Weststarx

The matching Jaguars look really cool!

I'm glad they had done with Tom and carried on with Matt Skiba, and I really hope they continue to do so.

I've had two Fender P MIMs and been really impressed with both - I couldnt fault either of them!

He says something negative about somebody every week which gets him in the magazines and on the front of websites. I follow NME magazine on Facebook and 90% of their posts seem to be something that Noel Gallagher has said.

If a magazine gives him an article for the odd silly remark about someone else I can see why he does it. He will always choose a band or artist that has recently been on the rise or hit the big time to cause the biggest amount of controversy. He recently did it with Ed Sheeran and basically said he doesnt want to live in a world where Ed Sheeran is playing Wembley - the magazines went mad for it!

Its all free advertising, Kanye West is another example of how being a complete tool gets people constantly talking about you.

Hi All,

As I'm back on the market for another band I thought I should probably learn how to change key on the fly if I needed to.

I've had a look at a few articles on the web but they all seem poorly explained and all seemed very complicated.

Does anyone know of a simple guide or can someone perhaps explain it?

Is it just a case of playing the same shapes/pattern but just sliding it up or down one/two/three frets?

If you dont already do this, maybe try raising the amplifier so its not pointing all the sound to your feet?

Do one or both the guitarists have bassy guitar tones?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1425422194' post='2707290']


Good luck auditioning the 3 piece rock band. I hate to say this, but I will. If they don't have a gigging history chances are they never will. I would hate to see you have to go through another unproductive band experience.

Blue
[/quote]

Yeah well thankfully I've learnt a lot and will be armed to the teeth with questions for the next bands I try out for.

What would be amazing is to slip into a band that is already established and gigging but might need a bit of luck there haha.

We just had the gig before the long break cancel on us so I think that now takes it to 7 months without a gig...Hahaha

[quote name='barkin' timestamp='1425405503' post='2707014']


I've been checking your website for gigs Ali - this thread explains things.

Hope Sunday goes well mate.
[/quote]

haha indeed, I almost didnt want to show how little we had going on...

hows the little fender doing?

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1425389410' post='2706773']
So, they expected you to continue to travel 2 hrs weekly just to hang out and play a few tones..?
I guess that is why they were 'happy' that you took care of all the things that they/YOU needed to gig as
they weren't bothered if it happened or not..
I think you leaving will finish off the band unless not gigging was a position shared by all...??
[/quote]

Basically yes they do. The lead guitarist has become a very close friend of mine and shares the same view as me and backed me up with what I was saying last night. We havent talked about it but I very much imagine he wouldnt be around for much longer after I left.

We already meet up and jam together so I imagine that could also become the start of something else...

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1425391420' post='2706808']
I saw a link to this

[url="http://blog.sonicbids.com/5-good-reasons-to-kick-out-that-band-member?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9nKP1c_4eBikPKQxFmDu5-F1T8quSY_lrbiAWr8sS_fv0QLG2taFovBc83cNn8hV9jjT1Fci0-54Ih51_zeb7rn1qydQ&_hsmi=16183611"]http://blog.sonicbid...&_hsmi=16183611[/url]


[/quote]

Thats pretty cool

I bought the album and wasnt blow away by any means but I think it absolutely fantastic to see a new rock band up there in the charts and I hope that they stick around for as long as possible because we need more of this type of music rather than the same old xfactor stuff being churned out over and over again.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1425378744' post='2706614']
Sulking's always disappointing from grown-ups. I've quit two bands in the past, one time the split was amicable (with leaving card/booze and everything after the last gig) and the other time I got a stroppy passive/aggressive email from the band leader telling me that using a band meeting to tell them in person that I was leaving was a "futile and theatrical gesture" but it'd be fine if I wanted to come back. Riiiiiight then.
[/quote]

And i bet if you emailed them they would be saying you should have spoke to them in person

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1425378888' post='2706616']
It's always a wrench when you leave a band, but if it's not right for you, and doesn't allow you the freedom to do what you want to do then it's the right decision. Best of luck for Sunday.
[/quote]

Thanks! It'll be a massive pain because I feel like it will be a lot of time wasted but no point doing something I dont enjoy at the end.

