, but my response to your OP would be pretty much everything I've written in my book - and it's on sale for 2 more days for just $.99 (Kindle apps can be downloaded for free for phones and computers - if ya don't have one). Apologies for the blatant self promo on this, but you sound a lot like me when I was younger, and my life was ruined by panic attacks. As well as shyness, and host of other problems. It's not like that any more. I'd write more but heading out to a gig.Hey guys sorry if this is a weird post.
I've been playing bass for around 3\4 years now - just simple songs or making my own stuff up so decided to post an ad looking for other hobby musicians who where bord of playing to CD's.
Withing a week I was asked to join this band. We've had one practice session, playing the singers own songs (nothing complex)
My problem is I'm feeling pretty useless - Bass has always been a small hobby and these guys are so far ahead of me, I even explained this to them and think they only picked me up due to the lack of bass players in the area.
Am I just overthinking this and trying too hard ? I'm a shy guy with low self esteem and often put up with panic attacks. can you guys give me some advise, talk me down or examples from your own experience of your first band?
Should i give up and go back to hitting things with sticks ? (Drummer joke)
Good luck.
The link is in my sig, but it doesn't go to the Kindle link, and some people don't have signatures enabled. If interested it's here https://www.amazon.com/50-Things-Be...swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1483405918&sr=8-1. If not interested no worries. I still wish you the best
and can probably respond a little more helpfully when I have the time.
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
The instrument to be in over your head is bass. We're in enough demand and short enough supply that we can get away with that. Work your butt off and you'll likely keep the gig for a very long time.
Mr.Ace
Bass players rule!
- Sep 8, 2015
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- Endorsed by Fusion ( maker of killer gig bags)
If you're out of you're comfort zone, then that's a great place to be. Time to step up the old game. You'll do fine
OP, you (like many of us) are suffering from impostor syndrome. It's a pretty common thing actually. Look, the band thinks you are good enough. Therefore, you are. Don't overthink it. Eventually you will either be exposed as a pathetic fraud (unlikely), or you will realize you're not so bad after all (very very likely).
^ This
Plus listening to rehearsals is a very good way to see what works and what doesn't. Things that sound good when you are playing them don't always sound that good when you hear the playback.
I record all rehearsals (with a hand held recorder) and edit out the best version and put the mp3s on cloud storage for the other band members to "critically appraise". It is amazing how rapidly some songs improve once we hear what they actually sound like.
They might be better than but you're good enough to have been asked to join the band..... Keep practicing the tunes on your own - nail the groove, identify and reproduce the subtleties in the recorded tunes and you'll soon find you're adding more and more value to the band.
