GFYS is a very Liberating phrase

Tell them you have found a better gig...

When they ask what it is say "Sitting home alone".

Be honest and professional. Your reputation will depend on it.

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Tim

Hey! I think I was in a band with you!

Stripper-Grams, because while they might be upset with the message, the delivery will be appreciated!

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RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

Tell them exactly what you posted above and move on!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

+1, or sarcasm is a good way, they wont think your out but you really are.

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riley

Thanks guys Its my first band experience and I'm great friends with all of the guys (the lead singer and rhythm guitarist are cool guys, but really just full of themselves). I think the bass guitarist-who is one of my best friends-is dropping out as well.

The band isn't that great, and I would really like to get higher in my guitar know-how before I join another one... I'm thinking it'll probably my next summer into college before I form another band.

Thanks for all the input. Love these forums- they brighten up my day.
Keep being awesome.

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Kid: "Hey Smokey! Where did you get your name?"
Smokey the Bear: "Well..."
(former user jimbo612)

(In your best Arnold Schwartzenegger impersonation)
It's over, you're terminated

Seriously, it's not like ending a marriage so don't bring any more drama into it. Just tell them you're done, collect any gear you have in the rehersal space and split.

Easy

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

keep this in mind. one of the most skilled guitarists I have ever known has burned so many bridges that people leave the stage if he comes up on jam night. unless he moves he has next to no chance of playing in a band ever again.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

The words of a wise man.

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Guitar Collector Forum | Guitar hand trainer | Play Power Chords
Guitar string FAQ | Compare Guitar Tuners

By far the best policy, well said..................... Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

I'm sorry but to me the comments that say to tell them to "f*** off" are just VERY bad form to say the least. To me I think of music as being a "profession". In my case, I'm not just some guy that plays music on weekends (although that may actually be the case), I'm a musician and as such I consider myself a professional...or at the very least, a semi-professional. The way I look at it is that if I were going to leave a band, I would do it the same way as I would any other "job"...I'd give them my 2 weeks notice (to give them time to replace me), do my job to the best of my abilities during that 2 weeks and then be off. If you are polite, straight forward and civil about it, no one should be able to hold it against you...at least not for long.

One of the bad things about being in bands with "friends" is that quite often you need to make "a choice". After doing this for a great many years now I can honestly say that while I've made friends while in a band, just as with most other work places, those friendships don't really tend to last once you're no longer working with those people (even if you were really good friends before hand). The band breaks up and those "friends" tend to go separate ways. With most of the jobs I have ever worked in my life, there have only been 1 or 2 people who I've actually stayed in contact with. For me, my "work life" and my "personal life" are two very separate things and I honestly do have to put my music under my "work life". I'm sorry to say this but the truth is that more often times than not, being in a band is one of the fastest ways to destroy any kind of personal relationship.

That said, if you can be professional about it, at least it leaves the door open for any future possibilities. A couple of years ago I lost a bass player in my own band. The guy was -really- good and I hated to see him go but in his case, he has -7- kids (half of whom are teenagers) and the guy worked 12 to 14 hours a day. I -knew- it wasn't anything personal...the guy just didn't have time to take a crap every day let alone be in a band. Well, a couple of months back the guy called me...at least one of his kids has moved out and 2 more have gotten their own car so he's not "soccer Dad" any more, he's not working as many hours and he was putting a new project together, so yea...I'm happy to be working with the guy again. That said though, again it's not like I consider him a close personal friend...he's a nice guy and he's a great bass player... but it's not like we sit around and watch ball games together or anything. Yea, at practice we'll stand around and have a beer or two and $@!&* about the jobs, the wife and kids, the state of the economy and such, but that's really about it. I see him once a week at practice...we may talk once or twice a week on the phone about band related issues and that's really about it. It's a "professional working relationship"...that's part of why the music business is called a business.

Another thing to remember is that while this may only be your first band, as you gain experience and start to put yourself out there, musician's -do- talk to other musicians in a given area and over time you -do- develop something of a "reputation". As such do you really want to be known as the guy that gets sick of playing and tells everyone to f*** off or do you want people saying "Yea...I worked with him once...he's not only a good player but he's a pretty decent guy to boot"? Think about it. Just as with a "real" job, good references -do- count.

If you have -any- desire to work in a band...either now or in the future, keep it professional. If you choose to be a loud mouth, arrogant dumb $@! or if you just come off as being full of yourself with "it's all about me", chances are it could come back and bite you in the butt. If you're professional about things though...including how you choose to leave the band, at least that's something that most folks can respect.

Just my $.02 worth as always,
Jim