Tips for getting started in music?
 

Hello to everyone,

I have only posted in this forum a couple of times, so I'm not sure if this question belongs here. But this is one of the most active online music communities I have seen. If this question doesn't belong here, please feel free to move or delete it. I'm just giving this a shot.

So, long story short, I'm an aspiring male musician. I'm 23 years old, and I "play guitar" (I guess you could say). I have tried many times to form bands and to join other bands, but every time I set out to form something, the people always bail on me. I have very little band experience, mostly due to the fact that I come from a small rural town where no one plays, and so much of my time playing and learning has been by myself. I feel I'm a naturally gifted player, but for some reason no one has wanted to take the time/patience required to give me a chance. I'm certainly no ego-maniac. Everyone's got to start somewhere, but I cannot find that entry point that will get me sailing. No one ever seems to believe in me enough to give me a chance. Everyone wants experienced, established, seasoned players.

Does anyone here have any advice for me? Also, what are some of the best ways to find other musicians with similar tastes and aspirations as me? I currently live in much larger of a town, but it's still not a melting pot for musicians. I've tried craigslist many times, but nothing ever comes from that, at least not in my experiences. I'm lost by this point for what to do. Why is it that everyone else has no trouble getting and staying in bands, but I can't? I've highly considered just giving up.

I know this is not a "musicians" forum per se, but since it is about music, I thought it might be worth a shot to ask as I assume there are plenty of musicians here.

Thanks for reading, and hopefully someone can tell me something good!

Go solo until you meet like minded people. If you do a lot of solo performances, they'll come to you eventually.

This is probably something that is the most important factor and something you should set out to try to understand.

Highly considered that. But I never wanted to be an instrumental guitarist. But it still is a thought.

I would experiment with getting your guitar playing out there a bit try doing some recording, then trying to do some scaled back solo shows.

If no one wants you in their band make your own one.
see if you can find a friend of yours you get along well and teach him how to play the bass or something.

I grew up in a place where everybody listened to rap but me and my only rocker friend made a band despite our neighbors hating us cause our practice sessions were too loud.

F*cking hypocrites, they could blast their rap music as loud as they want but can't handle a little distortion.

In my case, it was my friend who started the band and convinced me to join.
That's why im telling you, find a friend that you know is into music and try to form your own band with him if you're not having any luck getting into other bands.

There's no way in heck I could ever get any of my friends to pick up music. Much less want to make a career out of it like I want to. I wouldn't want to have try to force someone to be passionate about it.....you know?

Plus, I live away from my hometown now and I don't know anyone. And I've tried to form my own bands, but no one wants to give me the time of day. I don't get it. Don't they remember trying to join/form their first band? It's aggravating!

Oh man, I know that feeling. Honkie neighbours would blast country in their front yards and would call the cops if we played avant-garde music at my old place. Wanted to burn that **** down.

I hear you, we tried to get a friend to be our bassist but music wasn't his thing.

I feel bad for you man, aside from forming a band it's always good to know ppl with similar music taste but it seems you don't have that.

Maybe you should go solo for awhile or start hanging out in the local music scene to meet ppl.

The problem is experienced bands don't really have the time to take on a noob. i think its better to start a new band and grow as a musician by your own standards first than to try to keep up with experienced musicians.

Absolutely, which is exactly what I've tried to do. But no one wants to form a band with me. It leaves me wondering- "How do other people get their start?" Lol..... One big problem with me as well is the fact that I did not grow up with musical people. I'm the only person in my family who wants to play music. The rest of my family could care less about it.

Most of the time I'll find someone with similar music tastes, and we'll get together maybe once, after that they never return my calls/texts and I get the feeling they just didn't think I was experienced enough. Like I said, no one has the patience to give me a chance. I don't get it. How am I supposed to get my start when no one will give me a chance?

If you read the ads out there on most of these websites, you see lots of these dickhead guys on there like- "Must be a pro, and must have pro gear, or don't bother replying." *** holes! lol