Only two things are affirmed in the pursuit of rockstardom: garage bands and upset neighbors.
- Choose your Instrument
You’ve caught a volatile new passion, a fire pushing you to join a band — but the first question remains: what instrument should you play?
“The drums and the bass help keep that flowing rhythm together,” guitarist and sen
ior Ethan Kim said. “The bass, they usually have the chords that the guitars are playing. And then once you add guitar to that, it really makes everything move.”
The drums are the foundation — the heartbeat of the group. Drummers silently control the tempo and energy of the band. The bass is the vibration, the glue that holds the band together. For fans of music that ricochets throughout your body, pick up the bass. The guitar, on the other hand, voices the melody; if chasing the screech of a solo or the shimmer of a chord, the guitar is meant for you.The vocals are the raw connection between you and your audience, conveying your bands’ message with each perfect pitch. Each instrument offers an equally important aspect of music, and it is up to you to decide what resonates with you.
- Play what moves you
“For me, it’s the community,” Devout member and drummer Griner said. “It’s a lot of people coming together. Gotta keep everyone united to make a difference.”
Before forming a band. Immerse yourself in music; Ground yourself in what moves you — songs that stir emotion — and consider what about this music gives it substance: is it the clean riff, or the mellifluous vocals? Discovering your own interpretation of the music helps define what your band should try to emulate on stage.
- Jam with your friends
“You have to make sure you find people that you work well with,” Kim said. “If you can’t find people you work well with, you won’t have that fun in playing music, and you won’t have that natural chemistry.”
When forming a band, the most important thing is finding bandmates who complement your dynamic and with whom you have natural chemistry. Having fun with your band is essential to make progress, and that can make or break your group.
- Practice until it’s tight
Focus on the essentials. Every song boils down to tempo and chords. If your band can stay vertically aligned — when all the instruments are playing together — you already have 90% of the song. The next 10% comes from the details that make a song pop: riffs, solos and most importantly, consider the personality of your band and match the energy of the music you play.
- Find a venue
Now that you’ve got the essentials down, finding a place that will accept your cranked-up music is the task at hand. Let’s face it: performing live music in the middle of Etnies skatepark without a permit might end with you in the back of a cop car. But don’t let that stop you. There are still plenty of ways to get your music out there. The most common way is to start a social media page and spread the word through your network. Better yet, have a crowd gather at your garage (maybe bring your neighbors some cookies beforehand). In the world of music, authentic sound matters the most.
To the rockstar dreams lying dormant in your mind – now’s the time.
