Playing in a band can be great fun, whether it’s taken seriously as a profession or just as a hobby. Sometimes it can be challenging to find the right band for you. The main idea is to find a group of people who have the same ideals as you have. You’re going to want to be playing with people who have the same musical interests, similar personalities and common goals.
If you have never played with another musician before, you may need some time to find your bearings. Playing in a band is a skill that requires practice, so if you’re uncomfortable at first, don’t stress.
Here a few guidelines to follow before joining a band:
- Learn basic music theory – It helps to have a basic understanding of what you and other musicians are playing. If another band member, for example, makes reference to the harmonic minor scale, you’re going to want to know what they’re referring to.
- Know your notes – Before attempting to play with other musicians, it’s vital to know where to find your notes on the fretboard. At best you should know the note names across all the frets for the low E and A strings, as well as all your first-position chords.
- Learn to play without a drummer – You should know your material well enough to be able to play it on your own, without the aid of other instruments or backing tracks.
- Learn blues theory* – For more advanced players. Blues is the foundation of most music, so if you know your blues theory then you can jam with other musicians without knowing the song and without rehearsals.
Starting Your Own Band
Sometimes starting your own band is the best route to take, especially if you’re new in the industry and you don’t know people who have an interest in playing live. There are a few different directions to take in this regard:
- Play cover music
- Play original music
- Play instrumental music
- Play a combination of one or more of the above
Since you’re a guitarist, vocals may be issue. If you don’t do vocals yourself, it’s probably a good idea to find a vocalist and form a duo (more on this below). Since instrumental music is not commercialized, you’re going to have a tough time getting new audiences to relate to your music.
In my personal opinion, the best route to take is to write original material, and then throw some cover music into your set. Audiences want to hear music they can relate to, so if you’re a new band you’re going to have a tough time only playing original material.
Approaching Musicians
Once you have written a few original songs, you’re going to want to record some demos. If you or a friend has some recording equipment this can help, otherwise get your demos tracked at a local studio. Once you have a few recordings, you can approach musicians who you really have an interest in playing with.
If you feel you have a strong product, you can always approach freelance musicians. They will usually provide you with an exceptional level of musicianship in order to have your music sound at its best, however confirmation of paid gigs is often required and some freelance musicians may even charge rehearsal fees.
Joining a Band
Nothing is more satisfying than walking into a band that already has paid gigs lined up. The problem is that these openings can be hard to find, especially if you don’t know many people who have an active interest in playing music. Another factor is personality differences. Usually it can take some time to find the perfect band for you.
The best way to find other musicians and bands is to network. This can be done in a number of ways, both online and offline. I find offline networking to be highly effective. It’s as simple as attending gigs of local bands and meeting other musicians. Having a card with your details on hand can be a great help for getting you name out there with the right people.
When it comes to joining another band, there are a few options:
- Local cover bands – You can find cover bands in abundance playing at local pubs and clubs. These types of bands usually don’t inherit a strong level of musicianship, and are formed usually as a hobby. Often members need replacing, so keep your eyes and ears open if cover music is your forté.
- Session work – There are many original artists looking to hire musicians. Session work doesn’t just entail studio work as there are many live acts looking to hire too. Many singers/songwriters prefer working with session musicians as they provide a strong level of musicianship which in turn benefits their product.
- Theatre/Productions – There are many productions looking to hire musicians. Usually this means that you are not the main focus point of the production, however the job does entail playing with talented musicians and networking opportunities that you didn’t have before.
Tips to Get the Job
Often it’s required to audition for your spot in your favorite band. Here are a few tips to stand out amongst the crowd:
- Attitude – A good attitude goes a long way in a band. You can be the greatest player in the world, but if your attitude is wrong you won’t be at the gig.
- Skill – It’s a no-brainer that if you want people to recognize you as a powerful asset to their band, you need to be a proficient guitar player. Practice makes perfect.
- Tone – A good tone isn’t the easiest thing in the world to achieve. If you have really good tone or powerful effect driven sounds, you’re going to capture people’s attention.
- Appearance – Since a live band entails performing in front of people, you’re going to want to make sure you fit the profile. I’ve found that looking at how successful guitar players dress and move on stage is a great starting point to getting it right.
