Is it me, or is it guitarists?

[Lunardecay]

In the last two bands Ive been in (the only two, mind you), the guitarists seem to give the least ammount of musical input in the band...
In my first band, I wrote ALL the guitar parts (even though the guitarist was very technically advanced), and in this one, the guitarist allmost doubles exactly what I play...
My drummer even writes more songs than our guitarist...
I allways thought the guitarists were typically the biggest influence and direction of a band...

[Bottom Feeder]

Well, there are players and there are composers.

I'm more of a player, though when I used to do originals, I came up with some tasty bass lines.

But I have a tough time of "blank slate" sort of composing. If there are already the basic building blocks of a tune, I can construct upon it.

[Spoiled Grape]

Originally Posted by Lunardecay

In the last two bands Ive been in (the only two, mind you), the guitarists seem to give the least ammount of musical input in the band...
In my first band, I wrote ALL the guitar parts (even though the guitarist was very technically advanced), and in this one, the guitarist allmost doubles exactly what I play...
My drummer even writes more songs than our guitarist...
I allways thought the guitarists were typically the biggest influence and direction of a band...

It isn't you, or guitarists as a whole, but rather, those two guitarists in particular.

Every band writes music differently, some form songs out of jams, others have certain people bring licks and lyrics to the table for structured writing. If you are having to write his guitar parts for him, and you are not an exceptional guitar player, you should find a different guitar player who can put his own input into the songs.

I love writing a great bassline and fitting it in with the drums and behind the vocals and guitar. I absolutly can't stand instructing a guitar player on what to play, as I always think as support, and not as lead.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

In my band the singer/guitarist writes most of the music, ive put a few riffs in. He also writes most of the lyrics, the drummer puts alot of input into the lyrics too, but i just cant seem to do anything for that.

All i do is tweak songs, make good intro's, bridges and wee-changey bits in the songs, add the inbetween bits etc etc Tell the drummer hitting X at time Y would fit perfectly etc etc.

But thats as far as i go, im not really very good at writing music

[Lunardecay]

Well actually Im probably the best guitarist in the band (and he is quite good) seeing as I started on guitar...(moved to bass due to lack of bassists, and love it.)

[ZombieGhosTrain]

I think its all individual, although I had a band were I was giving more guitar input, and he played it. He could play, but making up stuff was not his forte. If you don't mind doing it and it sounds good...than it works.

[jonpeck]

yer i know what your saying in my band our guitarist has no musical theorey behind him but has palyed for 4 years and still sucks.Just live with them i am he plays only riffs i think of and has no idea to build a song as he listens to just GnR

Me and the drummer just tell him what to do

[Lunardecay]

Well, he might not be apart of the band anymore.
He's been blowing me off for recording for about a week straight now.
Everyday he says he's going to record, and everyday (usually on the walk home from school) he decides he'd have more fun going and smoking up with his pot buddies.
Well, Ive had enough of it.
If he does it agian, he's not welcome in the band anymore, and Ill just become a guitarist, and we'll find a bassist.

[AdlerAugen]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

In my band the singer/guitarist writes most of the music, ive put a few riffs in. He also writes most of the lyrics, the drummer puts alot of input into the lyrics too, but i just cant seem to do anything for that.

All i do is tweak songs, make good intro's, bridges and wee-changey bits in the songs, add the inbetween bits etc etc Tell the drummer hitting X at time Y would fit perfectly etc etc.

But thats as far as i go, im not really very good at writing music

You'd be surprised. Little things like those make all the difference in making a good song great.

[galore]

In my first band, I wrote ALL the guitar parts

There's nothing wrong with that... In fact, if it sounds good and feels good, keep doing it. Someone has to write music.

I allways thought the guitarists were typically the biggest influence and direction of a band...

Nope. Stereotypes are boring, it's not necessary that guitarists lead your band. Take Fat Mike for instance. Then another question is: are you willing to be the leader, do you have the character to do that?

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by AdlerAugen

You'd be surprised. Little things like those make all the difference in making a good song great.

Aye, i know

I was just meaning im pants at actually getting the foundation of a song down!

[BrandonBass]

well nikki sixx wrote more than 90% of crue's songs, nothing wrong w that.

and contrary to belief, its izzy instead of slash who wrote most of gnr's famous tunes

[markjazzbassist]

i find the contrast to be like this

lead guitarist - doesn't care about songwriting, just cares about his cockiness, his nice axes, and himself

singer-songwriter - cares all about the song and lyrics, unoftunately their guitar skills are weak at best

[tlwaps]

Just like every one else is saying everybody writes music differently (if they write it at all). In both the bands i've been in the writing process can start anywhere. My drummer can bring in a guitar riff or hear a guitar riff in his, both guitarists can bring in riffs, i can bring in riffs or bass lines. Lyrics are the last thing written though. But the music portion can come from anybody.

[Lunardecay]

Well, he just blew us off for the last time, and didnt make it to band practice....and, Ive been told by a friend that he doesnt even want to be in the band and hasnt for about three weeks because all he wants to play is death metal, and (quote) "All I do is parody stuff", which is highly innacurate seeing as all of my compositions are original, no matter how satirical they may be.
Long story short, he's putting drugs before the band, he's f##$ing out. He was a good friend, but now he seems to be an ass.
I had asked him if he had a problem playing the type of music that we do, and he said "No"... He just seems to be very two faced.
Oh well....
I guess Im off to the otherside....becoming a six-stringed superstar, lol. Not really a bad thing....but it just pisses me off about him....theres alot more to the story, just not enough time to type it all.

[galore]

Stick with bass There's too many guitarists anyway.

[BrandonBass]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i find the contrast to be like this

lead guitarist - doesn't care about songwriting, just cares about his cockiness, his nice axes, and himself

singer-songwriter - cares all about the song and lyrics, unoftunately their guitar skills are weak at best

Wow, how true. its exactly the same with the songwriter and lead guitarists ive played with

[mvw356]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i find the contrast to be like this

lead guitarist - doesn't care about songwriting, just cares about his cockiness, his nice axes, and himself

singer-songwriter - cares all about the song and lyrics, unoftunately their guitar skills are weak at best

thats how it is in my band. we can't really play the songs i write on guitar because the songwriter/ rythem guitarist can't play them.

[s.m.80808]

Without reading anything in the post I can assuredly say...

It's you.

[Jazzin']

I find it's drummers that give the elast input. They seem to play play what they're suposed to (hopefully) and let others play.