coming together

[keymandoguy]

other than circle jams I have never played in a band Met a guy who has been playing in a Gospel band and is now going to start a Bluegrass band. He has recruited me as the mandolin player and his brotherinlaw on bass (we still need a lead singer etc. ) You guys that are in bands how long does it normaly take to get synchronised as a unit before you start playing out? I know we have a lot of work to do but just curious. I know Bill Monroe worked for months and months to get the sound he wanted is this true in all bluegrass bands? I have played with different bands at jams but thats about my total experience of band work. How long did it take you ? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[John Flynn]

I think there are different levels of "together" and the answer really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Also, that old saying that things tend to take about as much time as give them is in effect here. I have put "weekend warrior" rock bands together for charity events and come up with some good results after only four practices over a month's time. But that was assuming we started with an agreed-on set list of not-too-challenging tunes, we had copies of recordings of each tune, along with sheet music, chords and lyric sheets for everyone handed out a week before the first practice and everyone had committed to putting in a lot of individual practice time on thier own.

I also put together an old-time string band to play for free for a party on the same model. The formula worked for that initial set, but we stayed together after the party and as we started playing for pay and for bigger audiences, we needed to add more, and more complicated, tunes. At that level, the sound of the band never really did come together to my statisfaction, even after playing for six months and several gigs. Some of us split off and started a new group with another person and that group "clicked" from the very first tune at the first practice. Now after six months and several gigs, we still sound good, but I think we may be on a "plateau."

So the variables are: individual talent, individual committment, shared values about the music and performing, and organization. That can make the difference between "coming together" in a few weeks, a few months, or never.

[Dfyngravity]

It all depends on how comfortable you feel around the guys. I can tell you that the band I am in, the guitar player who is my best friend and I are always on the same page when playing. But that is mainly because we started playing together and practiced a lot together. We can play songs with our back to each other and know exactly what each other is playing and the exact time we are going to stop. I you have never played with these guys them it will take a little time. You just have to get use to how they play. Good luck in your playing.

[8ch(pl)]

if you haven't got a name for your band, how about "Canaan Bound"? I suggested it for the band i was in a number of years ago but the other members picked something else.

[craigtoo]

I play with a guitar player...we're very tight. #It took us a year to be able to read each other's mind. #But that was with no real practice together... Just a gig or 2 a week and a jam each week...(trial by fire) #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #But I love playing with this guy... it's so easy.

Before that....I played with a band for about 6 months .. we never came together at all.... 5 people going in different directions. #loads of practices and very few gigs... #

You'll know it when you meet the right bunch and play with them... it's a way more positive experience and even the bad gigs leave you laughing and learning instead of dying of embarassment...

so for me.. the time isn't the real question... it's more.. Do I *really* enjoy playing my best with these other musicians? #Who knows.. the singer may turn out to be a beginner... but totally cool ... and the personalities blend perfectly ... and you may be having such a good time that you decide to practice for a year before the first gig and love every bit of it!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

enjoy,
craig

[Michael H Geimer]

I'd say given some basic common chemistry it takes about six months for group of 3-5 to truly lock-in. The more players, the tougher it will be to find that common groove.

Now, you ought to be able to get out there and perform long before that, though you might not 'feel' ready. I've met many players who have burned themselves out in the rehearsal studio in an effort to get every detail 'just right' before they head out in public ... where all those carefull plans will likely fall apart anyways.

IMO ... best to come up with simpler arrangements and then put your show on the road ASAP. The benefits of public performance are huge in comparison to the same time and effort spent alone or inside a closed studio.

Of course, some people will be 'ready' sooner than others, and some songs will work themselves out better than others. Band life is always a work in progress.

In the end, I don't really know any bands that say, "Oh yeah ... we're always all on the same page." Yeah right. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Have a great time, and don't sweat the small stuff too much.

- Benig

[AmosMoses]

how long does it normaly take to get synchronised as a unit before you start playing out?


This could depend on the venue or your geographical location. Coming from a small city where bluegrass is almost unheard of our 4 piece(bass,guit,mando,banjer) performs well although aside from the banjo we're not super pickers. We're tight though with good harmonies. It goes over well here but I realize that if I lived in Nashville I'd be picking in the closet.

[mrbook]

If you are able to begin and end together and play together in the middle, and if you have a good time and people like it, that's a start. Then play out as often as you can - no matter how much you practice and arrange, anything can (and often will) happen when you get on stage, and we all know that playing in front of people is a lot different from practicing at home. You need to learn how to play in front of people, please an audience, and put on a show in order to put your musicianship across.

Looking back with our group playing together ten years (the guy with ADD left in the middle), we see how far we have come getting comfortable playing together - we had fun from the start, but somewhere along the way it became as comfortable on stage as playing at home. It didn't take ten years, but somewhere in the middle, and you just keep playing until it happens. It's not always just the music, too, but the interplay between the members - we play best when everyone in the band gets along.