Members xvertirx Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 But finding the right band or partner to play with is a pain in the arse. I just finished playing with this guitarist and I did real good. In fact, he really liked my playing and wants me to play and write songs with him, but I feel like he's not the right fit for me musically. I feel like I just gained a lot of confidence because I underrate myself and when he showed me his songs, I just started following along and then I added in some of my own stuff and he was going "Yeah! that's it!" hehe so I was hitting it off but I'm still thinking. I have a meeting/jam session maybe with a band Thursday night and I fell much better about my playing. So this guy has his own studio and it's FULLY loaded. He had so much stuff that he could have his own music store--I'm serious. There was tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment in there. He had a bad ass DW drum kit that was very sweet just to look at. He Had Stacks of Marshall cabs and Fender cabs. In fact he has a whole rack of amps and effects for each stack. So for the Marshall stack he had all this crazy stuff--a mesa boogie 500 (something) I don't remember a line 6 and a crap load of effects and he Was playing with one of the coolest Ibanez guitars I've ever seen. That was for playing heavy music. Then for his rock type music he had a whole other rack with a Langner preamp that's supposedly da shiznit and he had a fender head and stack and a crapload of effects with a Gibson SG. He had a Hartke 400 bass amp through a Fender 4x10--he's not a bassist so...anyways it sounded solid and good enough to lay down my bass lines. Then he had so many things that I don't even know what they are--digital recorders, players whatever. This guy has been playing music for a while. I told him I gotta think about it. He wants me but I'm not so sure.
Members Fran da Man Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 Go for it man, what can it hurt? Even if it's not your flavor it will teach more than you can imagine and cost you nothing but alittle time. but I feel like he's not the right fit for me musically. This is where the learning comes in, playing something that's not what you would normally play.
Members the_grouse_mouse Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 If I was you, I'd give it a go. He's obviously commited - which is half the battle won. If you play with him for a few months and you still feel like it's not working, end it. Worth a shot though IMO. "squeak"
Members nicebigstrings Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 If it were going to be a real educational experience I'd go for it. Any time playing in a studio on whatever project will reap you big rewards. It's not like you have to be married to this guy. Keep looking for others to play with and whose playing really speaks to you. Those are the folks that you want to enter into a long-term collaboration with. Remember, you're a bass player. That gives you alot of bargaining power. You also live in a major city with alot of great players. Your band is out there waiting for you.
Members Thunderbroom Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 I say go for it. You've got everything to gain and very little (that I can see) to lose.
Members Detox Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 I know how you feel. I hooked up with some guys in a cover band a while back, even though I didn't care for the songs they chose to play. I lasted about 8 months, by which time we'd played two gigs. Then the differences caught up with me, and I left. Sort of felt like a fool for staying as long as I did, but OTOH, the experience got me back into being a band member and playing in public, which I hadn't done in many years. It's a mixed bag, but you'll probably end up benefitting in some way if you do it.
Members bassman1956 Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 I agree with everthing said above! So, you run with it a while, and gleem what you can from it. No loss there!
Members Spark Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 Originally posted by Thunderbroom I say go for it. You've got everything to gain and very little (that I can see) to lose. +1. I mean, do you have any better options right now?
Members lug Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 You don't have to marry the guy, just have a musical fling with him. If he asks, tell him this is fun and may lead to a serios commitment in your future but you are still gonna pay the field cause you're a real "playa", yo.
Members Jazz Ad Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 You learn more playing musics you don't like.
Members lug Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 Originally posted by Jazz Ad You learn more playing musics you don't like. I play my own stuff, therefore I must be a genius.
Members Jazz Ad Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 Originally posted by lug I play my own stuff, therefore I must be a genius. Following my logic, your "tunes" should turn anyone into Vic Wooten in no time. You should write a method.
Members syrinx Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 Your a bass player- you can play in more than one situation/band. Of course the first thing is be honest with this guy- tell him your not way into his thing, but still want to help out. Maybe then since you are bending, he will do the same and work towards your style a little. One never knows when the sum of two parts will exceed their combined individual value.
Members scarecrowbob Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 Originally posted by Jazz Ad Following my logic, your "tunes" should turn anyone into Vic Wooten in no time. You should write a method. Devolving Bassist?
Members syciprider Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 With all the equipment that you said this guy has, you'll pick up significant knowledge on the gear side of the house. Who knows? Your interest might suddenly go from player to engineer? Or you may become both.
