I'm a young guy and relatively new to bass. I'm only 16 right now and I'm not looking for anything permanent, but I'd like to figure out how to start a band that could last me through senior year. I'm wondering if trying to push friends who already get along with me to play instruments and give them some time or try to advertise somehow and find someone who can play already. Would the chemistry be off if I did just look for any musicians, or would it be best to seek out people that way and not bother my friends about this sort of thing and risk the band effecting friendships? Also I'd appreciate any band name recommendations
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In my experience pushing other friends to play an instrument doesn't have a high success rate. It's better to find someone who already plays. If they are not at your skill level then I would be looking to see if they have passion to play and learn the instrument before asking them to be in a band with you. I find that I can get a feeling for how passionate a person is about playing in a band in only a few practice sessions. Regarding good chemistry, that is all about luck, but at least if you look for people who already play, you will have that in common to start.
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find someone who can play already, and don't settle to you find someone you have some chemistry with. pushing someone who doesn't want to particularly play an instrument hasn't worked for anyone i know who did it. usually they don't progress very fast because they didn't want to play, and if you push them, resentment sets in.
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Yeah, find players. Even if your friends were good with the idea, it would take a while for them to get her gear and learn to play.
Are you in a rural or urban area?
Yeah, find players. Even if your friends were good with the idea, it would take a while for them to get her gear and learn to play.
Are you in a rural or urban area?
The main thing to think about is motivation and dedication. It could be, if you have a friend who is dying to learn to play an instrument and just hasn't taken the plunge yet, that you inviting them to start a band could be what they need to get started. But learning music requires a lot of work and the dropout rate is very high. People who have already taken the plunge and love to play are going to be more likely to stick with it. Ask around your school, the band, find out who plays and what they're into. U2 started with a handwritten flyer on a school bulletin board.
If you have friend that plays, then great get something started with them, but do remember the arguments can get nasty!
Like many here, I would recommend going with people who can play, the advantage of being a bass player is that guitarists are a dime a dozen, so you can afford to be choosy. Chemistry is one of those things you shouldn't worry about, you will know rather quickly if you gel with someone or not. Many huge bands weren't friends to start with.
Like many here, I would recommend going with people who can play, the advantage of being a bass player is that guitarists are a dime a dozen, so you can afford to be choosy. Chemistry is one of those things you shouldn't worry about, you will know rather quickly if you gel with someone or not. Many huge bands weren't friends to start with.
In my high school days it was really hard to find to committed members. We went through person after person, with last minute cancellations at rehearsals etcetera. Make sure you find people who already know how to play. The time they have put into their instrument is kind of like a test of their commitment; if they have already put in a lot of time on their instrument, they are more likely to commit to the band. But even then it's not assured. But you have to make sure the music is something they like, they have a car/ride to get around, and have a portable instrument and amplification if appropriate.
To get this started, see if you can find a place you can play, even if for free, and book a short gig -- like 3 or 5 songs. Then try to find players to fill the band positions. Don't start out with really really challenging songs unless all the guys in the band are virtuosos (unlikely).
Hopefully you have a place to practice too. That was a hangup for us in the beginning.
To get this started, see if you can find a place you can play, even if for free, and book a short gig -- like 3 or 5 songs. Then try to find players to fill the band positions. Don't start out with really really challenging songs unless all the guys in the band are virtuosos (unlikely).
Hopefully you have a place to practice too. That was a hangup for us in the beginning.
Im going to go a little against the grain here. I'm the guy who never touched a guitar/bass but was asked to join a band in high school.
The difference is that while i didnt play any type of guitar, i did have 7 years of school band and jazz band (trumpet) under my belt. And i was first chair all the time. So music experience is a big factor. And i was never the kid who was wasting my time on video games and weed. Once i touched that bass I was hooked.
The other guys were all relatively new at their instruments. They could play, were in a previous short lived band, but basically werent very good. I quickly found myself held back by Their skills.
We had great success for a bunch of youngsters playing covers. But we kept it simple and only as we developed musically we played more complicated stuff.
Im probably the exception. But I thank those guys for asking me.
