There are several ways of being in a band. One is to join an existing band-whether by invite or through an audition. Joining an existing band can be tricky, as you can never really tell what they’re looking for. They may be looking to maintain their current sound and image, or they may be looking for something new to shake things up and possibly point to a new direction. Power struggles and personality clashes could be lurking behind every decision and you, being the new guy, are caught in the middle. Or, who knows, things might be going well and you’ve gotten in on something great just by being in the right place at the right time (with the right stuff). Then there’s the audition itself, where not only are you expected to know most of the band’s current set but might be asked to throw down some new riffs and sounds for them to play around with. You never really know what to expect.

The more common and perhaps creatively satisfying way is to start your own band. If you’re an established player on your local scene, this is usually not so difficult. You have a sound and style that you’re known for and you’ve probably played enough shows to have met other musicians who are on a similar path. It’s simply a matter of approaching people you’d like to work with and seeing if they’d like to be involved with your “new project”. If you’re not an established player (and this article is meant mainly for those of you in this category) there’s a bit more work involved.

Let’s say we’re starting at square one. If you’re looking to get something going, you’re going to have to be willing and able to approach people directly. This means being able to present yourself as someone who’s steady and stable and wants to get working. You will also have to have something to present—like a demo—songs, sketches, raw material—and have it ready and in a presentable form. Some people appreciate a more humble, lo-fi approach while others will expect a more ‘professional’ presentation. This obviously depends on the style and “scene” you’re going for. Then there’s the details of the demo itself—how much material to present, what order to place the tunes, how to balance out the different types of feel, tempo, moods, etc.

In my experience, it’s almost always going to be a guitarist or bassist who initiates bands. I don’t know why, maybe they’re usually the ones who write most of the music, though not always. I would say step one is to find a good drummer to start practicing with. Good drummers are always in short supply, everywhere—and they’re usually playing in more than one group. If you find a good drummer who likes your material and is willing to rehearse regularly, consider yourself fortunate and do whatever it takes to keep them happy—giving them rides, moving their gear, buying them beer, coffee, etc. It’s a good investment. The early stage is maybe the most critical, so just remember that not everyone sees things your way, musically—you may have to be more verbal than you’re accustomed to being in order to make people understand your angle. There’s a fair amount of give and take involved, so pick your battles and don’t let mild disagreements become major disputes!

Your vocalist is also extremely important—they will represent the band, for better or worse. The most visible, upfront, and “public” member of the band—they’ve got the mic! Do you want a “stand alone” frontman, or are one of the instrumentalists going to be the main singer? More than one singer? Often times the singer just happens by default—they start out as players and gradually adjust to the new role. Most vocalists I know more or less “fell into” the job because no one else wanted to do it! If you’re a singer and you write material, then it’s a question of finding sympathetic sidemen (and women) who will help you realize your vision of what a band should be. If you’re primarily an instrumentalist who composes music, then you’re going to need a vocalist who “gets it” and isn’t going to derail the direction that you’re trying to head into. Not an easy task, either way—perhaps that’s why instrumental combos have been more prevalent in recent years? A certain amount of flexibility is required while staying true to your vision.

Humor moment: I used to think that all drummers wanted to be singers, all singers wanted to be actors, all guitarists wanted to be conductors, and all bass players wanted to be guitar players. Was I wrong? Discuss.

Back to the topic--

At this point, it might be good to mention that from what I’ve seen, most successful bands operate on a level of proficiency where everyone has a fairly close level of ability and experience. Resentment and hostile criticism can happen when certain members are seen as being “not up to par” with other members. You have to be realistic about yourself when appraising your abilities and the abilities of others. Certain types of music can be more demanding than others, but all in all, if you’re going to put a band together and seriously pursue your goals (whatever they are) you need to have it together, skills wise. Attitude and energy will only get you so far—sooner or later, you’re going to have to ‘deliver the goods’ on short notice, while under the weather, in harsh or heavy conditions, etc--and it’s your chops and confidence that will make the difference.

It’s also important to spend time getting to know your bandmates (if you haven’t already) before you make any bigger commitments. Being on the same page, stylistically speaking, makes all the difference. What’s the age range of the members? Education level? Income? Spend time listening to albums together and going to gigs. Do you like most of the same artists? Do you generally dislike a lot of the same things? What about general tastes in movies and books? There should hopefully be some things in common between the members from the start or you might be heading for some unwanted surprises down the line. Clothes? Politics? If there’s huge differences between members, you might want to reconsider. After all, the word “band” implies a group of people “banding together” for a common cause.

And then there’s money—you can’t start a band w/out it! Someone has to pay for the practice space, the gear, the transpo, all those pesky realities. It helps if the person starting the band has some sort of rehearsal space available—whether in their home, or in a shared space, whatever. Eventually, you’ll need a p.a. of some kind and enough room to get your sound and presentation together. For some, a simple storage space or basement will work just as well as a dedicated practice space that charges monthly fees. It’s a question of what the members are comfortable with and what seems secure—and what you can afford. Once you start gigging you can take a percentage of your fees and use them accordingly.

So that’s a basic overview of the initial process. It’s by no means exhaustive, but I think I’ve hit most of the important issues. It’s all about chemistry and communication between people, regardless of genre or what era you’re in.

Duane Denison

Duane Denison is a renowned guitarist and educator. Named one of the top 100 guitarists of all time by Spin Magazine, he is available for one-on-one lessons and occasional group classes, around his studio and performance schedule.

Want to send him a message or book a lesson? Go to his teaching page>>

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