I hate confrontations as well...

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1425373872' post='2706558']
Not entirely unpredicted but still a drag. Anyhow, onward and upward for Sunday.
[/quote]
[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1425374602' post='2706565']
Well I call that a result
[/quote]

Yeah fingers crossed for Sunday! We've actually got a 2 week break due to a few guys being away or on holiday now so it will give me some time to get out there.

[i]I also apologise for my terrible spelling in my last post, we use Internet Explorer at work and theres no spell checker on there for me to use haha[/i]

Well words were spoken, and sulking happened.

Basically what I got from it was that a few of them aren't bothered at all about gigging or not (would you have guessed?) and my suggestion of cutting rehearsals went down like a lead balloon.

So decision has been made and I will inform them I'm leaving after our last gig before the long break. Massively disappointed as I like hanging out with them all but I'm in a band to gig because thats where the fun and memories are for me.

In other news, I've got an audition to be in a rock 3 piece on Sunday

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1425318113' post='2706171']
Just briefly flicking through the thread. What was the outcome? What was said?
[/quote]

Haven't been yet...

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1425311761' post='2706094']
Should have mentioned this earlier. Your path is clear - you sack the lot of them, keep the name/web site/lights/PA that you have paid for anyway and you then get in replacements that are seasoned gigging musos that are wanting first and foremost to gig and have decent contacts to make that happen. Job done.
[/quote]

I would almost certainly keep them, they can keep the name for all i care because hardly anyone knows us due to lack of gigs anyway but they'll have to pay me for the website and business cards as far as I'm concerned.

Thankfully the website is due for renewal so that will go down soon as I go down if it works out that way haha.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1425300342' post='2705915']
You haven't played a Hartke LH amp, have you? They are a mid-range desert... (as opposed to a mid-range dessert, which would be something like a Sticky Toffee pudding ).
[/quote]

I love my LH!!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1425305106' post='2705997']

I don't mean to wind this argument up..but suspect you are there or thereabouts anyway.. hence the thread..?

[/quote]

Indeed I am!

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1425305455' post='2706002']
Perhaps the thread you read was mine; [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/256734-3-years-4-bands-10-gigs-what-now/"]http://basschat.co.u...-gigs-what-now/[/url]

Might be worth reading through it because there is some sound advice there. Sounds like you and I are thinking about more or less the same issues. For what it's worth, over the weekend I decided that I'd continue as turn-up-and-play bassist with my current band, but not as band Organiser. I told them that, and they've agreed. I've had a gutsfull sorting out rehearsal rooms, band members, songs, gigs, posters - everything, really. With the extra time this frees up, I'm going to play with another local covers band that has 2 gigs a month booked in for the rest of the year already. The only trouble is the setlist is pretty cheesy and predictable, but I'll be happy to get out gigging.

I hope that's helpful,

Steve
[/quote]

That was the one indeed! Thanks

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1425306853' post='2706024']
Apologies!
[/quote]

Haha dont apologise, I should have mentioned that in the OP I could do the gig getting but I guess I'm to stubborn with the 'Why should I?' attitude after seeing such little effort from the others.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1425304262' post='2705976']
Do you have a band leader? Bands work best as a democracy. You have a leader that everyone trusts who delegates tasks and makes sure they get done.
[/quote]

I've often debated being that myself because of my previous post but I cant be bothered for a band that I dont really enjoy the type music we play, and because the others decided to find the gigs.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1425303220' post='2705960']
Why don't you try and get some gigs for the band to work to?

Say to the band that you won't be attending rehearsal because you have a list of 50 pubs you want to ring and email to ask for gigs. And that you'll do the same thing every other week from now on. End result: lots of gigs and you only rehearse every two weeks.

