[Guitar Guide] Which is Better: Band or Solo?

Hello, Conservario here.
I will proceed under the assumption that you, the reader, are a guitarist.
There used to be the idea that the guitarist equaled being in a band.
However, times have changed.
There are solo guitarists all over the world who are doing great things.
Bands have their good and bad points, and being a soloist also has its good and bad points.
If you are wondering which one you want to do, please refer to this page.

■ Good and Bad Points of Being in a Band

The good is that you can do all the main work that a guitarist does in a band (friends).
Live shows, recording, networking, and so on.
It's really fun!
The public image of a band and the guitarist are almost synonymous.
There are still so many people who think that guitarist = band.
But, sometimes bands go well together, and sometimes not much.
There are so many troubles.
Relationships, finances, fans connecting with band members, and all sorts of unimaginable things happen.
If you want that kind of experience and enjoy it, go for the band.
So, what should you do when you want to be in a band?
First of all, you need to find band members.
It doesn't matter if it is through the Internet, a sign at the entrance of a music store, or a friend introducing you to someone.
In any case, meet a lot of people and actually play with them to find a good match.
It is very important to make this sound together.
Even if your first impression of this potential band mate is good, if the sound you produce and the sound you want to produce don’t match, you should not form a band with that person.
You will both end up wasting each other’s time.
After forming a band, there are often times when opinions fly back and forth on how to make the band sound better, or how the A melody should be like this, or how the B melody should be like this, and fights break out, but it’s all such a big waste of time.
If you can't proceed with your musical activities without such opinions, then you are not with the right band in the first place.
You wouldn't say after marriage, “I would like you better if your face looked more like this…” would you?
The response would be, “Go marry someone with that face then!”
Now, I am only presenting my own point of view, but if you cannot accept and respect the other person's opinion, you are also not suited for a band.
If you are a genius who has made a mark in the history of music, people around you may forgive you for being a little selfish, but such people are not common.
Many people in bands and guitarists are egotistical narcissists (very personal and subjective), so be careful to not wreck things for everyone.

■ Good and Bad Parts of Solo Playing

I honestly believe that this is becoming the trend these days.
Bands and live performances are really fun, and I hope that this culture will remain in the future, but considering the current situation, I think it will be difficult to do so.
Solo guitarists are active in composing music using DTM, releasing original songs and covers on Youtube, and performing live.
There are so many other activities that I can't even begin to count them all.
The term “solo guitarist” sounds like it means a person who plays the guitar solo, so I hope that a term will be created soon to describe guitarists who are active as soloists.
There are two advantages to being a soloist: there are no relationships and it doesn't cost much money.
One person does everything, and he or she has to be able to do it.
You need to write lyrics, compose music, and know detailed drumming.
If you are too lazy to learn or want someone else to do it for you, you may not be a good candidate for soloing.
However, the fact that you will have zero relationship problems that are not related to music is a very big advantage.
As you can see, band activities cost a lot of money.
Studio fees for practices, travel expenses, drinking money, quotas at live venues, and to put it bluntly, you can easily blow several tens of thousands of yen.
A solo artist only needs a computer or, worse, a smartphone.
If you prefer to work alone rather than with others, I think you are suited to be a solo guitarist.

■ Summary

I have introduced the advantages and disadvantages of both band and solo activities.
There are two types of activities that are suited to different people, so it is best to try both to see which one you feel that you are better suited for.
It’s common for a person who has been mainly active in a low-key band to suddenly blossom into a solo artist, and even go on to the major music scenes.
It’s not necessary to limit yourself to one or the other, but from my experience, it’s quite difficult to pursue both at the same time.
This is because the performance required for a band and a solo guitarist are different, even if they are the same.
In a band, the singing is the main part of the performance, and the instruments play a supporting role.
In a solo performance, the main focus is on the guitar and how much it stands out.
Therefore, if you bring the solo performance to the band, things will get quite messy with the band.
Of course, it might miraculously work out, but it is usually a waste of effort and time.
I think it doesn't matter if you choose to play in a band or solo, as long as you can put yourself out there and play.
Both experiences will definitely help your music and your performance.
If you are still practicing in your room and have never played in a band or solo,go ahead and try to jump into either world.
You will improve your playing several times faster than just by practicing in your room.
Thank you for reading to the end.

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