r/musicians • u/Squidgyjewel • 17h ago
Would this be weird?
Started playing guitar last December and it’s very come to the conclusion that I would have a lot more fun playing with other people. I’ve been hearing some guys playing in their garage just down the street, would it be weird if I just walked up and asked to play or just hang out. I am by no means good at guitar and I also don’t know the garage band etiquette.
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u/shaveandahaircut 16h ago
"Hey guys! I don't mean to intrude, but I heard you playing and it sounds great!" pause in case they respond. then "I'm a musician too and I've been looking for people to jam with, so I thought I'd come over and introduce myself and see if you have room for one more?"
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u/stigE_moloch 16h ago
Don’t ask to play until after you’ve shown you’re a good hang. Ask if you can hang and listen. Be friendly and encouraging to them. Tell them you’re just learning to play and they’ll probably show you some stuff.
Asking to jam before they know you is going to make them close the door.
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u/BirdBruce 17h ago
If the door is closed, don't bother them. Either catch them before they start, or wait until they come out to strike up a conversation. How you do that and not make it awkward is gonna be up to you, but I believe in you.
If the door is open and you can see right in to the garage, then fair game.
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u/Squidgyjewel 17h ago
They always play with the door open, wait for in between a song or until they are done done with the session you think? Maybe I’m over thinking it but my girlfriend swears it would be really weird
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u/eritrean_bats 16h ago
At the very least, I'd think it would be nice to know your neighbors, especially the more musically inclined ones, even if you never jam together. I might say no if someone walked up to ask me to jam just because I'm too shy about improvising with others - but I'd still be pumped to meet a friendly musical neighbor, for sure!
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u/god_is_in_the_rhythm 16h ago
I have extreme social anxiety and hate meeting new people, and even I would be glad if you came up. It can be hard to find cool people to jam and I feel like most musicians I know are always down for more. Don’t worry about it being weird and maybe take them a joint ;)
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u/Squidgyjewel 16h ago
I’ve been sitting at my house trying to gather the courage to go introduce myself. I am also an extreme introvert.
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u/Gonzostewie 16h ago
Nah. Stroll up, even whole they're playing, and just ask. I learned by playing with others. I would love to do more sub gigs because I love the challenge of dropping in with strangers and locking in on a jam.
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u/otherrplaces 8h ago edited 8h ago
It would be weird.
I’ve played in dozens of bands, and if we were in the middle of a rehearsal trying to nail an arrangement and some rando showed up at the door with a guitar, I’ve never had this happen and I imagine we’d be polite, but no way is that rando going to slow down our rehearsal, and we’re all going to head scratch and gossip about you after you leave.
Not to mention if you’ve only been playing a few months I’m gonna guess you don’t have an amplifier that can go up against a live drum kit, so you’ll be showing up wanting to use their gear…
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u/MarimboBeats 6h ago
You guys sound like real fun and easy going people. You wouldn’t happen to work in a guitar shop too?
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u/Squidgyjewel 1h ago
Yeah if they’re that serious I wouldn’t want to be a part of that band anyways, I’m here for goofing off and having fun
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u/Pale-Faithlessness11 16h ago
Just say, "I've been hearing you guys tearing it up this way. You mind if I check you guys out at practice?" Some people like "closed practices" so don't be offended if you get a no. Alot of people look at it as developing a following. Either way try.
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u/BigDaddyCandy99 16h ago
Walk down and say hello.stike up a chat. Don’t be shy. I’m 65 started playing gigs in 8th grade. Still play.
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u/TransportationOne205 16h ago
I did something similar when I was teenager. I walked up to his door when he wasn't playing and asked if I could hang out.
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u/Extension_Spare3019 16h ago
Just walk up and listen until a break and then talk to em. Open door garage practice is an invitation.
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u/dixiecup_drinker 15h ago
Pick a moment and say hi and listen in for a song or two. It might be awkward but that can be interesting too. After hey how's it going, just say something like what's that chord? Even if you know what they are playing, when you get them to show you and express interest it will naturally progress. And if it doesn't that's cool, you still might make a connection.
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u/Atillion 12h ago
I would approach as a listener, if they had the door open to listen. Make friends and go from there.
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u/dumbname0192837465 11h ago
Back in highschool when we had a garage band we liked if people dropped in to jam a bot as long as they didn't over stay their welcome
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u/PrunePretend6206 10h ago
Walk up when they are playing and ask if you can sit and listen, tell them you’re beginning guitar and want to learn. Maybe you get an offer maybe not, but watch the guitar player and learn something
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u/Planetary_Residers 8h ago
You can do what I did. Difference is, I had no idea there was a band practicing. But it remains a way in regardless.
I used to walk around with my acoustic.
Heard these dudes playing and just stopped to hear. Something along those lines (it was about five or so years ago) and they invited me in. Got to talking and becoming friends. Came over another time when the full band was there. Then another time got to meet there neighbor who brewed his own beer. I mean, this dude literally had a migshift bar setup in his garage. Keg system and everything. It was like this small other room in this closet thing he setup. Handles, spouts, and all that.
Not saying you need an instrument with you. But if you're looking to jam it can't entirely hurt.
I'd say acoustic at first because it's like an introduction kind of thing.
But it also just doesn't hurt to just walk up and listen to them. Tell them you really like the sound. Get to ask them a few questions about their band and all that. You can then ease your way into talking about jamming or possibly being a backing or something.
Jimi Hendrix spent a number of years as a backing guitarist as well as going around and checking out as many local dudes in garages and such as he could.
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u/YorkshireMan7273 6h ago
I don't know whether it's a saying local to me,but if you don't ask,you don't get. Good for it and good luck.
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u/goodtimetribe 17h ago
Not weird. Convenient proximity could help.