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I want to start a band, but I don't know a lot about the process of being in a band, nor do I know what kind of a band I want to be in. Also, my sister (who managed to convince me to back away from high school marching band) said that the chances of success are very slim. I've already go some songs, but they are all in the general area of weird al. I also need to convince my parents that I need an electric guitar. Can anyone help me figure this out, or make any suggestions about the guitar thing?

Hm...well you're in a tough spot with that guitar, aren't you? Well, first of all, your sister is 100% right. But if you work hard enough, trust me, it's gonna pay off in the end.

So first, listen to a wide selection of music. Get one rock song, one country song, one pop song, blah, blah blah. Decide which genre you think you can write/sing/play best and which one you like best. Then, find people in your town/county/school who like that type of music and play an instrument. Ask if they are interested in being in a band with you. Show them some of the stuff you've written. If they say yes, yay for you.

Okay once you have members, all of you need sit together and share ideas for band names. Books and movies are good inspirations. Band names aren't that important if your band is hella amazing, but for beginners, choose an AWESOME band name that will catch attention.

Then you guys need some time to yourselves. Decide on a key to make the song that you are gonna write, decide the time signature too. Each of you get a book of blank sheet music and write some stuff that you think will work well. This will take a while, but it's worth it. Then regroup and share your ideas. Combine 'em all together and there you have it. A song which everyone in the band likes. You'll need to put aside those other things you've written, for now.

Then, you each play your own part of the song at home. Try to perfect it, 0 mistakes. Come back together and try to put it all together. It won't work the first time, but don't get pissed off. Keep trying.

Once you guys can play it together, then move to someone's garage. SOMEBODY is bound to hear you one day and like the music. And there you have it, your first fan. It just goes from there.

Now for the guitar, do you play acoustic guitar already? Because if you don't have any experience on the instrument, believe me you're not gonna be able to pick up an Stratocaster and just start playing. It takes a long, long time to be good enough to actually make it anywhere. So I suggest that you wait, unless you're already amazing at acoustic guitar and know guitar so well that you can relate it to electrics.

As for convincing your parents, well, you have to make a compromise. Tell 'em that if they buy you a guitar, you'll give up...your birthday party this year. Or you won't ask for any Christmas presents this year. Good guitars cost moola.

talked you out of marching band? that's madness. but as for success rate, she's completely right. I would have hoped you knew that already, though.



No one will take you seriously if you play parody songs. I'm sorry. Just being blunt. and Venom is right.. you can show people those songs so they get the vibe of what you're capable of writing so far, but when you get a band together you're going to end up writing new songs.



I'm assuming (god forbid) that since you've already written songs and are interested in starting a band that you know how to play guitar and thus probably play acoustic. If not, STOP RIGHT HERE. Don't start a band if you don't even know how to play an instrument. So many people fall into the trap of being like "wow being in a band sounds really cool I think I'll try to make one without any instrumental experience" and then they end up in go-nowhere bands that sit around talking about what a cool name for their band would be and playing other people's music, never making their own.

so if you DO know how to play guitar, then you have a few paths you can go down. You can show your parents the music you've made so far, maybe go to a music store and demonstrate for them what you can do on an electric guitar and tell them your plans. That's what I did with my mom when I wanted my bass. if your folks aren't that understanding, make them some offers. Like increasing the work you do around the house, or sacrificing your birthday presents or promising to get a summer job and paying them back (and following through!). If you can't get the money out of them... then babysit or shovel. get creative. If you want it bad enough, you can get it.

as for the actual guitar you get, I'd suggest starting off with a Fender or a Peavey. you're going to end up probably with a Japanese or Chinese model to start so it's cheap, but it'll get you going. You'll probably want to invent in a practice amp also later on, in which case I would go Peavey.

once you have the guitar, you have to decide the kind of music you want to play. Think about what you already listen to. Think about the mood of the music you write or want to write. Maybe learn a few songs by bands you like to get the feel of the new guitar and the kind of music you want to make.

Then find members! you can post around the school you go to, ask individual people, put up posters in the music or hangout places around your town. People love making music and they will find you. Tell them what kind of music you want to play and what instrument you're playing.

From there, have people jam with you and see who has the chemistry you need. Then you guys can start by showing each other cool lyrics or riffs you've written, and if they dig it, then have everyone write complimenting parts and bring it all together to make a song. have band practice once a week and keep expectations high. A band name will just come naturally to you after a while, so don't make coming up with a band name like your top priority or anything.

good luck and practice hard! Hope I helped... just starting a band right now myself, and this is what I'm doing to get us going (:

I posted this exact thread a couple of years ago on neopets, no help there though, duh.
But I am gunna give you the advice none of those kids were nice enough to share with me, so I was left to figure it out myself.

Dive, man, ******** dive.
I was afraid of something going wrong but you have so much time, your still just a kid, just dive, dont think of it like your already on stage performing youre best, no, you gotta work to be your best, your happiest.

-play with your heart, and play with passion, show people what the song means to you, and if you are not either crying, laughing, or somberly silenced, you didnt show them who you were.

-write and play FOR YOURSELF
Honestly, dont care if people are listening to your hard work or not, because it shouldnt matter to you (it did to me at first, but you learn to play for the sake of playing)

-And lastly, write music you can relate to.
Write music that says what you afraid to say inreal life.
Tell thetruth, thats the best music, and thats the music everyone wants to hear.

My comments on the advice so far...
I have written poems that can be turned into songs.
I CAN play the acoustic- pretty damn well.
I took piano lessons for 6 years- in terms of music and being a musician, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
I AM A DAMN GOOD VOCALIST!!!!!!!!!
If I showed my parents the genre of music I want to play, they would remove my iPod, guitar, and Guitar Hero (they don't like the emo stuff)
Covincing my parents of an electric guitar worked- my dad asked which king I should get.
I already have friends that want to be in a band, but they can't play the instruments, I've been shoved to the background for most of the songs (background vocals mostly), or they only want to play stuff that's already been written!
My sister plays the flute, violin, and has friends that could be a one-man (or girl) secction band if they wanted too (it seems she knows EVERYONE) so I don't think it would be a problem if I wanted a background part like that.
How do you recommend talking my parents into letting me start a band, or going about the audition proccess?
Thanks for all the comments so far, I really appreciate it! whee

Sorry if my last comment about the advice so far... I was having a REALLY bad day. Anyway, I wasn't trying to make anyone think that I didn't like the advice, I'm just used to an environment where most people know that I can sing, or play the guitar, or am a musician. This can be hard to get used to, especially for someone who sits in her little emo corner and plays video games most of the time. My sister only succeeded in talking me out of marching band because I've had bad experiences in the past, and I was very willing to give in that night. Plus, she used the most horrific stories and used the worst point of view possible- she thinks its "her thing" and is willing to lie to almost anyone to keep it that way- some sister huh? Again, sorry for the stubbornness, and really, thanks for the advice! mrgreen

gibsons arent that expensive...les pauls are...thank god to that...if you dont know how to play...get an aucoustic first and dont start any band yet...if your parents listen to music at all...they might help but offer to earn up for half if they pay for the other half....always works for me

My brother sugests a dean razorback for the guitar type. to convince your parents i have 2 suggestions: 1. give them the whole music/guiar will make me a more rounded person deal, or 2, just straightup beg =D