Nervous about our first jam as a 3 piece

Depth_Charge · #1 02-23-2009, 05:09 AM

I've reduced our band to a 3 piece musically.

This is a first for me. All the bands I've been in have been twin guitar bands.

I'm both excited and nervous at the same time. 3 of us are worried about the fatness of our sound (lead guitarist isn't - he's run trio's for years) and the impact on our repertoire, so I'm nervous about that. I'm also worried I won't be able to hang "on my own" as such. Plus I'm doing some backup vocals to cover the guy I sacked. 1 week of singing (started last rehearsal), no rythm guitar ... talk about out of my comfort zone for a change haha!

Anyway I guess I'm just venting/stressing the night before tha jam. I know to relax and all that. It might take a while for me to listen to the recording I make of the night though!!

Thanks

fender_funk_man · #2 02-23-2009, 09:05 AM

Miles Davis was famous for changing his musical surroundings constantly in order to give himself inspiration. Cudos for you and trying something new. On a personal basis I try to avoid bands that have 2 guitar players. They always end up stepping on each others toes and the sound just gets lost. As a three piece you have a unique ability to really play with the space in your band. Granted it wont be as "Fat" sounding, however the 3 of you have a lot more space to express yourselves. The singing will come really quickly just try to be really confident in your bass lines.

bassbully · #3 02-23-2009, 09:09 AM

I love trios. I think the sound can be better due to the fact you have to really listen and be tight with each other. Its a great feeling when people see you and say they can't belive only three guys are making all that great music

Good Luck

kennydakid · #4 02-23-2009, 12:56 PM

I've played in trio's 4 pieces and 5 piece bands. I currently play drums in a trio.

My favorite situation is a trio because there is more space to play with. but with this added space comes added responsibility. The guitarist must cover both rhythm and lead, the bassist must ocassionally act as a "Rhythm guitar player" if the music calls for it and the drummer must avoid going too crazy with his added space to play in.

In my opinion a trio's big advantages are logistical. Rehearsal time is easier to come by (less schedules to match up) and when the band gets paid at the end of the night each member's share is bigger.

Have fun and godspeed.

jsingles · #5 02-23-2009, 12:57 PM

my band is a trio, its amazingly awesome... I love having 1 guitarist

**funkybass4ever** · #6 02-23-2009, 12:58 PM

Power Trios Rule

Gubna · #7 02-23-2009, 01:00 PM

The first I had to do it with one of my bands, was a battle of the bands. Mind you it was not the first time I'd be in a band with that line up, - I had played in a few singer/guitar/drums/bass four piece type bands.

our lead guitarist was stuck in Reno (due to flooding) so we had to play the show as a trio.

it was great! we pushed to the next round, but more importantly, it gave me and the singer and idea of how a trio with us would sound. When the band broke up later that year, he and I started that trio - which then lead to that band being more successful than the other, and far more gratifying.

Plus, there was less guitar! no wanking solos! for FOUR YEARS, it was great.

stuonbass · #8 02-23-2009, 01:03 PM

The space that a trio opens up for the bass is wonderful. You will love it.

Blavelle · #9 02-23-2009, 08:34 PM

+1 to the above. I just started a trio (bass, piano, drums) and at first I was very nervous but when we played together it just felt so right. Also it improves your playing tenfold because you have a lot more ground to cover and a lot less covering your mistakes.

M.Wrenn · #10 02-23-2009, 08:38 PM

i currently play bass and sing for a prog trio and i love it!

theres sooooo much freedom, but at the same time it makes you more conscious of what works and what doesnt and it makes you concentrate on keeping the sound tight way more

T-Bird · #11 02-23-2009, 11:15 PM

Hi.

Unless You have been fortunate enough to play with 2 great guitarists who actually know how to play well simultaneously and most importantly WHEN TO NOT PLAY, you'll like the trio arrangements.

Since our female vocalist has roughly 1/3 of the tunes I have ATM, we usually play 4 sets; 2 as a quartett, 2 as a trio. Not the same I know as there's only one guitar all the time

, but still.

A power trio is almost every time tighter, more focused, clearer than a band with 2 guitarists. That all changes of course if the guitarists are good, but unfortunately the "guitarist syndrome" usually raises it's ugly head sooner or later. Unfortunately it's often during the gig.

Go for it, I'm almost certain that You'll love it.

Regards
Sam

insomniac2295 · #12 02-23-2009, 11:30 PM

TRIO'S ARE AWESOME

we can fit all our gear and all our members in the minivan so traveling is no biggie for someone who's still in highschool. Coordinating practices are a breeze. Sorry, i know this probably doesn't help the OP. I just wanted to say how much I love trio's! Beats the hell out of being in a band with 6 people like my last band..

::Saint:: · #13 02-23-2009, 11:51 PM

I was in a similar situation to you in one of my previous bands. I came in to play bass with 2 guitar players and a drummer who had been playing together for a couple of years, and I ended up initiating firing the lead guitarist due to his sloppy, inconsistent playing and bad attitude.

