Firstly, if I have posted this in the wrong section, apologies,
Right to it: I've been playing and learning the guitar for about 2 years now. Im ok, im not SRV or Buddy Guy, but what i play sounds good and I'm happy with that.
My assumption (and indeed, aspiration) is to play in a band. However, I simply cannot find anywhere after over 6 months of searching. I recently moved to a village just outside Northampton town and it doesn't seem like there are any local bands hiring/at all. I cannot sing a note, so going solo just isn't an option. I've been in contact with a few people about starting something, but it always falls flat.
Has anyone else experienced this problem? Or will I have to look further afield/ give up??
Any advice would be great.
"Pick your noses up!"
Comments
Also dont be put off by time wasters when you’re looking to start a band. Unfortunately for every 1 serious potential bandmate there’s another 20 people who will talk the talk all day long but have absolutely zero intention of ever walking the walk.
What sort of music are you looking at?
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/112143/northampton-jam-session-sunday-3rd-december-1-to-5pm/p1
I'd get in touch with some of those who attended this.
@mrkb
I am guessing by your profile you are born in 1990?
Thanks for the advice
Northampton has a bit going on - but nowhere near what it was. There are some pretty big rehearsal rooms there so that could be a good starting point.
I know of a few people that play in Daventry but they are all in their 40s now.
Northampton generally has a heavier scene punk/metal variants and some indie, at least thats how its been for a fair few years.
There are a few covers bands about doing a wide range of material though scattered around the county. Corby used to have a lot of bands at one point.
There used to be a jam night in Daventry on a monday night... I think it was at the George Inn. Might be worth a look/phone call?
I found that the people who were available to join in a band project wanted to do other things, weren't into my kind of music, or didn't have the skills. Also that the people who might have had the interest and the skills were earning good money working for other people and I couldn't afford them or guarantee the kind of work that would keep them employed. So ...
I decided that if I wanted to hear my music coming out of loudspeakers, I had better get some instruments, learn to operate them, learn to record them, and get some kit to do it with. I started in the late 1980s with 4-track cassette machines and now have a 16 track digital workstation. Most gear bought s/h, or end-of-line sales. The result:
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/musophilr/CNV00023_zps92vzlwx5.jpg
Hope it inspires you, or if not, at least gives you food for thought.
Caveat: there's nothing like playing in a live band. Do go for it, even if your own music room ends up as your long-term goal.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
You miss 100% of the shots you dont take and all that
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youThe second problem is that we tend to be stylistically narrow.
There are two basic solutions:
- bring more to the party than just playing guitar.
- broaden your horizons
What else can you do? Backing vocals ( always say Yes, crappy shouty BVs are better than nothing at all)? Another instrument? Organisational skills? Prepared to do the legwork to get gigs? Easy to get on with? Just prepared to advertise rather than hoping something turns up?
Playing ability is very low down the list of strengths it takes to be in a gigging band.*
Would you be musically fulfilled playing in an Adele tribute band or a metal oompah act?** Probably not but it would give you band experience, maybe paid gigs to get more gear and the confidence to start your own thing further down the line. So , take a broader approach when looking at JMB, etc.
Good luck.
*Not that I'm gigging much at the moment but I am definitely proof of this.
** I've seen one, it's a real thing. You'd need your own leiderhosen though.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself