Need some advice from you Guru's.

[bkjohnson]

Ok here's the deal:

I started playing when I was 15 years old. I played part time until about 19. I learned all my open chord, bar chords, and power chords. I know my notes on the E and A string by heart too. I never learned my scales or leads because the guys I always jammed with played lead. Boy what a dumb mistake! Oh well I was young. :)

Now I'm 31 years old, have an acoustic guitar (will have a nice Charvel and Rocktron Amp in January). Now I'm currently learning my scales off of this site. Right now I have some of the Penatonic Scale memorized, but unfortunatlely with my acoustic I can only get so far up the fretboard comfortably, because the body of the guitar gets in the way.

Now that you have my history let me ask my questions and please be honest.

1. I know 31 isn't old, but I was to get into a band and perform. I know it's a big commitment. I want to be able to share lead. Am I too old?

2. What do I need to know on my own before I go and find a band looking for a rhythm/lead guitarist? I mean I know all my chords and stuff, but how well should I really know my scales and stuff?

3. Before I go out and seek a band how many songs should I learn on my own? I mean should I not worry about it and and when I find the band then learn the songs they want me to learn then?

I have all the priciples down and alot of the Theory. I know performing is a commitment I'm ready to take.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Brian

[Pezcore]

will reply soon, gotta go.

sorry this post is completely pointless, but at least now you know we're not ignoring you haha..

gotta stop drinking inbetween lectures.....

-Pez

[bkjohnson]

Sounds great Pez I appreciate it! Looking foward to it!

I want as many opinions as possible.

[55'gibby]

kinda depends on the band (if your doing covers or originals)

rule of thumb:

you will need to know 50-60 songs to play one night, you will need to know them front to back and the vocals. you should know both the rhythm and lead lines in the songs. you don't need to know all 50-60 when you get there, but, you should have a really good selection (say 30) when you show up. knowing how to improvise is a great asset as well, and to do a great job of improvising you will need a good understanding of theory, or great feel for the guitar (or both). you will need really reliable gear (don't forget cables and batteries). you will need to know basic song structure, have some arranging skills, and knowing how to transpose keys.
all that said, this is what I consider basic, but depending on style, and type of music you play that can vary quite widely.

one of the biggest things is hooking up with the right band, and that could take pages to explain.

PS your not too old to play lead... andre segovia played great guitar well into his eighties (then died). there is a lot to learn when you play with a band for the first time in your life, most of it is on the job training. the biggest thing is to remember to have fun.

[discoglen]

ill make this as concise as possible, because i feel particularly strongly about the subject.

Playing live is not about equipment, it is not about technical ability, it is not about how many songs you know, and it is definately not about age. It is about feeling.

-last weekend i saw a punk band. the only guitarist had a cheap guitar and amp and one distortion pedal, it was awesome because that band loved being there and doing it so much.

- i play in a band, i know the 20 or so songs we wrote plus the 5/6 covers. i get by fine.

i play becase i want to. And if you want to play live, go find other people you want to play live with, and go and do it. For some of us this is a hobby, for some an occupation, for some a life, but it should never become a burden or a regime.

happy gigging.