I've been pretty down recently. Mainly due to my band and particular troubles with one of the prime members in the band.
We've been together for about 3-4 years and well, we have three songs. That's it. Water Over Wine, Swings and Roundabouts and Fragments. And basically, progress is not being made. We must have written 10 more songs, but they've been dropped for no particular reason, and they were most mine. Not because they weren't good, I really don't know why, probably cos of trouble with our vocalists.
But anyway, to the point. We have a synth in our band, and we I want to be able to utilise it for our songs. I don't own a synth myself so I can't practice with one trying to achive sounds, but problematically, neither does the guy who plays synth in our band. He basically told me he can't improvise because he doesn't know how to use his synth. Coming from someone who's Grade 8 piano, I find it hard to believe. He cannot be bothered to learn, or even try.
All the songs he writes are piano based songs, that never really kick up a gear unless I write a punchy chorus for it. He's taken up guitar, only acoustic tho, and only fingerpicking. Why? Cos he can't be bothered to use a plectrum. So we're confined to the speed of the piano and how fast he can pick and I don't know about you, but playing piano based songs bores the hell out of me.

I really don't know what to do. SEL is my creative outlet, where I can write songs and play them and try and work on them. Seldom do they ever get done tho cos the synth player never comes up with anything, so it's never really complete. I am contemplating making a side project with the bassist and drummer, we want to have fun again. SEL is too much of a burden and isn't fun.
Problematically, if I quit, it might spoil my friendship with Stephen. I have endure a bus journey with him everyday, so if that's **** it might get unbearable around him, and knowing him he'll give me aload of sh!t for it. :/

If you any advise, I'd really appreciate it.

Don't quit, kick the lazy pianoist out! :D

I wouldn't quit untill I found some other band to join, or had some other friends to start one with. But if the band isn't working then maybe it's just a waste of time that's dragging everybody down? I don't know.. don't expect any magicall sollutions to come out of this thread.

Oh, and I don't like this Stephen guy either, kick him out of the band as well.

I dunno, Water Over Wine's a piano-based song and it works pretty well. Assuming I understand what "piano-based" means.

Still, if nowt else you can use it for chords and stuff. A piano makes a mean rhythm section instrument.

If Stephen's your friend, talk with him about the problem (like you talk with us about it), and see if you can work it out. If he can't face the facts and solve his problems, I'd say start something with the bassist and drummer, but don't call it a side project, call it a new band.

This synth player does not sound committed to the band. In order to work well as a team, you have to have faith in the abilities of your friends. You have to work with them, give them what they need. He does not seem to understand this. Perhaps he is indifferent to the cause of the team; he's not 'on board'. You must be tough with him. Improvisation is very likely within his grasp if only he had a go at it, but either he can't be bothered, lacks confidence to do it, is stubborn simply because it's not his idea or is a hesitant person who sits and waits for people to give him things to do, and doesn't 'take control' of his path.

Three finished songs in three years, and ten canned ones. Is there an underlying problem in the band that needs to be addressed?

i'll be your piano guy

Play me a song, Mr. Piano Guy.

Play me a song, Mr. Piano Guy.
i'll play you a song tonight








if you know what i mean :cool:

# Heeeey Mister Tamborine Man,
Play a song for me... #

Stephen left the band tonight In no bad blood. :)
We're better friends than before. He wants to take a break from music, but myself and him are gonna make music at another time, piano/acoustic guitar combo during the summer probably.
SEL on the other hand, are gonna continue as a three piece, we're gonna kick the singer out, he's ****. lol

I thought the singer was female? I remember watching some videos...

If you need an okay singer PM me ;)

I can sing, but only when no one else is around. Which is good, because I'm in a completely different country anyway.

I can sing, but far too loudly.

I can also improvize on a synth, but that's another story.

Three finished songs in three years, and ten canned ones. Is there an underlying problem in the band that needs to be addressed?

Many bands would be wise to adopt this strategy.