Any advice?

[saulhudson]

This is gonna sound weird but....for the last ten years or so I've played in a couple of duo's, been really popular as well but never a band?

I've jammed with bands occasionally but nothing serious really?

Ok here's my 'dilemma', I've been asked by a really good female rock singer who's about to leave her duo, about forming a full blown rock band, the only thing is never having pacticed with a full band, and not the most widdly of players I'm wondering if I'm gonna be good enough.

It's weird I feel like a kid again just starting out, really nervous and unsure of my own abilities, I guess ten years of playing to backing tracks it's become my 'comfort zone' my son reckons it's actually easier playing with a band than it is a backing track?

hell I don't even have an amp, preferring to D.I. into the desk with my XtLive and use monitors, which brings me to my next question, amps, I'd like a Marshall, (Classic combo then Gibson Les Paul+Marshall= ROCK!) I'd most likely need the ability to play really clean, crunch to full on distortion I guess, music I think will be the likes of Blondie, Skunk Anansie, Pink, some AC/DC, possibly Bowling for Soup, maybe G'n'R, you get the idea?

I'm really just looking for advice, experiences, tips, anything really, just feels really strange as though I know nothing at all......stoopid huh?

[nocaster]

Wow. Your new band sounds like mine! Check my sig link for a track listing.

Personally, I prefer playing with a band but I find backing tracks easier. Reason for this is simple, with a backing track you know whats coming next. Fellow band members may screw up or play something differently, etc that may or may not affect the part your playing.

Also, the ability thing.................

The songs you say, and in fact the songs I play, aren't that difficult. You'll manage fine. Playing for 10 years means you'll have picked up bad habits, but it'll also mean you have a good foundation to work from.

Get an amp. End of story. In fact, you are correct, Les Paul and Marshall does indeed equal rock! That's what I use. Below's a few pics of a gig and a diagram of my setup. It'll probably bore you but the band is strangely similar to yours (female fronted, same songs, etc,etc) so it might inspire you. Personally I use a Marshall JVM 410H. It's an awesome amp and will do everything you want to do. It's a tad pricey, but with all the modes, options, it'll last a lifetime. I use it for everything. Used to be in a heavier band (Ozzy, etc) and it was fine. Now I do rock/pop covers and it's also fine. I'll (probably!) never part with it.

Enjoy and let us know how the 1st practice goes.

K

[saulhudson]

[quote=nocaster;364237]Wow. Your new band sounds like mine! Check my sig link for a track listing.

Personally, I prefer playing with a band but I find backing tracks easier. Reason for this is simple, with a backing track you know whats coming next. Fellow band members may screw up or play something differently, etc that may or may not affect the part your playing.

Also, the ability thing.................

The songs you say, and in fact the songs I play, aren't that difficult. You'll manage fine. Playing for 10 years means you'll have picked up bad habits, but it'll also mean you have a good foundation to work from.

Get an amp. End of story. In fact, you are correct, Les Paul and Marshall does indeed equal rock! That's what I use. Below's a few pics of a gig and a diagram of my setup. It'll probably bore you but the band is strangely similar to yours (female fronted, same songs, etc,etc) so it might inspire you. Personally I use a Marshall JVM 410H. It's an awesome amp and will do everything you want to do. It's a tad pricey, but with all the modes, options, it'll last a lifetime. I use it for everything. Used to be in a heavier band (Ozzy, etc) and it was fine. Now I do rock/pop covers and it's also fine. I'll (probably!) never part with it.

Enjoy and let us know how the 1st practice goes.

K

Hey cheers for the reply man very much appreciated!

Funnily enough I'm actually fancying the JVM410 myself but most likely in the combo form, however as you point out iit isn't cheap so I'm gonna hang fire and see how it is after a couple of practices before making a decision.

We all had a get together last night to talk things over as a couple of us are in other bands duo's etc, plus work shifts!

