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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 5:58 pm
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Some good advice so far.
I will add the following:

1) - Learn your part(s) but also learn some simpler versions of them to fall back on.
Nervousness can take over and limit your chops the first few times you play "out."
Hell, it can rear it's ugly head even after years of playing on stage.
Try to remember that a simpler part played cleanly will always sound better than a more complicated part if you fudge it up.

2) - Most guys just starting out use WAY too much gain in their drive stage or too much of whatever time based f/x they might run. If you're not very clean in your execution all that gain and drippiness will make you sound like a puddle of mud .... and I don't mean you'll sound like the band that goes by that name. Clean it up and focus on execution rather than f/x.

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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 6:19 pm
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stutty wrote:
Play along with the track until you don't even have to think about it. If you are unsure, go back and do some more research/learning.

I love it when you can delegate finding the notes to "muscle memory". Then you can experiment with the dynamics and such.

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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 1:55 am
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When I first started playing with others, I learned as an individual and rehearsed with the group.

Later, I found that rehearsing and/or experimenting with one of the others, rather than the whole group, sometimes became constructive for the whole. It sometimes helps to alter who you work with, and it gives IMHO a good perspective on how an arrangement comes together. It doesn't hurt to show a lack of favouritism either. Think of drums and bass, bass and rhythm, lead and rhythm, keyboards and rhythm, keyboards and lead, or any combinations of choice. Vocalists are quick to do this one on one approach. This doesn't mean you have to do all or any. Just team up when and where it will benefit each other.

Of course, much of this comes about in rehearsals; but, I found a one to one practice and learning session is beneficial differently. It's a great way to develop those weaknesses before or after a full rehearsal. It's not unlike how I would have put a TV production together. Segmenting it with one individual or group at a time, and then combining all for rehearsal. Working with those that need help after rehearsal and before performance.

The key is not to get complicated. Be on the same page. Maybe a recording for reference can be incorporated. It might be helpful to have a rundown list of what will be expected (song list for example) or done (things to be covered or worked on) with an expected timeline to use at rehearsal.

Leadership is needed, somewhat. On leadership- all too often the one who starts the band isn't always suited to head it. They could be, however. When I had responsibility to produce a show, I might have a music leader, a vocalist who had leadership qualities and responsibilities, a set designer, a technical leader, and so on. Each had a leadership role, but together it eventually came together under one leadership. It simply works (we did dramas with several leaders too). A band can have a business leader, a music leader, a vocal leader, an artistic leader, a technical leader, and so on (or positions can be combined if they are an asset). So leadership combined with skill is a plus for any band.

I often included others' ideas, but seldom deviated from the basic agreed upon game plan. If adlib such as a jam is to be added to a song or session, it may be wise to allow and plan for it with some sense of organization, at other times free and easy works, but caution should be used so as to not interfere with the overall flow of the rehearsal/performance IMHO.

A team has to work together, but it's important to grab on to the strengths available. Take for instance a big band. There will always be key players and lesser skilled. Everyone plays an important part, however. It's important to know how to make the whole band shine, when to hold back, and it feels great to be a part of it with your contribution. I do agree that simple and well executed is a lesson learned when needed.

This process may not work for everybody, and often time or facilities dictate. For others it may help. There is no one right way to achieve a great show, but hard work and fun is usually present.

Break a leg. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:02 am
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Archtop Bill wrote:
Drubbing wrote:
npaske wrote:
The most important thing is to practice at least 2hrs/day ,I know it’s a lot but it is most important .
Practice anything you want just practice. Learn to sing and play at the same time. (very very very important).


Two hours+ per day is unrealistic for most people. It also brings about diminishing returns due to fatigue, and that leads to bad practice. No one can focus on actual practice for that long. Focussed practice is hard, and requires a fair bit more work than just going over and over songs and chords. Many people will fall back into noodling, or going over stuff they can already do, and calling it a practice session.


With all respect...

