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Doubling instruments

#21
I agree with all of this- I play bass (well) and that is about it, I can do very, very limited back-up vocals/yelling, but prefer not to, as I don't think anything I do actually adds to or improves any songs.

Now the trendy thing with most cover bands in my area (Atlanta), is they want a guy who is a top notch bassists, can sing lead, back ups, harmonize and owns a PA as well.

Guess what? TOUGH!!
I tell bands right up front, if you like my bass playing and want me to play with you, great! If it isn't enough, than no worries, move along. THat is what I do, and I do it well. If you have such a plethora of options of people who multi-task more- be my guest!
In short I'd rather do one thing well, than 4 things mediocre.
 
#22
Last night, my band did a 4 song open mic gig to spotlight us and try to book some future weekend shows at the venue. It's a nice bar and restaurant that's local to me. I got there early, to sign in early, so we could play early in the night. I brought along Mrs. TJ and my 3 year old son so he can see his Daddy play. We're eating dinner and the other band members show up. They start ragging about playing sax again. Not to me, to my son. As if to say, since Daddy doesn't want to do it we have to get you. My son also declined. Good boy :thumbsup:
 
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#23
If you ignore them long enough, they might back off.

I'd say stick with bass and bass only. Playing sax at a gig will require more equipment on your part and double the warm up time, not to mention keeping your horns warm and tuning up. If your bandmates don't play wind instruments themselves, they will not understand the warm up part, nothing you can do about that. Rhythm section has the easiest setup, just plug and play, warm up is very minimal and that's what they are used to. Horns are needy, gotta keep the reed moist, your lips moist and warmed up, the sax warm and tuned up. It's just not worth it on your part and not what you signed up for,
 
#24
I've been in bands where they'd rather ball-bust than care about setup, cartage, warmup, etc. Just bring the damn horn and play it when needed! We had a guy who would routinely switch between rhythm guitar and alto. Then we got another guy who was a great vocalist, and we found out he could play trumpet. From that point on, the drummer would constantly rag on the two of them to "do a horn section". And yeah, it was great when they would harmonize together, but the second guy didn't last long. I think he got fed up being pushed into the second chair of the brass & woodwind section.
 
#25
obimark said:
I agree with all of this- I play bass (well) and that is about it, I can do very, very limited back-up vocals/yelling, but prefer not to, as I don't think anything I do actually adds to or improves any songs.

Now the trendy thing with most cover bands in my area (Atlanta), is they want a guy who is a top notch bassists, can sing lead, back ups, harmonize and owns a PA as well.
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"Trendy"? It just makes good economic sense! If you are doing covers the #1 thing is that the VOCALS are right. You can play all the sweet bass licks you want but if the vocals aren't there the whole band might just as well stay home. If you can sing back up vocals then that saves having to maybe pay someone to just sing. Singing (so you maybe bring what, a mic and a stand?) is a far cry from having to drag a couple of horns to a gig. I agree with the OP, but singing back up is a different thing.
 
#26
Kamatori said:
If you ignore them long enough, they might back off.

I'd say stick with bass and bass only. Playing sax at a gig will require more equipment on your part and double the warm up time, not to mention keeping your horns warm and tuning up. If your bandmates don't play wind instruments themselves, they will not understand the warm up part, nothing you can do about that. Rhythm section has the easiest setup, just plug and play, warm up is very minimal and that's what they are used to. Horns are needy, gotta keep the reed moist, your lips moist and warmed up, the sax warm and tuned up. It's just not worth it on your part and not what you signed up for,
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None of the other guys play a horn. So they can't understand the extra demands for sure. To be honest, I haven't played sax as much since my son was born. My chops need a serious recharge of practice time to get back into any kind of playing shape I'd be willing to put out there live. Plus, sax requires daily workout / practice to just keep at the same level of skill. That adds to the level of commitment involved.

mcarp555 said:
I've been in bands where they'd rather ball-bust than care about setup, cartage, warmup, etc. Just bring the damn horn and play it when needed! We had a guy who would routinely switch between rhythm guitar and alto. Then we got another guy who was a great vocalist, and we found out he could play trumpet. From that point on, the drummer would constantly rag on the two of them to "do a horn section". And yeah, it was great when they would harmonize together, but the second guy didn't last long. I think he got fed up being pushed into the second chair of the brass & woodwind section.
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I feel like it's better for the guys to play one thing, keep it simple and nail it. Make the sound of the band as tight as possible. You start adding in more crap that can be handled effectively and everything starts to loose it. Limitations are a good thing. Most great bands I've ever seen do it this way.

