Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Best in rubbish band or worst in great band?


T-Bay
 Share

Recommended Posts

So far, I'd say I've been the third (possibly fourth) best bass player in a five-piece band, and the second (possibly third) best in a couple of four-pieces. Fortunately the drummers in all three bands have been excellent, while my other bandmates have also been accommodating and supportive as regards my level of (in)competence. Playing with more accomplished / experienced musicians has certainly pushed me to improve, and my confidence in myself and my playing has definitely grown.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think inventive and creative musicians give me a greater buzz, when playing with them, than so called technically proficient musos. As long as you are up to speed with the format of the songs you are doing, and laying a good foundation, there is nothing quite like playing with more gifted musicians, and being pulled along by there creativity. And yes, I only do this for fun, but the better the musicians I play with the more fun I have.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='tony_m' timestamp='1505987031' post='3375625']I've been the third (possibly fourth) best bass player in a five-piece band,
[/quote]

Eh? You've played in a band where two (possibly three) members are better bass players than you?! :blink: :D Maybe I've misunderstood... :blush:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1505987249' post='3375628']
I think inventive and creative musicians give me a greater buzz, when playing with them, than so called technically proficient musos.
[/quote]

Good point. I also wonder why, as bass players, we would need to be the best musician in a band in any obvious way? It would depend on the genre of music of course, but unless you are playing for an audience of bassists (what a nightmare!), most average punters just want to have a good time, have a bit of a dance and listen to (and sing along with) some songs that they know. There are more specialist audiences out there, but they are notoriously fickle and difficult to find :(

Edited by Conan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've just started on guitar in a band and I'm definitely the weakest player. No-one seems to mind but I feel like I don't really have much to contribute. Hopefully it'll just be a matter of time before I "get it"

I play drums in a band with a sh*t-hot guitarist, and sh*t-hot bassist, but then the front man attempts harmonica so I'm not the worst player :)

I play bass in a band where I'm definitely better than the other guys - on their instruments too! But that band is about having a laugh and making awesome noisy music with my mates, and I love it

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suppose the other factor is that at some point, your friends and family might want to hear this band you've been working with. If the rest of the group play about as well as manatees wearing boxing gloves, are you really going to invite your loved ones to the gig?

On the other hand, if you're out of your depth but the rest of the band is as tight as a gnat's chuff, at least your nearest and dearest will be distracted and keep talking about how good the guitarist/drummist/saxophonist/bassoonist is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1505987328' post='3375630']
Eh? You've played in a band where two (possibly three) members are better bass players than you?! :blink: :D Maybe I've misunderstood... :blush:
[/quote]

Nope, you've got it - the guitarist was actually a bass player first and foremost but chose to play guitar (he also wrote a fair number of the songs), while the drummer plays drums, bass and harmonica to a high standard. Not sure about the keyboard player's talents on bass, but he was another multi-instrumentalist (keys, guitar, drums) so it wouldn't have surprised me to find he could hold his own! Fortunately none of 'em wanted to play bass with this band so I got the gig, and kept it until I moved away. Guess I must have been good enough... :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='tony_m' timestamp='1505992575' post='3375697']
Nope, you've got it - the guitarist was actually a bass player first and foremost but chose to play guitar (he also wrote a fair number of the songs), while the drummer plays drums, bass and harmonica to a high standard. Not sure about the keyboard player's talents on bass, but he was another multi-instrumentalist (keys, guitar, drums) so it wouldn't have surprised me to find he could hold his own! Fortunately none of 'em wanted to play bass with this band so I got the gig, and kept it until I moved away. Guess I must have been good enough... :D
[/quote]

Crikey! Takes the apocryphal comment about Ringo's drumming to another level! :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1505975775' post='3375531']
The general consensus is that it's better to be the worst in a good band than the best in a rubbish band. Like a few have already said, it's great to work with people who have more skills than you, as they push you to improve & reach their standard, rather than trying to drag other people up to your standard.

As much as I hate to admit it, Coldplay are actually good musicians who decided to peddle their bland blend of self indulgent music on society. Someone has to do it I suppose... As for watching an episode of Car Pool Karoake with Chris Martin & James Corden, a) I'd rather watch paint dry and B) if ever there was an episode where you really wanted to watch a car crash, because they were too busy being egotistical bell-ends, it would be that one.
[/quote]

It was worth putting the Cordenite warning in then. Good. I didn't watch the clip myself after about fifteen seconds or so.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been in both situations and definitely prefer being the worst player in a great band.

I found that this forced me to raise my game and its a great feeling when you know your playing is constantly improving. Its one of the main reasons i do this.

But at the other extreme; I was once in a covers band that I started, but it eventually became obvious that there were deep rooted problems when we were asked to pack up and leave a venue after the first set.

My despair soon deepened when one of the guitarists in another band I was in came to one of our gigs and later told me that I was the only half decent member of this band and that I was flogging a dead horse.

I had to accept that whilst I was taking the project seriously and putting the work in; the drummer and guitarist were not and had set fairly low standards for themselves. A band is only as good as its weakest member - and that's especially true when its the drummer.

I left the band soon after.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it depends on the relative gap. I volunteered to play at an official work's ceremony, thinking it might be fun. However, the others were all classically trained, so had no problem sight reading the music they chose. And certainly didn't have time for me to get up to speed. I was felt floundering at the cello parts, losing my way, questioning the idea I really knew how to play anything, perhaps I was kidding myself and it time to just give up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

YeastieB says exactly what I was going to - being worst in a good band is one thing, but being worst in a band of virtuosi would be (for me) a horrible experience. Conversely, if you're best in a group of musicians who are a little worse than you and are capable of self-assessment, it can trigger them into improvement. So either the best in an only slightly worse band, or the worst in a moderately better band, would suit me. Fortunately, the bands I'm currently in contain members who are all around the same level of ability as me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure how you can learn from better band members unless they play the same instrument as you. The main thing is everyone knows how to play in the right keys, how to count and is familiar with basic music theory. I've known guitar players who can whiz up and down the fretboard but ask them to play something in the key of whatever and they look at you blankly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...