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It's like the church scene in Blues Brothers: fade out James Brown, fade in Wagner, clouds part and reverend James asks "do you see the light?" As the bright rays pierce through the stained glass and light up the aisle, Jake starts to shudder. "Yes!" Elwood looks at his brother, not understanding. Again: "do you see the light?" "The Band, Elwood, the Band!" Now the church is hardly there anymore, just vibrant white light all around. And Wagner. Elwood sees the light. He sees Jake and remembers the Glory. "The Band!"

So I quit the band two hours, seven days and eighteen months ago. Career, family, study, that sort of thing. I wasn't the first to quit, we struggled for long time going through personnel changes. Now they have come back to ask if we can try once more. Mark Twain once said that doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different outcome, that's insanity. I would like to do it differently.

Let's face it: playing as a band takes a lot of practice, apart as well as together. If you're making a career out of it or if you want to live off of little, this can be done. But in our case we have a couple of careers between us, day jobs of note. The result: not every practice everyone's there. Some practices get cancelled. Are there any bands that achieve satisfactory results from, on average, an hour and a half every fortnight? I think unlikely.

So I am asking: are there any other ways that you guys use to practice as a band? Do you, for instance, record (parts of) sessions to use as back tracks later? Do you split up tasks, like the drummer and bassist practising apart from the guitarist and singer? Do you go over one song until it is right or do you go over a number of songs in succession, critiquing and moving on until next week? Is there a minimum of time per week that needs to be spent together? What equipment do you use, if you record? Do you go track by track or one shot live?
    You can stick to standards and do all your practising privately. Get together maybe once to practice the whole set and iron out any kinks then go play the gig. You have to be able to rely on your band members to put in the work though.

    Original stuff takes a whole lot more work. Still, if it's not too complex, it can be done - I've backed guys who emailed me a few mp3s a few days beforehand and I only met them for the first time a short while before the gig. ?

    Best way to record work for personal practice is down to what works best for you. I like it when the composer records the whole song first and email everyone "track -1" mixes (sans their instrument, so the bassist gets a version without bass, etc.). This does require that the composer can arrange and play or program rudimentary parts for all the instruments though. The recording has to be strict on timing and the drummer has to be able to play to a click. Drums I like to make a stereo mix with the drum part or click track on one side and mono mix on the other, so the drummer can use balance to change the mix.

    Otherwise, if the band needs to work together to create the arrangements, then working together in the same room is crucial. Then recording a single live take of the band together with a stereo recorder works best to document the progress/new ideas and give everyone something to take home. Whether you work with one track at a time or your whole repertoire is up to you - as long as you practice sets a few times before a gig.

    Track-by track recording doesn't really work for practice/arrangement sessions - especially on limited time. Great for recording demos and getting good results, but it's too time consuming a process for practice

    Hope that helps.
      My band Consists of a MD, CEO (Runs his own business), a programmer and an IT guy (that's me). One has recently moved in with his girlfriend and her 3 kids, my baby is 7 months old, one travels to and from Potch every weekend to visit his girlfriend (unless we have a gig) and our MD drummer has only recently gotten this position and is still doing all of his CFO work. So you can imagine all the time we have for practice, NOT!

      But we make this work, by sacrificing all kinds of stuff (TV, Playstation, sleep...). we practice from 7 to 9 every Tuesday, but we get there at 6:30 to set up and leave at 9:30 after packing up with a 15 minute break in between. This usually gets cancelled on Tuesday morning and we try our best to move it, but then S*&^ happens and we get together the next week (hopefully). It has taken us more than 2 years to write 13 songs from witch we scrapped 4 because they sucked and we never had time to make them better.

      The composition works like this. I write a song, I sit with the bassist one evening and he adds his parts, I sit with the lead guitarist one night and he figures out his parts, I sit with the drummer one night and he does his thing, then we all get together and see what happens, usually everyone has forgotten what they played last time and we start over again. We have had band practice with 2 members, 3 and all 4, sit down, acoustic, my house, drummers house...

      What is my point? the point is it is hard to find the time so you have to make time and make it work. And be patient. I would like to say that everyone in my band practices by them selves, but I know they don't. I do though especially on the vocal side, I forget words faster than I can make them up.

