What process should I go through to audition a bass player?
- Thread starter Jaylen Owens
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Tell him the songs he needs to know, make sure you know the songs really well yourself, get a date where you are able to play together. When you do play together try to listen whether he is able to lock in properly with your drummer. If he cannot lock in with your drummer but he’s able to play the songs it will probably come with time. If he’s not able to play the songs but can lock in with the drummer he needs some practice but also a keeper, just needs some practice. If he can’t do either of those he’s probably not suitable for your band. You can also first just let him play with just the drummer(rhythm section and all) and add the guitar in later.
Ids has a lot of good info here. If you’re an original band, there are two routes you can go – choose a handful of fairly easy covers and have him or her learn them for audition, or give them a solid demo of your own stuff to learn. If you don’t have a good, solid recording of your tunes that’s clear and easy to hear, with the final arrangements and stuff, then covers might be the best way to gauge.
For a bass player, much of the final word on skill (i.e. not “do we get along with him?”) will come from the drummer – those two need to be locked or it doesn’t work.
For a bass player, much of the final word on skill (i.e. not “do we get along with him?”) will come from the drummer – those two need to be locked or it doesn’t work.
Well, from my point of view, as nowadays I play bass more than the guitar (there are just a few bass players and sooo many guitarists…) in bands and as I tried a lot of bassists to play with… there are several things.
First of all, the most important thing as for almost every band member, it’s personality of the bassist. If you cannost get along, it does not matter how good he is, it simply would not work with a person who for example does not communicate, behaves in a strange way or is always late for no reason without any explanation or apologie. And that is general for everyone, not only for bassists.
Another thing, do you play covers or your own songs? If you are a cover band or if you have several songs written, select a few songs, send him what is needed and get a time estimation.
Another very interesting way how to test a bassist coming to a band with their own songs (and I have been tested like this) is working only when you don’t have any records or you are willing to let him express himself. Just let him come to the rehearsal, pick a song, play and try to let him ‘fall into it’. Then you can find how he can accomodate, if his playing goes along with the band etc… but, if you have some vision about the bass line, be opened, tell him, but don’t be stubborn – you want to get a new member that might be with you for quite some time. However he should be opened as well and don’t worry to tell him if you do not feel like he’s the right one. Give it some time, maybe even two or three rehearsals. After this time you should be clear to tell whether he’s good for your band and also for him to find out if he wanna continue. These things simply cannot be seen from the first rehearsal.
Hope it helps you and good luck!
First of all, the most important thing as for almost every band member, it’s personality of the bassist. If you cannost get along, it does not matter how good he is, it simply would not work with a person who for example does not communicate, behaves in a strange way or is always late for no reason without any explanation or apologie. And that is general for everyone, not only for bassists.
Another thing, do you play covers or your own songs? If you are a cover band or if you have several songs written, select a few songs, send him what is needed and get a time estimation.
Another very interesting way how to test a bassist coming to a band with their own songs (and I have been tested like this) is working only when you don’t have any records or you are willing to let him express himself. Just let him come to the rehearsal, pick a song, play and try to let him ‘fall into it’. Then you can find how he can accomodate, if his playing goes along with the band etc… but, if you have some vision about the bass line, be opened, tell him, but don’t be stubborn – you want to get a new member that might be with you for quite some time. However he should be opened as well and don’t worry to tell him if you do not feel like he’s the right one. Give it some time, maybe even two or three rehearsals. After this time you should be clear to tell whether he’s good for your band and also for him to find out if he wanna continue. These things simply cannot be seen from the first rehearsal.
Hope it helps you and good luck!
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