Bottom line is... I'm just an average guy, and average musician, playing in an average band. That's all good with me. I think what they really want is to make whole image to be better. They like the idea of baritone sax sitting on stage almost as if it's a prop or something. I don't need to try to be someone like John Entwistle or whoever for the sake of effect.

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#27
tbirdsp said:
"Trendy"? It just makes good economic sense! If you are doing covers the #1 thing is that the VOCALS are right. You can play all the sweet bass licks you want but if the vocals aren't there the whole band might just as well stay home. If you can sing back up vocals then that saves having to maybe pay someone to just sing. Singing (so you maybe bring what, a mic and a stand?) is a far cry from having to drag a couple of horns to a gig. I agree with the OP, but singing back up is a different thing.
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True- don't disagree, my issue is I can't really sing. So while I am sure bands would prefer a bassist who can sing great back-ups, for me it isn't an option as my voice is not good.
 
#28
Fat Steve said:
In our band, our utility guy plays tenor sax, harmonica, violin, mandolin and lap steel. Our banjo player even doubles with the banjo and lap steel in the same song, playing the verses with the banjo and the chorus' with the lap steel. They agreed to it and seem to enjoy it. If they didn't agree to it and enjoy it though, I can see how it would be incredibly awkward and uncomfortable.
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Noticed that I didn't see bass on there anywhere. Also didn't notice that either of those guys are bass players. Not that it matters, 'cause...

Utility guys are SUPPOSED to play a zillion instruments; that's why we call them utility guys. Bass players are supposed to play bass; that's why we call them bass players. Utility guys might play bass, but I don't know if I ever heard anything like "Why don't you put down the banjo and play cello while the drummer takes over at lead guitar, the singer plays bass, and the rhythm guitar guys dance on a pole. And oh, yeah, he'll be using your banjo. And your bass. And your pole."

A dumb oversimplification to be sure, but still, it just ain't a great situation...
 
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#29
Remyd said:
Utility guys are SUPPOSED to play a zillion instruments; that's why we call them utility guys. .
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Why does the guy with multiple instrumental skills get to do more work than the others? I play multiple instruments at a professional level and will not be labeled a "utility guy" nor will I be forced to haul multiple instruments for the same (practically nothing) amount of money. When I do theater gigs I get paid appropriately based on the number of doubles involved. I know many "jerks" who own multiple instruments and can barely hold them, let a lone tune or play them.

I'll go sit down now, I'm starting to get steamed...
 
#30
Remyd said:
...but I don't know if I ever heard anything like "Why don't you put down the banjo and play cello while the drummer takes over at lead guitar, the singer plays bass, and the rhythm guitar guys dance on a pole"
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New local band does a bit of this, some shuffling around of roles as they go through the set. I can't remember ATM what name they ended up with, but I remember that I suggested Chinese Fire Engine...
 
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#31
carl h. said:
Why does the guy with multiple instrumental skills get to do more work than the others? I play multiple instruments at a professional level and will not be labeled a "utility guy" nor will I be forced to haul multiple instruments for the same (practically nothing) amount of money. When I do theater gigs I get paid appropriately based on the number of doubles involved. I know many "jerks" who own multiple instruments and can barely hold them, let a lone tune or play them.

I'll go sit down now, I'm starting to get steamed...
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1000% Agree. I refuse to be labeled the "utility guy". It's an insult really. Guys who play more than one instrument and take the time to study piano as well as look at music from a larger prospective aren't just there to fill the gaps.
 
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#32
I should probably mention that we are a six piece originals band, playing folk-rock. Our utility guys wrote the parts for themselves and made the decision to play the instruments they play as they compliment the music. If we were a cover band struggling to make some cash playing other peoples music, I could see being very insistent on not having to do the extra work, as it lowers the return on investment.
 
#37
Not really. One drunk can toast a sax in a fraction of a second. The only way to protect the horn is to be holding or playing it. It is at risk sitting on a stand - even on the best stands.

It isn't worth the financial hit for one or two songs. Artistically it is insignificant to the performance as well. Would you bring an upright bass for 2 songs? How about a grand piano? how about an upright? Let the keyboard player cover it on a synth if that's a sound they want - but want only for a couple songs.
 
#38
repoman said:
For you horn players (I play trumpet) if you are only playing a couple songs on sax/trumpet then would it work to put those at the beginning of, say, your second set to allow proper warm up for your armatures?
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It's up to you. But, I don't think it's worth a couple tunes. You end up loosing your break time between sets and then there's another valuable instrument lying around you have keep watch on. People think a trumpet is just a bent tube that you can easily bend back after they screw with it.
 

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