United States

I'm just starting out trying to get a group of people to play with and familiarize myself with the whole band setting and how to work together and all that important stuff, i'm currently 16 which makes it hard to find others willing to accept me because of my age D: and most people my age aren't taking music as serious as i am. Anybody have any tips to get started at my age? Thanks guys(:

keep the passion

Never heard of this city where you live. If there aren't a lot of options, then maybe you could teach someone else the basics and "grow your own" bass player? Then when you guys are ready, it will be easier to find a drummer.

Your age is actually a big PLUS because once you get out of high school it's even harder to find people that will commit to a band.

On any given day, I'll take one seasoned 76 year old guitarist over 20 young bucks who excel in shredding... simply because that 76 year old has something real to offer in addition to a standard arpeggio... (We are talking about real musicianship, r...and not just some dog & pony act...right?).

ah, but you can't put new wine in old wineskins without them bursting to pieces.


Give me the youngsters who still have passion and idealism over an old fogie with a mortgage and a family anyday. They are too set in their old ways.

A band called Bordello? Outstanding!

As to age of players - I'm finding it's not so much the age as the attitude. It's funny - when i started out playing auditions were all about finding out if the guy could play.

Now everybody can play! Everybody is good. Regardless of age. It's great but a little bizaare.

My wife pointed out the use of a Marshall amp in an SUV commercial. Her point was valid - I'm not as special as i'd like to think anymore - everyone in America knows what a Marshall amp and lots of them own one.

Now the deal is to find people who are with you stylistically.

If it bothers you to play with older guys, or younger guys, don't do it. i like to play with both - I learn from the older ones, how to do things right. And learn from the younger ones how to do them with passion!

Talbot

Oh you can to put new wine
in new wineskins, it's been
done forever.

I'm 52 I don't know if that
makes me an old fogey...
But I have no mortgage or
kids living at home. My boy is
20 years old and his band practices
at my house at least 3 times a week.
I'm trying to help them musically, and
the best way is for me not to play
with them. They think I'm a rockstar,
but they are really starting to gel, for
me to play with them would (I think) kill
their passion and idealism, let them be
what they're going to be, find their own
musical selves without it being skewed
by my old fogie way of looking at things.

As an old fogie I plan on playing with other
old fogies, but they must be more than just
a player or a singer, they must be musicians.
So much about the written word not much
about the 7 notes and their sharps and flats
and how they relate. This transcends all music
the notes and a thorough understanding of
thenotes and their intertwined relationships.

I meant old wineskins, what you think
one skin full and throw it out. I think not
the wine probably tastes better as the
skin develops a residual taste and smell.

the idea is just to get out there and play and get experience. when I was 15 back in 83 I hooked up with some guys that were close to 30 they played Journey, Stix, REO stuff I wouldn't normally play but it got me out there and seen and heard by others. After a while I got hooked up with people more my age and style of music. It's all about playing and being seen and experience and having fun and connections for the future.

On any given day, I'll take one seasoned 76 year old guitarist over 20 young bucks who excel in shredding... simply because that 76 year old has something real to offer in addition to a standard arpeggio... (We are talking about real musicianship, r...and not just some dog & pony act...right?).

ah, but you can't put new wine in old wineskins without them bursting to pieces.


Give me the youngsters who still have passion and idealism over an old fogie with a mortgage and a family anyday. They are too set in their old ways.

As a wine drinker... I wouldn't want to mix new wine with old wine... (And A 75 year old guitarist is an old wine skin with plenty of old wine to go around. ) Note, I didn't say I'd take a 75 year old plumber, who plays guitar... LOL!

Lets Take BB King and the Blues genre... Who do you know, that's 'young' and could possibly measure up in all aspects of a blues song quality like BB king?

Eric Clapton R & B, Rock, Pop) ... What young guitarist do you know that can rival Eric Clapton in the same manner..

etc...

On any given day, I'll take one seasoned 76 year old guitarist over 20 young bucks who excel in shredding... simply because that 76 year old has something real to offer in addition to a standard arpeggio... (We are talking about real musicianship, r...and not just some dog & pony act...right?).

ah, but you can't put new wine in old wineskins without them bursting to pieces.


Give me the youngsters who still have passion and idealism over an old fogie with a mortgage and a family anyday. They are too set in their old ways.

As a wine drinker... I wouldn't want to mix new wine with old wine... (And A 75 year old guitarist is an old wine skin with plenty of old wine to go around. ) Note, I didn't say I'd take a 75 year old plumber, who plays guitar... LOL!

Lets Take BB King and the Blues genre... Who do you know, that's 'young' and could possibly measure up in all aspects of a blues song quality like BB king?

Eric Clapton R & B, Rock, Pop) ... What young guitarist do you know that can rival Eric Clapton in the same manner..

etc...

Are you kidding? Eric "slowhand" Clapton? I once had front row seats to his concert given to me. I fell asleep. He hired a kid I know from Ft Worth named Doyle Bramhall, Jr to play in his band because little Jr is a better guitarist. He played with Pink Floyd on a tour also.

And blues??? Have you listened to Johnny Lang? He sings and plays better than any blues hero you could name by the time he was 16.


Now, we shouldn't judge any innovator by what came afterward, but seriously....the guitarists of today are faster (and better) than the guitarist of yesterday just like sports athletes. Techinical ability and creativity aren't necessarily the same thing. For example, the guitarist I use in recording is technically MUCH better than my all-time hero, Jimmy Page, but if JP hadn't come along, guitar would be a very different instrument today.

