Bass in a 3 piece band?

John Mayer Trio. Pino Palladino does a great job of doing tastefull fills

 

Have a listen to Joe Bonamassa live stuff plenty on YouTube), also Jeff Beck e.g. appearance on Clapton's Crossroads 2007, anything by Cream or Free (e.g. Mr Big which you can also find on Youtube) - doesn't matter if the style isn't exactly your bag it's the sentiment that counts!

 

Our lead gets paid, the rest of us do it for fun. So if we are doing a freezy, nursing home and such, he may not be with us. When he is not there we just do not have a lead break. The vocalist handles all the solo melody work - singing each verse. Everybody sings on the chorus. Works better than you might think.

Just a suggestion.

 

Listen to what guys in trios do and figure out how to assimilate it to fit your situation. I love playing in trios because it really allows you some sonic space to -

1) do more to define the tune harmonically (double stops, etc.)

2) utilize different sounds/effects where appropriate

3) solo! Your guitarist is going to get sick of hearing himself play all the solos - lobby for doing some of your own and develop a voice.

 

Cream?
James Gang?

 

A $30 DR-100 Behringer reverb pedal might help, too. Amazing how a touch of reverb makes the bass sound more full. It's not right for every number, but it works pretty well for many of them. I have the DR-100 and it works great.

 

8 string bass?

 

Right idea... not sure if the right tool, though, unless the material is lot of driving 8th notes. An octaver (with the high octave dialed in enough to be noticeable but not so much to be obnoxious), would yield a similar effect yet be more conducive to a wider variety of styles. And will cost a lot less than an 8-string as well.

 

Guitar solos are over-rated. Tell him to stick to rhythm.

 

Agreed. Enjoy the space. Too many bands play too many notes. Someone mentioned John Mayer, listen to his song "Gravity" for a great example of a song having space to breathe. Early Police and early U2 would also be great examples of bands who carved out nice places for themselves despite not having a "lead guitarist" in the traditional sense.

It sounds like your band is doing originals, so it's not like everyone who listens to you is going to wonder why that lead isn't there on "Sweet Home Alabama." This is a golden opportunity for your band to redefine (or at least, refine) your sound. Once you get used to the space and freedom of not having to work around two guitarists, you may never go back to a four-piece.

Not to mention, you've each just gotten yourselves a 33% pay raise on every gig!

 

I started a thread on this topic: how to make a three piece band work, musically. The thread is about posting links to audio/video clips of TB member's three piece bands and to comment about how the musicians managed the "empty" space.


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=557355

 

Nomeansno? Motorhead? ... er ... Rush?

A really tight 3 piece is a beautiful thing.

 

12 string

 

Get one of these...

 

All of this! ^^^

 

What about the Who? sure, 4 guys but instrumentally a 3-piece...

 

Nirvana on Bleach!

 

I've been in three piece bands most of my life, and the rest are fours with a designated mouthpiece. I have found that following the guitarist in the musical spectrum is the way to go. If they are playing high notes I try to stay in the middle and so on. That way it never sounds hollow. Good [email protected]

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Pre 1985 (added keys). One of the Best three piece bands of all time.
To achieve this IMO Everbody's gotta step it up and "dance" with each other(ie; drum fills/pickups, bass fills/chording, guitar rhythm/lead fills . It's not easy but three good musicians can pull it off and have a baaaad sound. And as an added bonus, three pieces sometime get booked more often being smaller bands/less expensive for customers.

God Bless, Ray