Tips 1: Be willing to learn, practice and play music you don’t like
Bring up this issue and discuss together among your band mates. This doesn’t mean playing in a band with an entire genre of music you can’t stand like playing country or rap if you only like rock, but it does mean being flexible with different types of country artists if you are in a country band or being willing to cover pop songs when you are in a rock band. A good band mate shouldn’t get hung up on having to play any one artist.
Tips 2: Leave the drugs and alcohol out
Playing with other band members who are not drunk and treat your band mates with the courtesy of not showing up — ever — messed up. If you want to get high, do it on your own time, not during practice or performances. It will be bothering because it seems like not respecting the music and the progress was being hampered. Playing music and having fun doesn’t require drugs or alcohol.
We’ve all heard the stories about rockers who seem to be “better” when they are high or drunk, but I’ve yet to meet even one real musician in a real world practice and/or performance scenario that was a better player high than straight/sober. I’m sure there people who are awesome musicians straight and are better than average players when they are high, but it’s a shame not to see musicians at their absolute best. Not trying to be preachy but drugs and alcohol impair, not improve.
Tips 3: Bring at least one new complete (or almost complete) song to each practice session
Let’s face it, if you play the same music over and over again without trying/learning/playing any new songs, yes you will get better at those songs, but eventually things will get boring. I make it a goal to come to each new practice session with at least one new song the group hasn’t played together before. I think a good band mate tries to grow in their craft and bring in new songs that the group might be able to play together. Some songs work out of the gate and others will require multiple plays to stick. There is a limit to how many new songs make sense. People that get together to play don’t want to waste too much of that time learning new songs, so just mix in at least one new song every practice session.
Tips 4: Keep track of what songs gel right away
The best songs you perform are worth playing again and again and added to a regular playlist. They should be practiced and refined so that every band member feels good enough to be able to go in and out of them in any order. In order to know what songs we’ve played (and played well), keep track of every song alphabetically sorted by artist in a text file. To make it from the big to small book a song has to sound pretty good. This way, prepare a list of songs that the group could choose from to play at live gigs someday and/or practice regularly if there are no plans to gig out.
Tips 5: When it comes to covers, listen to the originals as group and individual
Listen to live music and performance. Buy a collection of CD’s or DVD’s and see how others performing. Keep updated about the songs and share among your band members. By listening to the original you will learn what is important in a song and can improvise and enhance from there.
Tips 6: Be flexible, willing to switch instruments and/or from lead to rhythm
Band players try to be flexible and willing to change from lead guitar to rhythm as well as play bass. Try to switch around and you might find out that actually you are better in this instruments. Well, nobody knows, right?
Respect, patience and having fun
Respecting other members. It’s also about having patience to work through new songs and troubled spots in existing songs. Above all others, it should be fun playing music. If you don’t enjoy playing music, or get super stressed in expectation of a playing with others, a band is the last place to be.
We are looking forward to when Eupho bands start creating some original music and recording. And perhaps beyond that if all continues to go well someday if/when an opportunity arises to play a gig and realize that we have to pare down a list of songs to the ones we enjoy playing best. Money? Fame? Not part of any of the band’s agenda at the present time. Enjoy the process and have fun moment with your band members. This is the time where we can enjoy~ but remember not to be too over~
Source: http://www.makeyougohmm.com/20080708/5185/
Edited for Euphonious 2010 purposes.
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