Band structure analogies

metallicafan18 · #1 02-14-2008, 08:17 PM

What do you compare a band structure to? I know there is an english term for this but I can't think of what it's called.

I have two comparisons.

This one was made by my guitard friend. It is compared to the goverernment: The dummer is the president, the bass player is the vice president, the guitar player is the entire Congress, and the singer is the House of Representatives.

This is mine. It is compared to a two-layer cake:The drummer is the foundation layer, the bass is the second layer of cake, the guitar is the iceing, and the singer is the sprinkles and the roses.

What are some of your comparisons?

202dy · #2 02-14-2008, 08:24 PM

Rock/pop/country-

Construction:

The drums are the footer, foundation, and slab. Bass is the wood framing including the roof. Guitars and keys are mechanicals (electric, plumging, HVAC) and interior coverings. Singers are the siding and landscaping.

Jazz-

Playground:

Bass is the monkeybars. Everything else is just monkeys.

meev992 · #3 02-14-2008, 08:41 PM

A band is kind of like Talkbass. The drummer would be like Maki because he loves being on top.

...and then you can fill in the rest, I'm too tired to be creative.

Valerus · #4 02-14-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202dy

Jazz-

Playground:

Bass is the monkeybars. Everything else is just monkeys.

+1

haha great analogy

southpaw · #5 02-14-2008, 09:17 PM

Lead guitar/vocals is the quarterback.
Second guitar/vocals is the running back.
Bass player is the offensive lineman.
Drummer is the defensive lineman.

MarkMyWordsXx · #6 02-14-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southpaw

Lead guitar/vocals is the quarterback.
Second guitar/vocals is the running back.
Bass player is the offensive lineman.
Drummer is the defensive lineman.

you lost me.

i dont think you can generalize, not every band has the same roles.
if you wanna use football, sometimes im the qb, sometimes im the kicker. depends

IanStephenson · #7 02-15-2008, 06:46 AM

Drums: Goalkeeper
Bass: Defender
Guitar(s): Midfielder or Wingers
Vocals: Centre Forward

metallicafan18 · #8 02-15-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

+1

haha great analogy

OMG that's the word! "Analogy!!!!" Why couldn't I remember that.

Bass Viking · #9 02-15-2008, 05:12 PM

I heard an analogy that compared the Beatles to the human body.

John: brains
Paul: heart
George: soul
Ringo: blood

capnsandwich · #10 02-15-2008, 05:18 PM

Singer: bearded lady
Guitar: midget
Drummer: dog boy
Bass: strong man
Keyboard: trapeze artist

Phe · #11 02-16-2008, 05:50 AM

A band should be like bunch of cogwheels. Without one they are not working.

gnarlyopossum · #12 03-12-2008, 03:45 PM

In the jazz combo I used to play in, I liked to think of the band as a fall storm. There were times, like during "Sing a Song of Song" by Kenney Garrett, where everyone was soloing, including the drummer. At that point, the bass was the rock in a swirling storm. If you try watching the storm without something like a rock as constance, it just seems chaotic.

Gubna · #13 03-12-2008, 03:58 PM

A Book

The Drummer is the cover and the binding.
The Guitarists and vocalists are the paper.

The Bass player is the glue.

without the bass player, it would just fall apart.

Modo74 · #14 03-12-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnarlyopossum

In the jazz combo I used to play in, I liked to think of the band as a fall storm. There were times, like during "Sing a Song of Song" by Kenney Garrett, where everyone was soloing, including the drummer. At that point, the bass was the rock in a swirling storm. If you try watching the storm without something like a rock as constance, it just seems chaotic.

The very thought of that fills me with dread. Surely that would sound like hell on toast?

emblymouse · #15 03-12-2008, 07:13 PM

I've always thought of the bass as the peanut butter in the musical sandwich. It kinda holds the bread together.

Ron Plichta · #16 03-13-2008, 09:20 AM

Most of the bands I've been in have been Charlie Foxtrots.

Liko · #17 03-13-2008, 09:57 AM

Depends on if you want to talk about band politics or sound.

Sonically, the drummer is the clock, while the bass player is the melodic root; Together, they're the foundation for everything laid on top of it. The guitarists, keyboards and any other instruments your band uses are the next layer, the accompaniment. Then, your singer and, for short periods, your solo instruments are the top layer. They're the most visible (and audible) parts of your songs and your band, but also the most insubstantial sonically.

Politically, throw all this out the window. Generally either the singer or the lead guitarist is the frontman for the band, with the other of the two being second on the list. All other band members are secondary and have more or less of a voice depending on how central their contribution is to the band's image. There are of course exceptions; famous bassists like Flea or Wooten are a very central part of any group they participate in. Les Claypool fronts Primus, etc etc.

Justin Tuskey · #18 03-13-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gubna

A Book

The Drummer is the cover and the binding.
The Guitarists and vocalists are the paper.

The Bass player is the glue.

without the bass player, it would just fall apart.

As much as Id like to agree with you, I think the singer and the guitarist are the cover and binding....because it gets noticed more. Its not until you open the book that you see the drummer, and look really close and holy cow, theres the bass player