Church Question.

[DerekDRP]

Hey gang, What do you think of 2 basses in a church band?

 

 

Fyi the bass player has a 5 string carvin bass, An I have a 4 string bass. his is tuned to bead. Input is welcome.

[HORSE]

2 basses in ANY band is hard to do. I was forced to do that in my high school jazz band. There are only 2 ways that I know of to make is work:

 

1. You are both very tight players and play exactly the same line at exactly the same rhythm. This eliminates all improvising though and forces you to either figure out lines before or have written out music.

 

2. One person handles the low-end groove nature of the music and the other bassist plays lines more melodic in nature to embelish the other parts. Although this might tend to infringe on the 'lead guitar' aspects of the band.

 

My experience is that 2 basses doesn't usually work so well unless they are both pretty professional.

[DerekDRP]

 

Originally posted by HORSE 2 basses in ANY band is hard to do. I was forced to do that in my high school jazz band. There are only 2 ways that I know of to make is work: 1. You are both very tight players and play exactly the same line at exactly the same rhythm. This eliminates all improvising though and forces you to either figure out lines before or have written out music. 2. One person handles the low-end groove nature of the music and the other bassist plays lines more melodic in nature to embelish the other parts. Although this might tend to infringe on the 'lead guitar' aspects of the band. My experience is that 2 basses doesn't usually work so well unless they are both pretty professional.

 

 

What would you suggest I do Horse? Mybe just practice with them and become a filler basser?

[HORSE]

when I started playing in my church, i just offered to fill in when the regular bass player couldn't make it. Maybe ask the regular bass player to show you some pointers on playing in that band.

 

I got my start when the bass player in my church offered to show me how to play bass. He was really helpful and now he's really tied up in his job, so I play bass almost every Sunday in the band.

 

I'm sure he'd be happy to help you out.

[DerekDRP]

 

Originally posted by HORSE when I started playing in my church, i just offered to fill in when the regular bass player couldn't make it. Maybe ask the regular bass player to show you some pointers on playing in that band. I got my start when the bass player in my church offered to show me how to play bass. He was really helpful and now he's really tied up in his job, so I play bass almost every Sunday in the band. I'm sure he'd be happy to help you out.

 

 

Well I asked him when he sat back down during the 5-10 minute meet and greet we allways do, I said I started to play the bass and would like some one to practice but he did'nt say much after that and went up tot he stage and played his set again.

[Banta]

IMO, 2 bassists are 1 too many. I would take turns with the other guy - one of you play one week, the other the next.

[Emprov]

 

Originally posted by Banta IMO, 2 bassists are 1 too many. I would take turns with the other guy - one of you play one week, the other the next.

 

 

Yep. In my sitch, we almost always have keys, it's enough of a task for us not to step all over each other as it is. Adding a second bass would be very, very bad.

[DerekDRP]

 

Originally posted by Banta IMO, 2 bassists are 1 too many. I would take turns with the other guy - one of you play one week, the other the next.

 

 

That's a good idea Banta, I would love to play I can read music and tab's now I guess sunday I will talk to Steve and see if he will let me rehersal with the band. Thanks again guys

[Banta]

 

Originally posted by Emprov In my sitch, we almost always have keys, it's enough of a task for us not to step all over each other as it is.

 

Piano players in general are hard to play with in a church, largely because most of them have little or no experience playing with a band - they're used to playing alone, and they have a tendency to lack steady rhythm. They also need to lighten up on their left hand when there's a bassist, and because of that lack of experience, it's hard for them to do. But this gives you an opportunity to help them learn as well.

[HORSE]

Originally posted by Banta Piano players in general are hard to play with in a church, largely because most of them have little or no experience playing with a band - they're used to playing alone, and they have a tendency to lack steady rhythm. They also need to lighten up on their left hand when there's a bassist, and because of that lack of experience, it's hard for them to do. But this gives you an opportunity to help them learn as well.

 

just open up the piano and put a pillow over all the strings below middle C.

[g.ghost]

I remember auditioning with a band a few years back. Their keyboard player was used to playing on a cruise ship without a bass player. His left hand was doing all the bass stuff and we were fighting over notes. It sounded terrible and he didn't even notice!

I told the main guy in the band what was happening after a couple of songs ...he hadn't noticed either. When I stated my case (politely of course ) and the keyboard guy stopped doing the bass it started sounding fine.

 

2 generators of the low end notes is not good.

 

I declined that band after an evening of auditioning . I felt it just wasn't going to work.

[DerekDRP]

Very cool, So bascially I should mybe practice with them? And have a little bit of fun?

[lug]

Originally posted by HORSE just open up the piano and put a pillow over all the strings below middle C.