]

I'm not saying that there aren't older musicians who are exceedingly skilled. What I meant by that is, skill is mostly determined by the time the individual has practiced. To give an example, if someone started playing bass at 17 and was now 25, wouldn't they generally be a bit more 'seasoned' than someone who started playing bass at 31 and was now 34? Just because the individual is younger, it doesn't necessarily mean that they can not possess the same skill level as someone who is older.

Also, as I hate stereotyping and those that follow the stereotypical image found in today's music scene, I would never refer to those "20 young bucks who excel in shredding". My points allude to those who strive to truly diversify themselves from the social 'norm'; but, in all honesty, I would probably choose the 76 year old, as well. Just saying.

If what you say is true, then the whole argument about age is moot.

Now keep in mind... those "20-young bucks" ... if they keep practicing, they will someday turn into 76-old bucks who excel in shredding"... Just saying

On any given day, I'll take one seasoned 76 year old guitarist over 20 young bucks who excel in shredding... simply because that 76 year old has something real to offer in addition to a standard arpeggio... (We are talking about real musicianship, r...and not just some dog & pony act...right?).

ah, but you can't put new wine in old wineskins without them bursting to pieces.


Give me the youngsters who still have passion and idealism over an old fogie with a mortgage and a family anyday. They are too set in their old ways.

As a wine drinker... I wouldn't want to mix new wine with old wine... (And A 75 year old guitarist is an old wine skin with plenty of old wine to go around. ) Note, I didn't say I'd take a 75 year old plumber, who plays guitar... LOL!

Lets Take BB King and the Blues genre... Who do you know, that's 'young' and could possibly measure up in all aspects of a blues song quality like BB king?

Eric Clapton R & B, Rock, Pop) ... What young guitarist do you know that can rival Eric Clapton in the same manner..

etc...

Are you kidding? Eric "slowhand" Clapton? I once had front row seats to his concert given to me. I fell asleep. He hired a kid I know from Ft Worth named Doyle Bramhall, Jr to play in his band because little Jr is a better guitarist. He played with Pink Floyd on a tour also.

And blues??? Have you listened to Johnny Lang? He sings and plays better than any blues hero you could name by the time he was 16.


Now, we shouldn't judge any innovator by what came afterward, but seriously....the guitarists of today are faster (and better) than the guitarist of yesterday just like sports athletes. Techinical ability and creativity aren't necessarily the same thing. For example, the guitarist I use in recording is technically MUCH better than my all-time hero, Jimmy Page, but if JP hadn't come along, guitar would be a very different instrument today.

Sorry YOD, I have to call bullshit here...

1) I have heard Johnny Lang.. and No, I don't believe he exceeds the blues talent of BB King... (On a number of Fronts). In fact I cant wait for him to come out with some sad medley about his broken cappucino machine... (Sorry Bro, He aint real blues in my book) . I'll give ya that he plays Excellent guitar licks . Knows every scale inside and out...and he really does a great job of sounding like he has the blues... But selling Frappucinos at Starbucks don't make it real coffee...

(I'd Take Robert Cray over Lang any day)

To be fair, This just illustrates that no matter how good or bad a musician actually is... it comes down to taste and what resonates with the listener. More importantly, when it comes to mass appeal, 50 years from now, No matter how assertive they try to tell the public that Lang is a legendary blue man... nobody is gonna give a sh*t about Lang... but they will remember BB king... Now Why is that?

As for Eric Clapton... In an interview, he once admitted that he probably couldn't do a lot of the stuff he did as a younger man...But 'Slowhands' down, his career successfully encompassed, unparalleled technical, poetic and aesthetic skill...Such that ALL of the greatest rock musicians (Including jimmy page) have clamored around him, for the distinct privilege of being with him musically...

I'm sorry you fell asleep during one of his shows...(I'm gonna go on a limb and sya its that sugar diet form listening to too much Lang, that put ya in a coma that night Ha hahah! (Yew know I'm messin with ya ..right?)

Yod

I too fell asleep at a Clapton gig - Derek and the Dominoes at the university of Delaware.

He was good with John Mayall, a monster with Cream, and after all that 'get back to his roots bullshit' he became just another player far as I can see.

Many disagree so I acknowledge that I may be wrong.

I can't think of anytlhing post Cream I liked with the grudging exception of Layla which did capture some of the old magic.

Talbot

Yod

I too fell asleep at a Clapton gig - Derek and the Dominoes at the university of Delaware.

He was good with John Mayall, a monster with Cream, and after all that 'get back to his roots bullshit' he became just another player far as I can see.

Many disagree so I acknowledge that I may be wrong.

I can't think of anytlhing post Cream I liked with the grudging exception of Layla which did capture some of the old magic.

Talbot

Clapton admits he slowed down on technical prowess, but still... I thought (and still think) he is a brilliant guitarist... I believe he can do it in his sleep...So its quite possible that even HE fell asleep at the same shows you guys fell asleep at ...

I wouldn't want to go to a concert with
you guys, fall asleep. I'd leave you sleeping
and let you walk home, and call you names
the next time I saw you.

Yod your pretty much right on with everything
you say, but to me it's obvious your no judge
of talent. Lang, come on there's gotta be a 100
guys that can outplay him, fact you can't play the
blues till you've lived them. Sometimes it's no more
than a 1/2 step or 1 whole step bend, but it's about
feel. My boys band came in and watched the Greatest
Hard Rock songs of all-time a day or 2 ago. Who do you
think the singer was of the #1 song, Axel Rose. And Willie
Nelson you might research what he did to country music
with just a acoustic guitar, before you start putting him down.

Dude I'd totally start a band with you if you lived in LA cuz I 2 am 16 and can't find anyone as serious as me. But for now all I can do is feel your pain try youtube that worked for some people.

Now the deal is to find people who are with you stylistically.

You need to collaborate with those who think like you do.

Often there are plenty of choices, but few correct answers.