The difference is that while i didnt play any type of guitar, i did have 7 years of school band and jazz band (trumpet) under my belt. And i was first chair all the time. So music experience is a big factor. And i was never the kid who was wasting my time on video games and weed. Once i touched that bass I was hooked.
The other guys were all relatively new at their instruments. They could play, were in a previous short lived band, but basically werent very good. I quickly found myself held back by Their skills.
We had great success for a bunch of youngsters playing covers. But we kept it simple and only as we developed musically we played more complicated stuff.
Im probably the exception. But I thank those guys for asking me.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Talk to the band teachers at your school. If you have a jazz/stage band, you have a drummer and guitarist. Talk to the chorus teachers to find a singer.
It's a good idea to network with any and all muscians at your school. Even if they don't play guitar, drums or keys, they may know someone who does. Are there any people at school already in bands? They will be the ones most likely to know of potential bandmates for you. I wouldn't put an ad out on Craigs list or something like that at this point. Too many flakes and people who might take advantage of a young player.
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My first 3 or 4 bands were all made up of friends I convinced into playing. They all worked out pretty well for the level I was at, too. It was was good for us to share in that experience together. Nice going on stage the first time with others who are doing the same.
I think there are a lot of advantages and trade offs to going either way. If you work with experienced people, you can learn a lot more quickly. If they're the right people.
I think bottom line is who you have available to you, and as @hrodbert696 said, who is the most motivated and dedicated. Friends who want to play can be a lot more valuable than experienced people with their heads up their butts... and experienced people who who are moving forward and interested with working with a new guy could be an invaluable experience.
I think there are a lot of advantages and trade offs to going either way. If you work with experienced people, you can learn a lot more quickly. If they're the right people.
I think bottom line is who you have available to you, and as @hrodbert696 said, who is the most motivated and dedicated. Friends who want to play can be a lot more valuable than experienced people with their heads up their butts... and experienced people who who are moving forward and interested with working with a new guy could be an invaluable experience.
Find people who can actually play, are actively motivated in their craft and have their own equipment now usually is better I have found, also having common musical interests and tastes helps too as far as a band standpoint. The friends thing can happen however if your friend just picks up an instrument cold turkey it can also be only a matter of time before they could get tired of it or cannot hack it anymore compared to a season player who may of been playing for years. Also when finding new members do not be surprised to come across a lot of people who may flake...aka interested one day to the max then when it comes down to starting to write or preform they have every excuse in the book to shoot your way. If you have the resources to network through a common music group, club, school is a good way too as others have mentioned compared to Craigslist so to speak.
I was a classical trombone and baritone player that a friend convinced to play bass in his band at age 15. Worked great for us, and I'm still playing 27 years later, and am still friends with the guys from that garage band. If you have friends who play the "wrong" instrument, you are all still young enough to quickly switch. Maybe someone will find the "right" instrument for them like I did. Plus, people who play an instrument already know how much effort it takes to learn.
One step at a time ... no need to name a band that doesn't yet exist. I'd talk to whoever runs the music programs at your school. That person(s) can likely hook you up with other young musicians, and might even offer some guidance. You can't prod anyone into being a musician, it's something one wants enough to actually do it, or not. What you'll get is people who like the idea of being in a band (yeah, it IS cool) but aren't motivated to do the work necessary to be a musician.
You're young and have that most valuable of all resources that the rest of us older dudes covet: time. Go and play with as many people as you can while you have the time...you'll find your chemistry there.
And you know what they say about strangers, eh? They're only friends you haven't met yet!
And you know what they say about strangers, eh? They're only friends you haven't met yet!
When i was in High School (or Junior High) very few bands held together more than a couple of semesters. One of my best friends is a very accomplished guitarist. We have been in and out of bands together since 1969 (10th grade), so relationships happen.
When I was in high school many kids were playing instruments and forming bands. It was a different time. Rock and roll was just flourishing and many of the songs we were playing were pretty simple. I had taken childhood piano lessons and could sing. Two friends played guitar and we jammed together often. One bought a hard case for his guitar and it happened to have a bass in it he didn't want, so it became mine. The rest is history.
My advice would be to join the school jazz band or stage band and make friends with others that have an interest in music, then let things happen from there.
My advice would be to join the school jazz band or stage band and make friends with others that have an interest in music, then let things happen from there.