What can you give to a newbie?

[Trucula]

Based on another thread I came up with this idea. Allot on here go out of their way to give some input when someone asks about a problem. Allot with experience have allot to offer someone just starting. I always enjoy reading when a lot on here put the flame out and sit down and type something useful. I always find something useful in what everyone types. So based on this, not as a music lesson but a personal note,,

What info can you offer as a mentor to someone just starting, stepping on the stage, or thinking about it. As a singer, guitar player, keys, drummer ect. (besides RUN!!!!)


One thing I learned was "Never think your too good to learn more." I compare this to riding dirt bikes...as soon as you think your good...you crash!!!
No matter how good you are there is someone better out there. So respect every ones ability because "The toes you step on today might be connected to the a$$ you gotta kiss tomorrow!"

Record yourself and look back at it. You'll be amazed how "green" you were back then and how far you've improved!

When playing "Think about what your playing "now" and not what's coming up." Allot of times I use to worry about a tricky part before it got there and would mess it up every time...Now I think about what I am doing at the time and seem to whiz the tricky part.

When a night is spot on you'll not want it to end! And can't wait for the next!

What have you learned over the years??

[RobTheDrummer]

Great Post! I look back at myself a month ago and realize how shitty I was then.

[bassist_25]

Very cool topic. Some things I'd tell most newbies...

- Play with people older/more experienced than you

- Guitar players/bass players: Stay away from tablature for at least two years, or until you familiarize yourself with the actual note names on the fretboard and have started to become familiar with harmonic theory. Learn to develop your ear and be able to recognize chord types and intervals.

- More isn't always better. Guitar players want to shred like Yngwie, bass players want to slap like Victor, and drummers want to do crazy fills like Neil. Doing crazy technical stuff is cool when demoing stuff at Guitar Center, but in band situations, it's an easy way to not get hired.

- Bass players: For your first band, join a country band. You'll be exposed to many styles of playing that way (e.g., two-beat, swings, jitterbugs, 6/8 ballads, walking lines, shuffles, waltzes, etc.).

Just a few things I can think of right now. I have to go run some participants in a study.

[DirtySanchez]

My advice: Do it for you, and for fun. Whenever it stops being fun, go fishing. Listen to what everyone has to say, but understand most people are full of shit. Do not take anything so seriously that you can't smile when you fuck it up, because I promise you will fuck it up eventually, and prolly sooner than later.

[songsmith]

I really like talking with noobs, it's a big part of why I like working in a guitar shop so much. It helps me relive that sense of wonder and enthusiasm that comes to a young dreamer with a young dream.
We all know, what main advice I'd give, so I'll skip it for now and give a few other pointers:

1) Don't be a musical snob. There's good in every kind of music, good you can use in your music. I wouldn't listen to anything that wasn't metal, and in the end, it hurt me. I lost a lot of time avoiding music that would have made me a better musician.
2) Listen like a thief. It's all there to inspire you. I believe I'm a product of every note I've ever heard.
3) Have a "Plan B." Do not forego college, or family, hobbies, or a dayjob. Those things are NOT to be ignored in favor of a music career, in fact, they are NECESSARY to a successful music career. You have to be well-rounded in life... people who aren't get chewed up and spit out. Think about it... Britney Spears has been involved in nothing but entertainment since she was at least 11 years old. She's made millions and is broke. She's a freaking mess. She's 25.
4) You suck. You will always suck. If you keep that one thing in the back of your mind, you will never have an ego problem, never get lazy about practice or learning new material, and you will never stop getting better.
5) Don't believe everything people say about you or your project, good or bad. Many people, especially musicians, will tell you you sound great. Sometimes they're just being nice, which is cool. Sometimes they're not exactly qualified to give you a critique. Sometimes, though, they tell you something you can use, so always listen. Oh, and you have to hype yourself and your band to fans, but be careful not to get caught up in your own hype. See #4.
6) Don't sell your old guitars if you don't have to. Guitar trends come and go... the weird piece of crap guitar you're embarrassed to play now may be the perfect guitar in a few years. If we all had back the instruments we got rid of years ago, we'd all have excellent collections.
7) Be extra careful of burning bridges. You'll most likely be in lots of bands with lots of people. As dickheaded as they are, people change, and you might need them down the road.
8 ) Being in a band is a lot of work, and if you work it out hourly, you don't get much money, even if you're in a successful national act. They usually make way less than you think, and the traveling is NOT fun or glamorous.
9) Just Say NO. Musicians all get offered drinks, drugs, and other stuff. There is a price for everything, nothing is ever free. Lots of free drinks get you an addiction, a DUI bust, or a fatality for you or, worse, someone else. Lots of drugs get you involved with bad people, more addiction, or jail. The other stuff? That gets you paternity suits, insane poisonous relationships, and jealous boyfriends with a score to settle. Party on your own time. It's just that simple. You'll need all your mental faculties to be good, so lay off the fun juice until you get home.
10) Do something musical or creative every day of your life. Your imagination will get old and weak if you don't. Reality is highly overrated.

