Do you change your playing when you have no drummer ?

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I don't think that's true.

You might manage to play punk or thrash metal with drums without a bass, because the guitars and bass are playing the same melodic function of the bass line, so you would lose only lower end frequencies.
But you have better chances playing jazz or funk without drums than without bass, because the melodic role of the bass line is important to the style and played only by the bass.
It could be played by other instruments though, lower end or not, but you can't do without the melodic function.

If you look at all music, there is more likely a bass with no drums that no bass with drums.

You said it. It can be played by other instruments. Kinda hard to play the beat on anything but drums.

Keys usually covers the bass when there is none. No one but drums can cover the drums.

 

[basseux]

You said it. It can be played by other instruments. Kinda hard to play the beat on anything but drums.

Keys usually covers the bass when there is none. No one but drums can cover the drums.

Keyboardist can cover for drums as well by mapping kick and snare on keys.
A drum machine can.
A Cajon can.
Bass can play percusive with ghost notes and slap.

Also there are things the keyboardist would struggle to play anyway, but i seen once a band with no bass guitar where the keyboardist was playing Get Up by James Brown.

About that, i tried to push keyboardist in my band to cover for bass, so they can rehearse when I am not available, but that seems like an unphathomable idea to him.

So far, no bass or no drums or no keyboard or no singer means no rehearsal.
I don't like that.
I think saxophonist or trumpet should cover songs like Maceo Parker or Grover Washington do by just playing the voice melody.
Keyboard can be substituted by guitar.
Bass by keyboard or guitar.
Drums by bass or nobody, but I don't see how you can't play without a drummer for a rehearsal, with modern technology.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Keyboardist can cover for drums as well by mapping kick and snare on keys.
A drum machine can.
A Cajon can.
Bass can play percusive with ghost notes and slap.

Also there are things the keyboardist would struggle to play anyway, but i seen once a band with no bass guitar where the keyboardist was playing Get Up by James Brown.

About that, i tried to push keyboardist in my band to cover for bass, so they can rehearse when I am not available, but that seems like an unphathomable idea to him.

So far, no bass or no drums or no keyboard or no singer means no rehearsal.
I don't like that.
I think saxophonist or trumpet should cover songs like Maceo Parker or Grover Washington do by just playing the voice melody.
Keyboard can be substituted by guitar.
Bass by keyboard or guitar.
Drums by bass or nobody, but I don't see how you can't play without a drummer for a rehearsal, with modern technology.

You can. It just sucks. Without bass, it's still passable.

Especially for a church worship band, where keys drums, and vocals are the focus in the group.

 

[basseux]

You can. It just sucks. Without bass, it's still passable.

Especially for a church worship band, where keys drums, and vocals are the focus in the group.

You can. It just sucks. Without bass, it's still passable.

Especially for a church worship band, where keys drums, and vocals are the focus in the group.

That worship band concept doesn't exists where I live, but from what i listened on YouTube, you could do with bass played on keyboard for sure, as it sounds more like just folk music, and it's not bass centric, and for the drums I am sure you can do without as well.
Maybe you are not used to music without drums, but there is plenty.
It would need to shift the music to a bit more acoustic-ish or less loud.

 

[mrcbass]

Yes. The bass becomes the sole point of tempo reference without a drummer. Need to avoid syncopation and anything that diverts attention from the beat. I much prefer to have a beat to lean on, but yes, things change with no drummer.

 

[Willie5String]

Of course, I change playing with every configuration. Having played on a worship team with an ever changing cast of characters and styles, you change to fit the players. With no drummer, I emphasize the 1, and do less walking.

 

[basseux]

You can. It just sucks. Without bass, it's still passable.

Especially for a church worship band, where keys drums, and vocals are the focus in the group.

My band doesn't event want to rehearse with no bass.
Keyboard player is too limited technically and in his head.
Stuff like Somebody Else's Guy are easy, just put a synth bass, let the guitar play some melody.

I can't imagine if drummer is not there.
They will say they can't play without drums.