Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Hi all i have just started to play bass and want to get a band together, the only musician friends i have are already in bands one of them has a record deal but my problem is this, i am still not that good, i have only mastered one song (i believe in a thing called love by the darkness) i can learn a song but i think that by forming a band mad up of people of the same abillity we could all learn a bit quicker, is this too much to ask or am i living in a dream world

trevor83684 wrote:Hi all i have just started to play bass and want to get a band together, the only musician friends i have are already in bands one of them has a record deal but my problem is this, i am still not that good, i have only mastered one song (i believe in a thing called love by the darkness) i can learn a song but i think that by forming a band mad up of people of the same abillity we could all learn a bit quicker, is this too much to ask or am i living in a dream world

Trev
Find another bass player to learn from
Get lessons for a few months
There is no use in playing with a drummer who isnt up to snuff ....
It takes time Bro
Good luck

I would say get some sort of time keeping device to keep in time and practice scales.

Go online and find some lessons.

3 to 5 beginners playing together are just gonna make a lot of noise.

I started on bass and I always tryed to play with people that were better than me, if you learn bad habits playing right off the bat cause you dont know better it will be hard to break them down the road.

Good Luck and just hang in there man!

Practice until your fingers hurt. Then practice some more.
It just will not work with you and a few others at the same level of newbie-ness.
Think about it: you know one song. The guitarist knows one song (a different one). The drummer knows a song (yet another one).
"OK, everyone play what you know ...."

You need to learn playing skills - get a self-teaching book, take lessons, etc. Keep practicing. At least an hour a day, every day.

Live the dream ( and follow the advice of the players here )


You can go a long long way in a short period of time if you listen to good advice and apply yourself.


I am living proof.
Not that I'm all that, but I started where you are just a few years ago.

Now we are playing out regularly, recording my second CD, and doing videos like the one below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi2C3PATcmQ

get on youtube, there's a zillion "beginner" lessons out there, where guys will show you everything from the basics to how to play just about any song out there. Stick to the basics first, develop a rhythm, develop your timing. Play along with a metronome- it's CRITICAL to holding together the rhythm secion. As a bass player, you are the musical glue that binds the band.

I'd hold off putting together a band until you have at least a year of solid practice, if not two. You just can't expect to learn and grow enough to support even the most garaged efforts before learning how to play your instrument.

Keep in mind that many of us over 35 learned to play without the internet to help us, it was MUCH harder to find anything or anyone to learn from. We usually ended up doing it by ear and that's important too- you need to develop your ear.. something that only comes with practicing with a metronome.

This is one of those "easy path vs. hard path" responses.. take the easy path and you probably won't get much better, but you can rock your ass off with a band (while others cringe). Not to be harsh, just trying to drive the point home.

Good luck!

Brother I strongly suggest that if you can swing it - play with guys that at least one notch up from you. You'll learn fast as hell.

Playing with other beginners, I doubt that would last or really take you anyware.

but don't trust me - Jethro Tull got their name because they were collectively so shitty that they had to change their name after each gig. Wasn't too long and they were very damn good.

But if you're just going after it casually and chasing some share vision of glory - get some hot some players and learn all you can. They'll tell you what they want.

Good luck
Talbot