 

 

 

....takes notes

[Banta]

Originally posted by lug ....takes notes

For you, lug.... wrap the pillow around the neck of your bass with duct tape.

[Detox]

Start your own religion. Then you'll be the only bass player.

[DerekDRP]

 

Originally posted by Detox Start your own religion. Then you'll be the only bass player.

 

 

 

WOW detox you ok bud? You don't have any pictures up this time whats matter?

[Emprov]

 

Originally posted by Banta Piano players in general are hard to play with in a church, largely because most of them have little or no experience playing with a band - they're used to playing alone, and they have a tendency to lack steady rhythm. They also need to lighten up on their left hand when there's a bassist, and because of that lack of experience, it's hard for them to do. But this gives you an opportunity to help them learn as well.

 

 

Not really the case in my sitch. We have 3 steady keys guys who we alternate. One of them is the technical editor for a rather well known keyboard mag, another is a guy who majored in classical piano at Biola and humbly understands the diff between keys and piano. The third is pretty much just a monster who focuses on really basic pocket playing. Everyone on the team has a pretty darn good ear so all in all it's a good scene. Every now and then I have to call something out but it's pretty darn rare. Pretty good siitch, we're really fortunate.

[Detox]

Originally posted by DerekDRP WOW detox you ok bud? You don't have any pictures up this time whats matter?

 

 

Sorry...

 

[DerekDRP]

Originally posted by Detox Sorry...

 

Lol, Much better

[4string]

The way that we promote joining one of our worship teams (we have 4) is to sit in the congregational seating area and play your instrument with a practice amp (if applicable) when the main band is practising and see if your actually as good as you think you are.

 

Some people do this and figure out right away that they need more practise. For those you come out and do this over a month and feel comfortable, we interview to determine where their heart is and then invite them out to stand in for whatever instrument they are playing. If they pass, they are invited to be a stand in.

 

 

We do this for several reasons.

 

1. It allows us to check their committment level

2. We get to see how they perform under pressure. (We change things on the fly sometimes.)

3. We find out their personality and can match it to whatever team would work best for them and for the Church.

 

I spend about ten hours a week between rehearsal and playing three services each weekend. Our worship pastor has a jazz degree from berklee on the guitar and all of our team play or have played in bar bands or school jazz bands. Three people are professional and music is the only way they make money.

It was very intimidating for me at first, but six years later, I feel I could walk into any audition and hold my own.

[DerekDRP]

Thank's 4 play err I mean string kidding bro had too, Anways I just want to get in to a sitc where I Have to play for like an hour or more a day. Right now I play 10 minut's aday some time's just 15 minut's aday so that's why I asked thanks for lisiting guys.

[4string]

Originally posted by DerekDRP Thank's 4 play err I mean string kidding bro had too, Anways I just want to get in to a sitc where I Have to play for like an hour or more a day. Right now I play 10 minut's aday some time's just 15 minut's aday so that's why I asked thanks for lisiting guys.

 

A better insult would have been 4skin. Now no one else can use it.

[DerekDRP]

 

Originally posted by 4string A better insult would have been 4skin. Now no one else can use it.

 

 

Heh yeah I know would have been better, An I was just joking bro.

[Fran da Man]

Hey 4 string, could you expand on your 4 teams alittle...

are they different levels of skill?

play in different settings (youth, traditional etc)?

Are they all from the same congregation?

 

Please...

Thanks

[4string]

 

Originally posted by Fran da Man Hey 4 string, could you expand on your 4 teams alittle... are they different levels of skill? play in different settings (youth, traditional etc)? Are they all from the same congregation? Please... Thanks

 

 

We have 3 very contemporary services (Hillsongs ect..) and one that is more of an unplugged setting at a sattelite location.

 

Team one

 

Acoustic guitar

Acoustic guitar

Electric guitar

Bass

Keyboards

Piano

Drums

Brass / woodwind

4 - 5 vocalists

 

 

Team two

 

Same as team one with the brass / woodwind section and only keyboards or piano

 

Team three

 

Same as team 2

 

Team 4 (Unplugged)

 

Acoustic guitar

percussion (congas / jembe)

bass

flute

two vocalists

 

And then we have the youth team that my youngest is practising alot so he can join. I have filled in from time to time for them

 

Marshall Stack

Fender cybertwin

Line 6 Spider

 

A very loud and fast impressive drummer

 

Bass - Ampeg 8x10 SVT Classic Head

 

Acoustic Guitar for the Worship leader

 

Some good looking girls (vocalists) that my eldest won't admit he likes

 

We run a 128 track mixer so you can imagine the size of this production.