Has any bassist played in a band with two guitarists?

de la mocha · #1 12-07-2006, 05:56 PM

Does it suck? I mean, I'm imagining playing with a rhythm guitar player and at the same time, another guitar player is doing solos. That sure doesn't leave a lot of room for the bass player, does it?

I mean, trying not to get drowned out by two blairing guitars is one thing, but not having freedom and being constricted to just playing the background without stepping over two guitars is something altogether.

I mean, in a band with one guitar and one bass player, there is a lot more room to fill up the sound and play fills and variations and show off tastefully, but I just can't imagine playing with two guitars. That would be like playing while wearing a straight jacket.

So does or has anyone ever played with a band having more then one guitar player? Is it as bleak as I imagine?

Skel · #2 12-07-2006, 06:08 PM

Honestly, these days I would give the "2 guitarists" thing about 3 weeks tops. They'll probably be at each other's throats immediately, so I don't think you should be concerned - the problem will fix itself.

Dave · #3 12-07-2006, 06:15 PM

It depends on what type of music youre talking about. I play at my church which usually is 2 guitarists, keys, drums, and 3-5 vocals. I find that I do have a bit more freedom in my other band, which is just a 3 piece acoustic/rock type band. This doesnt mean that I cant be creative in the other band, I look at it as having to play in a different way, playing as more of a foundation for the others to go on. Of course this will vary with the type of music you play and how you play as a bassist..Im not a flashy player, so providing a strong foundation works just fine for me.

**MAJOR METAL** · #4 12-07-2006, 06:15 PM

Its great if they are dynamic and are willing to work together but it has the real potential to be just become an ego contest for either of them.

BillyB_from_LZ · #5 12-07-2006, 06:20 PM

I'd rather play in a band with two guitarists than a guitarist and a keyboard player with a heavy left hand!

Actually, when I get together with my friends from High School every three years (most of us graduated in '77 and '78) we usually have two drummers, three or four guitars, a keyboard and a bass playing all at the same time. With respect for the other players it can work...

Relic · #6 12-07-2006, 06:35 PM

It really just depends on the guys you play with I'd think. I've been lucky enough to not have any problems with it, I've been playing with the same two guitar players for the past 10 years and still have plenty of room to do some fun bass stuff.

Ojinomoto · #7 12-07-2006, 06:45 PM

I used to hate the thought of playing with two guitars because I'd be drowned out, but I was thinking and tried it out one day and I have this to say: It depends on you. I play heavy music and even though we have two guitars going Im able to cut through because I dont play what they play and dont just play the roots. If you play something thats "counter" to what they play thats ABLE TO MAKE THE SONG BETTER and not sound stupid, then you'll cut through because you're adding to the song like a second guitarist would be doing. But then again, it depends on you.

**Blackbird** · #8 12-07-2006, 06:54 PM

Unless you're going for a sparse sound like The Police, I think two guitars work better. Lead and rhythm. That way, you don't have to act like a second guitarist and so you can focus on playing the bass line, which is what you're supposed to be doing.

Does it suck? Ever heard of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones or 75% of the rock bands on the planet?

Now, three guitars, that's overkill.

emcf25 · #9 12-07-2006, 07:00 PM

I have always played with a variaty of Guitars and other stuff and my best method for success is to lock onto the drummer and together take care of beat and the dancers. Everyone else can do what ever they like.

Marty

shuriken · #10 12-07-2006, 07:02 PM

I really don't think it makes that much difference - if you and everyone else are playing the right parts for the song and working together, playing with 2 guitarists, especially if you've got a talented rhythm player -its great. I've been in all sorts of combos, and I would pretty much play the bass parts the same whether I played with one guitar or 2. Make the guitarists work with you. Also, there are plenty of 1 guitar, bass bands who when the record, do multiple guitar parts, but when they play live, its back to the bare-bones. just my 2 cents....

Jazzdogg · #11 12-07-2006, 07:12 PM

I've played numerous gigs over the last 35 years or so, and the quality of these experience is always proportional to the quality of the individuals involved, not how many, or what instruments they played.

In the last month, I've played with several guitarists, some of whom were a dream to share time with, and some of whom were a nightmare.

Sometimes, a guitarist who's a nice and sensible person can act as a buffer for a narcissistic guitarist who believes the world revolves around him. My worst experiences have been when two (or more) nightmarish individuals play together, each reinforcing and enabling the other's musical and personal weaknesses: under these circumstnaces, the instruments played are irrelevant.

Steve · #12 12-07-2006, 07:26 PM

I play in a band with 2 guitars and a keyboard.

I sub for a band with 2 guitars, a keyboard, and a violin.

It's not a problem as long as everyone has ears...and manners.

Thinkarogadum · #13 12-07-2006, 07:37 PM

In my band we have two guitarists, and in a lot of our songs it just sounds empty without a second guitarist. We play pinball wizard at our shows, and it doesnt sound half as good without the separate acoustic and electric parts. Like Ojinomoto said, if you just play root notes, you will get lost in the mix with the rhythm guitar player.

tplyons · #14 12-07-2006, 10:22 PM

My last major band was three guitarists, three are all playing leads and/or rhythms, depending on the song. Plenty of harmonies, plenty of compounding rhythms... etc.

There's PLENTY of room to move around. It'll work fine.

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #15 12-07-2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by de la mocha

Does it suck?

I've done that before and I don't think so. You can check it out here.

Depth_Charge · #16 12-07-2006, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by de la mocha

So does or has anyone ever played with a band having more then one guitar player? Is it as bleak as I imagine?

It comes down to the individual players IMO.

I've played both formats, most recently with a group of friends from work and we've had up to 5 guitarists jamming and wailing away and IMO, there is always room for bass

#17 12-07-2006, 10:45 PM

Why not? I've been in many bands with 2 guitarists and so long as they are both pros and understand the concept of working together rather than working against one another, it works just fine. Two bassists? Now that could be a problem.

George

DrSmaggs · #18 12-07-2006, 10:48 PM

I've been in a couple bands with two guitarists and it worked for me. I've worked with plenty of hacks, but I've had the privilege of working with guitarists that compliment each other wonderfully.

It just depends on the musicians

Jiggybass · #19 12-07-2006, 11:17 PM

2 works well, if need be, I still have enough power to drown them both out, so I have lots of power at this point

But ya, one lead, on rhythm, there is a huge space in between for the bass. I don't play roots, for the majority, since the rhythm takes care of that. I just play around the lead guitar, and play around the solos.

It works really well, IMO

tkarter · #20 12-07-2006, 11:20 PM

I played with 3 guitarists and a keyboard. Man could we do some Skynyrd. Not once did my bass line get stepped on.

tk