Starting a band...

[toole13]

Ok so here it goes. I want to start a band with some friends of mine. There is a guitarist, a bassist, a drummer and me (piano and guitar). How do we start!? How can we set up to play places, get equipment, practice and all of that? Any suggestions? Equipment is so expensive (of course we all have our own instruments) but I'm guessing some people could help who have experience. Thanks.

[Pseudonym]

First off, do you all play/own those respective instruments, and if so, what is your skill level?

 

 

You have to set up a time as often as possible to have band practices. The key to success in music is practice. You need to find a relatively big area where you can practice in peace. My recommendation, 5-hour practices at least twice a week.

 

If you have some sort of recording software or studio, use it. Write some songs and once you think they are at a good place, record them. But don't expect recording to come easy. It's hard, boring, tedious, and terribly annoying. But the end result is completely worth it.

 

Get your name out! Tell friends, family, everyone you can about your band, your sound, and show them your music. Make a Myspace page, it's free and easy. The only way you will ever get gigs is if people know you exist!;)

 

Having some solid recordings will make getting gigs a lot easier too. If you contact local clubs/restaurants/etc. to ask to play a show, they will most likely ask for a sample of your music. No one is going to let you play a show in their venue if they don't know how you sound.

 

 

 

Let me know if this is too far, ahead, or if you need any advice. Any advice you need at all regarding practicing, equipment, band problems (personalities), ANYTHING, feel welcome to send me a message. I have been in a band for almost 2 years. We are 3 completely different personalities with completely different tastes in music, and we fight almost every week. But we stick it out, and work hard. I know quite a lot about starting up a band, so please, ask me anything you want to know.

 

 

And one important piece of advice: NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU FIGHT, STAY TOGETHER. Bands are supposed to fight, they are suppoised to beak up and reform several times a week (:rolleyes:).

[The Escapist]

^he knows what he's doing.

[toole13]

First off, do you all play/own those respective instruments, and if so, what is your skill level?

 

Yeah, we all have our own instruments and all have experience. I have played piano for 10 years and guitar for 4. The other boys have each played their instruments for roughly 4-5 years each. The problem we face is sound, and as we are in high school, we are not entitled to large sums of money :P . I think we would all want to be a Coldplay/Killers/Snow Patrol/Dandy Warhols type band, and to do that you need big sound. How did you get your first equipment? Of course, we all have amplifiers for our respective instruments, but those don't always cut it. And if we bought microphones for vocals/instrument projection, what would we buy?

[raelikescoldplay]

i need to learn how to play bass! and drums:\ my (guy) friends think id look ridiculous on drums since im a girl...piece of shit sexist...i think not:smug:

 

but, i do have a drummer friend, but hes in canada. sorry i gave you worthless comments, mate

[HorrificAttack]

Blame Meg White for that

[Pseudonym]

Yeah, we all have our own instruments and all have experience. I have played piano for 10 years and guitar for 4. The other boys have each played their instruments for roughly 4-5 years each. The problem we face is sound, and as we are in high school, we are not entitled to large sums of money :P . I think we would all want to be a Coldplay/Killers/Snow Patrol/Dandy Warhols type band, and to do that you need big sound. How did you get your first equipment? Of course, we all have amplifiers for our respective instruments, but those don't always cut it. And if we bought microphones for vocals/instrument projection, what would we buy?

Well that's a good start. It's always nice to have experience going in, now you won't be having to learn your instrument while you manage a band.

 

Well first off I need to get an idea of what type of respective amps you have. Give me an idea of price/wattage/size...most standard amps are good enough for you for you for now. As long as you can create the sounds you want individually (ex: you have any guitar effects you need, drummer has any cymbals they need) then you are okay.

 

I too am in high school and have little to no money, so I understand where you are coming from. That money problem will never go away. You're always going to want a better guitar, a new pedal, a new sound system, etc. Just know that even if you have not-so-great equipment, it's fine. I played in my band for almost 2 years with a Fender Squier which crackled when I turned it up too loud. Focus more on playing and songwriting than your equipment.

