What to do when joining a band and 1 member is probably not ready?

[sax4blues]

This really is a bummer, being in a band, having fun, then some new guy shows up who nobody knows and he kicks you out.
Join the band and play your part. If you don't like the band then move on, no harm no foul. Leave the happy guy alone.

 

[ReverendRevolver]

You can't be a rythm player without a strong sense of timing. If I were in another 4+ piece band, I'd be adamant about playing rythm. Being flashy and able to brag doesn't make up for what happens when the rythm player is off key or out of time.
Try the recording thing. I'd be embarrassed to hear that. If it doesn't click, time to move on.

 

[bowman]

You know, experience might have something to do with it. Has he been playing a long time? My job in every band has always been vocals and rhythm guitar, and I thought I was playing good rhythm the whole time. In reality, it was years before I was doing it right. If done correctly, the rhythm is kind of like the roadmap: shows the band where to go, but how they get there is up to them.

 

[2HBStrat]

This really is a bummer, being in a band, having fun, then some new guy shows up who nobody knows and he kicks you out.
Join the band and play your part. If you don't like the band then move on, no harm no foul. Leave the happy guy alone.

Yeah, you're the new guy. Just play your part the best you can and try to fit in. Don't try to change the band.

 

[Back at it]

What kind of band is it… established with gigs or hoping to get into the scene, guys banging it out for fun

if your trying to get gigs and the guy is willing to learn, why not

established and you’re the new guy, be patient

having a bash, are you going to have fun?

the answers are the key

 

[Back at it]

In the old days… does he own the pa?

 

[Johnny Dubs]

I have been asked to join a new band. I really do like the fellas and they are all good players in their own right....except for one player who is supposed to be playin rhythm guitar.

I like the guy too. Nice dude. Fun to hang with. I just dont think he is ready to play out with this ensemble. I have never bought into the 'rhythm' player being the member of the band who is not a capable enough player to be a lead player.

Rhythm is soo important. Everything sounds better when he doesnt play anything. His guitar isnt quite in tune. His chord voicings are sloppy and muddy. His sense of timing isnt quite...well...rhythmic.

Not sure if the other members are really noticing just how much he goobers up the sound.

How should this be handled? Thanks.

Sorry you’re dealing with stuff, looks like you’re getting plenty of advice and I hope it helps.

Also: dibs on “Johnny and The Sound Goobers” as a band name.

 

[goonie]

How should this be handled? Thanks.

"Thanks but no thanks". Handled.

 

[notmyusualuserid]

Walk. Life's too short.

 

[Tonetele]

I like what ndcaster said. That would be my approach. Encorage him and lift his playing... he will probably feel better and improve. If he's that bad, cut him.

 

[Informal]

I'm gonna go out a limb, and guess he's a close friend of one of the other members?

Years ago, I met a singer/songwriter.. Who was super talented, we wrote some stuff together, decided to put it all together, He knew a bass player, who was really good... My buddy/bassist... Was a close friend, but pretty horrible bassist... Easy call, by that point.. I knew my buddy was terrible, and would have never called him.

At the time, one of my other close friends was a drummer, and not just a decent drummer... But a PHENOMENAL drummer.

He was out of town for a few days... So our first real jam, was with the singer and bass player's "drummer"

I had already told them I had a great drummer lined up... But they told me to give this guy a listen...

Fair enough.... Dude was terrible, like...worse than me... And at this point... my only experience with drums, was beating on my bandmates kit, when he left rehearsal.

My buddy got back into town, met us at the studio...and we did it all again, but with a great drummer (playing their buddy's kit lol)

It was awesome... Without any bias, I can easily say it was night and day difference, and I was super excited.

After my buddy/drummer left.. The other two said "Yeah man, he's really good, and obviously more experienced... But we have to stick with our boy!"

And..... that was the last "band" I was a part of lol.

I've never considered myself a monster player, but I was (for the most part of 10+ years of gigging) smart enough to surround myself with great musicians, who made me sound much better.

But at this point, I already had enough experience with a weak bass player, to not want to play with a dysfunctional rhythm section ever again.

 

[telemnemonics]

This really is a bummer, being in a band, having fun, then some new guy shows up who nobody knows and he kicks you out.
Join the band and play your part. If you don't like the band then move on, no harm no foul. Leave the happy guy alone.

Fair enough but there are two reasons I keep trying to improve a little even after 43 years of guitar playing.
I love to play well, to play something beautiful.
I hate to suck or to play badly.

I think it is dishonest to not tell a band mate they are playing poorly.
Do we know the guy who flubs chord voicings and timing, is happy?
If they do not know, maybe they want to?
If they are at capacity, maybe do less but do it better?
If they are beginners, a bunch of serious practice can tighten up rhythm playing in a few weeks.

So I do not see a kindness in letting a musician go out in public playing badly without talking to them about it?
Music is a collaborative art.
Not just independent contractors doing their own thing and minding their own business.

 

[AAT65]

There are so many different levels of competence to aim for in a band — but my minimum level to get to gigs is don’t be embarrassing. If you would be embarrassed to be heard as part of this band then one of you needs to leave before the first gig (or the poorest player needs to get a lot better).
One of the guys here (sorry, I don’t remember who) said the motto for their band was “Have fun and do not suck”. I like that as a summary of what we, as a fun / non-profit band, are aiming for. Perhaps you can have a band discussion about what level you are aiming for, and listen to recordings to see if you’ve reached that level.

 

[Tim S]

@Cosmic Cowboy, can you post a recording of a rehearsal song as an example of how his playing conflicts with the band? It would help to know exactly what you’re dealing with.

 

[oatsoda]

I don’t think you ever said what the intention of the band is. That would make a big difference. If its all hometown backyard keggers and a few pub nights, thats a pretty different thing than if they are an aspiring touring act, and would seem to dictate your response.

I understand that no matter what, if the guy doesn’t have an ear or a clock, that might not be enjoyable or easy to play with, but at least he’s not on the bass.

 

[MatchlessMan]

Unless you’re the band leader your responsibilities in a band are to learn and play your parts to the best of your ability, support the other musicians in how you play, turn up in good time, and be a good person to be around. Unless the BL or the rhythm player himself asks you to step in and help with his playing, you risk taking on a lot of extra work with no guarantee of success.

 

[Flat6Driver]

E. Not enough information to answer.

In general....
90% of these threads never have enough information to adequately answer. Nor do they ever say what the OP really wants. Is this a basement jam, party band, 2 weeks from gigging, etc. etc. Is the OP back after dusting off his/her axe and wanting to get back in. How well was the band vetted before joining? Do they have connections, fans, PA, etc.

They are all fun to watch, but everyone rings in with everything from RAGE QUIT to bring him/her along and be a better person based on their own experience.

Now, I'm a serial band joiner and the last several things I have joined have been start ups simply because I like working up new material and seeing where it's gonna go. I know so many of these will never hit the stage, not matter what delusions of grandeur the others have. The last project I spun up for seemingly died the day before the first get to know you jam when two others (in other bands pulled out to prep for those bands).

Everyone *wants* to be in a band, few know what it takes to pull anything off.

 

[sax4blues]

 

[charlie chitlin]

Always look to the PERSON.
You need good people in a band.
Help him work on his stuff.
Hire a keyboard player to fill out the sound.
And he'll probably be a douche and help you appreciate the guitar player.

 

[scottser]

if the rest of the band have ears, they can hear his deficiencies too. what do they think?