the average band playing guitarists level

joydivision

You dont wanna waste anyones time . What level should you be before you should be trying out for bands ?
Would their be a checklist of skills needed.

Rigsby

IMO the time wasting element, comes from the person's general attitude rather than their playing skills. Personally, I'd rather be in a band with someone who is not quite up to scratch skill/talent wise, but who is reliable, dependable, gets on with people, not an egotist etc., and willing to put in the work required.

Then there is the person who can play anything required, and play it to the highest standard, but fails to turn up for rehearsals because the cat was sick :rolleyes: and other such like lame excuses. Then on the occasions when he does oblige with his presence, he is sulky and wants things all his own way etc. If you can tick the above checklists, you are well on your way in having what is required to play in a band.

I think you get the message ! :pac:

Anyway, to answer your question, it depends on the type of music being played. A general rule of thumb would be if a person can play a song from start to end unhesitantly, smoothly and without mistakes. If a person can do this, I dont see any reason why they should not audition. If they fail for whatever reason...so what ? Find out the reasons why you failed, work on those, then try again. We all learn by our mistakes.

paligulus1

The ability to play a song (including solos) in many different keys is someting that is often overlooked.

joydivision

If I said I was an intermediate guitarist would that be a good or bad thing ? Should I put it in an ad or would it be a low level guitarist ?
I did an intermediate course and can play along in different keys . Im no fancy dan but I could play over anything if Was told the chords or the key .
Would this be the average level of lads trying out for stuff ?
Can everyone do this ?

endacl

Depends. If you apply for the job in Steely Dan, you'll need chops. If its The Strokes, the right haircut'll do just fine. Just meet some likeminded people and get jamming. Don't talk yourself up or down. The biggest destroyer of fun in any band is the mickey-waving contest, so make it clear you're not into this.

I've a high level student who has (in their own mind) been 'nearly' ready for 3/4 years now. I've another kid who's been playing since September and has started a band with two pals from school. 5th class.

Get stuck in. You're not getting any readier. Playing in a band is quite different from playing in your bedroom. The only way to get good at it is to do it. If you're worried about ability, watch The Script live (don't listen if at all possible). Do you think those lads worried about lack of ability?

Reliability and a smile beats skill any day.

endacl

paligulus1 wrote: »

The ability to play a song (including solos) in many different keys is someting that is often overlooked.

Ah, don't scare the lad! The ability to bluff the song in many keys will generally do the job!

joydivision

endacl wrote: »

Ah, don't scare the lad! The ability to bluff the song in many keys will generally do the job!

Yes this is the level I was trying to describe . I can bluff any song in any key . But my solo wont be as good as rory gallaghers .

endacl

joydivision wrote: »

Yes this is the level I was trying to describe . I can bluff any song in any key . But my solo wont be as good as rory gallaghers .

And I'm sure Rory would say his weren't as good as somebody else's. So what? Rory had fun, and we're still listening.

Bands can seem clannish and cool from the outside. Inside, if they're all they should be, is a bunch of mates having a laugh.

JD, if you're waiting till you're 'good enough', you'll be waiting a long time. You'll always be better tomorrow...

Moved to community

joydivision

endacl wrote: »

And I'm sure Rory would say his weren't as good as somebody else's. So what? Rory had fun, and we're still listening.

Bands can seem clannish and cool from the outside. Inside, if they're all they should be, is a bunch of mates having a laugh.

JD, if you're waiting till you're 'good enough', you'll be waiting a long time. You'll always be better tomorrow...

Thanks . I feel kinda confident now
.How much do I need to spend on an acceptable guitar and amp ?

endacl

joydivision wrote: »

Thanks . I feel kinda confident now
.How much do I need to spend on an acceptable guitar and amp ?

Ah, down to brass tacks. Budget?

Sorry. Just read the question properly. The answer would be - your budget + 10%. What are you using at the minute? What do you want to play?

joydivision

I have an encore semi acoustic . Fx electric guitar . Fx acoustic bass . As for amps i have a 15 watt fx or custom something or othe of these I reckon are good enough for live giggs .
Budget is very tight . I wanna do an Irish / classic rock type music .

endacl

joydivision wrote: »

I have an encore semi acoustic . Fx electric guitar . Fx acoustic bass . As for amps i have a 15 watt fx or custom something or othe of these I reckon are good enough for live giggs .
Budget is very tight . I wanna do an Irish / classic rock type music .

That's probably more than most here had to start out with...

For medium sized live stuff you might look at something with a bit more welly in the amp department. 30-60w or thereabouts. Guitar wise, 2-300 would get you a yamaha pacifica 112. Can't go wrong with these. Good enough for Mike Stern, although his is at the upper end of the range...

What you have will get you started though. Your perfect toy will always be the next one.

Don't forget to keep your eye on adverts...

endacl

Can't do any harm to drop this guy a PM.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056817823

paligulus1

endacl wrote: »

Ah, don't scare the lad! The ability to bluff the song in many keys will generally do the job!

I guess its more the fact that if the singer turns around and says, actually, this would suit my voice better in Bb, that you just start playing as opposed to running for the capo!!!!! In my experience, this has been more usefull than any of the more advanced stuff.

And for some songs, its something that I still find challenging.

Great point from endaci - playing in a gig situation is totally different to playing at home for a guitarist. If you have the opportunity to get stuck in then do.

Also, us guitarists tend to be quite passionate about our instrument. But generally, we're a pretty insecure bunch too, hence the criticism at other players. So just ignore that stuff.