For most people yes 2 hours is a lot to ask. However, if you truly aspire to be a musician making a living in the craft, two hours is not enough. Hours every day are called for. To avoid falling into noodling practice must be compartmentalized into planned segments. Standardized warm ups will take about 15 minutes. In my case I like to block out roughly an hour for left hand technique as I have a weak left hand and need to consciously avoid bad habits . I fingerpick and spend a few minutes on righthand technique. Block out a major chunk of time building your repertoire and learning new pieces. Wrap up your practice by playing tunes you currently know. This is fun and rewarding and by noodling over your current repertoire you are building your jamming skills.



Equally with all due respect...

Very simply this type of "cookie cutter" mentality does NOT work for everyone...and depending on the individual and their aspirations, it's not really necessary. For a person who may perform classical music on a professional level, such a regime has it's advantages, however for an average weekend warrior who may be interested in classic rock, blues or even some country, it really serves little purpose at all. You comments suggest that there is only -1- "right" way to practice, which quite frankly is rubbish...even for someone looking to "make a living at it" (which in and of itself is REALLY subjective).

Very simply, it really comes down to the individual. I've worked with guys who honestly...just don't "practice" at all. They've been playing for so long that they KNOW the material...and let's face it, most "rock and roll" just isn't THAT difficult to begin with. I've played Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" FAR more times that I care to remember...what's the real point of practicing it? Am I -really- going to find a new aspect of this tune that I didn't learn 30 odd years ago? America's "Horse With No Name"...2 freakin' chords...what really needs practice there?? LOL!!! On the other hand, I've worked with people who are soooo utterly methodical and meticulous about practice that their playing becomes..err...mechanical (personally I hate working with people like this...). It becomes more about form and technique and scales and theory and less about passion, inspiration, feeling, spontaneity and emotion...and that's what music is REALLY about.

Personally I'll do an average of an hour a day if I have an important gig coming up..mainly to get my chops and endurance up. Sometimes it's more, other times it's less...if I'm having a problem with a specific riff, I may take an hour just to work on that one problem area. On the other hand, if the band is on hiatus, such as it is now, I may not touch my guitar much at all...right now I'm raising a new puppy, so ungodly amounts of guitar time just isn't a priority. Once we get past our summer break, I'll put more time into it, otherwise, "noodling" here and there works just fine and dandy. Either way, I -NEVER- let myself get consumed by practice. Whether it's 20 minutes of noodling or 2 - 3 hours of intense focus, my attitude is simply this; if I'm no longer enjoying it, it's time to go do something else.

Practice -is- important, but the fact of the matter is that everyone is different with different needs. If hours and hours of practice get you where you want to go, that's fine, but NEVER assume that's what everyone needs...for some of us, there's only so many ways you can play those same 3 chords! LOL!


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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:38 am
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Toliver-Lyons wrote:
I'm the guitarist for a band in Miami called DUMAS. I'm trying my best to learn chords on the fly....any recommendations. Im trying to learn the chords for radioheads song jigsaw falling into place...it seems my 2008 MIM strat's neck is really skinny and I have big hands and long fingers.....so it's a challenge.....Our first gig is on Sept. 6th 6pm at Univ. of Miami and our second gig after that is at a place called Open Stage Club. Nervous as all hell....first time in a band...I know you seasoned vets can help.....what should I expect for my first time around a stage and a crowd?


Ok...another old guy here. Been playing over 30 years now and the BEST piece of advice I can offer is simply this; just do your best and have fun!

Whether it's music, art or photography, the single biggest problem I see with the inexperienced ("students", newbies, etc) is their fear of making mistakes. The fact of the matter however is that EVERYONE makes mistakes...little mistakes, big mistakes and sometimes real whoppers (and years later, it's the whoppers that usually make for the best stories)! You can practice rigorously for 5 hours a day and STILL blow a line on stage...it happens to the best of us. You can check every last piece of gear again and again and STILL trip over your guitar cable or have someone knock over a mic stand...it goes with the turf. The trick...and perhaps the hardest thing for a lot of people, is simply accepting this.