We actually hit the studio without him, intending for him to come in and play his lead parts afterward, but over the course of recording our demo we realized how much better the songs sounded without him cluttering up the mix. So, we let him go, and after that we just felt like such a better band / better sound.

I think you'll find a lot of things are easier as a trio, as long as your front man is able to play guitar and sing competently at the same time.

txbasschik · #14 02-24-2009, 08:03 AM

I'm in my 2nd 3-piece now, and am working up another.

Best advice I can give is work your scales like mad, and keep your fills tasteful. Doing scale work will help you fill out your sound more. Try to make harmony with the guitar in your fills where you can. It fattens the sound, and comes off very cool. When singing, if you need to simplify the bass line a bit and it doesn't hurt the overall sound, do it. Groove uber alles.

I'm always in a learning curve, man. *Always* and *fo-evah*. There's no rhythm guitarist to pick up the slack if I falter. My mistakes are *right out there*. I swear by my scale exercises. I listen to the material all the frakkin' time. And I keep my acoustic bass on hand for any practice opportunity.

Work it!!! 'Cause the up-side of a 3-piece is that your good playing is *right out there*, and you have a certain power in that. When people dance, or groove in their seats, it is such an immediate response, and its to *you*. You can also be more creative with your lines...you've got to, so *enjoy* that!

So...work it, and enjoy the power that comes with it!

Cherie

excane · #15 02-24-2009, 06:01 PM

I was in a 3 piece for about 6 years, it rocked until I realized our musical tastes were steadily growing just too far apart to continue producing anything that all three of us really liked.

I recently listed an ad on craigslist with a drummer looking for another guitarist for an experimental metal project...

I got a response from an ambitious sounding guy who wrote "hey man, I'd love to be in it!! I LOOVVEE playing the heavy stuff"...
To which I responded "Ok cool, we're going to have a practice next week and going to run through some stuff in the style of Necrophagist, Cryptopsy, Nile, In Flames, and Goatwhore"

He responded in his exact words "Well, I don't know those guys but if they're similar to sabbath, judas priest, and Saxon then I'm totally stoked!!!"

I don't think it's gonna work out

txbasschik · #16 02-24-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excane

I was in a 3 piece for about 6 years, it rocked until I realized our musical tastes were steadily growing just too far apart to continue producing anything that all three of us really liked.

I recently listed an ad on craigslist with a drummer looking for another guitarist for an experimental metal project...

I got a response from an ambitious sounding guy who wrote "hey man, I'd love to be in it!! I LOOVVEE playing the heavy stuff"...
To which I responded "Ok cool, we're going to have a practice next week and going to run through some stuff in the style of Necrophagist, Cryptopsy, Nile, In Flames, and Goatwhore"

He responded in his exact words "Well, I don't know those guys but if they're similar to sabbath, judas priest, and Saxon then I'm totally stoked!!!"

I don't think it's gonna work out

Saxon!?!? My GAWD, I haven't heard them mentioned in any conversation, anywhere, much less being played anywhere, for at least 15 years.

Saxon...LOL!...that's so cute...

Cherie

excane · #17 02-25-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txbasschik

Saxon!?!? My GAWD, I haven't heard them mentioned in any conversation, anywhere, much less being played anywhere, for at least 15 years.

Saxon...LOL!...that's so cute...

Cherie

I actually saw Saxon about 8 years ago at a big metalfest in Jersey.

My drummer and guitarist at the time were psyched since they grew up with it (they're both about 14 years older than me)

I was "ehh"

Vakmere · #18 02-25-2009, 07:32 AM

Hendrix didnt seem to have a problem with a 3 piece.....

Geddyfleaharris · #19 02-25-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

I've reduced our band to a 3 piece musically.

This is a first for me. All the bands I've been in have been twin guitar bands.

I'm both excited and nervous at the same time. 3 of us are worried about the fatness of our sound (lead guitarist isn't - he's run trio's for years) and the impact on our repertoire, so I'm nervous about that. I'm also worried I won't be able to hang "on my own" as such. Plus I'm doing some backup vocals to cover the guy I sacked. 1 week of singing (started last rehearsal), no rythm guitar ... talk about out of my comfort zone for a change haha!

Anyway I guess I'm just venting/stressing the night before tha jam. I know to relax and all that. It might take a while for me to listen to the recording I make of the night though!!

Thanks

While I didn't sack a guitarist I just joined a 3-piece and a lot of my situation is the same as yours. But I am stoked! Never played in a trio before but have always loved the power trio set up.

We are playing hard rock/hard rock blues and we figure if we bring the song, rock it and don't sound lame the fullness will take care of itself. Yes you have to watch the repetoire a bit but the trio thing will probably make you a better musician because there is now where to hide!

I am so far outside my comfort zone that I am even going to sing the odd lead vocal. Barely sang in my life before really. Signed up for some vocal lessons just to get an idea of where my voice even is.

That's how stoked I am!

Rock it Depth_Charge! You will be fine. Plus only having to deal with 3 personalities instead of 4 or 5 is worth a ton!

runmikeyrun · #20 02-26-2009, 10:25 AM

I play with distortion to help fill in the gap between bass and not having a 2nd guitar player.