No point moaning about lack of gigs if you can't be bothered to find work yourself!
[/quote]

Yeah I completely see your point here but its been me thats done absolutely everything already so far:

Out of my own pocket I have bought/ had made or sorted out:

Our website, business cards, flyers, posters, band banner, stage lights and PA system.

We had it agreed I 'd sort out all that and the others would find the gigs, so I sort of feel mugged off for all the effort and money I put in. Especially the website because I spent loads of hours on that!

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1425299658' post='2705906']
As KevB says; You are in a practice band.

One of those bands where most of the members just want to hang out and play together on a weekly basis and are not fussed about gigging.

However, it's quite common for the members to pretend to want to gig in order to keep the hopes up of other members who would otherwise leave and join a gigging band.

[/quote]

Yeah it makes me recall the last time I moaned about it there was a bit of a scurry around to get a gig and then it all died down again.


[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1425300186' post='2705914']
[b]Maybe they've called the meeting in order to sack the bass player? I've heard he's a bit of a trouble-maker...[/b]

I take it that the meeting is not at the rehearsal venue, and therefore does not involve a two hour round trip? That just seems crazy to me, unless you live somewhere really isolated.

[/quote]

It would certainly make this decision a lot easier! haha!

It's before or after rehearsal tonight as this all kicked off last night on our group chat on facebook so I would be dragging myself there anyway. I think I will just take my bass, amp and one lead tonight - less to carry out when it all goes sour haha!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1425297287' post='2705874']
The sticking point for me would be the two hour round trip weekly.
I would only justify that myself if there was a good reason for it
[/quote]

Thats another point to mention tonight - thanks!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1425295255' post='2705844']
+1 for playing in more bands. Always my preference.

Regarding this band: Would you stay if they did more gigs? Even with the songs that you're not fond of?

[/quote]

That would be my preference as well but unfortunately I only have time for one band!

I think I would stay longer but I can imagine after a while I would want to be gigging songs that I enjoy.

Trouble is noone seems bothered about getting more gigs, it been mentioned that one a month is enough for them which for me would be okay as well if we rehearsed less and this band could be pushed aside for something else. I will probably mention that tonight.


[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1425295073' post='2705842']
I think the OP needs to get his feelings out in the open asap and make the band realise they could be looking for a new bassist if the gigs:rehearsal ratio doesn't improve.
[/quote]

Yeah I think I just need to be completely honest...

Hi Guys!

We have a band meeting tonight, after seeing a previous thread here (I cant remember who by) it reminded me how little gigs we have done and made me question why we practice every week.

We've done 10 gigs in two years and have practiced every week for two years. Whilst this annoys me an incredible amount, I really enjoy playing with the guys because we all get on really well and which is what has stopped me from leaving in the past.

I had a look at our upcoming gigs and we have no gigs for a 6 month period after the end of this month. I have made the suggestion that we either have a break entirely from the band or massively reduce how often we practice and only practice once a month just to run through the set list because there really isnt any point in practicing if we dont have any gigs is there?

They didnt agree to this via our group chat saying we will go all rusty etc and that we'd chat about it tonight.


Now I REALLY do not want to be meeting up every week for 6 months without a gig, especially as it takes me total of 2 hours to get there and back so it costs me a fortune. We have recently started to play some god awful cheesey cover songs such as 'I love rock n roll' and quite honestly I would rather be playing some Justin Bieber than those types of songs - so its not as if I'm enjoying jamming.

So if they turn around and say they want to practice every week, I am going to be looking at leaving after our gigs this month. Should I mention this tonight whilst we are discussing it or should I wait until after the remaining gigs we have and then say?


Thanks!

I'd reccommend buying a Hartke Bass Attack pedal - best pedal in the world in my opinion!

Its great for EQing and also has a superb vintage sounding distortion on there as well, not like the cheesey distortion sound other pedals seem to have.

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1425026906' post='2702989']
What's a pick?

:-)
[/quote]

Go away you!


I switched from I guess your normal plastic picks to 'Tortex' picks a while back and that massively improved my tone.

These:



I use the .73 yellow ones