      Now we are finally attempting a proper EP recording setting a goal of a track a month for the next 4 months. so expect it early 2016! lol

      ?
        Jayhell wrote: My band Consists of a MD, CEO (Runs his own business), a programmer and an IT guy (that's me). One has recently moved in with his girlfriend and her 3 kids, my baby is 7 months old, one travels to and from Potch every weekend to visit his girlfriend (unless we have a gig) and our MD drummer has only recently gotten this position and is still doing all of his CFO work.
        Same sorta story here.
        Jayhell wrote: the point is it is hard to find the time so you have to make time and make it work. And be patient
        This is what I would like to avoid if possible. Have run out of patience, want to play and be proud of what we do, before the year is through...

        Anyone else have any tips?
          Gearhead wrote:
          Jayhell wrote: My band Consists of a MD, CEO (Runs his own business), a programmer and an IT guy (that's me). One has recently moved in with his girlfriend and her 3 kids, my baby is 7 months old, one travels to and from Potch every weekend to visit his girlfriend (unless we have a gig) and our MD drummer has only recently gotten this position and is still doing all of his CFO work.
          Same sorta story here.
          Jayhell wrote: the point is it is hard to find the time so you have to make time and make it work. And be patient
          This is what I would like to avoid if possible. Have run out of patience, want to play and be proud of what we do, before the year is through...

          Anyone else have any tips?

          Look for another band to play in ? If it was me I would decide if it is worth staying in the band, if you can't practice and you need it and you can't then you aren't getting anywhere fast aren't you ? I would look for other opportunities.
            babbalute wrote: If it was me I would decide if it is worth staying in the band, if you can't practice and you need it and you can't then you aren't getting anywhere fast aren't you ? I would look for other opportunities.
            Granted, that is an option. The thing is I was asking the forum suggestions for ways to make it happen. I keep on telling people at work: If you don't want to do something, you'll find an excuse. If you want to do something, you'll find a way.

            Maybe a cute band name would be "the BR-600s"?
              yes what alan mentioned........

              play songs well known that everyone can learn by themselves and put it together at the gigs.........

              so once you get keys sorted out which you can do on the phone ...everyone just learns their parts ..... of course this method is reliant on everyone doing their "homework" but it does work

                Keira WitherKay wrote: yes what alan mentioned........

                play songs well known that everyone can learn by themselves and put it together at the gigs.........

                so once you get keys sorted out which you can do on the phone ...everyone just learns their parts ..... of course this method is reliant on everyone doing their "homework" but it does work

                The above assumes that you had plenty band practice or playing together. I like a band to sound tight which can only obtained by playing together plenty. Otherwise your band might exist of all guests getting together to play a few songs they all know. Can only sound good if each individual is a master on his own instrument, and play magic riffs that people let forget that they never played together. I personally would not go to a gig like that.
                  babbalute wrote: I like a band to sound tight which can only obtained by playing together plenty.
                  I beg to differ. If that was true, I'd be the loosest player in the world. ? How many times have you seen someone join a band on stage as a guest and nail it without any practice at all? Bands that spend lots of time practising songs are all doing their own personal practice in band practice sessions. If your timing is good and you know the notes, everything else clicks.
                  Otherwise your band might exist of all guests getting together to play a few songs they all know.
                  Which describes most jazz and classical gigs. I don't know if it's the same in other parts, but here in CT, most jazz bands are pickup bands - someone gets a gig then phones around to find band members - so you see the same members in any one of a dozen different bands. List of standards, members have veto powers (if they really don't feel like playing Autumn Leaves for the millionth time) but rarely exercise them. They don't practice together.

                  Most pop and rock music is even simpler to "fake" - ask any cover muso. It's all two to four chord sequences in common time, mostly in the same few keys and with a limited number of rhythms. Granted, there are those songs which have iconic bits in them that you have to play note-for note, but for the most part, if you have good timing and the right chords you can fudge the rest ...if you play with conviction. Stamp your own style of playing on it (and bring the band along for the ride) so you give the audience what they want - something familiar, but with a personal twist.
                    My two cents worth;
                    So basically if all the members of the band know their parts and can play in time you can play as a band ?


