Ok, ok ok ok…
I’m already apologizing for the click bait title.
And, for those of you (spoiler warning) who aren’t in this game to play live music with live people, you can add this article to your “TLDR” list.
BUT!
If you want to see some of my finest Photoshop work (Gio as Timothy Chalamet in Dune? Yes please) then check it on out!
Really though, you know how stoked I get at all of the “first gig” posts here. There’s something amazing and powerful with the bass in a band setting.
If you’d like to read me expound on the idea, have at it!
(Bonus: Those road signs are just filled with music jokes, y’all. I do this for us.)
Did I miss some of the benefits?
Did I over sell it?
And most of the songs that have really pushed my playing ability and gotten me out of my comfort zone, have been ones suggested by other people. Some have been larger challenges than I could conquer (I still can’t play “In the Meantime” at tempo), but I’ve learned a lot from the challenge.
I know this is a corollary/companion piece to Josh’s “Just Join a Fucking Band” video. And after watching that a couple times and reading this, I’m stuck on the “Am I really good enough” point.
Like, I know I could probably throw down roots in whole/half/quarter notes. Probably even eighths if the tempo isn’t too fast. But that’s gonna be boring for a whole set, right? And I’ve gotten songs learned for covers I’ve posted, but there’s no actual time limit on that. I worry that bands will want me to play songs the way they are on the recording in just a couple weeks, and I won’t be good enough for that.
That being said, I was planning on updating the status on the bandmix profile I created months ago to “looking for a band” after I get back from my trip this weekend.
Worst case scenario, I find a bunch of bands that all tell me I suck. Best case scenario, I don’t actually suck and need to feed the GAS to upgrade gear to work better outside my practice space.
I think, as in almost all things, honesty is the best policy. You give them a link to one of your YT covers and say this is me. I don’t completely suck but I’m willing to put in the work if you’ll give me the time to learn the songs.
I think you’d be surprised how accommodating fellow musicians can be.
Firstly is very satisfying when you can look back at songs you struggled to play and see how far you have come; I look back at tunes I thought I would never be able to play, and they are relatively easy now.
As said above I would not have learned as many or as wide a variety of songs if I was not playing other people’s music choices.
Definitely a way to level up.
Secondly, I am not a social person by nature; I can come across as an extrovert and I do not get social anxiety as such, but I do find being around people exhausting and difficult.
Nonetheless I started the conversation that got me into the band I am playing with and went on stage in front of a group of strangers who were musicians.
I think for social anxiety it would be a good “therapy”. Having said that I am someone who confronts my fears and skull-drags myself through them so I may not be the best judge.
In addition to that and more specific to me as someone who does not ‘people’ well, is that there have been many times when we have had our jams and, for whatever reason I don’t want to go. This could be that I am not feeling terribly well (I get weather migraines), or I am sick of being around other humans (eg Jam after work) and just feel like returning to my cave, other times I just want to be left alone.
Now I don’t like letting people down and the bass ain’t going to play itself.
Generally, I start to feel a lot better once we get together and start playing, and I don’t want to stop at the end, and all in all it lifts my mood overall.
Another good point for me is that I work in an essential female-dominated government office environment which can be a bit of a struggle as I have previously been physical, outdoors, blokey environment type person- sometimes it is just good to have adult male company and shoot the shit.
This bit surprised me too.
I come from a fairly competitive and sometimes, er, conflict-prone past.
Having people who encourage you and are ok with mistakes and sucking at first was very refreshing- took me a while to develop a bit of trust but it is a good to have now.
Yes, you probably are, I was pretty useless when I started with these guys, but I ‘faked it’ by putting in a huge amount of work to learn the songs (which then makes it easier to learn more songs).
Now I can look back at what used to be impossible
I have taught social partner dancing (swing, blues, tango, etc.) for many years now. The only way to learn how to dance with a partner is to dance with a partner. No amount of solo practice will ever get you there. You can be a great solo dancer. The first time you try to dance tango or swing with a partner, you are going to suck. It is a unique skill that the only way to learn it is to do it.
You don’t have those skills you need to click in a band yet, because the only way to learn them is to play with a band. No amount of solo practice is ever going to get you there.
You have the basic playing skills to make that leap. Laying down roots with a little bit of rhythmic variation is plenty fun to do for an entire song. If you can take it a step farther and sprinkle in an occasional 5th or minor 7th, you are golden.
If you are honest with those musicians, they will get it, and they will understand. And they will be excited to bring you into the fold.
Yup.
This one’s huge for me.
And @Vader - yeah, you’re definitely good enough.
There’s a pretty good natural system between posting a video, a quick phone call (don’t do it via text), and maybe a single musical get together where you’ll be able to figure out if it’s a good fit or not.
Honesty is good, but the video is nice, because it’s easy to undersell and back down from hypothetical challenges. The video just shows “yep- I can do this.”
Great motivational piece, @Gio…and so true! I enjoyed reading it!
Like others, I can attest to that joining a band early on was the thing that accelerated my bass playing the most (pretty much for all the reasons mentioned). And it really was/is a lot of fun also.
Still, that doubt regarding being good enough never goes away (and that’s probably a healthy thing too, as it points to areas for progress!!). Even though having played in a band for 6 years or so, I now want to join a different band. These new dudes play jazz standards, and I seemingly have developed a mental fear of walking and am all but convinced I will never get it right.
So, do I feel I am good enough to meet with them and butcher “Have you met Ms Jones?” ? Not even close.
Will I need to try it anyways?? Yes, either with these dudes or the next opportunity at the latest ()… one thing is almost sure: unless I jump into the deep end, I will never learn to “swim” (or, to walk, as it were).
My next fear item is already looming as well: playing Latin… I mean, most of the time, I can’t even hear the “1”. Anything more than “Song for my Father” and I will crash and burn… so much to learn
I remember stepping into the Latin Jazz ensemble in college.
It was taught by a brilliant drummer and percussionist.
He tried to show me the rhythms… and I could. not. do. it.
I hear you!
Like all things - lots of listening and playing and practices makes it better.
I wish you all the best of luck!
I’m 60 years old. After a year or so of learning a few licks, riffs and simple songs I decided to give BassBuzz a try. That gave me a super solid foundation and a bit of confidence. Then I joined the local School of Rock adult band program. Which is 3 months of weekly rehearsals with a group of other adult SoR students that will end with a live show at a local venue. The setlist was 15 songs from the The Beatles and The Stones. I had six songs to learn. At show time I was so nervous. By the middle of the first song the nerves melted away and I ended up having a great time for the rest of the show.
I decided to stay on for the next round cuz the setlist was gonna be 90’s rock. I got 13 songs of the 15 song setlist this time. That show solidified my need to play with other musicians and in front of an audience. So I joined a few “bands looking for musicians” type of sites. After a few auditions and rehearsals with a couple of bands that didn’t work out I am finally in a band with a group of guys that are around the same age, love the same types of music, and we all get along well. Been rehearsing with them most of this summer and it’s been a fantastic experience. I’m learning more about how my gear works in a band setting, I’m learning to listen to my bandmates instead of just playing by muscle memory. Never know when bridge or solo may take a few extra measures to finish… Or if the singer didn’t start on time… Or if the drummer is slowing down or speeding up. I’m beginning to feel like an actual musician. That moment was solidified when the drummer hugged me during a break and told me it was so good to have a bass player that actually listens to the drums and can follow along with his added fills and changes. The other guys have complimented me on my tone and my technique. They’ve expressed wonder that I’ve been doing this for less than 4 years.
This has all been so rewarding for me. Learning to play an instrument is helping to keep my aging brain from atrophying, gets me out of the house and meeting new people, gives me purpose and direction. My wife says it’s been more effective and less expensive than therapy.
Thank you so much to Gio, for this great post. Thank you so much Josh, for your unwavering postive attitude and great teaching style. Your lessons were the first stepping stone to this fantastic journey I am on.
)… one thing is almost sure: unless I jump into the deep end, I will never learn to “swim” (or, to walk, as it were).
