General Music Chat

I got about ten compositions for rock, lyrics, solos...(almost everything is tought for but stuck in my head...) I write one/month out and then practice it and try to reproduce the 'final product' that I have in my head but I just started to play electric guitar and so because of my lack of knowledge and experience, I found a guitarist in my area on Band Mix to help me out..But now I just don't know what to do : I would like to make a demo by next year. If I start building a band, will it be proficient? Is there a better way? What do you think?

The first thing that I would suggest is to get those ideas out of your head and onto some kind of sound recording. I speak from experience-band members cannot read your mind. If you are writing a lot of material, and inexpensive 4-track would be a worthy investment for you. Then you can lay down the basics of the song for the rest of your band to hear. At that point, you shouldn't worry about "the perfect recording". It's just an outline. Otherwise, you'll only frustrate yourself trying to communicate your ideas. Another extreme is what I'm going through now: I've spent A LOT of time and money recording my material in a professional studio, with the belief that I could simply pull out my CD and say "learn these songs." Not happening. Until that happens, although I'm happy with the way my songs have turned out, it's a bit of a waste. I cannot reproduces the songs live-only slimmed down interpretations. THe point being that if you record and perform these songs WITH the band, you'll know exactly what you're getting. I hope it helps.

Thank you. The guitarist that I found has a little machine with wich he sets the beat and can add the bass, the solo and the singing on different files and then make it play all together and even masterize it and but the beat is crapy so that's why I thought of recruiting a drummer and then a bass player to play along...so finally a band... So if I get your advice well, I should continue to do that and get those people on the way?

Yeah, I think so. By laying it down that way, you have a basic idea of how the song goes. Now bring in the rest of the band to fill out the sound. There will be no question of tempo, arrangement, etc..because you already have a template for all that stuff. At the same time, the other musicans can add their own parts to your ideas-allowing them to be part of the creative process, and negating any feeling of being forced to learn something. Good luck and I am anxious to hear some tunes!

I got to agree with joseph6, Ray our front did just about that, he had lots of head music (now that didnt come out right) but did not record, he'd just play an outline or skeleton if you will and then we'd hash something out. (heads & hash this isint going well at all) and as we developed the songs sometimes they would become totally different from where they began. A recording of approximate sound would transfer better than a framework of chords. As your guitar skill developes so will your songs.
Dont force the "Final" product instead allow it to age and mature to perfection and smoke it every chance you get.

Well thank you very much gentlemen, I think you are making a lot of sense. And like it's been said by 'Joseph6', I really want musicians with experience to be part of the creative process, they know things that I just never tought of yet and perhaps would make the whole thing greater and like 'Sanshouheil' mentioned; to age and mature, not to force it...I'll just do that then. Thanks again:)

Hey Gang,

Thought I would chime in with a word about percussion...Yeah, having a beat structure and being able to add /take away fills, crashes, signature changes goes a long way in your song creation...Get yourself a cheap (older) keyboard sequencer OR get "band in a box" , fruity loops" or another software sequencer that will allow you to "choose" notes with your mouse for your drum tracks..I personally like an actual keyboard SEQ.(cause thats all I know how to use... ) PLUS, I like "playing" the notes and creating MY OWN drum map../Yeah , I still use an Ensoniq SQ1 from 89 for drums...I record the basic HH BD SD RC trax in sequence mode then put my SD HT MT LT fills and CCs' in song mode..That way you can go back and change them , take them out..etc...I also record the HH /RC, SD, BD on seperate trax...That way ya only need ONE FINGER... ...Get a 16trk, that way you'll have enough traxs for other percussion like congas, timbales, steel drums etc. You can edit the waveforms create your own SD BD etc., put in gates, and whole host of FX..
ITS EASY.....


THE KIDD

Well thank you very much gentlemen, I think you are making a lot of sense. And like it's been said by 'Joseph6', I really want musicians with experience to be part of the creative process, they know things that I just never tought of yet and perhaps would make the whole thing greater and like 'Sanshouheil' mentioned; to age and mature, not to force it...I'll just do that then. Thanks again:)

yes i can kind of see your point alex but why would a band of experienced people want to hook up with you if you have little or no experience yourself....you cant simply surround yourself with great players and hope you can play at there level...it will end in tears, being around great players doesnt make you a great player...there are no room for "passengers' in bands..everyone should be there to play there part or else your out the door..
my advice is to hook up with players at your own level and try and grow together simply wanting it isnt enough you have to do the work or else your just kidding yourself...walk before you run amigo.

Want to start a group?
You need:
> a specific goal
> people with the same musical preferences
> the time to practice
> the willingness to practice
> a place to practice
> a practice schedule
> people who show up at the right place & time for practice,
> your own equipment
> your own transportation
> the ability and willingness to communicate
. . .
and . . .
> the required experience.
.
Very few experienced musicians would be willing to follow the lead of an inexperienced musician.
One needs more than just ideas and a desire to lead.
.
OK, I'm an experienced musician. You want me to join your group? OK, - give me a copy of the first 10 songs you want to play. What? you don't have anything recorded?
. . . oh . . . .
But - I thought you said you wanted experienced musicians?
Oh, well, hey - I've got 50 songs - do you want to do some of mine?
NO? . . . but . . . Ok, then, maybe I'll get back to you later . . .
. . . or not . . . .
.
This is probably what you're going to run up against.
. . .
You may have to think about what the word 'experienced' means to you, and what it means to other musicians.
.
See, my take on the word 'experienced' means they've been playing for, oh - I don't know - maybe 10 years minimum . . . after the age 16 . .
.
But - ask 4 different people, and you'll probably get 4 different answers . . .
Anyway - think about it, and - good luck.

IA & RM make excellent points here to consider. Three of the members of my band are really new to being musicians. This includes me. I was in a band many moons ago as a kid with a Bass. Now as a guitarist that counts for squat. Our Bassest has played professionally, He puts up with us because he gets to play and experiment and there is zero stress / crap for him to put up with. He has helped me / us a lot. Its good to spend time listening and playing with guys who are experienced. But the Band members need to be of approxamatly the same level musicians. When Eric walked in to jam with us that first night with his Bass. We already had everything RM mentioned in the must list. Iw as Blessed with this band and dont take any of them forgranted.