Members timmerz Posted June 5, 2005 Members Posted June 5, 2005 xvertrix, can I interject something here, as someone that's been through a "lot"?Have the maximum fun playing with this guy you can, learn as much as you can while you're doing it, play around with all the different sounds you can possibly generate, so you know what's in the massive realm of bass. However, if he asks you to sign ANYTHING, tell him you need to have it checked-out by your laywer FIRST! And then DO it! Go to a lawyer, pay him $75.00 and have him tell you exactly what you are signing. By signing anything that gives him complete control over any of the stuff you guys come up with, you are jeopardizing your musical future. Trust me on this one.
Members el_duderino676 Posted June 6, 2005 Members Posted June 6, 2005 Go for it. You have nothing to fear except fear itself, am I wrong?
Members xvertirx Posted June 10, 2005 Author Members Posted June 10, 2005 So I played with a band last night. When it was over I had mixed feelings. It was a little weird, because they know all their songs and I'm going in there with little practice and knowledge of their songs. So I was obviously a little nervous. Anyways, we played and I did ok. I made some mistakes and I had a hard time learning one of their riffs. I basically learned 2-3 songs right on the spot without ever hearing them or practicing them. One song had a weird riff which was moderately hard (on a scale of 1-10 I'd say it was a 4 in difficulty--but it's hard to learn something quick on the spot). Anyways, I'm really glad I did it. They need to discuss if they want me to join or not and I'm thinking I'm mixed because they have been around for a few years but they don't seem to be going anywhere. They said they'll contact me. On top of it all, if I do join I have to pay $105 per month for the studio--which is a lot for me to pay. I don't mind paying the money, but I want to be 100% into the project if I'm going to be dedicated. So I do like the band and the music but I feel like they're not focused and I want to do something that has some potential to go further. On a side note--the singer and guitarist were really nice and we got along great and we all said that we should go to ozzfest and hang out even if I don't join the band. So I made some new friends at the very least.
Members oneinchshawn Posted June 10, 2005 Members Posted June 10, 2005 Maybe you'll be the element that will spark their enthusiasm and they'll get their {censored} together.
Members xvertirx Posted June 10, 2005 Author Members Posted June 10, 2005 I dunno. I feel like I've wasted so much time doing this type of thing in the past. there's another band I might play with this weekend. They sound similar to the Cure and Catherine Wheel...two bands that I love. I like the heavy dark stuff, but I also love the melodic stuff just as much
Members L-1329 Posted June 10, 2005 Members Posted June 10, 2005 If they have been around for a long time already, and have not done anything, they probably won't. Keep your money, no need to spend that kind of cash on a band. If you do want to give them a shot, offer to play with them but let them know that you are not joining their band but can help them out. From what I've seen lately if a band has not got out and done anything in more than a few months it's most likely a dead end. Not always, but there is almost always something better out there with more potential. Spending $100 a month on a project you are not sure about is not very smart though. You'll never make that up with gig money, especially if they have no gigs...
Members xvertirx Posted June 10, 2005 Author Members Posted June 10, 2005 Originally posted by L-1329 If they have been around for a long time already, and have not done anything, they probably won't. Keep your money, no need to spend that kind of cash on a band. If you do want to give them a shot, offer to play with them but let them know that you are not joining their band but can help them out. From what I've seen lately if a band has not got out and done anything in more than a few months it's most likely a dead end. Not always, but there is almost always something better out there with more potential. Spending $100 a month on a project you are not sure about is not very smart though. You'll never make that up with gig money, especially if they have no gigs... I don't know if I'm qualified to do this but...you just won the xvertirx post of the day award lol!. You hit the nail on the head. You said exactly what I was feeling but I didn't know how to say it I guess. I agree with you 100%
Members el_duderino676 Posted June 10, 2005 Members Posted June 10, 2005 Originally posted by xvertirx I don't know if I'm qualified to do this but...you just won the xvertirx post of the day award lol!. You hit the nail on the head. You said exactly what I was feeling but I didn't know how to say it I guess. I agree with you 100% [/quote then do it.
Members L-1329 Posted June 10, 2005 Members Posted June 10, 2005 Originally posted by xvertirx I don't know if I'm qualified to do this but...you just won the xvertirx post of the day award lol!. You hit the nail on the head. You said exactly what I was feeling but I didn't know how to say it I guess. I agree with you 100% Cool, my first award! I'll make it official and put it in the sig.
Members xvertirx Posted June 10, 2005 Author Members Posted June 10, 2005 Originally posted by L-1329 Cool, my first award! I'll make it official and put it in the sig. lol cool. it's official!
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