• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

...So I want to start a band

8

80sThrasher

Jul 26, 2013
11
0
#1
Hey I just started playing bass about 6 months ago, and I wanted to start a band. I will probably wait to start when I get a little better at scales and stuff like that, and playing faster.

I am 15 years old, and wanted to maybe start a Metallica cover band to start out with, probably with kids from my school. If I decide to ditch the cover band idea, I want to be in a thrash metal band, metal, or hard rock type band.

I wanted to know if anyone could give me any tips about actually STARTING the band, practice schedules, getting gigs, playing metal music, playing Metallica songs (only the good old-school ****) and ESPECIALLY writing songs and jamming, or anything about being in a band in general. I already know a little bit because my dad has been in a few bands, but anything will help.

Thanks
 
#3
I am 15 as well, but I've been playing for about 5 years now and have played in school. Living in a somewhat rural area and going to a small high school, it has been very difficult to find anyone who even plays guitar or drums or anything of the sort. I would make sure to find what you think are necessities to the band (drums, guitar, etc.) and make sure those are solid. Finding someone who you like, plays well, and has a good attitude will really help. Work out a somewhat routine schedule and make sure you guys can get together somewhat often (mainly if there are work/school time issues) and stay in contact. Keep an open mind to their suggestions and views, as it could be beneficial to the band. Keep it friendly and have fun.
 
#5
At your age it's going to be hard to start any sort of real band outside of guys who you may occasionally get together to jam with. At that age I was lucky enough to do some battle of the bands and charity-type gigs, but that was about it. No place else wanted to hire 15 year old kids for any number of reasons. There are also a number of Gorilla Production type gigs out there that might consider hiring you, but they're all a scam to steal your money.

The best advice I could give is for you to find guys who enjoy playing music and to jam with them as awesome as possible. Be flexible enough to learn stuff outside of metal music because, at your age, you really just need to be learning as much material as possible. It'll make you flexible, and it'll open up a lot more gigs for you than what Metallica will do (and this is coming from a guy who learned the first 3 Metallica albums note for note between 14-16 years old).
 
#6
Sure. Here are a few solid tips.
- Don't give up easy. When it gets frustrating and you can't play a part, slow it down, you'll get it. And, its hard to find bandmates when your young. Especially who are on the same page as you with music interest. Stick with it. Get good while your young. When you hit college you'll be having the time of your life.
-Metallica songs are not that easy. But they are also not that hard. Play what you wanna hear. Scales and all that are helpful. No doubt. But focus on making the bass sound the way you want it to sound.
- Watch You Tube. I wish it was around when I was a kid. Ive been playing for 20 years and I still learn everyday from other musicians.
- As for as writing metal. Two things. 1-Listen to creative metal bands. i.e. Colliseum, Trap Them, Daughters, Tera Melos, Dillinger Esacape Plan.
-2-What you listen to creates your vocabulary, so listen to different music, and your metal writing will be more creative.
- Get into King Crimson. Tomorrow. Right Now. First get Red. Then Larks Tounge. Then Discipline. Then Starless. Haha. Seriously. Watch live King Crimson. Its a music lesson everytime.
-Finally. Get a good amp and bass. Cheap is fine. Make sure your first pedal is a tuner. Not a fuzz. Use a metranome to gain speed. They really work if you use it right.
Good luck dude. We are all counting on you.
Just kidding. Seriously. Stick with it. Its fun

If someone told me this when I was 15, I feel like it would have saved me 6 years of figuring crap out. Hopefully some of this will help you.
 
#8
1) I'd practice a bit longer before starting a band.

2) Get a group together intending to just "jam." The band part will come later, if that makes sense...don't just pick up someone up and put them in the band because they know how to play guitar, jam with them first and build some chemistry.

3) Buy a decent bass/amp. (What do you have now?)

4) Listen to your favorite metal bands and try to emulate (not copy) them; look at how they structure their songs and try to do something similar.

5) For God's (or Satan's, since this is a metal band) sake, make sure at least one of you knows how to write decent lyrics. I'm about to join a band with 3 great musicians (it's actually a metal band), they know how to shred and are really good at writing music...but they can't write lyrics to save their lives. They asked me to join partly because they need a good bass player, but also because they want to start recording original songs but they don't have any lyrics written (I have tons of lyrics written, but need help creating guitar/drum parts to go with them, so we were a perfect match). They'd be a lot farther along in their "careers" if they had found someone sooner.

6) Learn more styles than just metal. I play in two (almost three, the third listed above) bands with two completely different styles: bluegrass and a sort of indie/alt rock outlet. Now I'm joining a metal band, and it's going to be completely different again. Don't limit yourself musically, because one day you might decide you don't want to be in a metal band anymore and then you'll be stuck. Learning the different structures/techniques of different genres can help with the process of writing original songs.

Best of luck!
 
