Being in a band can be stressful.

[matt_cater]

Last Sunday I joined a band that my mates had started, and were doing pretty well with. I was there as rythm guitarist.
So I have 2hour practice session with them, everything goes well and they ask me to join. We have a gig in Leicester on the 17th.
Yesterday I check our band forum to see that the lead guitarist/band starter/songwriter decides he's had enough (was p***ed that the singer booked gigs without asking).
So now I've been bumped up to lead guitar, and I have 3 hours today (Sunday) in our last pre-gig practice to learn the set (about 40mins worth) perfectly and make up my own solos.

To be honest I'm bricking it. a 3 hour practice before a big outer-local-town gig, and I have to take the lead..

STRESS

[AndersPGM]

Just go for it!
sounds like a great op. to show yourself and the band what you can do.
should be a good learning experience anyhow.

lotsa luck!!

[guitarkatana]

Do it!! Don't give up, man. Just keep cool and you'll be fine.

I find it always help to take a minute or so to center myself just before I start playing. It helps me get into that "zone", so I don't really care about the audience or about sounding good. I can just play for me and have a good time. It makes a big difference.

[Al M]

Its not that bad, i dont similar things before you'll be fine im sure. "Just go for it"

[Anton]

Yeah dude , have a blast you'll be laffin
good luck

[weserman]

yeah, what the others said. Good luck.

[Kev Brigden]

hehehe I remember answering an email in one of the PReston Music scenes online forums thingies (sounds familiar ) from a band called tin gods, who were looking for a new lead guitarist.

I found out that the Tin Gods were Preston's biggest unsigned local act.

I then shat myself because:

a. I was 16 at the time, and the next youngest was 29!
b. I had been playing for about 6 months!
c. I had never been in a band before!

And now, after 3 years of playing, and 2 and a half years of being in this band... I'm (allegedly) one of the best and well known players on the circuit. OF COURSE... I don't agree with this, and I hate admiting that people are saying it...

but I will say that I had the bottle to get up on stage and just go for it

just go for it mate and do yourself proud

[Drew]

I got my start playing lead guitar the same way. Me and a few friends started a band, and I was told, "Ok drew, you're a better guitarist than trevor, you're playing lead." We went nowhere, of coruse, but it was a great learning experience.

Also, when in doubt, improvise.

-D

[MehYam]

Have fun, and you'll be fine. The truth is nobody cares about leads anymore anyway, so the worst that will happen is that you won't turn heads. Big deal. Play well, though, and you will turn at least a few - and how cool would that be!

Play as best as you can in the moment, and don't sweat the rest. Good luck.

[matt_cater]

I wasn't too worried about playing the solos, its just the fact I had to learn the songs and play all the parts on my own (before I came in after a bit, so it was easier to play).
Just had a 3 hour practice session which went well, and we've got another 2 hours Tuesday so it should be great.

We're on at 9pm on the 17th at The Shed, Leicester

(Some girls from another band that were watching us practice thought my solos were better than the previous lead guy )

[matt_cater]

Well the gig was fun. Lots of mistakes, amp i was using cut off halfway through 1st song so had to change channels on it so i couldn't use my pedals anymore.
My solos were poor but it was rocking.

We went on 2nd after a fricken Tool tribute band, they were awesome it was crazy.

[Drew]

awesome, congrats!

I LOVE tool.

-D