practice in a band

[Salamchik]

It's a question that was bothering me for a long time. Here is a situation: band consists of 4 singers, two guitar players and a keybourd. I know that we still need drums, but that's not part of a question. So we meet once a week for repetition and next day we play at our church. Can you help with the following:
1) How to make our repititions more consistent/powerful (what are the things that are MUST for band repititions)
2) What should we do not to stand "on one place" with our skills

Thnx,
Ada

[fretbuzz]

Being in a church band has the specter of being boring especially if you play the same songs a good bit. Try this every so often, change the dynamics of the song. On the song "Come, Now Is The Time to Worship" we have 5 or 6 diffrent ways of playing it.

i.e.

1. 1st verse elec. guitar only power chords building up to full band
2. Drop out all instruments during 3rd time through chorus
3. Have your singers do an echo effect
4. Key change
5. one guitarist play a alternate tuning while the other is standard

make out hand singnals and have the worship leader incorporate changes such as key changes and drop outs "on the fly"

keep ya guessing

shine on

fret

[ROCKSTARNICK17]

i'm not quite sure if this is the right forum for this question, but all ask anyway.

i have just got in a band for the first time after playing for two years. the band is a five-man power band consisting of two guitarists, bassist, and drummer who are all pretty talented. my problem is the singer! everyone in the band are all good friends, and the bassist and singer have been in a punk band together before.
my problem is that although the singer can sing punk music, he can't sing how we all want him to in the band ( which is a really heavy sound like pantera).

i am really serious about the band, so i want the best singer i can find. i don't know how to tell him that he can't be in the band without hurting his feelings or loosing his friendship. i don't want him to think that all of his friends are turning against him.


what's the best way to tell him that he can't be in the band?


PLEASE GIVE ME SOME IDEAS IF YOU CAN



THANKS,

ROCKSTARNICK17

[smfulla]

it depends, does everyone else agree with you that he should go? or is it just your opinion. I think if its just your opinion, you're gunna be stuck with him. But if all of you want him off, then the best thing to do would be to ring him up before you guys have a practise or rehearsal, and just tell him straight up that he doesn't suit the style you're looking for, and the whole band agrees, but that you guys can still all hangout and stuff. You've gotta be honest with him. Don't try and offer a sideline job, coz I don't think he'd appreciate it if you did.

[Pezcore]

yeah, if this guy really doesnt suit your style then friend or not, musically he will be a problem which will inevitably get greater with time.

just one of those unfortunate things i suppose

[slaughteredsoul]

Maybe you should give the guy a chance..tell him that you want him to sing deeper..if he really wants to sing he can get his vocal chords into practice(jaymz took singing lessons!)..and after that..if he can't do it..just tell him that you need someone with a deeper voice..be honest he shouldn't too pissed..

If you're really serious about your band and you want to keep pushing it up..this is probably going to be one of the minor problems you're gonna face! You really need the confidence,courage and skill to handle such situations..you're sure to find yourself in worse!

Even if he get's hurt..he will get over it..especially if you keep asking him to hang out and stuff ..make sure that he realises that the ONLY reason you dont want him in the band is not because you hate him or he has a bad voice..he's just not what you're looking for..and he's better off using his skills in a punk band!(try human damage control,i heard theyre good:P hehe)

i realise the situation you're in sucks..but just do it..and good luck!

[gck]

hmm... I suggest that all of the band members should practice a lot alone too!! I know the members of a band who all started with their instruments at the same time. Since then, they've almost solely practiced together and therefore, none of them has really learnt to play. However, when they all play together, it sounds good...

Another thing: you need to write songs that your singer can sing. For example, it wouldn't make much sense too write a song for which you need a voice spanning over 5 octaves or so.
Also, you shouldn't kick your singer if you don't have a replacement for him before! What would you do if you suddenly don't have a singer at all - I mean, no matter if his voice doesn't fit your style, it's still better than nothing.

[55'gibby]

first to reply to the original question, some tips to help you move forward as a band... EVERYONE has to do the practice on their own, learn the scores, have them down pat, be comfortable with the complete arrangement of every song you do. Nothing slows growth as a band than spending every band practice doing music lessons. Second thing, tape your practices... listen to them later to hear what you really sound like... you might be suprised. Thirdly, don't be afraid to experiment with ALL of the parts of the songs you do

To the second part of the thread.... if you can't (or won't) sing, keep them until you find someone better. Then bump them out of the group, try to be tactful...

[Bidadari]

How bout adopting to his punk charged voice? You know, why do something old? How bout expanding and making metal music where his voice can be used to make your band sounds better?

Think it like this.. if you are God and you just made Kirk Hammet(sp?) and Tom DeLounge... putting Tom in Metallica or Kirk in Blink is a mistake because it won't match. It is the same with your singer, if your singer can’t (if he won't do it, than kick him out for good) do the types of vocals you want than work on your sound so that he will sound better.

Remember Robert Plant will never sound as good if he is with some other band.