Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

For me it would be a trio, preferably one where all three players can swap vocals and back eachother up. Guitar, Bass, Drums-though I could go with Guitar, Keys, Drums too.

I like the space that everyone in a trio has musically. And if you can get some vocal harmonies, you can liven up the sparser moments if the tune calls for it.

How 'boutchya'll?

There are five of us.
Guitar / lead vox
B/U vox
Drummer
Bassest
Guitar playin maniac.
We could still work in some keys or another voice.

Been 3-piece for years now. Guitar, Bass, and Drums. More money, less attitudes. Unfortunately I never had a bassist or drummer that would sing much so I had to do 90% of the vocals. And they weren't consistent with harmonies, just sang when they felt like it. I would like to go 4-piece if I could find a keyboardist that could also play guitar, rhythm/lead/acoustic. Also would like everyone in the band to be able to sing lead and harmonies. I play some keyboards so would like to play them some just because it's cool when band members swap instruments.
Another idea I had would be 3-piece with guitar, bass and drums, but since I play bass also, I'd like to find a bassist that also plays guitar. Get two doubleneck guitars, one neck bass and the other guitar. Could swap parts in the middle of the song. Once again, everyone sings lead and harmonies. Everyone uses wireless instrument and headset. Guitarist heads out into the crowd playing and singing, bassist heads out to a different section of the crowd playing and singing, then the drummers stops all but the kick, grabs a battery powered portable electronic drum all in one set with wireless and neckstrap, and comes off the stage into the crowd playing and singing. What a show!

3 piece or 10... don't matter in the end. But a 3 piece is for sure the most "fun" for me!

www.myspace.com/blunderingeye
www.myspace.com/445175001
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/6039/

"thems that knows me knows better, thems that dont, dont matter"

My group is 3 piece with an awesome lead singer who plays the harp and can play guitar. He rarely does cause I guess he repects my space as a guitarist.

I prefer being the lone guitarist cause it allows me space to do what I want. It also makes you work a lot harder than if you have another guitarist or keyboardist in the lineup.

I would personally love to have keys in the group to give us more sonic textures, but because of money and the lack of any keys in our area that fits with our agenda we will probably remain 3 piece.

I prefer to be a sideman in a four piece - gtr, bass, drums and vocals is the classic line up. That way everyone can focus on what they do best. I've done the three piece thing, and the format limits the material you can do well. Yeah, you can make more as a three piece but that should not be your primary reason for making music. My ideal would actually to have a five piece, with the fifth man playing guitar/keys but unfortunately most guitar players want to be the cock of the walk and don't work well as a utility player.

4-5 for me. I like a fuller sound, have come to appreciate two-guitar bands.

It's funny, if you were to search to my threads from a year ago, you would find me bitching up a storm about my old band wanting a 2nd guitar... guess I changed my mind

I love being a one man band. You never have scheduling conflicts and never have to spilt the dough!

Other than that a 3 piece is fun. So is a 4 or 5 piece. I really like bands withere all members can play all instruments. Switching off is cool and fun and makes you look more credible.

I like being able to switch instruments. Only way to really do that is to have at least 4 ppl, for me. I dream of one day having that Paul Simon kinda band, with lots of percussions & the full gamut of sounds, but until then....well...at the moment I got nothing, really, but me, & I ain't working musically.

WTF is WRONG with this pic?

Doesn't really matter to me. Never done the three piece. Been in seven piece (sax,trumpet,keyboard,2 guitars,drums, bass), various six, five and four piece. Right now five (bass,drums,lead guitar,accoustic guitar,harmonica). I don't really have a favorite format. It all depends on the members. It all depends on the ultimate goal of the band.

trio here... more mula @ the end of the noche

4 piece. Bass, drums, guitar, and lead vocals. For me personally, while there are occasional times when I miss another guitar player, more often than not I find it gets in the way of my thang.

Two guitarists can be a thing of beauty. We've added an accoustic guitar and you can hardly hear it, but you can feel its presence. A really nice touch, always wanted to try one.

well, I'm just a single musician now, haven't been in a band in over 3 years. Yet when I was in a band, it was a trio. Keyboard, drums, and guitar; and the drummer and I would swap roles often. I really miss being in a band too, hopefully I'll find another one to be a part of someday.


http://www.myspace.com/TracyMcGrathsmusic

I prefer a four peice where all 4 members sing lead and harmony we lost our 4th member last year and just replaced him with a good utility man that can sing lead and harmony IMHO every great band needs a utility man one that can play a little on every instrument, that has one main instrument i.e. keyboards, guitar or harmonica.
I believe that in a 3 peice band it always makes you a better musician you do work harder and have to be more creative. A three peice is great for the blues or heavier music if you have an awesome lead singer for the heavier stuff but I prefer a more symphonic sound with lots of percussion keyboards and two guitar players with five part vocal harmonies the only problem with this is unless you are Santana no one in the band gets paid very much and it forces you to play the more expensive higher profile gigs which is great but in this economy it is getting harder and harder to book those kind of gigs. I played in a band like I just mentioned and those of you that have will understand once you do you are spoiled, having that huge symphonic sound nothing after that just doesn't sound as good to you.