                    music = sound broken up into time units
                    If you can't do that then you're not a musician, even if you play a musical instrument ?
                      Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
                      babbalute wrote: I like a band to sound tight which can only obtained by playing together plenty.
                      I beg to differ. If that was true, I'd be the loosest player in the world. ? How many times have you seen someone join a band on stage as a guest and nail it without any practice at all? Bands that spend lots of time practising songs are all doing their own personal practice in band practice sessions. If your timing is good and you know the notes, everything else clicks.
                      Otherwise your band might exist of all guests getting together to play a few songs they all know.
                      Which describes most jazz and classical gigs. I don't know if it's the same in other parts, but here in CT, most jazz bands are pickup bands - someone gets a gig then phones around to find band members - so you see the same members in any one of a dozen different bands. List of standards, members have veto powers (if they really don't feel like playing Autumn Leaves for the millionth time) but rarely exercise them. They don't practice together.

                      Most pop and rock music is even simpler to "fake" - ask any cover muso. It's all two to four chord sequences in common time, mostly in the same few keys and with a limited number of rhythms. Granted, there are those songs which have iconic bits in them that you have to play note-for note, but for the most part, if you have good timing and the right chords you can fudge the rest ...if you play with conviction. Stamp your own style of playing on it (and bring the band along for the ride) so you give the audience what they want - something familiar, but with a personal twist.
                      So why practise at all ? Only pro's and people(refrain from using musician here) that played the songs a thousand times and can now do them backwards/upside down etc. will be able to blend in properly without missing a beat/note/intro/verse/chorus/end etc. A jazz band is different one almost expect a late entry when its your turn to play as the band never knows who's going to take lead in any song. Of course unless its written down on sheet music and then its no longer so tight all of the sudden. Why do big-band practise so much even the world famous ones will attend at least one practise.
                        babbalute wrote: Why do big-band practise so much even the world famous ones will attend at least one practise.
                        Well, with originals, even if the song is already written, you need to arrange and orchestrate everything (which is why I stipulated covers in my first post).

                        Yes - even with cover bands or classical ensembles there will still be some orchestration required so a few practices are needed to hash through each song a few times.

                        However, if you are practising each week, you should be constantly moving forward - adding new covers to the repertoire or, if an original band, constantly writing, orchestrating and arranging.

                        One other thing applies - with a lot of amateur or semi-pro bands, practices are as much (if not more) a social event as anything else. Nothing wrong with that either.
                          Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
                          babbalute wrote: Why do big-band practise so much even the world famous ones will attend at least one practise.
                          One other thing applies - with a lot of amateur or semi-pro bands, practices are as much (if not more) a social event as anything else. Nothing wrong with that either.
                          ...and it's like playing a gig without people, it's a lot of FUN!
                            babbalute wrote:
                            Keira WitherKay wrote: yes what alan mentioned........

                            play songs well known that everyone can learn by themselves and put it together at the gigs.........

                            so once you get keys sorted out which you can do on the phone ...everyone just learns their parts ..... of course this method is reliant on everyone doing their "homework" but it does work

                            The above assumes that you had plenty band practice or playing together. I like a band to sound tight which can only obtained by playing together plenty. Otherwise your band might exist of all guests getting together to play a few songs they all know. Can only sound good if each individual is a master on his own instrument, and play magic riffs that people let forget that they never played together. I personally would not go to a gig like that.
                            late reply ...but i see Alan and a few others have chipped in already.... and i concur with what they say ...





                              I agree with babalute to an extent. If all you want to do is covers then you can probably get away with learning your parts separately and not do a too bad a job of pulling off note for note versions of the songs. But why would I want to go listen to something like that? If it's background music or part of a bigger event where the music is a secondary attraction maybe yes, but go out to watch that as a main course? No thank you. A good cover is one which brings something new to the song and presents it in an original way. Note for note versions sound like crap to me, because I always compare it to the original and they never live up to it. By playing together a band can come up with ways to make a popular song their own ay least.
                                For me, I have found the only way to play any song to a stage that produces goosebumps is a fair amount of practice together until the "magic" happens. My 2 cents worth.
                                  Every band member must learn how to play at least 98 % of his/her part of the song/s at home .
                                  Band practises are for 'fine tuning' your bands version of the song ..... and having some fun.

                                  Competence comes into the picture as well.... ie : some band members may not be on the same skill level as other members and may need more time and effort to learn to play the song/s.

                                  +1
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