Is it wrong to play with a band you don't particularly like?

[Spekko]

Ah, okay...

My brother has a band, and they have one guitarist, and they want me to be the other guitarist. The thing is, I've always played harder stuff, like Iced Earth or shred-wannabe-type stuff... but they play a lot of really slow, bluesy kind of stuff, or they play some somewhat upbeat open chord songs. The thing is, I really hate blues. It bores me to tears, and the non-blues stuff is... well, it doesn't really appeal to me.

I guess what I'm asking is, is it right to play with a band you don't really care for, just because they want you to? I mean... I really don't feel the music too much, and I really have trouble putting a lot of energy into it because it just isn't my taste, but at the same time, I feel horrible if I tell them that I don't want to - especially since it's my brother's band.

I dunno... I'd just like some peoples' thoughts on the matter, I guess. Thanks in advance, guys.

[Skeletor]

I wouldn't play music I didn't like. I like most music though. You can't really put your heart into something you don't enjoy hearing.

[Eurydice]

I think it can be a great experience to play some kind of music that is not your favorite one. That way, your playing can become more versatile! But on the other side you have to be open for new experiences to profit from them. When you say that you really "hate blues" it does not really make sense to stay in the band because it can also de-motivate you and as a consequence you will not develop as a better guitar-player any more. But it`s your decision. All I can say about this is that I heard from lots of guitar-players who don't want to miss their experience in a band with a different style than their own style.
I'm mostly interested in Metal but recently I`m more interested in blues in order to improve my tone and my bending-technique. Perhaps you can also bring some new, heavier impulses into the band and they might be appreciated ?!

So best wishes!
Jessi

[EricV]

Exactly.
I mean, if you really can´t stand it, let it go... keep your credibility, and if you can´t stand playing that stuff, they won´t enjoy it either.
However... I always liked to put myself into new surroundings in order to learn new stuff. Matter of taste, I guess... I just always liked to play all kinds of styles.
The way you describe the music they play... well, it sounds as if they aren´t sure exactly what style they wanna play, either. Maybe your influences will bring a new heaviness to their music and will give them some kind of a new direction.
Eric

[sewerhobo]

Have you ever been in a band before? If you haven't you could gain the experience it takes to work with a band before you actually join a band you want to be serious about.

I would join just about any band of any style, even (no offense) if they wanted to play some punk rock type stuff. I lack band experience.

[Malcolm]

Friend has a country western band and I wanted to see how a band works so I ask if I could go with him on a gig, just be there and see what happens - I did not bring my guitar.

Never listened to country, did not like it, but when he ask me to sit in I jumped at the chance. I still prefer jazz and blues, but I've added country to what I listen to. Come to think about it I can now tell you the difference between country, hill-billy, honky-tonk, western, cowboy or gospel. Could not do that 3 years ago.

Try it, you will learn something........... if it is not working out you can always stop.

[Koala]

As some of the guys said, its interesting to face the challenge and try to do things well and professionally, but if you really cant stand it, just say no.

[sugarbee]

I tend to agree with a lot of these guys about the learning factor, it may be something you are grateful you did later on down the road, it could be good for you, however, don't force it if it really isn't enjoyable, that can't be good. maybe just try it for a while longer adn see how you feel.

[Caffeinated Cat]

The first band I was in, I didn't like the music. I was into Van Halen, Metallica, etc. They played Born to be Wild, stuff like that. But it was tremendous fun, I learned a lot, and it made me practice a whole lot more because I wanted to be able to play those songs well, even if I didn't like them much.

And you can find a middle ground, like playing some stuff you like that fits with what the band does.

[GuitarLausing]

In my band, we start each practice session by talking about our musical directions. What people don't like and what they do like, and everyones extremely open so it's really cool. You should try this with your band if don't already. Since we started we have a lot more confidence in ourselves and the band

[GuitarDreamer20]

I agree with many of the guys here...if you ABSOLUTELY can't stand it, then don't do it. If you just have a general disliking...then DO IT. I was glad I did it when I got asked to audition for a band. Turns out it was one of the greatest and BEST decisions I've ever made as a player...here's my story...

I was basically into Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, etc...those guys, blues, jazz, and metal at the time...well this guy I was sort of familiar with, b/c I had seen him perform at the talent show before at school, called me up one day randomly over the summer. He asked if I wanted to come down for an audition. Well at first, I was kinda hesitant, b/c I was like "they are just playing that boring pop stuff, like foo fighters and worst of all the beatles.." lol...so in a way I wasn't interested. But it didn't take me long to say, "ah what the heck, it couldn't hurt to at least give it a shot." So I did audition, and we jammed on some bluesier stuff, etc. and it was a great time, and they LOVED what I did and asked me to join. So I ended up joining. Now, the lead singer/other guitarplayer, wrote a lot of the songs. I didn't write any I think over the 2 years I was in that band. I was more or less in a way, a "hired gun". I just embellished and played solos, did my job as a lead guitarist. And I would contribute in the writing process here and there, but what I'm getting at is...even though it wasn't my favorite kind of music, I had SUCH a great time, and I made some of my BEST friends. We played some big gigs too, and got payed for it. Can't beat that! But I learned lots of other things as well, lots of "unconscious" things. Your sense of time gets better (provided the other guys in the band have good time)...and I just saw new ways of looking at music and developed a greater appreciation of everything. And you know what, I actually DID add in my own style. It really showed through. When I left the band to go to college, they said it wasn't the same without the "Hurricane", lol, yeah that was my name! hehehe...

But I think you get what I'm saying! I'd say go for it man. I don't think you have ANYTHING to lose. It could only benefit you in my eyes, unless you truely HATE what they are doing. Just a quick note for you: I thought I HATEd what they were doing...and look what happened. Give it a shot a couple of times and see if it works out for ya.

Also, I gotta ask you something, b/c this was a big issue for me at first...are you worried what your friends are gonna say or people in general if they see you playing with this band that's not really your style and maybe easier to play? I know I was worried about that a while back. I mean I'm into satriani, vai, guitar virtuosos. I wanted people to think I was awesome, and see me play and go, "oh man, that kid is great" and give me lots of praise. If they saw me with this band, they wouldn't think that...they wouldn't think I was anything special and think I was good. And that was a big thing back then. Of course nowadays I couldn't give a flying crap what anybody else thinks, but back then that was a BIG issue for me. But just GET OVER IT...and realize that you'd be suprised, but there's lots of places for you to put your own style in, and it can make your band sound REALLY UNIQUE. You might be just what they are looking for! There's always a way my friend! SO GO DO IT NOW! :D

Best of luck my friend,

Mike:)

[Killa Beaver]

As a younger hard up trainee architect I used to supplement my income from doing dep work on a semi-pro basis playing bass for a number of groups on the London circuit. Bit of a bass whore I was. At the time I was mainly into heavy funk, blues rock and indie but most of the gigs I did were jazz-soul/soul-pop like Sade, Simply Red etc. Didnt care much for this type of music at the time but gigs were easy to get and I did expand my playing technique, taking up fretless and have never looked back. So I say unless you truly detest the music in question dont be too fussy if you want to build up experience in gigging.