How many guitarists does it take to change a light bulb?
Three. One two actually get up and do it, and two to stand at the back of the room saying how they could have done it better!

joydivision

Oh rite your talking about changing chords. Id need my chord chart for that haha or a capo . I meant I could improvise over any song once i knew what key its in .
Ill get on learning my chord chart off by heart .

Mike747

The most important skill any musician can have is good timing. You might think you're playing like Hendrix, but if your timing is off, then forget it.

Guitarists generally have poor rhythm skills as we're too obsessed with playing solos. Ironically being able to lock in with the band will make you a far better lead player.

The only way to develop your rhythmic skills is many long hours with a metronome. I'm not a pro, far from it, but practicing with a metronome and study theory has massively improved my playing over the last few years. Anyone even semi serious about their music should do the same.

Also very important for a guitarist is knowing when to shut up. Knowing when not to play will make you a better musician.

joydivision

Im fairly good with my timing . I started off with a bass . Still play guitar like a bass(two fingersdropping onto the strings ).

I think most people start off the other way .
From a distance itd look like I was playing a bassI suppose .

Sugarlumps

Mike747 wrote: »

The most important skill any musician can have is good timing. You might think you're playing like Hendrix, but if your timing is off, then forget it.

Guitarists generally have poor rhythm skills as we're too obsessed with playing solos. Ironically being able to lock in with the band will make you a far better lead player.

The only way to develop your rhythmic skills is many long hours with a metronome. I'm not a pro, far from it, but practicing with a metronome and study theory has massively improved my playing over the last few years. Anyone even semi serious about their music should do the same.

Also very important for a guitarist is knowing when to shut up. Knowing when not to play will make you a better musician.

Totally agree with this statement.

endacl

paligulus1 wrote: »

Also, us guitarists tend to be quite passionate about our instrument. But generally, we're a pretty insecure bunch too, hence the criticism at other players./QUOTE]
Not sure about this one...

I'm totally secure. But only because the other guitarists are crap!

ShriekingSheet

paligulus1 wrote: »

The ability to play a song (including solos) in many different keys is someting that is often overlooked.

Why would you need or want to do this?

Folmhaim

My two cents:

1) Go easy on the distortion to start with. Lots of beginning guitarists use loads of distortion to cover up sloppy playing. Work on getting your technique down when playing clean BEFORE using distortion. This also applies to effects like delay and reverb.
2) Try and avoid relying too heavily on power chords. Play around with chords and make up your own. Memorizing all the chords on a chart is one thing, but if you're writing your own stuff you don't want to be limited by just the blues chords you learnt in class.
3) I echo what your man Mike said above me and really work on your rhythm playing. Get comfortable playing in a variety of different tempi. Familiarize yourself with different time signatures. Nothing more embarrassing than when the other guitarist has written a song and says "Right, this song's in 6/8 time" and you're standing there like "What's 6/8?" Even if you're more comfortable playing in 4/4 than 3/4 (sure, who isn't?) you should have at least a rudimentary idea of what 3/4 entails rhythmically.
4) Get the hang of playing in different scales. Major, minor, natural minor, pentatonic (presume you're already familiar with that), Dorian, Phrygian etc.

paligulus1

Folmhaim wrote: »

My two cents:

1) Go easy on the distortion to start with. Lots of beginning guitarists use loads of distortion to cover up sloppy playing....QUOTE]

Then when your a pro, you can use delay to cover up your sloppy playing instead!!!

ShriekingSheet

paligulus1 wrote: »

Folmhaim wrote: »

My two cents:

1) Go easy on the distortion to start with. Lots of beginning guitarists use loads of distortion to cover up sloppy playing....QUOTE]

Then when your a pro, you can use delay to cover up your sloppy playing instead!!!

Correct & Right

Rigsby

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Why would you need or want to do this?

1. It ensures a good all round command of the fretboard.

2. You are ready for the unexpected, when the band leader says..."right, we will be playing this song in "A" instead of our usual key". This can sometimes happen if a certain key does not suit a vocalist.

Besides, any musician worth his salt should be able to play in any key.

KeithTS

You can always write songs or play covers which match your level and abilities, however, timing is crucial and you should probably have that down before playing in a band.

I would also say to listen to what the others in the band are playing, it's one of those things a lot of musicians, especially those starting out, don't pay any attention to and no matter how good a player you are, you will still sound s*** if you're out of key.

It's amazing how many times you'd walk into a rehearsal studio and the guys in the room next to you are all playing their own thing without any notion of what their bandmates are at.

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Mike747 wrote: »

Guitarists generally have poor rhythm skills as we're too obsessed with playing solos.

solos have to be in time too. Ive never seen a good lead guitarist who had bad timing!

paligulus1

Rigsby wrote: »

1. It ensures a good all round command of the fretboard.

2. You are ready for the unexpected, when the band leader says..."right, we will be playing this song in "A" instead of our usual key". This can sometimes happen if a certain key does not suit a vocalist.

Besides, any musician worth his salt should be able to play in any key.

Yep, a singer should never be straining to sing a song in a different key. All keys should suit the singer. In my opinion (I dont sing by the way!)

kahler

it strikes me after reading this thread that, should this bunch of guitarists be asked to change the aforementioned lightbulb, there wouldnt be room on the chair what with them all giving a hand to do it. a most enlightening thread, if you pardon the awful pun.
have a look at chord inversions rather than relying on the more basic 6 string chord shapes on the first 3 frets. and dont underestimate the capo! a mighty weapon in the right hands!!