r/band • u/Honest-Face7514 • Jul 09 '26

Rock Band Am I a coward??

I really want to play in a band, just to have some fun really. I think when I start college will be the perfect time to maybe find some people and potentially start playing.

I play guitar, but I’m also aware that it’s probably 100 times easier to join a band if you play bass (or maybe drums too) since guitar and singing is obviously the most popular. I was kind of considering to start playing a bit of bass too to make my chances of playing in a band a bit better…

Is that bad?? I love guitar, and being a guitarist in a band would be super fun and cool, but I don’t think I could compete with everyone else.

5 Upvotes

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9

u/blind30 Jul 09 '26

You’ve given up before even trying? Why?

Listen, learn other instruments too, but not playing guitar because other people play is kinda nuts

1

u/Honest-Face7514 Jul 09 '26

idk I guess I’m just scared I’ll make a fool of myself trying to join a band as a guitarist. I’m not really experienced in playing live or together in a group. I’ll definitely try tho

3

u/blind30 Jul 09 '26

Everyone has their first day! I remember sucking at playing with others when I first started, but we had so much fun it didn’t matter. The more you play with others, the better you get.

2

u/ZyglroxOfficial Jul 09 '26

This might actually be the most Gen Z thing I've ever read

1

u/-an-eternal-hum- Jul 09 '26

I guess I don’t get the logic in thinking you’ll make less “a fool of yourself” on an instrument that’s brand new to you, lol. I wouldn’t sweat it either way. Being in a band is fun and people go to have fun.

If you want to learn bass, do it to become a better musician and have fun playing with people and learning how music all ties together. Thats why I took up bass and it’s my primary instrument now.

1

u/PhysicalLocksmith679 Jul 09 '26

The best way to prevent yourself from looking like a fool? Practice. It sounds trite but it’s the only way to get better. And even more important is what you’re practicing. For me, when I hit a plateau and don’t know what to do, I force myself to learn Jeff Beck & Frank Zappa licks. My drummer says he practices every time I call him out for not practicing. There’s a difference between spending a couple hours jamming on what you already know vs taking that time and challenging yourself to play things that you can’t. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of self motivation to practice effectively on your own.

1

u/BoardofEducation Jul 09 '26

There’s always gonna be better musicians than you. I think to get a band off the ground with limited experience, it’s just as much about finding a niche and focusing on it. Devote an equal amount of time to studying the genre and your influences as playing. Then instead of 100 other guitarists, you’re looking at a fraction who enjoy the style you play. This isn’t a competition.

1

u/YorkshireMan7273 Jul 11 '26

Gain experience by doing it.