General Music Chat

Hey all, I just wanted to share some good news with you. I'm going to have my first rehearsal with a band called, The Lawmen this coming Saturday. The lead singer/guitarist profile in on bandmix. Just check out "The Lawmen" on here and you can hear some sound files and see a video they did. Here is the direct link to their profile. http://bandmix.com/the-lawmen I'm going to be doing backing vocals. They are an interesting band, really different from what's out there. Not exactly what I really want to do, but it will give me experience that I need right now.

Check it out and let me know what you think, ok?

Tracy

Congrats sister!

Start where you can, while perfecting your skills!

When my lead guitarist was first getting his chops, he took a job as a roadie for a previous band, but kept practicing, until one day they offered him a job on lead. He's been a lead player ever since.

Congrats, Tracy. Sounds like a pretty decent band. You ought to have fun with it.

Okay, constructive criticism:

The bassist could tighten up his timing just a little. It would add more punch. It's rather unfair to judge from the few samples, but I get the impression that if I were at a club hearing this band I would get tired of it after a short time. The compositions don't seem to have much variation. I've worked with better sax players, but this guy is competent.

I think your vocals could add a lot of dimension to the act.

Congrats sister!

Start where you can, while perfecting your skills!

Thanks guys, I'll let you know how rehearsal goes tomorrow. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I really think this is going to be good for me. I need something that will build my confidence and self esteem. I really think this will. That's one thing about music that I love, and that is it helps build character in one's self, you know? You feel better about yourself and what your able to achieve. It's sooo fulfilling.

rock on, Tracy

Tracy, you might want to work on hitting the notes more cleanly. I note that you tend a little, like some folks to do a lot, to slide on and off notes. When you're working with harmony parts, this won't be so good. Get your intonation really clean, and things will go a lot more smoothly.

Suggestions for doing this:

-- Record yourself often. Listen for the intonation on the playback. Observe what situations and notes tend toward inaccuracies.
-- Sing full voice, as if you're sure that it's in tune. If it's not, you'll notice it very easily. Most audiences won't, though; they'll be too overwhelmed by your self-confidence to think you might be off.
-- Plug a finger in one ear, to more easily hear your own voice.
-- Practice with an instrument. Hit a note and try to sing it accurately.
-- Once you're getting pretty sure of yourself, sing a note then play it on the instrument. See how close you got. You need to hear the notes in your head before you sing them.
-- Belt it out from the diaphragm. Use your whole body to grab that note. Think of your entire body as the instrument, not just the vocal cords.

Well I had my first practice/audition with The Lawmen. I must say it went well and I had fun with it. I've never sang with a band before so it was cool. They didn't have my mic turned up enough at the beginning so once the instruments and their vocals kicked in, I couldn't hear myself. I was straining some to hear, which is not good. Then they turned my mic up and we just did vocals. I think I did ok, but I'm not sure. The lead singer/guitarist said he would talk to the guys and he'll let me know.

If I don't get in, I'm not going to be overly disappointed. It's really not something I want anyway. I just wanted to join them for the experience.

So we'll see. I'll let you know what he says.

Tracy

If I don't get in, I'm not going to be overly disappointed.

That's a multifaceted situation. Yeah, you could have a bad night, or suck to begin with but if you were terrible in the first place I don't think you would last long. Two or three songs and they'd say "OK, thanks we'll get back to you..."

If you do a decent job you'll get considered, and if you're not accepted, they might be more interested in a different voice entirely - Janis Joplin and Nancy Wilson sound entirely different - or there might be a friction between personalities, you might be terrific but someone else who's even better came along the next night, or maybe that "chemistry" just is not there...and that's just the beginning. I've seen bands grab the lesser player because it just "felt right" with one particular prospect.

Being passed over is one of the things you have to get accustomed to and learn to handle in your own way, but don't be too disappointed or get discouraged. I've gone for several auditions and only heard from one again, and that was to say "no thanks", and I've done 3 in a couple of weeks and been invited to join all three bands...it happens...and I usually choose to go with the worst one of the bunch in the long run, of course...