Joining A Band? Options

[Testament]

lately, i've been feeling like i really want to play in a band. i've been in a few, but they were all comprised of pretty much the same few buddies of mine and were fun for a while but ultimately broke up. the last one i was in split about two months ago, and that's just a bit too long to be band inactive i think.

i'm wondering how everyone joined some of the bands that they've been in or are in currently. i'm at a loss as to where to begin with finding a brand new band and i could use some help if anyone is willing to shed some light on this topic.

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[Fabian Schulz]

I play in two bands - one is a rock band where i play bass and a thrash-metal band where i play guitar. I've been playing in both bands for more than a year now and i got into both bands through my father. He plays guitar in the rock band and the were looking for a bassplayer and so i joined them They are all twice as old as I but they are really cool and they don't have the problems people in my age have here, like changing music-interests wich was the reason for some of my previous bands splitting up. They are all listening the same music since about 20 years or so, and so they all have the same vison what the music should like, what makes songwriting much easier.

I came in contact with the Thrashmetal band through the drummer of the Rock band who also drums in the metal band. It's the same like in the rock band the other guys are listening to the same music since 20 years or more.

I don't know the reasons why you splitted up but you should look for people who like the same music as you do and who have the same musical visons as you have. I think that's important for you if you are looking for a new band. Also you should not leave the band again after two month or so when it's doesn't work as you want. In the Thrash band it took me about six month to get really into the band. In the beginning we had a lot problems with playing some songs together of their time before i joined them. We had to throw out this songs of our program because it didn't work and after a while we worked on this songs again and suprisingly it was really easy to play them because they got a feeling how i play and i got a feeling how they are playing.

Hope that will help you a bit with your future bands

Fabian

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[Robin]

I was lucky. I had a couple of friends that were at the same level as me and listened to the same music. We started about 4 years ago and we're playing more than ever today, and have no plan to stop.

I was in a another band for a short time, I joined my cousin and a friend of her. They werent as serious as me with music. They got busy with stuff etc. so we stopped. They recorded 3 songs though, but I joined a year after they started so I was only participating in the last song they recorded.

I also played a gig with my uncle and dad. We might start a blues band for fun in the future, I hope.


Try to find friends and family members that plays instruments, and as Fabian said "You should look for people who like the same music as you do and who have the same musical visons as you have."

Good luck and have fun.

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This post has been edited by Robin: Oct 19 2007, 09:21 PM

[Smikey2006]

I got into my main band because i became good friends with the singer through work. I started jamming with him and his roomate (drummer) and eventually his best friend and another 2 guys from work (bass, keys and lead guitar).. thats how it started. Second Band was just a bunch of friends who wanted to write sum prog stuff and the band im trying to get into i did some jamming with the bassist... but its all about wanted to do music for music. I don't worry too much about what kind of music im playing or anything. Just do it to make music and to paly gigs. Its all about having fun

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[erik]

I couple of friends of mine made a plan to start a band way back. One of them played guitar, one wanted to start playing drums, and one wanted to start playing bass (to get girls ). The drummer actually asked me if I could sing (I can't sing AT ALL ) I really didn't have much interest in music at the time either, and had no intentions joining the band.

Well anyways, nothing happened, a year or so passed, and in the mean time I started to play guitar(!) A friend of mine wanted to teach me "smoke on water", and I just got hocked instantly. First time in my life I showed any interest what so ever in an instrument . About 2 months after I started playing, the drummer finally decided to start playing drums and bought a drum kit. We started jamming together from the first day, and where both total noobs. Eventually some other friends joined. Now, two years and a couple of replacements later, we have a pretty good line-up.

It's important that you share the same musical taste. Our first guitarist (besides me) was really more into classic rock/bluesy stuff, and as we moved more and more into metal he just lost more and more interest and eventualy quit the band.

I don't think I have any good advice to you.. Just start making music and hopefully you'll get a good band togheter

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[MickeM]

I had to sleep with a whole bunch of guys to get my position as guitarist...

No, just kidding. Really!

I'm playing with friends and that words super.
For a coverband it's nice that everyone has slightly different music foundation, gives a lot of ideas and indtroduce plenty of new music. Sometimes we'll diss ideas but more often compromise to have it played. If the song works, fine, if it doesn't we just drop it and move on to the next.

For a tribute band I think it's more importand thta everyone has the same taste in the band being tributed.

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This post has been edited by MickeM: Oct 20 2007, 11:55 PM

[Testament]

fabian:

Also you should not leave the band again after two month or so when it's doesn't work as you want.

nah, i wouldn't leave a band after just two months unless it was working out REALLY poorly! the last band i was in was together for about six months, but then the singer quit. i didn't think it mattered too much at the time, but pretty much the whole band just disintegrated after that. the whole thing didn't get too ugly, but it's the last time i'll play in a band with those that would rather throw blame around then actually try and fix a problem!

robin: i remember seeing a video you posted a while ago of your band playing in a competition and i thought you guys really rocked! wise words from fabian, indeed. i think that's what was really missing from my last band, was a lack of dedication from everyone (except the other guitarist, heh).

smikey:

but its all about wanted to do music for music. I don't worry too much about what kind of music im playing or anything. Just do it to make music and to paly gigs. Its all about having fun

i couldn't agree more! very well said.

erik:

Well anyways, nothing happened, a year or so passed, and in the mean time I started to play guitar(!) A friend of mine wanted to teach me "smoke on water", and I just got hocked instantly.

hah, you know that's exactly how it happened for me too! though my rendition of smoke on the water was terrible back then, i couldn't believe that i actually managed to do it! that was when i realized that i actually could play guitar, and it felt pretty awesome.

MickeM: i really enjoy when i can play with other musicians and they'll have a fresh take on things. though it sucks when you're worlds apart musically and it starts to show.



thanks for all the replies, guys! but i would like to pose another question, if you all wouldn't mind indulging me.

throughout your time playing in bands, how did you go about getting gigs? i think that's what really brought down the last band i was in, was that no one had any idea how to find gigs in my city. i live pretty close to San Francisco, California, so i'd think there would be more than a few places for an up and coming band to play. i'm curious as to how you guys found and set up the gigs that your bands have gotten.

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This post has been edited by Testament: Oct 21 2007, 01:06 PM

[swingline]

I guess I hit lucky my friend that I knew for almost 10 years plays drums and I was said that we should play Panama for the talent show and we found a bassist then it all went from there.

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