Becoming A Good Guitarist/Band Member When Everything Seems To Be Against You

I expect it’s a problem that afflicts many teenagers. Your parents want you to go into law/medicine/a well paid socially reasonable job, but you want to be a professional musician. I can tell you, this certainly affects me. Well, not as clichéd as that, but to be honest, I would love to be in a touring band as a guitarist.

However, there are problems in the way. Let me list them so they seem like a lot:

1. Band Members. I have them. They are there. The question is, how do I motivate them? We meet up only about once a year, sadly, and then what happens is somebody goes on the drums and beats the crap out of them, then another person gets bored and starts playing the Titanic theme tune on the piano, then we argue about what song to play because the bassist likes pop-punk but the guitarist likes metal but the drummer and singer like folk, so outnumbered as we are we have to play some Kate Rusby, mm that sounds great with distortion on, then when we finally get round to playing a song, the singer refuses to sing, complaining that they have a crap voice. So what we have is half an hour in someone’s living room, no microphone, stressy bassist, drummer complaining that they want to play guitar, guitarist playing acoustic songs with distortion and the singer quietly humming along because they think they can’t sing. However, you can fight against this by... Finding some new band members? I know it’s easy to say, but it really is not difficult to just ask around at school, college, University, at the pub, just look for someone who plays an instrument. Don’t be in a band just because your friends are in it. Or how about going solo. Now there's a thought.

2. College/School/Education. I have to do it. And I expect this is a pain for a lot of people. But at the end of this education I’m getting, I will have to go to University. Then do a socially acceptable job that needs qualifications. (Pause while I retreat to a corner, sobbing). A guitarist doesn’t need qualifications. The only qualifications useful are the Rockschool ones. (Okay, well maybe you can do a Masters Degree in Music, but shush now). Perhaps you could overcome this problem by studying music at school/college/University. The parents will be satisfied, you will be satisfied. Just make sure that having to study the theory of music doesn’t drain you of all passion you have for the subject.

3. Talent And Time. This, unlike the last two points, is not there. Sadly. And I hope a lot of people can relate to this one. When I was 12, I started learning guitar. I would sit up in my room all evening learning songs by McFly (shush now) and Green Day. I could play faster and better than ever before. Six years later and I have trouble improvising, for God’s sake. The difference between then and now is TIME. I have no time now. It’s this bloody college getting in the way again. COLLEGE. TIME. They don’t come as a pair. Because many people will probably be able to relate to the fact that the world is moving too fast, basically do all assignments as soon as you get them... We need to practise, practice means prizes, or perfect, or whatever. We’re never going to be good guitarists if we can’t dedicate enough time to practising.

To be honest, all of these problems are overcomeable (what? Don’t think that’s a real word) and, clichd as it sounds, you can accomplish your goals of musicianship. Time is important, dedicate as much time as you can to practising and you’ll be amazed at how your abilities improve.

Comments

[Raider76]

god this is exactly like my life...literally, except its high school not college

[cj10schmelzer]

Exactly.

Something that comes from my mom: "You gotta have a backup career, you can't just be a professional musician."

ummm, no. You only get one shot, mom, may as well take it.

[Spanglefurkel]

^^ Exactly. Thanks for the comments, guys

[darkcheef]

I think that the best thing for me would go to a college, get a good job, then get a band rather than work at a **** job, have horrible gear, and play in a alright band

[Spanglefurkel]

^^oo, okay. Thanks for the comment anyhow

[3 days grace14]

cj10schmelzer wrote:

Exactly.

Something that comes from my mom: "You gotta have a backup career, you can't just be a professional musician."

ummm, no. You only get one shot, mom, may as well take it.

you got the same mom as me : ) lol

[WOODY_B]

3 days grace14 wrote:

cj10schmelzer wrote:

Exactly.

Something that comes from my mom: "You gotta have a backup career, you can't just be a professional musician."

ummm, no. You only get one shot, mom, may as well take it.

you got the same mom as me : ) lol

me too

[BringerOfMetal]

Right on the dot, man.
Great points

[ghstofperdition]

some points I'd like to make as well....

1.) finding guitar players is easy. They're a dime a dozen. It's the good bass players and drummers that pose a challenge. To further complicate your search for new members, they have to click with you personality-wise and to even further complicate your search, they also have to be PUNCTUAL AND NOT FLAKY. I can also guarantee you that everybody will go through a similar situation as you stated at least once. It sucks, but it's a part of putting together a band.

2-3.)College is a great place to meet other musicians (especially if you're at a music school like MI or Berklee)I highly recommend going to a music school as a good deal of your homework will involve you playing your guitar, thus you are killing 2 stones with one bird.(my take on an old idiom)Also there are other cool careers in music besides just being in a band. Realistically, like 1% of all bands become highly successful. Not that you should give up, but just be honest with yourself. Studio musicians are always in demand so again, get you some edumaction and try to learn other instruments as well. Recording engineers and producers are another avenue to look into as well.

[Spanglefurkel]

ghstofperdition wrote:

some points I'd like to make as well....

1.) finding guitar players is easy. They're a dime a dozen. It's the good bass players and drummers that pose a challenge. To further complicate your search for new members, they have to click with you personality-wise and to even further complicate your search, they also have to be PUNCTUAL AND NOT FLAKY. I can also guarantee you that everybody will go through a similar situation as you stated at least once. It sucks, but it's a part of putting together a band.

2-3.)College is a great place to meet other musicians (especially if you're at a music school like MI or Berklee)I highly recommend going to a music school as a good deal of your homework will involve you playing your guitar, thus you are killing 2 stones with one bird.(my take on an old idiom)Also there are other cool careers in music besides just being in a band. Realistically, like 1% of all bands become highly successful. Not that you should give up, but just be honest with yourself. Studio musicians are always in demand so again, get you some edumaction and try to learn other instruments as well. Recording engineers and producers are another avenue to look into as well.

True, good points there.

[VanTheKraut]

I can relate to the Proffesional musician vs. Socially acceptable job. Only Mine is more along the lines of Military vs. White Collar office job.

[tom1thomas1]

The only reason I put in any effort at school is to please my parents. If I just stopped trying I'd lose my guitar for sure, my mum thinks it's the source of all evil or something already. and i cant move out with my guitar to somewhere where noone else cares, its not that straightforward

and I can't wait until the band members problem starts... I already know about 2 people I can relate to enough to spend hours and hours together.

[kattaway96]

I can definitely relate to most of that. I didn't have that problem with my band, but my drummer had that problem with his first band. And my parents keep saying "oh its good that you have a hobby, but don't get too into it." God, Parents suck.

[ibanezsam92]

i have the same band situation, i want to do gnr, led zep, ect. but my singer, who i dislike, wants to do screamo and my bass and drummer like punk and emo.

i am in high school and finding band members is hard

[Yeti This]

definately bin there done that, got the t-shirt lol
its hard 2 find people that r in it 4 more than the title, u know?