Being the leader in the band, other members inexperienced...

[tak22thegoat]

I am in a situation where I am the leader in the band. However, my bassist and guitarist has just started playing 2 days ago, and we have an audition in 3 months. How should I train them so they can start playing with a band?

[hawk9290]

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! i know its clichéd, but if they are that new to the craft, then they need to practice more than anything else. Stick to basic songs, things pretty easy for them to play. Its much more important to sound together as a group and able to keep a solid groove than it is to play the most elaborate and complex songs possible. And also, make sure they are truly dedicated, because nothing puts a downer on drumming like working with people who really don't care about what they're doing.

[tak22thegoat]

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! i know its clichéd, but if they are that new to the craft, then they need to practice more than anything else. Stick to basic songs, things pretty easy for them to play. Its much more important to sound together as a group and able to keep a solid groove than it is to play the most elaborate and complex songs possible. And also, make sure they are truly dedicated, because nothing puts a downer on drumming like working with people who really don't care about what they're doing.

Thanks for the reply,
They all care about their instrument, however, they probably do not know how to practice efficiently. They are not exactly musically talented or gifted, so it may take time for them to play songs.

[crdirtRider856]

There is a fine line between caring about their instruments and having the same degree of dedication as you, as long as they are on the same page as far as goals and what you re all looking to get out of this. I m sure I dont need to say this but keep your dayjobs. Not to be condescending but you know what I mean. Band practice should be looked at like any other exercise, a routine is key. Warming up can do wonders and communication is needed. These actually sound easier than they are. As you have the most experience and are acting as leader- take some time by yourself and write out a practice schedule. Go over it with your band and stick to it. If you are not happy with something, explain your reason without being "bossy". And as Hawk said " PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!" Good luck!

[stasz]

Some great advice given above. I've been in your situation before (minus that deadline part) and I can understand that at times it can be frustrating. I find that it can help a lot of times if you can help them with their instrumental parts-- that is, understand the structure of the song, how many bars each section is, maybe even know the chords or melody in each section. Communication is key to make sure everyone is on the same page and knows what they're doing. Even taking a lot of time to practice and everyone putting their best effort in, it might be pretty tough. Good luck and don't forget to have fun.

[mikei]

My band recently had our first gig.

We threw in 2 new songs within 2 weeks of the gig (only 3 practices).

Any, having the deadline was GREAT. A real motivator for us.

We took a couple weeks off after the gig though. It burnt us out a bit.

You need to make progress, but don't turn it into work. Then you will lose the fun aspect.

Just try to keep everyone focused on the goal!!!

[Batera945]

People have sad it here already.. but you can never mention this enough... PRACTICE! and stick to simple things at first. If you sound good together people will like you.. now if your doing amazing drum solos and everyone else is lost, then you will look bad. Remember a band isn't about an individual but a group. You should sound good together. Make sure you practice with each other a lot. The more you play together the more natural things will be and a lot easier. Remember, your going to get nervous a lot of time when people mess up. But keep your cool and as the Leader you must always be focused and set the example. Pave the road and others will follow

[Tom Sawyer]

Having a deadline is really good. The members in one of my bands are really inexperienced too, and I used to hate practice because I had to tell them everything and it used to be totally bad, and now that we have a gig scheduled everybody's working hard and motivated, and playing a lot better.

[tak22thegoat]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
In my situation however, my guitarist and bassist started practicing their instruments a week ago. We are not in a situation to exactly play together as a band. We spend most of our band practices time for indivisual practice.
How can I teach them how to practice efficiently?

[Batera945]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
In my situation however, my guitarist and bassist started practicing their instruments a week ago. We are not in a situation to exactly play together as a band. We spend most of our band practices time for indivisual practice.
How can I teach them how to practice efficiently?

Have them find sites like drummerworld for guitarrist and bassist... Though i doubt such a thing exists.... No ONE can beat DRUMMERWORLD!!!! lol, and guitarrists and bassist can never be as cool as us drummers ; )


However, you can start telling them how you practice. LIke warming up, staying focused on one excercise and doing it right rather than doing 30 at once... stuff like that.. Learn by steps.

