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Playing with actual people!

Forty-Thirty

Forty-Thirty

Guest
Feb 22, 2015
399
1,208
Arkansas
#1
I'm so excited... I'm going to play with ACTUAL PEOPLE for the first time next week! It's a milestone! The friend that was going to be teaching me (I ended up teaching myself) and I, and possibly his daughter, have a date to play together on Wednesday. He chose Tom Petty's "Free Fallin" for me to work on. It is ridiculously simple, but I figure introducing other players makes things more complicated, so a simple, fairly mindless bass line is probably a good thing. What do I need to know about playing with others? Any tips? Wish me luck! :)
 
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#3
And make eye contact and SMILE! You're all having a blast! If someone makes a mistake, don't criticize them. Your first time together was amazing, perfect, you kicked butt, you're going to keep at it, all that. That attitude will take you farther than breaking down who missed what change. Lie if it is a positive lie that might make someone who is embarrassed, on the fence, or unsure of themselves come back. All that matters is that you make sure you have people to play with for a second time. Be positive at all costs.
 
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#4
be aware of your volume level with respect to the others.

have fun, and LOOK like you're having fun.

if you forget what to play in a section, don't play at all. Silence is better than wrong notes.

And this piece of advice is the most valuable,gleemed after years of playing:

If you totally forget what to play during a song, turn down the volume knob on your bass,walk over to your amp and start madly adjusting all the knobs,vainly trying to get sound out of this apparently dead amp. Shrug at the band. What can I do? It's the amp's fault. You are welcome :)
 
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#5
Congratulations and have fun! Don't worry about it too much. Just learn your part, do your best, and enjoy it. There's a magic when everyone locks in with each other and all of a sudden you're making MUSIC together. May this be the first of many jam sessions - there's no going back now! You'll be hooked.

Oh, and PS - you WILL make mistakes, even if it's a simple part. Don't worry about it, just keep playing. It's all part of the experience.
 
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#6
TOOL460002 said:
And make eye contact and SMILE! You're all having a blast! If someone makes a mistake, don't criticize them. Your first time together was amazing, perfect, you kicked butt, you're going to keep at it, all that. That attitude will take you farther than breaking down who missed what change. Lie if it is a positive lie that might make someone who is embarrassed, on the fence, or unsure of themselves come back. All that matters is that you make sure you have people to play with for a second time. Be positive at all costs.
Click to expand...

I don't think my positivity is in danger of failing... I'm over the moon! Giddy! My friend who I'll be playing with doesn't often get to play with others either, so we are both excited. :)
 
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#7
BazzTard said:
be aware of your volume level with respect to the others.

if you forget what to play in a section, don't play at all. Silence is better than wrong notes.
Click to expand...

This is really helpful advice. Thank you!

BazzTard said:
If you totally forget what to play during a song, turn down the volume knob on your bass,walk over to your amp and start madly adjusting all the knobs,vainly trying to get sound out of this apparently dead amp. Shrug at the band. What can I do? It's the amp's fault. You are welcome :)
Click to expand...

LOL! I love it.
 
#8
Forty-Thirty said:
I'm so excited... I'm going to play with ACTUAL PEOPLE for the first time next week! It's a milestone! The friend that was going to be teaching me (I ended up teaching myself) and I, and possibly his daughter, have a date to play together on Wednesday. He chose Tom Petty's "Free Fallin" for me to work on. It is ridiculously simple, but I figure introducing other players makes things more complicated, so a simple, fairly mindless bass line is probably a good thing. What do I need to know about playing with others? Any tips? Wish me luck! :)
Click to expand...

Be aware that your bass sound out in the room will likely be "boomier" than it sounds to you either at home or on stage. Adjust accordingly based on what you want your audience to hear.
 
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#13
Forty-Thirty said:
I'm so excited... I'm going to play with ACTUAL PEOPLE for the first time next week! It's a milestone! The friend that was going to be teaching me (I ended up teaching myself) and I, and possibly his daughter, have a date to play together on Wednesday. He chose Tom Petty's "Free Fallin" for me to work on. It is ridiculously simple, but I figure introducing other players makes things more complicated, so a simple, fairly mindless bass line is probably a good thing. What do I need to know about playing with others? Any tips? Wish me luck! :)
Click to expand...
Listen to what the band is playing and remember the drummer is your best friend. Good luck, relax, enjoy it, it's a blast.:thumbsup: :bassist::bassist:
 
#18
BazzTard said:
if you forget what to play in a section, don't play at all. Silence is better than wrong notes.
Click to expand...

Forty-Thirty said:
This is really helpful advice. Thank you!.
Click to expand...

It's one thing if you're in your living room working on tune to stop and ask to restart at whatever point you got lost. However, if you're ever performing for an audience, and you get lost, don't ever stop. Ever!
JMPOV

Have fun!
 
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