2 guitarists plus a Keyboardist?

[gazman_res]

Our last rehersal had two guitarists, one keyboardist, the drummer, singer and me.

The guitarists worked really well together, the keyboardist on the other hand wasnt to great, he plays the same way in a group as he does solo (ie, trying to do everything at the same time).

 

[addylewis]

Yeah I know what you mean - their LEFT HANDS are annoying arent they? - Especially when the amount of bass coming from them AND the guitarist together basically renders the bassist inaudible (well...so bad that you can hardly tell any difference when the bassist stops playing)

 

[addylewis]

mind you...on a small-scale pub gig that renders the bassist the only member qualified to plug into the P.A.

 

[JustSoYouKnow]

my band has 2 guitarists and keyboardist

it works very well i think. the way we do it is that the keyboard usually plays sustained synth chords over the more complicated riffs and then plays some sweet piano stuff over the more simple riffs

as a bassist i quite like the challenge. when i used to play in a 3 piece, it was up to me to just tie in the drums and guitar but now i have to tie two guitars in with a keyboard and then the drums over that.

i like to spice it up when the guitars are playing a nice harmonizing riff and the keyboard is doing something simple. really gives me so much more choice in what can sound good. one minute you can be playing with the bass drum rythm, then playing a nice melodic type thing using notes from the chord on the keyboard and then playing something loosely based on what the guitars are playing. i love it

one thing i would say though is that communication is key. if you think somebody is over playing in a part, you need to let them know. you have to make sure that everybody knows that they have a role to play and the whole success of the sound is dependant on people knowing how much they can play

oh and still remains have two guitars and a keyboard

 

[nofrets5]

INXS is the best example of it working that I can think of, whether your bands style is along those lines or not. Smart players who don't all play at the same time and know how to weave parts AROUND the other parts, so it isn't everyone going 75mph and sucking up each others frequencies which is the OTHER major concern. Come to think of it, the main group I'm in just had this issue the other night: electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and keys/synth playing a couple of parts. All great parts but told the keyboard player he needed to at least roll off some low end on his organ/rhoads like sound (From a laptop) and the same on his moogy bass line that he would drop in occasionally in the chorus. He agreed. The mix then cleared right up, but we also decided the "C" section of the song sounds best if only I play the bass part (with fuzz, yet another factor and the keyboard players idea) and he drop his doubled part. Again problem solved and wonderfully ego-less too !

 

[Chuckleberry]

I’m going to resurrect this ancient thread because most of the responses are so bizarre…

I play in a 60s/70s cover band and we have 2 guitars and a keyboard. I could list hundreds of songs that have this lineup (probably thousands, including a LOT of Beatles songs, not just 2!), and in fact there are a ton that have 2 keyboard parts (piano and organ). When you include songs with orchestral instruments that keys can do, there are zillions more. It’s extremely easy to get all these parts to fit together harmoniously, with just a modicum of common sense and attention.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Springsteen had two guitars and 2 keys (at least). Allman Brothers. Billy Joel. LOTS of bands use that (at least). Funk Brothers has three guitars, two keys, vibes, and horns. It's a matter if members are willing to play their parts, sit out when not needed, etc.

 

[Gluvhand]

Thin Lizzy had two guitars and keys for their last three albums and tours.

 

[basseux]

Hey, is there anything wrong with having two guitarists and a keyboardist? Some people say it will get really noisy. Anyways, its because an awesome guitarist wants to join my band, but I dont want to replace the other guitarist... Can you name some bands with 2 guitarists and a keyboardist?

Help Please

The Cure

 

[pepj]

Depends what type of players. Should work perfectly well, but it will need gtrs who can step out of the track, and they aren't that common.
If either of these gtrs want to drive the song, it could get messy.
So, if you have mature educated players, sure, but if you don't, then defnitely pass

 

[51PRI]

I’m going to resurrect this ancient thread because most of the responses are so bizarre…

I play in a 60s/70s cover band and we have 2 guitars and a keyboard. I could list hundreds of songs that have this lineup (probably thousands, including a LOT of Beatles songs, not just 2!), and in fact there are a ton that have 2 keyboard parts (piano and organ). When you include songs with orchestral instruments that keys can do, there are zillions more. It’s extremely easy to get all these parts to fit together harmoniously, with just a modicum of common sense and attention.

I agree. Most bands that I've been in have been two guitars, bass, drums and keys.

 

[Five or Six]

Common sense is how it works. Volume wars or "look at me" I'm the star of this band will derail it every time. Cooperation and coordination between all players is needed. Ground work needs to be explained before one note is even played by the BL. If necessities can't be followed, the problems need to be nipped immediately by the BL. Record the new arrangement that will tell the story. Tie the left hand of the keyboard player to his belt. I played in a band like this for years and it was an excellent show. Everyone knew their place and what was expected.

 

[SoCal80s]

You can certainly do it but there are some drawbacks: one more person to split income with; need room for one more on stage. If you go with it, just make sure there you guys talk and plan who is playing what where, and remember that sometimes less is more. If it's just a free-for-all it will become a mess.

 

[Matt-J2]

Anything that falls under Symphonic (insert style here) Metal.

Slipknot. (I dunno, but there's 2 guitars, drums, and primary vocals. each of the other 5? guys do at least 2 each of percussion, keys, backing vocals, samples, turntables, and bass. I'm sure I missed something)


Alestorm has keys, guitar, and keytar, does that count? Oh, and they sometimes add a hurdy-gurdy on tour.

 

[Egg250]

Kansas.

It's all about the song arrangement, to fit these instruments in. I watched a band video (no, I can't remember who) that had 3 guitars playing distinct parts. The song arrangement was so particular, you could easily pick out the 3 guitar parts AND the bass line.

In my mind, rhythm guitar is rhythming. Lead is doing the lead thing. Bass is bassing. Keys are playing a nice, sustained background and flourishes...adding that seasoning for a tasty mix.

 

[Michedelic]

I’m surprised no one, then and now, didn’t mention the Dead in their original configuration. Country Joe and the Fish. On occasion, Steppenwolf. The Metamorphosis line-up of Iron Butterfly. Then later, Squeeze. The Specials(with Terry Hall and Neville Staples on vocals). Graham Parker’s backing band, The Rumour. The Cars. Turbonegro and Radio Birdman…a quintet plus a frontman. There’s more, but I can’t think of them now. I’ve played in five-piece-with-keys bands where the second/rhythm guitar was constant, and another where the lead vocalist would play guitar on certain songs.

 

[Pocket Dave]

I played guitar in a band with two guitars & keys.

2007 at Dallas' infamous Hole in The Wall (Me playing the minor third harmony and 1st guitar solo):



A month later, same place (I'm on vocals & last guitar solo):

 

[STRMan]

The best band I've ever been in had 2 guitars and keys. It's all about arrangements. Very often, less is more. If you have everyone chugging along full bore like 4014 on an incline, you're bound for a train wreck.

 

[r_bnks]

Two guitars and a keyboard? Omg, never saw a band like that before.

 

[Sam Evans]

Fleetwood Mac! Even when it was just LB on gtr, he overdubbed on plenty of songs.