#9
I'm kind of a newbe. I started playing in 1966. As someone has mentioned, don't worry about a 'band' in particular yet, that will come automatically as time goes by. Jam with everyone you can. Always try to play with someone better than you. It will raise your level faster than anything else. Learn varied styles, as has been said, it will greatly enhance your 'sale-ability' and value. You never know what opportunities will come out of no-where as you meet more musicians.
 
#11
Find a guitarist who can play the power chords in a riffie fashion. Play the bass more like a rhythm considering that's what a lot of it is in metal. A lot of times in metal the bassist and rhythm guitar will playing virtually the same thing but the rhythm guitar is playing chords and the bass is playing lines in the lower octave, does that make sense?

Good drummer is vital to the metal genres, probably one with dual kick pedals, and BE PREPARED TO USE A PICK ON THE BASS, using a picks helps you lock in with those ultra-fast drummers and guitarists, sometimes it's just not possible to keep up on fingers, (I know there are exceptions to this)

Finding a guitarist won't be too hard I don't think..
 
#13
rfslick said:
I'm kind of a newbe. I started playing in 1966. As someone has mentioned, don't worry about a 'band' in particular yet, that will come automatically as time goes by. Jam with everyone you can. Always try to play with someone better than you. It will raise your level faster than anything else. Learn varied styles, as has been said, it will greatly enhance your 'sale-ability' and value. You never know what opportunities will come out of no-where as you meet more musicians.
Click to expand...

I also started in 1966.

You probably know, unlike in 1966 , every kid on the block isn't taking up guitar, bass or drums anymore.

Blue
 
#14
lokikallas said:
Don't play bass like a rhythm guitarist. Listen to cool metal with bassists that come up with counterpoint. Atheist, Death, Mudvayne, Infectious Grooves, Sabbath, Maiden, etc...
Click to expand...

I do see what you are saying and kind of agree, I was just saying what I said because sadly enough a lot of metal bands do do that, I was just thinking with 6 months of practice, it would be important to learn how to lock in with somebody, then learn how to stray away without messing the song up. I'm 14 and probably not as experienced in this stuff yet so yeah 80sThrasher listen to him.
 
#15
Thanks for all the good advice and tips! For the guy that asked I am using my dad's Line 6 bass amp, and a synsonics bass.
I am not limiting myself to just metal, but right now that is the kind of music I want to play, and that I really get into. If I get the chance I will start a band outside of metal, but I dont want to do that right now.

Also, does anyone have any good practice techniques for gaining speed, practicing scales, or knowing my fretboard a little better (I know how to read music and key signatures and all that business, so I think in terms of notes, not positions on the fretboard)
 
#16
1.Take Music Lessons. So valuable at a young age and the things you learn will stick with you for life. I wish I was smart enough to take lessons when I was young.

2. Shy away from drugs and alcohol and musicians who abuse them. Substance abuse does not make you more creative it makes you sloppy and limits your full potential for just about everything you want to do in life. Drunk/High musicians in your band make for annoying band mates, and frustrating rehearsals and crappy gigs.

3. I'm echoing the importance of a good drummer. Finding a good drummer right now is more important then anything else.

4. If you find someone to handle vocals, and they just scream, keep looking. Nothing wrong with screamo's but if that's all they can do they aren't taking it seriously.

5. Play(cover) everything you can get your hands on.

6. Record all the time. You can get a digi recorder real cheap. Listening to your last practice, outside of practice will help you find weaknesses and things that need to be improved upon.

7. Outside of the Band, practice alone everyday if you can. You will naturally learn the fretboard and develop speed and what not over time, so the more you practice the quicker you will become more comfortable with it. It's also a really good habit to get into.

8. Pick up a fretless bass ASAP. The sooner you learn it the better, and once you get used to it, you may never go back to frets. There are a lot of "metal" musicians that use fretless, so don't worry about stigma's and looking the part.
 
#18
Lokikallas, just thought I would let u know that I am in my schools Jazz 1, Jazz 2, Concert/Pep, and Jazz combo group and I play trombone, bass, and baritone horn. So I have a lot of musical background with different styles of music.
 
#20
80sThrasher said:
Lokikallas, just thought I would let u know that I am in my schools Jazz 1, Jazz 2, Concert/Pep, and Jazz combo group and I play trombone, bass, and baritone horn. So I have a lot of musical background with different styles of music.
Click to expand...

Ha, I figured that when you said you could read but still needed help with scales. Story of my high school band career right there :D

What helped me the most was running arpeggios up and down the neck. So let's say I was practicing in C Major. I'd do a:

CMaj7 - C, E, G, B
Dm7 - D, F, A, C
Em7 - E, G, B, D
FMaj7 - F, A, C, E
GMaj7 - G, B, D, F
Am7 - A, C, E, G
Bdim7 - B, D, F, A

And I'd go up and down those notes for each. Then I'd do them in different order, sometimes start elsewhere in the key, or I'd change to a new key and repeat the process, etc... I found that helped me learn the fretboard. Add a metronome to help practice your time a bit too.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back