Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Thanks, TNB, will do!

Absolutely awesome. Let us know how it goes! Totally jealous too.

Another update: Still rehearsing with these guys every Friday night, but still no gigs. Getting a bit frustrated. They don't seem to be practicing. The last two rehearsals, they were looking at ME, asking me, "what are the chords"? Come on guys, we assigned three songs as "homework", and none of you bothered to learn & practice them? Feel like I'm wasting my time (although my wife keeps reminding me that it's not a waste of time, because my playing is getting so much better).

Also, the lead guitarist is convinced that we need a singer, and that the drummer can't handle the singing. Bringing in a singer would make us a 5 piece cover band. This just seems lame to me. I've seen many 3 and 4 piece cover bands who get along just fine. I feel like if we can't do it as a 4 piece, then we just suck. If the drummer would just PRACTICE during the week, we'd be OK. It turns out that he's only been practicing his singing during the week, but not his drumming. When I asked him why, he said "because I don't have a drum set at home". I told him he needs to get a practice pad, and at least tap on it while he's singing.

I've even stepped up and started singing a coupld of songs, but that's apparently not good enough for the other guitarist. Oh, and we don't even really have a band name - we had to scrap the old name because it turns out there's already a cover band here in CT with the same name, but we can't all agree on a new name. *sigh* At this rate, I don't think we're ever going to play out.

An oldie but goodie thread. Went back to look at my old comments and......well they are gone of course

Well Jefe, sounds like you got your chops up as a result and are ready to move to another band who are equally interested in playing and getting their chops up.

A drummer with no drums

Yep, he just leaves his drums at the practice space (the bass player's basement). He has no practice pad at home. Jeez, just bang on an old hardcover book or something with your drumsticks. I practiced a song last week (Kryptonite), only to have him show up and realize that he can't drum & sing it at the same time. Now, that's OK, because I don't particularly care for that song, but my time would have been better spent learning a different song.

Not sure if I'm ready to move on just yet - I'm gonna try to come up with a plan. Maybe we can play a few parties to get us going.

Am I crazy when it comes to the 5 piece thing? Shouldn't a 4 piece be able to handle most standard rock cover songs? I mean, I've seen 3 piece cover bands who could play all night and sounded great.

Only if your covers are Allman Brothers or early Santana Dude, I don't gig, but I have spent thousands of hours reading and listening to music and talking to musicians on and off. You sure don't need 5 people to play covers unless you want 2 lead guitarists AND a keyboard player or something. Now if someone can't sing and play at the same time, that is indeed a problem however as you have to burn a slot just for singning right?

As soon as David Lee Roth and Eddie have a spat and kick him out again he might be available for singing duties

Yeah, we would be adding another person just to do the singing, which I suppose wouldn't be the end of the world. Our drummer is handling the bulk of the singing now, and no, he's not that great.. but good enough, IMO. It just seems so lame to have 5 people doing, say, Beatles covers. The Fab 4 only had 4 members, right? Or am I forgetting someone? lol..

Adding someone with even 1/10 the ego of David Lee Roth would be a nightmare. We have enough trouble agreeing on which songs to do with just 4 of us, so a 5th person would only add to the trouble, I think.

Yeah a 5 piece cover band better have keys. Or a hot chick singer.

Seriously Jefe my vote is you keep with these guys until you find someone else more serious or they get more serious. For now like your wife say your playing is getting better and if nothing else you're out spending time playin in a band setting. Great practice and time well invested.

I think the "singer" issue is pretty simple - if nobody else in the band can or will step up to the task then you clearly need a singer. If singing and playing drums isn't something the guy is interested in taking on, that's perfectly normal, but someone will have to sing so it's one of the remaining three of you, or a fifth. I get that adding another person to the mix won't fix the band's current problems, but I don't think it will make things any worse (in fact, a good singer can be very motivating - the most my band ever practiced and played out was when we had a dedicated singer who was awesome).

Plus +1 to Crbmoa and rnagoda.

A good or great 5 piece is better than a mediocre 4 piece.

Why the concern with a 5th member? Money? Well, what's 1/4 of $0?

Your drummer will probably improve a bit, if relieved of his singing duties. Or maybe, he'll sing better if relieved of his drumming duties.

Just remember any singer should bring two things to the stage....gear and personality.

Great advice, all! Thank you. Excellent things for me to ponder.

It's definitely not a money thing, we're in it for fun.

But what gets it for me is, forget guitar playing, I don't care what it is. If I'm on a team doing something and I'm the only one taking it seriously, at some point I'm done. It would just be a kill joy for me knowing others are going through the motions.

Maybe it's different in a band I couldn't possibly know that really. But if I've worked my butt off getting ready for something and someone looks at me and can't even remember the chords/progressions..... That would frustrate the holy snot out of me even if I am getting better. I'd rather be with someone who is a little better than me which I would think would push me harder to learn/keep up kind of thing. Does that make sense or am I talking out my butt because of my inexperience with this?

This basically sums up how I feel. Adding a fifth person isn't going to make the other guys practice any harder. In fact, I fear it will make them lazier.


The drummer is insterested in singing and playing - in fact, he loves being in the spotlight, and got a little defensive when it was suggested that I try singing a few songs. He got over it, though. He's not a bad singer, either, and he's great on several songs. Other songs, I just think he needs to practice more. And then on other songs still, it's obvious that he's not going to be able to play and sing at the same time, so I'll try singing it. When I don't nail it on the first try at rehersal, the lead guitarist is just further convinced that we need a singer. Jeez, let me practice it a little first before you completely dismiss the idea of me singing this song. Or maybe we just shouldn't do this song. A fifth member isn't going to necessarily nail every song you throw at him either.


