5 TIPS to Make Your Band Sound BETTER | Nathan Larsen Tutorial

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Everyone in a band should want to make their band sound better - but it isn't easy. It requires practice, hard work, and dedication. Making a GREAT band does not come easily and most people in a band will struggle to make their band sound professional but these five things will get you on the right track!

1) Practicing your instrument
2) Less is More
3) Rhythm is Everything
4) Bass & Drums need to lock in
5) Notate your music

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Sample Libraries I HIGHLY Recommend:
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[tmhensley]

Been in a band for nearly 20 years. Finding players you can gel with and work together is golden.

[BobMarshallBand]

May I add a point? TUNE YOUR FREAKING INSTRUMENTS!!!!

[ewanmcconnell]

The musicians in the audience pay more attention to the music, general audience will react to the performance and energy you bring to your set. 3% of people in the crowd probably did notice that tiny mistake you made in that second chorus, the rest probably never even heard it.

[thorstenkoch]

As a bassist, I sign everything you said. What helps us very much is recording and analysing rehearsals.

[Jamespendle]

To all those who do not know any music theory. Do not be discouraged by this part. It is absolutely not required in order to write great sounding, successful commercial music. If it sounds great, it is great. Many many famous musicians would not even be able to tell you what key their song is in. It is 100% NOT a high priority, if at all. Other than that, great video.

[michaelwalsh]

“If it’s your first time it could be hard”

That’s what she said

[seescojo]

🎵 Hey, thanks for the info here! One thing I’ve found very important when starting and growing as a band is having a real focus on listening to each other when you’re all playing. This helps bring all the dynamics together — for example, I’ve been guilty of being that guy when jamming that’s super loud on the drums and it washes out the guitar so much they turn up their amp and next thing you know it all sounds stupid loud. Listening in a musical way is just like having a conversation — you listen to what’s being said and then respond and bring up a new idea, and so forth. A good band can hit the vibe of a song/jam AND have relatively low volume. The musicianship, accessibility and appeal to venue owners can really open up what venues you can play AND get invited back in the future (semi-pro places like The Metro in Chicago, The Troubadour in L.A., The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville). Hope this helps! 🎶

[GoodWolfWonRocky]

Rule #4 is HUGE!! I had a bass and drummer over and the bass player apso did accoustic guitar and sang. They were a band all by themselves and had played together for years. They were extremely coordinated!! As a guitar player and singer (sorta) it had the effect of instead of being the band like The RockyShow, I was in a band!! They sounded so great together that throwing the guitar parts on top of it made singing much easier. I thought "finally I feel like I'm in a band, I stead of trying to Be the band!!". A huge load lifted off my shoulders. And they felt it too, and were very excited. We started getting that psychic (for lack of better words) communication where you start doing spontaneous stuff none of us had done before. It can only be experienced and very hard to explain in words. Not only playing music spontaneously, but live on stage antics just started happening. Later we would ask each other why you did such and such to make such and such happen? None of us knew, we just did it. It was literally spooky like stepping into alter egos or something like that. It can be way most epic excellent amazing. Thank you for the video and validation.i thought it was just me.... =••

[willscott]

Knowing that your group should be choreographed in timing and instrumental melody is vital. A song is like a drum beat. No matter how simple. Each stick and foot is doing something different, but they’re all in sync and very specific to the rhythm at hand. If ANY of them changes anything throughout the beat, it becomes a different beat. Don’t add spontaneous parts into the song. Watch pro bands. Their live shows are nearly identical from show to show. Each member has a written part to play. Stick to that part and use rehearsal time to learn locking in together

[pilotaudio]

Awesome video! Clean, short and informative!

[engagethethreat]

loved this video, , you rock Nathan, , !!!!

[Beckousticstrings]

So well said! Couldn't have been any more clearer! Thank a bunch!

[WSRWSRWSRWSR]

Thanks Nathan. I will do all these changes now pronto venito

[ryz]

This was a great video thanks Nathan 🤙🏻

[yanafayuk]

Wow thanks Nathan! Your pointers and advise/comments are really helpful to someone who's a rookie to the band scene. You did an awesome job of explaining everything in a clean, concise, and informatively interesting way. Keep up the good work!

[izzydubmusic]

playing live w/ a metronome is also a great option.

[maxieboy]

I play bass and my brother plays drums, so we practice a lot

[thomasmccann]

4:36 thank you! As a bass player I often feel unappreciated and people often compare bass to guitar and because it has two less strings it must be easier and they don’t realize that Bass is most relatable to drums because it’s the foundation and rock (pun intended) of the band

[geoffreypiccolina]

I love this vid. I just keep watching. You could easily knock Tony Robbins of his pedestal, AND offer something super creative. Great work.

[dylanagoblin]

For anyone who learns by ear, if you make a song solo the parts for each person as well as showing it as a whole, that way they can hear it clearer if your production isn't very good. Just started a band and we mostly learn by ear as well as just saying what to play-it might not be as efficient as notating but I find just hearing the part solo and together helps me learn things much quicker.