 

One big mistake a lot of new bands make is thinking they need giant floor-amps to blow out windows. That is just untrue. You can have a very large sound with a 15W Fender Amp if that's all you have. When playing a gig, most lilely the venue or another band will provide large speakers for a concert-sound. You do not need to waste your money on those, they will be provided. Honestly, while having band practices you really only should purchase what you need. Like I said, 15-25W amps are more than enough for your guitars/bass/keyboard. The drummer doesn't really need amplification. He will not need a bass drum microphone or anything. Drums are loud all on their own, and their sound carries farther than you might realize.

 

 

Now for the big one: vocals. You will need to have some sort of amp for the vocals. Ideally, you should get a PA System designed for vocals, but those get really expensive. My band works fine now using a 25W guitar amp to amplify my voice (I am singer). You may not be able to fully hear the vocals over everything else, but that is fine for practices/rehearsals. When you play a gig, the provided equipment will be a lot better. For practicing, you really need only what will amplify the voice so you can hear it while playing guitar.

 

As for a mic, I would strongly, STRONGLY recommend NOT buying some cheap, $12 mic. My band had one for a long time, and a cheap mic will ruin the vocals. It will make the singer sound bad, and probably make them lose confidence while singing into the mic. My advice, get the money and buy a Samson Q7 microphone: http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1679

 

It's not that expensive (about $80) but it is a fantastic mic. It will make the vocals sound great,. even on a tiny guitar amp. It is durable, cool-looking, and it gets the job done. I highly recommend it.

 

Now, assuming you do have some spare cash and you really want the vocals to sound loud and clear during practices, I'd recommend this PA System: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Phonic-Powerpod-410---S710-PA-System-630485-i1395799.gc

 

I have not used it, but all the reviews I've read praise it, and it's very cheap for a PA System. Beyond this one, you go to $300, $500, and into the thousands.

 

 

So that is basically all you need to create your desired sound. You'll be shocked at how loud and good you'll sound with small, inexpensive equipment. It's better than you might think.

 

 

So let me know what amps/instruments you use, and any other questions....just ask!;)

 

Hope I helped.

[toole13]

Well that's a good start. It's always nice to have experience going in, now you won't be having to learn your instrument while you manage a band.

 

Well first off I need to get an idea of what type of respective amps you have. Give me an idea of price/wattage/size...most standard amps are good enough for you for you for now. As long as you can create the sounds you want individually (ex: you have any guitar effects you need, drummer has any cymbals they need) then you are okay.

 

I too am in high school and have little to no money, so I understand where you are coming from. That money problem will never go away. You're always going to want a better guitar, a new pedal, a new sound system, etc. Just know that even if you have not-so-great equipment, it's fine. I played in my band for almost 2 years with a Fender Squier which crackled when I turned it up too loud. Focus more on playing and songwriting than your equipment.

 

One big mistake a lot of new bands make is thinking they need giant floor-amps to blow out windows. That is just untrue. You can have a very large sound with a 15W Fender Amp if that's all you have. When playing a gig, most lilely the venue or another band will provide large speakers for a concert-sound. You do not need to waste your money on those, they will be provided. Honestly, while having band practices you really only should purchase what you need. Like I said, 15-25W amps are more than enough for your guitars/bass/keyboard. The drummer doesn't really need amplification. He will not need a bass drum microphone or anything. Drums are loud all on their own, and their sound carries farther than you might realize.

 

 

Now for the big one: vocals. You will need to have some sort of amp for the vocals. Ideally, you should get a PA System designed for vocals, but those get really expensive. My band works fine now using a 25W guitar amp to amplify my voice (I am singer). You may not be able to fully hear the vocals over everything else, but that is fine for practices/rehearsals. When you play a gig, the provided equipment will be a lot better. For practicing, you really need only what will amplify the voice so you can hear it while playing guitar.

