Fun Stuff > BAND
The band that can't play anything
KharBevNor:
--- Quote from: sp2 ---
NO. EVERY STONER WANNABE DOES THIS. NO.
--- End quote ---
OKAY.
Folsom Prison Blues then. Although it's suprisingly hard to pull off the chugging rhythm thing. Well, I found it to be anyway.
sp2:
--- Quote from: La Creme ---From personal experience, that's usually not gonna be the singer.
--- End quote ---
Agreed. The singer gets to pretend to be the intelligent one, but they really should let the bassist do all the work, because the bassist is probably the smart one in the band.
La Creme:
Bassists are the best arrangers because they understand rhythm and melody. Guitarists/Keyboardists/Horn Section/Etc... write the riffs, the drummer smacks down a rhythm, the bass player or the keyboardist (if you've got one [they are a great asset]) puts it all together and writes the song, and then whoever does the best lyrics throws 'em on top (though they should be working on the lyrics for the entire songwriting period).
This is just a basic formula though, so go with whatever feels right!
Kai:
All the bassists I know are horrible arrangers. Mostly because they just like to play as loud and as fast as they can and hope that someone will mistake their horrible slapping for Les Claypool.
Bob McBob:
Ugh, I've wanted to kill Les Claypool for a long time, for inspiring everyone in the world to attempt to slap/pop the bass. See also: failing miserably. They should really learn from jazz/country/british invasion players. Look at Paul McCarteny - half the time you can't hear the bass.
Either way. You need to whip your band into shape, sir! Use a whip. Really. No, don't torture anyone, because they'll eventually secretly resent you and you'll break up after a near-fatal plane ride where one of the members reveals his homosexuality.
No, what you *want* to do is get your players to learn to improv. Get a beat going - something with groove - and have the guitarist start out with bar chords, because they can go anywhere, and the bassist'll fall in line. Have the singer/bassist whip out some of the pseudo-poetry they always seem to have hanging around (if he/she doesn't - then what the hell kind of singer do you have??? Someone in the band'll have a little notebook. Have em bring it.)and just start singing along. This actually worked for most of my bands.
As for good, easy songs to start out with, hell the White Stripes are right there. Just nothing that involves Meg singing. Also check out every pop punk band you used to listen to. I know, it's an eternal sin and I'll probably be sent to the 4th ring of hell for this one, but they're usually easy. What you want is songs with energy.
Oh, and when you get big? Play Hocus Pocus, by Focus, and send me a copy. Damn that's a good song.
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