New to Playing Music in a Group (feeling anxious)

joshuajonah · 3 months

Less is more, avoid the wall of sound. You don't need to play the ENTIRE time.
Compliment something somebody else is doing. Ask what key the song is in and bust weird riffs following the triads if you know what that means.
Don't over-think writing. I usually find a cool chord and then try it in different positions with random hammer-ons until I find a feel I like, then I follow that groove.
Write lyrics about past experiences. I like telling stories in my lyrics. Then it doesn't sound manufactured.
Don't follow the notes of the song when singing. Try to harmonize with what you are playing.
Forget about your mistakes. We all make them and 90% of the time your audience doesn't notice.
Song write with acoustic guitars, you don't need distortion to figure out a chord progression.
Cover songs that people don't know but have heard once or twice from something else. It drives them insane and will keep them interested. For example: Where Is My Mind by The Pixies is commonly known to most people as that awesome song at the end of Fight Club, I play a Hard Core Logo song, A friend of mine plays I'm Nuthin by Ethan Hawke played in Reality Bites. You get the idea.

zwisbeats · 3 months

Relax and communicate. It is worse to play with someone that is floundering and can't keep up than playing with someone who asks you to slow down and explain.
If you have them show you what they're doing you will improve by leaps and bounds.

kshock · 3 months

Just go and do what you know, if it doesnt work out its okay, this will be your first of many opportunities to join a band. Playing with one person for the first time is hard, going into a band setting where they have songs written is even harder. Try to get the key youll be playing in and some chord progressions to get comfortable with before the practice so you'll be ready.

ElvisMilhouse · 3 months

hey man - i went the opposite way - i dont really know how people do stuff in groups now , i cant imagine it - but it is fun when you have other people putting up stuff you wouldnt have thought of - just try not to stress about it - maybe have some beers first , thats what i would do

kyletissue · 3 months

You guys will have to play around with how you're going to sound together. Each of you has a style, and you're going to have to be willing to just try things out and find a group sound everyone's comfortable with. Don't worry if the first few things don't turn out great - when I was in a band, we definitely got better with time, not only because our songwriting skills improved, but also because our understanding of each other's abilities got deeper and we knew how to react to each other musically, how to each fill the spaces the others weren't filling, but not tread on each other. Just don't be afraid to play around and try things.

the_jules · 3 months

As someone who only recently started playing in a band, I can tell you that this is something almost any band-musician goes through. And it's a different kind of fear than the one of being on stage. Because after all, these are musicians, they (supposedly) know their shit, they're the ones who might call you out on your shit.

Be aware that in the beginning of these formations this kind of tension is almost always there, especially when you're new to playing with others. But it also has its upsides. It will keep you and them more alert to your own playing, to their playing, to new ideas. Think of it as a new relationship, where both parties are kind of shy, and only over time become more comfortable getting nakes in front of the other one.

Because that's what making music with others is, at it's best and most productive moments: a constant initmate presentation of ones flaws and talents. And the more you know yours and the more you know theirs and the more they know yours, the more at ease you will be.

AJJihad · 3 months

I had this same fear of working with someone when I started to play guitar/piano with my friends. Don't worry about timing or anything like that, just play a few covers together to get used to one another and then playing together is easy as cake. As for creating new music, just have your band mate lay down some beat and play over it, or the other way around. Well, that's how I do it at least... But don't worry too much, playing with someone is like playing with a metronome except much, much easier because they can adapt to your style. Hope this helped :D

m64 · 3 months

don't drink and play, or you won't be able to
stay in the rhythm;
find your place in the music - generally don't play in the same octave as any other musician;
stand in such a way that you can see each other;
have a warm-up routine - we used to play some improvised 12-bar blues or some simple rock'n'roll;

you'll need to login or register to do that

create a new account

login