Advice + input on a band member please

Stubbs · 2013-10-15T22:08:40+00:00

Hey guys. The band that I've been playing in has been going through an 'unstable' patch recently and I'd really like some input from some of the more experienced guys. It started off with myself and our singer + rhythm guitarist just jamming some Metallica songs at his workshop around May this year, but we always had the intention of becoming a gigging band, and a while later we asked a friend who had started bass a few months before May to join us. After that we added a drummer and in the past two months things have gotten more serious - we've started putting some of our own songs together and building up our repertoire, practicing everything and getting some decent equipment. We have some open mic experience and have gigs starting in three weeks. I'm really excited to play but at the same time I cringe at what's to come. Here's the problem. Since we've started our bassist hasn't been pulling his weight at all. He is super lazy, doesn't learn or practice his parts (I've taught him some basic basslines that he could do so that he could at least play something with us, but he goes home, doesn't bother to write them down or practice them at all, forgets them, and comes back the next week and I have to reteach him. This happens all the time). His attitude is all wrong, we have about 10 songs that we always jam, but he takes no initiative in learning them, or doing anything at all. Basically we must either beg and babysit him, or nag him everyday to learn his bits. Now before I go further I'm adding that he has been playing his instrument for less than the rest of us, so some of the things he does I don't bring up. Mind you, when I started guitar I sat for hours during my Christmas holidays with a classical guitar and tab until I could play Stairway to Heaven smoothly. Also, I made it absolutely clear to everyone what direction we were taking and that one day we were going to have to get really serious about the future of the band. I really thought that more of an effort would have been made - he does no afterschool activities at all, is going to bass lessons, but still doesn't know where G and D are on the fretboard :'( <---another thing I've begged him to learn, even if it's only every second note on one string! :'( I'm feeling really demotivated at the moment - I hate arriving at practices knowing that there's going to be some shit excuse and that I'm going to have to count time for myself, the singer, and the bassist, and then write all the parts for the guitar, and then all the parts for the bassist. And remind him that he's playing the wrong part or that he's out of tune. Think of it like this: if I had four arms, I would be playing lead and rhythm guitar with two, and bass guitar with the other two. Let me give you an example of said lazyness: when our drummer joined us we decided to add Californication to our list and everyone went to go learn their parts. The three of us had our parts down in a week, but we could only add the bass guitar in 4 months later - and this is no exaggeration. What's more, our bass player will be leaving the day after our second gig (29 November) which means we will have no bassist for the entire holiday - for which we've been to practicing hard to get as many gigs as possible. There is one more thing I'll mention - we've been considering some names for the band - long story short - we had 40 minutes before school to decide on a band name. Both the bassist and myself were sick at the time; I came to school for the morning to decide with the singer. Our bassist didn't come to school that day and left it up all up to myself and the singer - when we asked for suggestions and ideas over Whatsapp we got no help at all. He was sick - so was I - but this is probably the thing that has got to me most. I'm tight with our drummer and singer, and I want this to work, but I can't help but feel our bassist is 'riding the fame' if you know what I'm trying to say? :/ I'd really appreciate some thoughts on this matter. It was a long read, and I'm very grateful for any thoughts ?

Sebber

I'd say ditch him and ditch him now: my view is you've given him more than enough of an opportunity to develop his skills and carry his weight in the band and he's done nothing with it. As one of the other posters said, there are no passengers in a band. I've had a couple of similar experiences in the bands I've been in over the years and you do yourself no favours holding on to dead wood (unless it says Fender on it!). Do it and be done with it, get this episode behind you and instead of band being a chore, which is an awful feeling because you and the other members are putting your heart and soul into it, regain the joy of making music together.

Just an opinion of mine so take it or leave it: if your bass player can't play bass and doesn't know the material you're playing you'd be better off not gigging. My advice would be to keep your powder dry until such a time as everyone can handle their instruments and knows the material, honestly, there's no worse feeling than falling flat at a gig, I know, it's happened to me more than once.

IceCreamMan

playing in a band should be motivation in itself......in this case its not......

yr only solution is to move on without him...no second chances etc....

IanW

When you get gigging, you will find that 90% of your time is spent humping gear, printing posters, silk screening t-shirts, humping gear, phoning clubs, sorting out bar bills, humping gear, writing press releases, soldering cables, and humping gear. Anyone not prepared to pull their weight is, well, just dead weight. Oh, yeah - the 10% actually on stage is awesome! and so worth it... :yup:

studmissile

I wouldn't even call a meeting, just send him this link...
=

studmissile

Hey man, wait a minute, why is this even a discussion .... just unplug him! ?

www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/11/10-great-bands-without-a-bassist.html

Stoffeltoo

studmissile wrote Hey man, wait a minute, why is this even a discussion .... just unplug him! ?

www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/11/10-great-bands-without-a-bassist.html

Playing in any band is based on two T's Trust and trust.
For any band to function well trust is a requirement.
Trust your own instincts first as the band leader
Trust your equipment and your members. If neither works for you or breaks for some or other reason the trust has been broken and it needs a replacement. Hard but true.

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