Firstly, I would like to talk about group
direction. Before anyone even thinks
about picking up their instrument, the direction of the group
should be discussed and agreed upon. There are a few different
directions a band can go. A ‘60/40’ group is one that
plays approximately 60% old pop standards and 40% ‘top 40’
tunes. A band heading in this direction will play most of its
gigs at dances, hotels, weddings etc. and can be assured of a
steady income. Recognition for a band like this will probably
be restricted to a local level.
Another direction a band can head is to
play mainly original material and aim for a recording contract
and tours. A band heading in this direction will not make a lot
of money until they are well known.
When starting a group, it may be better
to go with a ‘60/40’ group to gain experience and
money for better gear. Whichever group you decide on, make sure
that you all agree on the number of musicians, the types of instruments
and the style of music that you are going to play.
You must
choose a style of music that everyone
in the band enjoys. It is a good idea to listen to other established
groups playing live to gauge the popularity of different styles
and to get a feel for which genre you would like to play in. Once
you have decided upon a style, stick to it. You will notice that
your crowd will get smaller because you are playing to a niche
market; but you need to remember that you can’t please everyone
and it is far better to give really pleasing shows to a select
group than average shows to many.
It is extremely important to think about
the structure of your group. Basically, a group can be broken
down into two parts – the ‘rhythm section’ and
the ‘lead section’. The ‘rhythm section’
includes the bass guitarist, the drummer and the rhythm guitarist.
It is the job of the rhythm section to lay down the beat of the
piece of music. The drummer and bassist should work together to
set the beat up; the rhythm guitarist should fill the beat to
give the whole rhythm a full finish.
The ‘lead section’ includes
the lead guitarist the vocalist and other things like the keyboardist
etc. This section should work together to embellish upon the beat
that the rhythm section sets up.
It is important that each member does their
part and does not over do it. You must remember that you are working
as a team in order to achieve a combined sound.
If your group is really serious about getting
out and playing and making a real impact on the music scene, then
you should spend a lot of time on rehearsal – probably more
time on that than anything else (apart from maybe sleep). It is
important to be organized and to not let each other down as bands
often breakup over commitment issues. When you start rehearsal,
make sure that you have a goal for the session and that you keep
record of what you achieve.
Rehearsal is important but I really can’t
stress enough to you the importance of playing to a crowd. You
will gain 20 times the amount of experience on stage as you would
in the rehearsal room. Work on a good stage appearance and think
about the things that you are going to say to your audience. It
is most important to connect with your audience. You should practice
these things in the rehearsal room.
It’s not all band work - you need
to practice by yourself as well. Think of it as your responsibility
to the other members in the band to keep your skill level up/increasing
and to know your parts as best you can before you get to rehearsal.
You will save countless hours if you work on band music outside
of band rehearsal.
The most important thing when it comes
to making a successful and tight band is unity. If the band works
as one, it will achieve good things.
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