In this ongoing guide, we’ll be exploring how anybody can start their own band, and why being in a band can positively affect other aspects of life.
The traditional method of learning to play an instrument involves a lot of pain at the outset. Emphasis is placed on learning to read music and perfecting technique. Whilst these are incredibly important, we know how frustrating it is when you’re just starting out, as more often than not, you simply want to play one of your favourite songs!
At WeJam our goal is to encourage people of all abilities to experience the joy of being in a band, and that’s why we’ve produced this guide to give you some helpful tips on where to start. Check out the quick links here or further descriptions below.
1. How to start a band even if you’re a complete musical beginner
2. Where to find your band members?
3. New to Jamming? Here’s what you need to know
4. The health benefits of being in a band
5. Learning music makes you smarter and more successful
6. Don’t worry about music theory (yet)
7. 4 beginner YouTube Channels for music education and lessons
9. Easiest cover songs for beginner bands
10. The best apps for bands and musicians
11. Forget video games, start a real band
12. The best beginner instruments for under £100
13. The 6 step guide to forming an office band
14. 8 things great bands have in common
15. 7 signs you’re ready to perform live
HOW TO START A BAND FOR MUSICAL BEGINNERS
Before jumping straight into picking your first venue or which iconic outfits you and your bandmates will wear, there are a few steps we need to cover before we get you headlining. Here at WeJam we have compiled a list of five, sure-fire ways to start a band – even if you’re a complete musical beginner.
WHERE TO FIND YOUR BAND MEMBERS?
Sounds like an obvious place to start, right? In our detailed guide to finding band members, we provide some top tips for assembling the perfect line-up.
A key takeaway is that you’re not just choosing bandmates for their talent. These are people you’ll be spending a lot of time with, so it’s important you gel on a personal level too.
Nowadays, the internet is a great resource for finding musicians with similar interests and ambitions, but consider your personal network too.
NEW TO JAMMING? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
You’ll probably feel a little nervous and anxious, but don’t let that stop you from having some fun rocking out. In this article, we’ll be examining what jamming is exactly, exploring its history, and looking at how you actually do it yourself!
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BEING IN A BAND
Believe it or not, but being in a band is good for your health.
Making music with others is great for both your physical and mental well-being, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. You don’t need to be a serious musician to benefit – even playing for fun every now and then can boost your mood and provide many more perks.
Our detailed guide above gives you many more health-related reasons for incorporating band practice into your life.
FURTHER AMAZING BENEFITS
There are tons of skills you need to master just so you can play your favourite song on an instrument: keeping in time, memorizing notes, your emotive intelligence and hand-eye coordination. These skills can be applied to many areas of life that do not directly involve music.
Check out how music can actually make you smarter and more successful by utilizing different areas of the brain and applying them to everyday life.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT MUSIC THEORY (YET)
If you’ve ever tried learning an instrument, only to give up a short while later, maybe you felt that theory takes the fun out of playing music?
Although theory is important, it shouldn’t get in the way of rocking out! In this article, we look at the way theory can sometimes stifle creativity, and we encourage you to get your head out of books and start experimenting with your instrument.
BUT CHECK OUT THESE CHANNELS FOR BEGINNER INSPIRATION
Thanks to resources such as YouTube and Google, there is a great deal of knowledge out there (for free) at your fingertips. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional musician or looking for music lessons for beginners, there will be someone on the internet that has created an entire series to help you out.
At WeJam, we have compiled a list of the 4 best YouTube Channels for Music education and music lessons for beginners. There’s no better time than now to dedicate a few hours a week to learning an instrument, even if it’s just to show off to your friends or work colleagues.
BEGIN WITH COVER SONGS
If starting a band wasn’t hard enough, trying to write your own material can be a whole other challenge. For new bands, learning and practising cover songs is a great way to start out.
There are a whole bunch of reasons why learning to play your favourite songs from your favourite artists is a brilliant idea. Not only will you improve musically, but fans will love it too.
A COUPLE OF EASY COVERS TO TRY
We’ve also chosen a couple of fun starter songs to try that you hopefully should know and tips on how to play them.
THE BEST APPS FOR BANDS AND MUSICIANS
Nowadays, there are hundreds if not thousands of apps available designed for musicians and bands. Whether you’re starting out or already on the road to stardom, there’s no doubt an application out there that can help you on your way.
In this article, we pick 10 of the best apps for aspiring artists, ranging from songwriting aids to performance tools, and a whole lot more.
FORGET VIDEO GAMES, START A REAL BAND
Whilst music-based video games (or “rhythm games”) like Guitar Hero and Rock Band are a load of fun, they can never compare to the feeling of starting a real band.
This article charts the history and rivalry between Guitar Hero and Rock Band – the two biggest selling musical computer games of all time. If you love these games, then what’s stopping you from jamming on real instruments? Maybe WeJam is the next step on your journey to musical greatness!
INSTRUMENTS DON’T HAVE TO BREAK THE BANK
We have compiled a list of the best instruments for beginners that you can buy under £100. There are plenty of options out there, and the internet is your best friend to help you evaluate your options and help get you off to a good start in your music career as a solo or group act. But the internet is a big place, and these links will help you choose where to start.
EVEN BECOME AN OFFICE LEGEND
Socializing with colleagues outside the office is a great way to build camaraderie whilst still being a lot of fun. In this 6-step guide to forming an office band, you’ll find that your work relationships can blossom, and who knows, you could even land yourself that promotion you had your eye on as a result of all that business promo you’ve been doing!
8 THINGS GREAT BANDS HAVE IN COMMON
Once you’ve got your band off the ground, follow some of our tips on how to take it to the next level. Songwriting, promotion, loving what you do and staying authentic. These are some of the things that great, successful bands have in common.
TIME TO GET ON THAT STAGE
Performing live can be a daunting experience. Especially if this is your first band, and you’ve never performed live before. You can practice performing live in a pub or smaller venue before taking on Wembley to get used to those nerves and that feeling, but if even that seems like a monumental task, we have created a list of signs you’re ready to perform live. If you find yourself mentally checking each of these signs, then you’re good to go!