Power Trios

thunder-pick · #1 05-03-2008, 08:36 AM

This includes any band where there are only 3 instruments in the band, it doesn't matter if there is a seperate lead singer or not. I have played in bands with 2 or 3 guitarists but most of the time it has just been 1 guitar, bass and drums. I love the freedom I have in a trio it allows me to be sort of a "rhythm bassist" if you know what I mean. When there is more than 1 guitarist I feel more restrained in my playing like I'm locked in to a certain pattern but in a trio I'm free to go anywhere I choose. What do you think my fellow TBers?

MikeVQ · #2 05-03-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunder-pick

This includes any band where there are only 3 instruments in the band, it doesn't matter if there is a seperate lead singer or not. I have played in bands with 2 or 3 guitarists but most of the time it has just been 1 guitar, bass and drums. I love the freedom I have in a trio it allows me to be sort of a "rhythm bassist" if you know what I mean. When there is more than 1 guitarist I feel more restrained in my playing like I'm locked in to a certain pattern but in a trio I'm free to go anywhere I choose. What do you think my fellow TBers?

I had an awesome time playing in a trio. Most of the time it was just stupid stuff with the drummer and I setting a groove and then the guitarist soloing. The cool thing about it was that I wasn't really forced to play anything flashy to stand out because the bass was more present during this sort of blues jam, as opposed to a more structured song where the guitar would double over the bass rhythms.

It was really cool though, I felt like Billy Cox.

Marcury · #3 05-03-2008, 09:44 AM

I love playing in trio, used have a band that was Tenor sax, drums and me. that was a great time. I like the challenge of finding unique and non-limiting bass lines with more instruments also though.

namraj · #4 05-03-2008, 09:47 AM

I play in a trio and a 5 piece band, tho the trio is covers and uses snyths and computers to run other instruments, so i feel more free in my other band tho im the only member playing any sort of guitar at all.

57pbass · #5 05-03-2008, 09:49 AM

I play out on a regular basis with a trio -Gtr / Bass / Drums..we have a great time.

We do three sets - classic rock stuff .

I use a P Bass and my Scout Combo...

I really need to fill in the empty space - I have a more aggressive approach to my playing when in a trio setting and my EQ settings are usually scooped with a huge bottom end - I soften up the mids and leave the high end at 12 oclock...

Rob L · #6 05-03-2008, 09:52 AM

I love the power trio!!! I've been playing with the same guitar player since 1986 (20+ years) and it's been mostly in a 3 piece. There is nothing like a trio for me as a bass player. The freedom, connection with the other guys and just pretty fun way to jam. We've had other members over the years and it seems we've always found a reason to go back to three.

Earlier Gov't Mule (when they were a trio) is one of my Favs!

Trios Rock!

57pbass · #7 05-03-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob L

Earlier Gov't Mule (when they were a trio) is one of my Favs!

Trios Rock!

+ 1000 - Govt Mule...

varunkapahi · #8 05-03-2008, 10:10 AM

i mostly look forward to play with bands with only one guitar player? trio even better...given the guitarist can sing (sing nicely) along

pedro · #9 05-03-2008, 03:21 PM

I gpt the power trio bug out of my system back during the 60's and early 70's when Cream/Hendrix/The Who were big. Generally speaking I prefer a larger ensemble with more options. And frankly I'd rather drink Clorox than spend an evening with another SRV wanna be trio but that's just me. YMMV, etc.

christle · #10 05-03-2008, 03:25 PM

I'm good with any situation, to me it boils down to the musicians you are playing with. I have played in trios where the whole thing was about the guitards ego and I have played in other trios where it was all about the songs. The same applies to larger ensembles. Currently I play with 7 members on stage (2 are vocalists and of the remaining 5, 2 play keys most of the time) and I have a lot of freedom to play what I think suits the song. It just depends on who you are playing with.

Another nod to Gov't Mule, one of my all-time favs

Spector_Ray · #11 05-03-2008, 05:29 PM

I love playing in a trio and listening to trios. I don't know of a trio I don't like from the forementioned Gov't Mule to King's X, Rush, The Police, etc.

CapnSev · #12 05-03-2008, 05:37 PM

I agree completely. It forces a whole new level of playing on the bass player, especially when the guitar solos.

pedro · #13 05-03-2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I agree completely. It forces a whole new level of playing on the bass player, especially when the guitar solos.

The problem is that trio at least most of the ones I'm subjected to on the club level tend to be solo oriented. My ears just get weary of hearing guitar solo after guitar solo.

aikakone · #14 05-03-2008, 07:53 PM

King's X is my personal favorite trio. I made a mix CD of my favorite tunes of theirs for a friend who lives in Australia. I told her they were the best band she's never heard of. The funny is that I just like them and liked them long before I was listening to bass, so I wasn't actively thinking about the cool stuff that dUg does.

gweimer · #15 05-03-2008, 08:11 PM

I cut my teeth in a trio that always had a habit of trying to do songs with 2 guitars. My style ended up being a mix of traditional bass, with pieces of rhythm guitar thrown in. Cream raised the bar for trios forever. King's X knows how to make it work. Even the last line-up of the '70s King Crimson (Fripp, Wetton and Bruford) managed to pare things down and still come up strong.

ForestThump · #16 05-04-2008, 10:00 AM

Class:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8hw9...eature=related

guitfiddle0409 · #17 05-04-2008, 10:29 AM

This whole thread is speaking my language; this is what we do. We mostly play Cream, Hendrix, Mountain (a la the later versions where Leslie West was the whole harmonic section), some Doors (where the keyboards weren't as dominant -- think Love Me Two Times, Back Door Man, Roadhouse Blues), plus some originals. Maybe it's the current vogue, but we go over very well in some bars. Anyway, I love the challenge of filling in like a quasi-rhythm player at times. I've never had so much fun in a band before! The only hard decision is which basses to bring to the gigs.

Deacon_Blues · #18 05-04-2008, 12:32 PM

I've tried it, but I prefer having a keyboardist as well. I do have a gig booked for the summer with a trio though (the keyboardist couldn't come then). I guess we'll do some Hendrix, Cream, John Mayer etc on it. The guitarist is just great at this stuff, so I think we'll manage.

BassMonstrum · #19 05-04-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunder-pick

I love the freedom I have in a trio it allows me to be sort of a "rhythm bassist" if you know what I mean. When there is more than 1 guitarist I feel more restrained in my playing like I'm locked in to a certain pattern but in a trio I'm free to go anywhere I choose.

I hear you, loud and clear! Used to play in a progressive rockband with one guitarist and that gave me so much more freedom (also because I was the main songwriter). Now I play with two guitards who keeps pushing me down.

Bearded Bugs · #20 05-04-2008, 01:01 PM

Both of my bands have only 3 instrumentalists each, the first one with the normal lineup of guitar/vocals, me on bass, and drums, but the other is me in more of a "lead-bass" role, with drums and synth. I love the freedom that not having a guitard in the band gives me as a bassist =)

www.myspace.com/somethinginthecorner