Can a trio do Sweet Home Alabama?

[walknbluez]

Ok, I didn't want to do this tune but the guitarist does and so I'll do it BUT we are a trio and we're trying to do a song that originally had 3 guitars. So it seems if I play it the easiest way possible, DD CC GG GG, that it is lacking, especially when the guitar drops out and does his solo. Can a trio do this song and so it well?

[Phalex]

Yes. We did it last night with bass, drums, and guitar. It goes over pretty darn well.

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by Phalex

Yes. We did it last night with bass, drums, and guitar. It goes over pretty darn well.

How did you play it, just the way it is tabbed?

[Deacon_Blues]

It had piano as well, IIRC...

Anyway, you can play that even as a troubadour with only an acoustic guitar and it will still sound like "Sweet Home Alabama".

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by walknbluez

How did you play it, just the way it is tabbed?

Play the right chords (not difficult: D, C, G all the way through with the only exception being the "ooh ooh ooh" part where you play F, C/E, D...) and ask the guitarist to check out the main riffs and you should be fine. Forget tabs for a song this simple, use your ears instead....

[logicman69]

We do it as a 3 piece all the time. With a song like this you can keep it pretty bare-bones and it will come off alright. Just hit that opening riff and make sure you guys stay tight. My guitar player really doesn't play the solo's when we do it, and the hot chicks dancing don't really miss it.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by walknbluez

How did you play it, just the way it is tabbed?

I don't know from tabs. The other guys just listen for the changes and try to keep up!

We stick to the original recording pretty well. The guitar player has most of the hard stuff.

[walknbluez]

We played it last night but when I was listening to the recording it sounded off, particularly on the G. When the guitar does the little riff on the G, it seems like something is lacking.

[scootron]

Yes, you can do it, but each of you has to do a little extra heavy lifting, especially the bassist when the guitarist takes a solo.

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by scootron

Yes, you can do it, but each of you has to do a little extra heavy lifting, especially the bassist when the guitarist takes a solo.

When you say heavy lifting, you mean play louder? Fills?

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by walknbluez

When you say heavy lifting, you mean play louder? Fills?

Fills, more melodical playing than only the roots, whatever... probably not louder.

[Vic Winters]

I've seen a 4 piece (1 acoustic, 1 electric, 1 bass, 1 percussion) pull it off nicely, but haven't seen a 3 piece.

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

Fills, more melodical playing than only the roots, whatever... probably not louder.

ok that is what I was thinking. Anyone have some specific suggestions for some fills on this song?

[JimmyM]

Just let it be empty during the solos. Nobody cares. They just want to hear the song. Audiences will actually put up with a lot as long as you do your best. And Sweet Home is bulletproof. You have to really try to suck to make an audience hate your version.

If you really want to get anal, though, you can tap the bassline out with one hand, and tap double stops out on the D and G strings. I've done that before. Works pretty good if you have some treble in your tone.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Just let it be empty during the solos. Nobody cares. They just want to hear the song. Audiences will actually put up with a lot as long as you do your best. And Sweet Home is bulletproof. You have to really try to suck to make an audience hate your version.

This is great advice, and not just for this song. It's amazing how many musicians are terrified of space. Miles' greatest lesson was not to fear it.

[Honk'n_down-low]

So here's the thing - you hear the song as it was originally recorded or performed. Most people want to hear the key licks and the words that they can sing to. Ask the average person how many Guitars the Song has and you'll get a blank stare.

If you are tight - the vocals, guitar and bass have a good mix - you should be able to pull it off. I understand it will still sound thin to your ear - as you are hearing it from a different perspective. Some people will notice - but depending on what set it is - most people will just enjoy the song. As someone said - think of how well songs go over when there is just someone strumming a Guitar and everyone is singing along - nobody really cares the full arrangement is not happening.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by walknbluez

Ok, I didn't want to do this tune but the guitarist does and so I'll do it BUT we are a trio and we're trying to do a song that originally had 3 guitars. So it seems if I play it the easiest way possible, DD CC GG GG, that it is lacking, especially when the guitar drops out and does his solo. Can a trio do this song and so it well?

oh heck ... a one man band could do it ...

[Mike Shevlin]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

tap the bassline out with one hand, and tap double stops out on the D and G strings. I've done that before. Works pretty good if you have some treble in your tone.

Crap! I thought I invented that.

[scootron]

Originally Posted by walknbluez

When you say heavy lifting, you mean play louder? Fills?

Agreed with what Deacon Blues said. Also, the comments about space are valid, but there are a couple of places in the song where it seems to work nicely for the bassist to be a little more active, use some more octaves, fills, etc. I'm not a fan of overplaying, but toward the end, you need to keep it moving it along.

[varunkapahi]

Originally Posted by Mike Shevlin

Crap! I thought I invented that.

lmao