I've been kicked out of my band!!! :-(

teletail

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Funny story. I've been with this band for about a year. When I joined them I told them about my other band and that gigs were first come, first serve and they said no problem. Well, my other band booked more gigs this year than I anticipated and the new band was unhappy about it. We had a few discussions and I basically said, "I can't turn down gigs and keep my calendar open in case you book a gig." We kind of left it at that, but I was starting to feel some pressure and meanwhile, the bloom was off the rose and the other guitarist was really starting to grate on my nerves. He sometimes started songs out of tune, had some settings on his electronic gizmo that were just muddy, didn't learn the songs right (everyone else did), and has no tact (I think he may have mild Aspergers). On top of that, we had a long discussion before I joined about picking up some challenging material, and we've been doing the same I, IV, V (ish) material and when we did learn some of the harder stuff, the other guitarist didn't learn it right. He said, "Your playing the fancy chords." I felt like saying, "I'm playing the RIGHT chords." Anyway I could see where this was headed and had decided that I was going to give them notice after the New Years gig.

So I'm on my way to a gig with the other band and I'm accidently copied on an email from the new band talking about how to divide the songs I sing up with the new guy.

Dog surprised.jpg


That's followed by a phone call, which I didn't take because I was in a car with the first band, and then another email apologizing and explaining that it just wasn't working out, but making sure I would honor the commitments to the gigs on the books.

Anyway, I assured them that there were no hard feelings and that I would honor any gigs I had agreed to and would be glad to sit in if their new guy was out (as long as I wasn't booked).

I think everyone is relieved!
 

uriah1

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Yep. I was (let go) with a band after a few weeks of band creation. I was telling the bass player
and the drummer to change something and that it was wrong. I think the other guitarist thought
I was being the band director for his band. They did get together eventually and fell apart after a month.
 

nojazzhere

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Funny story. I've been with this band for about a year. When I joined them I told them about my other band and that gigs were first come, first serve and they said no problem. Well, my other band booked more gigs this year than I anticipated and the new band was unhappy about it. We had a few discussions and I basically said, "I can't turn down gigs and keep my calendar open in case you book a gig." We kind of left it at that, but I was starting to feel some pressure and meanwhile, the bloom was off the rose and the other guitarist was really starting to grate on my nerves. He sometimes started songs out of tune, had some settings on his electronic gizmo that were just muddy, didn't learn the songs right (everyone else did), and has no tact (I think he may have mild Aspergers). On top of that, we had a long discussion before I joined about picking up some challenging material, and we've been doing the same I, IV, V (ish) material and when we did learn some of the harder stuff, the other guitarist didn't learn it right. He said, "Your playing the fancy chords." I felt like saying, "I'm playing the RIGHT chords." Anyway I could see where this was headed and had decided that I was going to give them notice after the New Years gig.

So I'm on my way to a gig with the other band and I'm accidently copied on an email from the new band talking about how to divide the songs I sing up with the new guy.

View attachment 1059893

That's followed by a phone call, which I didn't take because I was in a car with the first band, and then another email apologizing and explaining that it just wasn't working out, but making sure I would honor the commitments to the gigs on the books.

Anyway, I assured them that there were no hard feelings and that I would honor any gigs I had agreed to and would be glad to sit in if their new guy was out (as long as I wasn't booked).

I think everyone is relieved!
Unless the money was REALY good, I think you're better off parting ways. I've never actually been "booted out" of a band, but several bands completely broke up, and later re-formed without me or someone else. The lack of concern over getting songs "right" would really alienate me. I easily cut slack for someone if they honestly CAN'T play something right (heck, sometimes that's ME).....but if it's just laziness, I don't buy that. I agree with your not burning bridges, and staying on reasonably good terms. Being known for having high standards may actually prove to be a big advantage with some of the other band members in the future. Good players are nearly always respected. ;)
 

AAT65

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Sounds like you dodged a bullet. I don't really know you, but my impression is, you're a lot more serious than this band that 'dumped' you. They need to get rid of Mr. Fancy Chords.

(I'm on the spectrum myself. It's a reason - not an excuse.)
Didn’t Dire Straits establish that the requirement is in fact that you should know all the chords??🤔
 

teletail

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All's well that ends well but that would've been a rough way to get the news if you didn't have a foot out the door. Glad everyone was cool about it.

But still, when they realized the CC oops and then got no answer via phone. Good times, good times :lol:

ps "The Fancy Chords" is the name of my new band, dibs™℠®©
Yea, me with all them fancy pants book lernin' chords
 

teletail

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Unless the money was REALY good, I think you're better off parting ways. I've never actually been "booted out" of a band, but several bands completely broke up, and later re-formed without me or someone else. The lack of concern over getting songs "right" would really alienate me. I easily cut slack for someone if they honestly CAN'T play something right (heck, sometimes that's ME).....but if it's just laziness, I don't buy that. I agree with your not burning bridges, and staying on reasonably good terms. Being known for having high standards may actually prove to be a big advantage with some of the other band members in the future. Good players are nearly always respected. ;)
I hate when someone doesn't learn a song out of laziness. It's really disrespectful to the rest of the band. He had a chart with all the chords, he has the ability, he just chose not to learn them. Even after they let me know I was out I have continued to practice the new tunes they just added, even though it irks me that I'm putting in more effort than they guy who's staying.

I've posted before that I'm eternally grateful to the people who mentored me for instilling the importance of being professional in all situations - even when the other people aren't (although in this particular case, I don't think there was anything unprofessional about not telling me before making sure the new guy worked out). Except for the guitar player, I like the other people and I'd play with them again in the right situation.
 

AAT65

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Open CAGED and major/minor barres from root five and six. What else is there?
The C7 shape!! (X3231X). Play the middle 4 strings and you’ve got 7ths all the way up. (When I was not long playing I used to pretend all Eb chords were Eb7 so I didn’t need to do a barre chord… I have moved on from there I promise, I think I know about 85% of all the chords now…)
 
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