For better or worse, we "artists", be it musician or otherwise, are usually our own harshest critics. It's worth remembering however that in most cases, 9 out of 10 people in your audience are NOT musicians...most people in your audience are NOT going to hear mistakes the way the performer does, IF they hear them at all. If you want to try an interesting experiment, take a really long tune like Don McClain's "American Pie" and drop a verse on stage...I got a shiny penny that says most people in the bar never even notice. What's more is that honestly...it doesn't really matter. I can't speak for others, but looking back at all the gigs I've played over the last 30 years, I do NOT sit here and remember "oh...I missed that A note on (insert tune here) back in '94". You -do- remember if you had fun, if there were people on the dance floor and if the club owner slipped the band a few extra bucks because you kept people in the bar all night.

Now if that doesn't convince you, also remember this; A LOT of great performers have made mistakes on stage. Elvis Presley for example, had a bad tendency to forget lyrics and sometimes he even got the giggles! If it's good enough for "The King", hey...who am I to argue! Don't even get me started on the Grateful Dead, LOL!

Seriously...don't sweat mistakes. They WILL happen...if someone notices, just smile and shrug your shoulders, because it's just not the end of the world and tomorrow is another day. I suspect most of us have done our share of "gigs from Hell"...it's part of paying your dues. That said, if you had fun and maybe made some pocket change to boot, then the night was well worth while.

If you can relax and just enjoy what you're doing, then the rest will go MUCH easier.

Just my $.02 worth.


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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 12:57 pm
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I am fair from a pro and actually only play by myself, but I can say that when I started playing open mics -- which are still stressful when you're just starting out -- that the "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" line applies.

The only thing I can offer as advice though it at that when you're on stage and something eff's up, just keep going! People don't notice every mistake! Sure, you can be better next time, but just keep going!

First time I performed, I guess I was playing hard and the tip of my pick shattered 3/4 through a song... I just did the best I could with what was left of my pick and finished the song... it would have been way worse IMO to break the song and change out picks (even though they were reasonably handy).

Same has been true with my vocals... when you mess up, just try to wing it as casually as you can... confidence can carry you past the inevitable mess ups!

Have fun and good luck! :)

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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 5:38 pm
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Been there, done that.

Lots of good advice so far, man.

I'd say, practice until you're really familiar with your parts, talk to your bandmates about all the tngs you still find hard to deal with, and don't drink too much before the gig.

Just try to see it all as a fun activity, and it'll go fine.

One more thing: professionals make mistakes onstage all the time, so if you screw up that song you really like, don't think for a minute that this is like the end of the world. It's even part of the thrill of it all, dude.

Let us know how you feel as you go down the gigging road!

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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 7:52 am
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de Melo wrote:
. . . and don't drink too much before the gig.

Just try to see it all as a fun activity, and it'll go fine. . . .
Great point, Sergio. A lot of us have seen that. :wink: Can you imagine if a symphony orchestra got tipsy before a performance. :lol:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:38 am
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Fender Strat Brat wrote:
Can you imagine if a symphony orchestra got tipsy before a performance.

There's a fair amount of drug use among top rate orchestras. Mostly mood stabilizers and beta blockers, but there are some who "need" a wee !@$ or a white line or even a shootup before performing.


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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 10:12 am
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How about a Big Band! My dad played trumpet back in the 40s - local dance trio - but one time he got the chance to play with a well known Big Band. One noted for having a very conservative leader. At any rate, to save money, these bands wouldn't travel with a full compliment but rather pick up locals for say the 3rd horn, etc. and my dad was lucky to get the nod. Now given where I grew up and knowing my parents and grandparents, etc., I'm pretty sure that had zero knowledge of illegal drugs. No doubt even then (from the "Jazz age") people had heard about musicians and the demon weed. But where I grew up and with a very conservative leader? My dad said the thought never crossed his mind.