Now, plug in, tune up, turn on. See you in the trenches.---------->JMS

[nakedtwister]

My advice: Do it for you, and for fun. Whenever it stops being fun, go fishing. Listen to what everyone has to say, but understand most people are full of shit. Do not take anything so seriously that you can't smile when you fuck it up, because I promise you will fuck it up eventually, and prolly sooner than later.

I have to agree with Sanchez. If you're not having fun then you might as well give it up. I have to admit I am the worst screw up on stage and boring as hell but if you put your heart and soul into the songs, that will reflect upon the crowd and they will appreciate it. Surround yourself with good musicians that like to have fun. Don't be too serious. It's a band not brain surgery.

[RobTheDrummer]

Gotta agree with Sanchez as well! I played for a living, but it wasn't fun...as a matter of fact it sucked! I'm having more fun playing now than I ever have, because I'm doing what I love, not because some asshole patrons wanna hear freebird.

[YankeeRose]

No matter what genre of Music you play, never EVER call the people who come to hear you
"asshole patrons".

[HurricaneBob]

Never sleep with the club owners wife unless she hits on you first........

[Naga]

No matter how good you are there is someone better out there. So respect every ones ability because "The toes you step on today might be connected to the a$$ you gotta kiss tomorrow!"

More like "The toes you step on today might be connected to the foot in YOUR a$$ tomorrow!"

My advice: Do it for you, and for fun. Whenever it stops being fun, go fishing. Listen to what everyone has to say, but understand most people are full of shit. Do not take anything so seriously that you can't smile when you fuck it up, because I promise you will fuck it up eventually, and prolly sooner than later.

Agreed, and I'll also pass on a little knowledge from others... I've heard a lot of people tell me, "Keep with it, don't stop!". I can agree with that too... But there's a midpoint

Do it as long as it's fun. If you're not having fun, step away for a moment, but don't give it up. When you make it a job, that's when it becomes a job... The whole wind and grind deal

But if you take a break for a little time, make sure it's JUST a break. We all need to cool it for a little, get our heads back in gear. That's cool and all, but once you've settled, get back on that horse. If not, it'll run away and you'll be stuck walkin home

In my own personal experience, I'd say just get out, have fun, and jam with people of all experience levels and styles. The newbies to it can learn immensely from you, and will teach you a thing or 2 you never thought about. The tried and true experienced players will be able to part a great deal of their experience with you. And, even if you're on the same level as someone else, you can intertwine knowledge, passing it back and forth

Music is one of the biggest constant knowledge pools there is, especially since everybody listens to music of some sort. Sure, you're gonna find a couple people you'd rather have not met, but odds are, with music in the hearts of many, you're gonna find a LOT of good people that just wanna play. Play on, play proud, play true!

[whitedevilone]

Pratice practice practice,with a metronome metronome metronome. thank you.

[Ron]

I'm so surprised that Paul didn't say "Don't scoop your mids".

[DirtySanchez]

I'm so surprised that Paul didn't say "Don't scoop your mids".

LOL!!!

[bassist_25]

I'm so surprised that Paul didn't say "Don't scoop your mids".

Dude, I was thinking about saying that, but I figured that I'll just let a FOH engineer ream them for that when they start playing out.

[sixstringdrop]

good post guys .. i think we all can learn from this one..