Band problems

[ferociter]

So, I'm in that band, and we are just starting (some of us are playing their instruments for just 2-3 months)... And my guitarist claims that if you can play some song at your home individually, there is nothing stoping you to play it in a band... My opinion is that this is WRONG! I think we shold play some easier song (that are maybe lame to some of us) untill we (i don't know the word) accommodate :confused: to playing in a group.
What's your opinion on that? Is there a need for that accomodation period?
BTW we totally sucked at our rehearsals....
And how to explain him that playing in a band is totally different than playing home, along some music track.

[delinquent]

playing alone at home sure is different to playing with a group of people. at least in my experience.

maybe you should all sit down and talk amongst eachother and decide if you want to do an easier song, it dosent have to be something that would be considered lame by you or your bandmates...

i dont really know what you could do.
maybe you could all try working on your own song or something together...

[the_uber_penguin]

I find playing with a band is easier in many ways to playing along to a CD.

A band is more forgiving normally, especially on the drummer, who can get away with making small mistakes and not playing super tight because the band are following him (or should be!).

Playing along to a record at home is the best way to learn a song, because if you make a mistake, there's no way they'll do anything to accomadate that, and you have to learn it perfectly.

Unfortunately, playing with a band you may have to learn to play around when the drummer messes up, or the bassist hits a wrong note, so there is no real black and white to this one.

However, I agree that if everyone in the band can play along to a recording of a certain piece AND they can play the piece from memory on their own, there is no reason whatsoever that the band shouldn't be able to play it within about half an hour of rehearsals.

[killfile]

This seems pretty f*cking clear to me. Being able to play something at home is a lot easier than playing it with a band.

[mochamagenta]

Whether or not it is easier to play at home or in a band is not the question you need to answer. What you need to do is make sure everyone in your band can play a song first. And yes, learning some easy songs first is a very good idea as you need to learn to play togther, and that is not easy. My band play covers for practise, easy ones first to warm up and get used to playing live. I wouldnt do things differently if I could.

[espf-250htd06]

just play some song first starting and work you way up or start with a hard song and if you cant do it go to somthing easier

[ace_bird]

Hey dude.... My band just got together about a year ago and we sucked *** on all of our rehersals... We started to get fed up with the fact that we all sucked ***, and were boarderlineing quiting, but we kept practicing, Then all at once it seemed that we just clicked really well... U just have ta get used to your band members skills and you will all start doin better. But if you wanna start with easy songs, start with weezer. easiest songs in the world are by weezer. And your friend thats bein a douche, don't let him make the calls.... you guys make decisions as a group.

[PremierManiac]

I agree stongly with what the people above me have stated. Any fool can play at home by himself, but it takes a real musician to work with your bandmates and play together.

[Aus_rock_god]

So, I'm in that band, and we are just starting (some of us are playing their instruments for just 2-3 months)... And my guitarist claims that if you can play some song at your home individually, there is nothing stoping you to play it in a band... My opinion is that this is WRONG! I think we shold play some easier song (that are maybe lame to some of us) untill we (i don't know the word) accommodate :confused: to playing in a group.
What's your opinion on that? Is there a need for that accomodation period?
BTW we totally sucked at our rehearsals....
And how to explain him that playing in a band is totally different than playing home, along some music track.

No, he's right. You should all practice your songs individually every night. That way you can figure out parts that you're stuffing up and fix them without worrying about somone else.

Also, if you all practice your parts by yourselves, you can help out other bandmates.

You should practice your set by yourself once a day, that way you can perform it without having to concintrate on not making mistakes, and you're able to focus on entertaining people.

Practice with your band at least once a week, practice by yourself at least once a day.

[pitchfork]

If your getting nowhere in a band stop and talk or youll continue going nowhere.
If your just starting off in a band do some covers they don't have to be 'crazy shredding mega bass solo quadruple drumming' things just something simple for example nirvana smells like teen spirit, anything by blink 182 or greenday something simple to get you all accustomed to playing in a band situation then startr writing material work on that at band practise and at home after you have say 10 songs your ready to start gigging.

[the_uber_penguin]

Yes. What really makes for an excellent band is where you all know each others parts well enough to swap instruments.

With all the songs I play with my band, every one of us could take over on vocals, guitar, drums or bass and be able to do it more or less right, because that level of depth gives such a tight, yet flexible sound that really draws an audience in to you.

[ferociter]

Yeah thanks guys, I appreciate your help.

[pitchfork]

I can swap drums and bass in my band but i need a guitar before i can swap round with that, i think ive played guitar 4 hours max and that was just improvisation. On the case though.

[Hodl pu]

Well, your guitarst might get a little pissed that you're trying to prove him wrong but w/e.

Anyways, playing an intsrument at home differs than playing in a band, but not by that much. Basiclly, when you play at home, your pace is always the way you want it, but when playing with others, you'll have to interpret each others pace to collaborate and play a song. Otherwise if you pay attention o just yourself, you might be a couple of seconds ahead/behind of everyone else.

[Ra']

playing at home is in my oppinion about a million times easier than playing in a band. I find that the main thing is chemistry. Bottom line is great chemistry = great music, if u dont have great chemistry with ur bandmates then ur really gonna have to work to have great practices...thats jsut my oppinion

[hatebreeder]

Ive spent basically my whole high school years jamming with almost any musician that I can find who plays half decent, and believe me it matters very much that there has to be a great sense of anticipation of what the other people are going to do, its much harder when your going with someone who plays a different instrument class as you, for example A guitarist vs. a drummer or keyboardist, so I say unless you all know the song 100% perfect theres a lot more to playing a song as a band.

[irtehmitchell]

if you have all your volumes set well so that everyone can clearly hear whats going on then playing as a band shouldn't be that hard when your just playing a song that everyone knows.
for example: if you were to start another band where everyone hasn't really played with each other that much and you decided to play a few covers at your first practice, all should go well. it shouldn't be that difficult as long as everyone learns what they are responsible for beforehand.
overall: i guess playing with others does take some adjustment compared to playing at home, but its nothing that can't be solved quickly and efficiently, imo.

[ferociter]

I agree with most of you here..but I think that you didn't take into consideration that some of us are in music just for two moths or so....

sorry for bad english...

[loveforever]

i think the member know each other very much ,,then you can play the songs more easy..??
Just my opinion

[Ibanex0110]

I think it depends on how well the other band members know the songs, if they know it as good as the computer, or the recording, then it should be no problem, but if your playing with someone who doesn't really know the songs and is just making it up as they go, it might be a little bit harder

[InsomniaTrance]

It isn't really any easier or harder, just different. However, playing a few easy covers songs is a good idea when starting a band simply for the sake of getting your timing down and getting a feeling of accomplishment, trust me that'll go a long way.

[Luchesi]

For the sake of what you call "accomodation" (what I call compatibility), I suggest you guys spend one or two rehearsals just jamming out to a simple chord progression. This will help you guys realize each other's playing styles and tendencies, so that you can eventually develop a sort of playing chemistry (if it isn't there naturally already... which it sounds like it isn't). Without playing chemistry, there's no music.

[SilverWingedDemon]

Start small, you guys are still learning and you have been playing for 2-3 months. Start from small simple songs and then work your way up. In my opinon, you should start with cover tracks, that way you all get to stay on the same path. I don't know what songs you guys play but find music you are into and each of you learn the tabs and learn to play that song. After awhile you can use some of the skills from those songs to play your own.

How people start a career in being a musician is playing other people's music. You guys have to start from the bottom of the totempoll.

~Aikai~