But we still wanna give it a go, only a couple of us knew each other, and I only knew Mel, the singer personally but it was cool, no egos and we just wanna enjoy it but put the effort in to sound good.

So we decided on the following songs to learn for our firs practice in a fortnight, all pretty easy as we didn't wanna start of 'reaching for the sky' cos' it just makes it damned hard work from the get go, this way we can at least hopefully lock in quicker which in turn should spur us on?

Blondie-One way or another
Joan Jett-I Love Rock and Roll
Canberries-Zombie
Skunk Anansie-Weak
Pink-So what.

One of the later songs is AC/DC's 'You shook me all night long' not a problem as I've played it before, however Mel wants it singing in the key of.....''F''! this is because she's been singing along to the Celine Dion cover on youtube and finds it just right for her, bloody awkward for me!

So to make life easier for me I'm thinking of stringing an old Squire Strat that I never use, with heavier gauge strings, (Maybe 12's) and then detuning it a whole tone, this way I should still be able to play it in the usaual open positions and solo's, make sense to you?

I'm also gonna be working with another guitarist which could be interesting.

[Some1]

dont panic just buy an amp and enjoy yourself

[carnifecks]

it always feels like this. its the same with everything, no matter what you play.

just, show 'em what you got. give 'em hell!

[JCM]

With that (10 years of duo work) experience you should be fine. Plus I don't think the singer would have asked you to form a band together if she didn't think you could bring something to it.

I was in a somewhat similar situation some years back. Not having an amp and having not played with a band in sometime. The gig called for versatility so I bought a Marshall AVT275.

As for my playing , I was fine once I loosened up. So, enjoy it.

[saulhudson]

Thanks for the replies folks, and I know what your saying, I'm sure once the initial 'newness' and difference of playing along with other musicians has worn off I'll settle right in, it's not as though I haven't a clue it's just the old moving away from my usual 'comfort zone' I think, I probably won't be truly happy until I nail a decent sound that I'll be happy with.

I'll try and keep you all posted as to how the rehearsing goes along with hopefully our first gig!

[JaseMorris]

A couple of praccies and you'll be raring to go! Honestly.

If your drummer's good, then that's 1/2 the battle - if you can play the songs, that counts for more than any amount of widdle. Widdle's nice icing, if you can stick a little in here and there, but it's no substitute for cool songs, well played.

If you can get a bunch of good rockin' tones outta the amp, then you'll really wonder why you were so worried.

So get out there and gig!

[saulhudson]

Originally Posted by JaseMorris

A couple of praccies and you'll be raring to go! Honestly.

If your drummer's good, then that's 1/2 the battle - if you can play the songs, that counts for more than any amount of widdle. Widdle's nice icing, if you can stick a little in here and there, but it's no substitute for cool songs, well played.

If you can get a bunch of good rockin' tones outta the amp, then you'll really wonder why you were so worried.

So get out there and gig!

Cheers Jase, much appreciated, although I haven't heard the drummer he comes with VERY high recommendations, having played with a couple of really good bands in the area, the only 'fly in the ointment' at the moment is the other guitarist, I can't seem to get him together with me to sort out who plays what, and work together on songs, if it continues like this I'm gonna have to say something y'know?
but it's early days and it may just be he's snowed under with other things, so we'll see.

[JaseMorris]

Yes, that will be a fly in the ointment. 2 guitarists require clarity in who plays what. Simply put, you cannot play the same way in a 2 guitar band as a 1 guitar band - you have to arrange the two guitars. In all honesty, if he/she can't make the occasional guitar session on top of regular band practices, then his/her commintment should be questioned. Two guitars only work when tightly arranged, i.e. each has definite roles, and plays 2 distinct parts here, and are locked in, exactly, there. Even if a lead/rhtyhm set up, the rhythm player needs to compliment the band, and you, while you're not soloing, it still needs to be nailed.

I may be making assumptions; it's just crap, strumalong "rhythm guitarists" are a pet hate.