by bigdaddy » Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:27 pm
ashm86, just keep at it. Do what you have to to be on the stage. Take your tricone and take a regular 6 string in standard tuning. When I first hooked up with my last band I was terrified to take the stage. I had been in bands before but not like that. I was forced to learn 30 songs in two weeks and then I had to play songs on stage I had never played before. I made my share of blunders, every night. I did it for two years. The new band I am playing with were amazed at our first practice. They tried to "educate" me on how they play. My full step drop tune on my bass confused them. I finally had to tell them to stop telling me what I had to do and just tell me what key. They looked at me and said "fine Gb." The piano man said "that would be G to you" and I told him politely "no, it's Gb for me also." We had a great first practice. They hired me on the spot. The problem was they play in a half step drop and they wanted me to do the same but I told them no, that I very seldom if even play an open string. My point is that the two years with the old band taught me how to improvise and do it quickly. I am glad I'm not with that band anymore but I am grateful for what I learned during my time with them. Do what you have to for stage time. It's under that pressure that will make you a great player. After about a year the butterflys finally left me just before a show.