This is something I will keep in mind. We tried out a singer once, and he brought niether of these things - he also forgot to bring his sense of rhythm, and his all of his talent, apparently. He did, however, bring lots of opinions and personal preferences ("We should do some Daughtry songs." *groan*). This is part of the reason why I'm so hesistant to bring on a fifth band member. Rather than bring in a fifth set of opinions, why don't we just work harder at our own playing and singing?

OTOH, I'm trying to remain open minded about the whole thing. You make a great point - I think I'd rather be a member of a good 5 piece than a mediocre 4 piece.

Sometimes, it really seems like the rest of the team isn't pulling their weight. I just joined them in September, and I had a lot of catching up to do. I'm still learning at a fast pace, but now it seems like the other guys are just coasting. I think my attitude about rehersal vs. practice has evolved as well. Practice on your own time - learn and practice the song at home during the week, and show up at rehersal ready to play it. The other guys aren't thinking that way. They practice some, but they still come to rehersal having not even tried some of the songs we said we were going to work on. Very frustrating when you've already learned your parts.


I don't know, I don't have a whole lot of experience with this either - other than just jamming with people and doing a little recording, this is the first official band I've ever been in. The important thing is that we should all be pushing harder to improve our playing, IMO.

I've always had at least 3 bands going at the same time, to learn as much as I can. And i usually end up playing bass for the freedom of walking bass all over the place.
Anyhow, I have played with really bad BUT eager musicians, and that's what you must look for!
The current bassist in my Thrashband Talion could hardly play when he joined back in 2005. But I was patient and saw progression every rehearsal, and as I said, he was eager to play.
I've seen the guy struggle to tears when we record stuff, but he always persevers and nails it in the end.
Timeskip to today, and he's one of the few musicians i play with that I ALWAYS trust locking the groove.

Don't give up, just find people thats eager to play, no matter what the experience.
And good luck!

Well, it looks like I've joined a second band, as the bass player. An acquaintance of mine is a drummer, and asked me if I want to play bass in his band. He knows I'm a guitarist and not a bass player, but he's never even heard me play either instrument, lol ... I guess my reputation as a "cool guy" is good enough for him. Haha.

Never mind the fact that I'm playing bass through a guitar amp (with my fingers crossed), and my bass guitar is a crappy short scale pawn shop job that won't intonate.. I'll replace both if this works out. Kinda excited. Started learning some bass lines last night. Some decent songs, and some lame ass pop songs, but it's all good, because I'm learning. First rehearsal is this Sunday, wish me luck!

As for the other band, they seem to be petering out. No one besides me practices during the week, and we aren't getting any closer to playing out. I'm not giving up on them yet, but they don't seem very eager to take this anywhere. I'm at the point now where I want to play out in front of an audience, but I think the other guys are getting a bit of stage fright. The closer we get to booking a gig, the less they practice.

Always nice when the second door actually opens while the first is closing! Best of luck man hope this works out better.

Thank you tonedeaf!

I don't think the other band wants to end it, it's just that they're satisfied practicing on Friday nights (ugh), and occasionally playing at parties. I guess this is more of a "fun thing to do on Friday nights" for them. They've all got small kids, and nothing better to do on Friday nights. I've got two teenage stepkids, and my wife and I would rather be out for "date night Friday", as opposed to "jamming" in the basement. If the goal is to play out, then I don't mind practicing on Friday nights. If the only real goal is to hang out and play music on Friday nights, then my time with them may be coming to an end.

It's kinda strange to see myself writing this, because when I joined them in September, it was my first time actually being in a band, and I had no idea where it would lead - I had no goal, other than to "have fun", and to learn as much as I could. Now that I've been at it for a few months, my goal is still to "have fun".. but to also play out.

The way I look at is is a win/win for you on the first band. You got better, had some fun learning some new stuff, but that hand is played out...not by your choice of course. Right now your goal doesn't align with theirs. I have stage fright just thinking about playing front of people so I'm not knocking them. But from personal experience practicing one night at week doesn't make for a better musician. If it did all of us would be SRV

It's funny. No matter what activity we do as humans, sports, music, working out, dieting etc.... there is only one way to get better and that is repetition, almost daily. At least 6 out of 7 days per week, or you don't get better. Sad but true.

Hey I've gotten better playing once a week over the years I've been playing. Just veeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy slllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwlllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy....

JK I know what you were getting at and totally agree. Plus, I'm with ya on the stage fright not wanting to play gigs. I'd be very happy to be in a band where all we did was practice once a week! Playing with other musicians once a week would sure as hell force me to get better in a hurry as well as make me better. Plus it would be fun making music instead of just noise.

Good point - I guess it's better to be in a non-gigging band, than to not be in a band at all. It is fun, after all.

I just wish they didn't insist on practicing on Friday nights.

I still need to talk these things over with them. Maybe it's not stage fright. Could just be laziness, or a loss of enthusiasm for some reason. Maybe their enthusiasm will return if we get a singer or something.

Jefe, I think you are just going to have to show these cats what kind of lungs you have and take over the singing duties

And don't forget that you learn a lot from playing bass too.
It's magical when you and the drummer locks, and owns the song man!