So he and a buddy who'd also gotten a shot show up at the dance club. And the touring musicians are generous and more than willing to "share." To say he was shocked is an understatement. He finished the night, put his horn away and never touched it again. Unfortunately, this incident also had a profound influence on my parents' view that no son or daughter of theirs was ever going to be a musician. If drugs were in use by the band of one of America's most well known conservative/patriotic people ... they just had to be rampant everywhere else in music.

To finish the story: my mom was in the early TV industry, so she knew just how messed up actors could be. That included the wild doings even of the Musketeers and other child actors. So in realty, my parents' goal was to be sure that neither I nor my brothers ever had anything to do with any aspect of the entertainment industry.

I found this out only years later. My parents were visiting and I was sitting in my living room playing guitar. I decided to play a few Big Band era hits figuring that would be great nostalgia for them. But my dad reacted as if I was playing Hendrix while yelling F*** America and burning the flag. Huh? I quickly switched to something a lot more contemporary and my dad calmed down. It was only later and after a few beers that my mom spilled the beans on what probably set him off. The tune of course was one of the most recognized by that Big Band leader only I couldn't have possibly known. (I also found out that my parents reacted so badly to my playing in my high school and college Jazz band because they don't distinguish between instrumental Big Band music and Jazz.)


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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 3:49 pm
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Great video, Arthl. :D
Your story was also a good read, Philip. I can relate with big band and high school jazz band experience.

I too have seen and know of most every profession in entertainment that indulges in drugs and alcohol. It pretty much covers the bases. As an example - comedians, like musicians, tend to fit in that substance abuse group big time; but, they are definitely not alone. I've seen musicians pass out and fall from a riser, and polished actors that were hopeless, along with entertainers' outbursts that preceded apologies.

I started right out of high school in a Black and White TV station that produced 10 network programs a week. Many were talented guest oriented at a time when video tape recordings were live to tape, and limited. This demanded more local access to celebrated performers as opposed to today's transmitted receiving of material.

There was so much alcohol and drug abuse, particularly in the 60s, that it got to be we didn't know what to expect from whoever was coming through the door. In a day where liberal work practices allowed smoking and drinking around the studios in off hours, and drugs for the few in isolated corners of the station, the crews were pretty party hardy themselves. It was quite an astonishment, at times, to discover one's hero showing up high or inebriated. Although, when most times the show went on, I remember us putting a hold on things, and trying to do damage control. That was tough if the studios had a lot of others involved on the payroll, or if timelines were strained.

I was never one to judge another's preference; but know this. Others may be affected in an adverse way. You might consider those around you; however, sometimes you may never see or meet others that suffer the consequences, and sometimes that will even hit someone's income. That is not cool. It's poison to a band.

The band Nazereth were once on a show we did. They were smart enough to tackle a drug problem head on, collectively helped a band member, and helped to spread the word to others who did or might consider traveling the same path. Great guys by the way. :D
Ask anyone here that has spent time in a major recording studio how drugs and alcohol, while available, can put the project in jeopardy. You wouldn't want an engineer or producer in LaLa land and they don't want you there either. YMMV. Same goes for the stage.

FSB

Just thought I'd add an unrelated tip here for new band members. I believe some of the experienced will know what I'm talking about here.

When it comes to girlfriends or boyfriends or spouses . . . there are times to allow their involvement, and usually times when it is wise to do without.

Each band and individual have their preference. A little discussion ahead of time might save some problems in advance. This may not be a consideration; but, you'll find out soon enough. Besides, advance notice is a kindness to your significant other.

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Post subject: Re: I'm in a band for the first tme....
Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 7:15 am
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Let loose, play what u think will fit

Most of the time your intuitive sense will take over
So stop talking excuses, r u a player, then play
Learn to let your right side of the brain take over

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... +the+brain


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