KeyTarMan
(Wellingborough)
Thursday 16 Mar 2017, 9:57am
Practicing makes you good at practicing, jamming makes you good at jamming, playing in band makes you good....
if you want to progress, join a band, jams tend to be a bit of a free for all unless you are an experienced musician but saying that can be a bit of fun.
If you join a band the advantages are, you as a band and as a musician have to be focused on learning you stuff and makes you push your boundaries a bit and that develops you as a musician, also you get to play in front of an audience which is most uplifting and at the end of the day you may get payed a bit towards upkeep and replacement of you instruments.
If you go as a guitarist....there are a lot of us out their and bands have a pick of a hugh bunch and it can take time to get a spot in a band, on the other hand there aren't so many bass players... that's the logic bit but you need to follow your heart as well.
So take the plunge and answer a few adds, make sure they send you a audition set list well in advance learn the songs and pop along.
once you are in a band you may get the chance to swap to you other instrument.
when answering don't be dishonest but don't say you are a newby to playing unless asked, always be positive as if you say things that make you sound unsure of yourself someone else may get your audition spot. the important bit is what comes out of your instrument when you play.
always pick a band where there are better musicians than yourself, you will learn from them, don't worry that they are better than you, just learn your parts and enjoy the moment.
back to jamming.... I went to a jam night last night and met a bunch of guys all looking for a band, and as I'm between bands at the moment... I' now have a new band and we are learning a 30 min set and will try it out at that pubs jam night next week. One benefit of a jam night at a pub is you get to meet people socially and you jam a song or two and see if you get along and you play to an audience that aren't expecting perfection.
Excuse me if I mention the Girl musician bit... always take a friend to an audition, some bands are sexist don't take the sh#t & don't take it to heart, but not all of us are sexist, I'm 59 and my last bands drummer was a very talented 16 year old girl, just proves age-ism sex-ism and all other isms are ill placed in music. you shouldn't have to have a thick skin, but it helps.
Go for it Girl
Once you have a bit more experience, try to sort a girl band out, keep rocking.