 

As for a mic, I would strongly, STRONGLY recommend NOT buying some cheap, $12 mic. My band had one for a long time, and a cheap mic will ruin the vocals. It will make the singer sound bad, and probably make them lose confidence while singing into the mic. My advice, get the money and buy a Samson Q7 microphone: http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1679

 

It's not that expensive (about $80) but it is a fantastic mic. It will make the vocals sound great,. even on a tiny guitar amp. It is durable, cool-looking, and it gets the job done. I highly recommend it.

 

Now, assuming you do have some spare cash and you really want the vocals to sound loud and clear during practices, I'd recommend this PA System: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Phonic-Powerpod-410---S710-PA-System-630485-i1395799.gc

 

I have not used it, but all the reviews I've read praise it, and it's very cheap for a PA System. Beyond this one, you go to $300, $500, and into the thousands.

 

 

So that is basically all you need to create your desired sound. You'll be shocked at how loud and good you'll sound with small, inexpensive equipment. It's better than you might think.

 

 

So let me know what amps/instruments you use, and any other questions....just ask!;)

 

Hope I helped.

 

Wow you are so helpful! Well I have a small, 10 watt electric guitar amp. I'm not sure what my friend has for a guitar amp, but I can find out. For vocals, I am planning on buying a mic ASAP, so would it suffice to just plug a mic into a guitar amp? As for instruments, I have a Washburn electric guitar and a Fender acoustic-electric. We aren't sure how we are going to go about amplifying a piano, as we only have a cheap electric piano and an upright piano. Thanks for all the help!

[Pseudonym]

Wow you are so helpful! Well I have a small, 10 watt electric guitar amp. I'm not sure what my friend has for a guitar amp, but I can find out. For vocals, I am planning on buying a mic ASAP, so would it suffice to just plug a mic into a guitar amp? As for instruments, I have a Washburn electric guitar and a Fender acoustic-electric. We aren't sure how we are going to go about amplifying a piano, as we only have a cheap electric piano and an upright piano. Thanks for all the help!

Glad to share what I have learned!

 

 

A 10W guitar amp is pretty good for now. Consider getting a 15-25W one in the future, but 10W should suffice for starting.

 

If you get a good enough mic, yes, just plug into the amp (you will need the proper cable to do that) and it will work fine. Just ask whoever you buy from what cable to get, it depends on the mic/amp.

 

Sounds like you already have some good instruments. What kind of electric piano is it? And if you can use the upright one during practices then that would be very useful and effective.

[Carlaatje]

i need to learn how to play bass! and drums:\ my (guy) friends think id look ridiculous on drums since im a girl...piece of shit sexist...i think not:smug:

 

but, i do have a drummer friend, but hes in canada. sorry i gave you worthless comments, mate

 

I'm in a band and our drummer is a girl and she ROCKS!!!! :drummer:

 

btw we pretty much suck but we're having fun, and that's what's most important! that's all the advice I can give you!

[toole13]

Glad to share what I have learned!

 

 

A 10W guitar amp is pretty good for now. Consider getting a 15-25W one in the future, but 10W should suffice for starting.

 

If you get a good enough mic, yes, just plug into the amp (you will need the proper cable to do that) and it will work fine. Just ask whoever you buy from what cable to get, it depends on the mic/amp.

 

Sounds like you already have some good instruments. What kind of electric piano is it? And if you can use the upright one during practices then that would be very useful and effective.

 

I haven't seen the electric one yet, but from what my friend told me it's not even a full keyboard... but I think it plugs into an amp, which is good enough to start with. Amplifying the upright would be ideal. I'll look at some amps and get back to you, and talk to my friends and see what they have to say.

[Pseudonym]

I haven't seen the electric one yet, but from what my friend told me it's not even a full keyboard... but I think it plugs into an amp, which is good enough to start with. Amplifying the upright would be ideal. I'll look at some amps and get back to you, and talk to my friends and see what they have to say.

Cool, be sure to let me know what you have going so far. And let me know how your practices go too.;)