Learning to play an instrument is hard work-and a lot of fun. Taking individual lessons and learning on your own is a great way to get started in learning a new instrument, but maybe now you want to share in the communal experience of playing with others. Maybe you want to work as a team to write and perform new songs. Or perhaps you want to collaborate with friends who enjoy the same band or genre of music. Forming a band is a great way to accomplish both goals.  So, how does someone start a band and begin playing their music? 

Here are eleven tips for starting a band that will help you get the most out of the experience. 

1. Try out group lessons. 

Once you’ve started learning an instrument and start to feel confident practicing on your own, trying out a group lesson can be a great way to further your musical skill, and get to know fellow musicians and potential collaborators. 

2. Decide upon a direction. 

As you consider forming a band you need to have a specific goal in mind. Are you forming a band to play your favorite band’s songs? Or do you want to focus on songs of a certain style? Do you want to put a team together to execute the songs you’ve written? Do you want to form a collaborative environment where everyone in the group writes together? You want to know whether your band will perform covers of others’ work or newly written original songs. Deciding on what kind of band you want to be a part of is the first step to getting you started.

3. Build a team.

Now that you have a clear idea of what kind of band you want to start, the next step is to find a team that can fit these goals, and share your vision. You’ll need a diverse and committed team that is willing to work collaboratively. The best band mates work well together, but also challenge each other to be their best-a combination that can be tough to find. Start by asking friends- maybe they have a hidden musical talent you didn’t know about or they might have a friend who plays an instrument. You can also attend other bands’ shows and see who repeatedly shows up.  they may be looking to form a band too. Online communities are also a great place to find capable musicians looking to form a project. Search for local Facebook community groups, Reddit threads, or community apps like Nextdoor to find others who are looking to connect through music.

4. Choose your repertoire.

The next step is to select the music your band will learn and perform. Start by sharing all the songs you and your band mates already know. Knowing everyone’s interest and musical taste will help you start from a place of unison and grow together. If there are aspiring songwriters in the group, they’ll be tasked with helping you and your band members learn their original songs and collaborate on new material that fits your band’s sound. Establishing a song repertoire gives immediate direction to each band member and the whole group.

5. Hold regular practice.

Once you’ve finalized your group and established your sound, you will need to hold practices regularly to rehearse and solidify the selected material. Holding regular and consistent practice is fundamental to quality performance. This requires an adequate and reliable location that allows for band practice. If you have access to a basement or garage, that can be a good place to start, but there are also rehearsal studios that can be rented which provide microphones, amplifiers and other equipment. The ideal location will be large enough for you, your band mates and all of your equipment and should allow for space to move, dance and play. It’s important to factor in noise levels and the rules of the space you are using- rehearsal tends to get loud, so be sure to pick a location that can accommodate noise and vibrations.

6. Choose a band name.

You’ve created your group, established your sound and started practicing together- now is a good time to think about the image of your band, and how you’ll get your music out in your community.  That starts with picking a band name. Your band’s name should represent the music you’re playing, the vibe and tone you are trying to establish, and your band members. A strong and thoughtful name is a direct way to connect with future listeners and fans. Feel free to get creative in this process and don’t be frustrated if you don’t get it right at first. You can change your name as your band’s identity grows and changes.

7. Create a band logo.

Once you have decided on a suitable name, you can create a design for your logo and your band’s brand. Often the first exposure someone has to a band is their name and band logo. The logo is the band’s first introduction to the world. Make your design eye-catching and easily identifiable. Take a look at the band logos of your favorite bands to get a reference on how they’ve represented themselves. Look for any common themes to use by adding a novel twist. Affordable or free design tools like Canva can be used to create innovative and interesting designs by even the most novice creators.

8. Make demo recordings.

Your next goal will be to record some demos. Capturing your sound in an easily shareable way is important in developing a new band and gaining exposure. Smartphones are a great way to start recording audio and video of your band performing or rehearsing. Don’t worry about recordings being perfect-having any shareable examples of your band’s music  can be very helpful. Websites like SoundCloud and YouTube are great resources for digitally storing your recordings. The goal here is to have a collection of easily accessible recordings that you can easily share with potential new fans.

9. Build your Electronic Press Kit.

Once you have some decent recordings that can be presented as a demo,you are ready to put together an EPK, or an Electronic Press Kit. An EPK is like a resume for a band, used to forge business connections and book gigs and events. There are several other elements you will need to create to complete your EPK. This includes a band biography, quality photos of the band, links to the demo recordings, and of course the band logo.

10. Engage with the music community, on and offline.

Once you are ready to start building a fan base and booking performances, it’s important to develop a presence on  prominent social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. These are powerful tools that allow you to organically reach people in your area and beyond. Remember, the goal is to participate in and build your ideal community of music lovers. Once you’ve built a following and connected with your ideal audience, you can use these channels to get the word out about upcoming events and live performances!

11. Book a show!

All of your hard work in assembling a band, creating a sound and building a band identity leads to the ultimate payoff- performing your own live show!  Booking your first concert is a huge accomplishment, but where should you start? The easiest path is to join an established event or show where you know someone or have a personal connection. Maybe your friend’s band is playing a show and needs an opener. Try engaging with your local community to find other potential opportunities for your band to join. Cities, neighborhood organizations and local community centers often put on free and affordable events, and need local entertainment to attract community members. 

Playing in a band is a great way to share your love of music with fellow like-minded musicians and the world. The journey to band-dom is a wonderful and rewarding experience that can broaden your musical horizons, teach you to work on a team, and make you the best musician you can be.  You can also learn more about how Colorado AMP programs and lessons can help you on your journey to forming a band.