[mrchattr]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
In my situation however, my guitarist and bassist started practicing their instruments a week ago. We are not in a situation to exactly play together as a band. We spend most of our band practices time for indivisual practice.
How can I teach them how to practice efficiently?

I hate to be a downer...but if your guys JUST started playing their instruments a week ago, odds are you aren't going to be a good band in three months. Most of the time, you don't hear about guys playing in bands for AT LEAST 6 months to a year after they start playing, often much longer. The reason for this is simple: there is a lot to learn to be in a band. You have to be able to know your instrument well enough that, in the band setting, you can focus on your role in the band, listening, etc. You are basically asking two non-musicians to learn all of this (and probably more that I'm forgetting) in three months:
- Chords
- Scales
- Notes
- Tempos
- Time signatures
- Counting
- How to listen to themselves
- How to listen to each other and you
- Actual chord progressions or bass lines to actual songs
- Possibly how to sing while playing
- How to get over stage fright, if they have it
- How to interact with each other, both musically and on stage

Frankly, most musicians out there have a hard enough time being ready to start playing out live in three months, when they already know how to play their instruments. Going from not playing at all to being a live, performing band, seems like a crazy idea to me. When I started to study mandolin, I was able to perform a few songs out in about a month or two with my band...but I already knew about a ton of the music stuff from drumming and small times spent messing with other instruments (guitar, etc).

I write all this not to be a jerk, but because if you end up pushing these guys too hard, they might end up not wanting to learn their instruments, or not wanting to work with you down the road, once they know how to play.

[Drumsword]

mrchattr has very viable points, there is a LOT of work in 3 mos, but it's not impossible. I was thrust from a brand new drummer into a band at 5 mos because I was the only option and I learned to play by playing live with some very good musicians. The last 2 bands I was with I also put together and led. It is a lot of work, and responsibility but it's also rewarding.

U can accomplish a lot in 3 mos, a lot depends on you and even more on your 2 guys.

#1. "Encourage" them to practice, don't push and threaten but encourage them, by giving them recordings of the music you need to learn for them to play along too. Then praise them for their accomplishments weekly. We are easy to jump on mistakes and correct but we often forget to get exited when they nail parts and things start falling in place, you're exitement and praise will motivate them.

#2 If it's original music, record your practices and give them copies to practice too.

#3, Avoid frustration, if your stuck on a part, Isolate the part and figure out what needs to change or be worked on. After 30 min, move on to an easier song or 2 and get your enthusiasm back up. Then re-evaluate the more difficult part.

#4, go out for coffee, or soda, etc after practice or just on an off practice night just to mesh and get to know each other apart from the music. That often translates into a more gelled band. (But not always).

#5. Lead, Be the leader, set the tempo for practice, make sure things move forward, Be quick to point out things that are not working and correct them, but be equally quick to amplify the positive. Be confident and your guys will respect you. And don't forget to entertain your bandmates ideas, remember it takes an entire band to create Music.

[crdirtRider856]

Alot of great advice below/above. After all... YOU are the leader, you have the most experience and its really up to you to decide what your band needs most. And as we all know- A good drummer will make the band. So you might not have the best guitarists, dont hold back. Give it your all and encourage them to do the same. Take all the advice you can and just do it! Good luck man!

[brittc89]

All I have to say is that in my experience you want to avoid being the best player in the band. Its no longer a learning experience, but a stressful ordeal in which instead of advancing as a musician you are backtracking to help everyone get to speed. Play with people that are better than you, ask questions, and work your butt off, thats the advice I have for you.

[tomgrosset]

Play with people that are better than you,

I totally agree.....

[tak22thegoat]

All I have to say is that in my experience you want to avoid being the best player in the band. Its no longer a learning experience, but a stressful ordeal in which instead of advancing as a musician you are backtracking to help everyone get to speed. Play with people that are better than you, ask questions, and work your butt off, thats the advice I have for you.

Britt, Thank you for your clear answer. I totally agree.

[Drumsword]

I am in a situation where I am the leader in the band. However, my bassist and guitarist has just started playing 2 days ago, and we have an audition in 3 months. How should I train them so they can start playing with a band?


Sorry, I mis-understood the question, Thought you wanted advice and info on how to best train the 2 other players.