How many pieces should be in a band?

[Janzmeister]

Hello, I'm kind of forming a new rock-ish band and I'm wondering how many guys should I tag along.

How many guitars? Should the lead vocalist be able to play an instrument? Is a keyboardist very important for the genre? Does five pieces sound good, or is that too many? Any suggestions?

Throw me your thoughts

 

[The Sloth]

This is as good as asking "what kind of picks should I use"? It's entirely up to you and your needs/intentions.

 

[MatticusMania]

Hello, I'm kind of forming a new rock-ish band and I'm wondering how many guys should I tag along.

How many guitars? Should the lead vocalist be able to play an instrument? Is a keyboardist very important for the genre? Does five pieces sound good, or is that too many? Any suggestions?

Throw me your thoughts

What kind of sound are you trying to create, and what do you need to have to accomplish that? It could be 2 people, it could be 15, all depending on what youre after.

In my next band Im going to go without a guitar player.

 

[bigsnaketex]

Gotta have lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, keyboard/synth and at least 2 that can sing - 3 would be better. Preferably at lrast one girl with chops and a voice.

Of course you can do it all with just 3 too.....

Its all about chemistry so good luck!

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

With making music, you need just one person to tango. Everything beyond that is opinion.

 

[Winfred]

1 Guitar. Everything else is up to you.

 

[Janzmeister]

What kind of sound are you trying to create, and what do you need to have to accomplish that?

Very broad spectrum from a metalcore sound to a more alternative. Think of breaking benjamin but a little heavier.

Yet I still want the capacity to go soft if the lyrics I create demand it

 

[portlandguy]

I like a bassist (me), keys, a drummer, and a few dancers

 

[Janzmeister]

Gotta have lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, keyboard/synth and at least 2 that can sing - 3 would be better. Preferably at lrast one girl with chops and a voice.

I can do bass and sing at the same time, so that eliminates one vocalist, and I'd like to have a chick vocalist as well,

Thanks for the reply bigsnake

 

[Steve Dallman]

We have three. We all sing. Seems like enough to me.

 

[Janzmeister]

I like a bassist (me), keys, a drummer, and a few dancers

As a bassist I have the crowd as my dancing team

 

[Munjibunga]

My ideal would be four - drums, bass, guitar and keyboard, and everybody sings. Most of the bands I've been in have had five or six, though. Drums, bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, keyboards. If no keyboards, maybe a strummer on acoustic guitar. The sixth person may be a lead singer with no instrumental talent.

My acoustic trio has four - drums, bass, and two acoustic guitars. Three of us sing.

 

[Red_Merkin]

All of them.

 

[Kmonk]

Totally depends on type of music, sound you are going for and how much money you expect to make. Ability is really the most important factor. I have been in 4 piece bands that sounded better and fuller than many 10 piece bands.

My current band has 6 members. Me on bass, vocals and acoustic guitar; keyboard player who also sings; a multi-instrumentalist who plays keys, guitar, sax and sings; a lead singer who also plays bass; a drummer and a lead guitarist.

 

[DeathFromBelow]

42.

 

[Janzmeister]

My current band has 6 members. Me on bass, vocals and acoustic guitar; keyboard player who also sings; a multi-instrumentalist who plays keys, guitar, sax and sings; a lead singer who also plays bass; a drummer and a lead guitarist.

It seems like when the money goes six ways you need to be getting pretty good gigs to be able to sustain, unless y'all have outside jobs.

 

[Joe Louvar]

No more than it takes to produce or reproduce the songs you want to play.

 

[BayStateBass]

No more than it takes to produce or reproduce the songs you want to play.

THIS^^^^^^


So much this.

 

[two fingers]

Minimum four if the singer plays guitar. Minimum five if he/she doesn't. Keys are totally up to you.

 

[Kmonk]

It seems like when the money goes six ways you need to be getting pretty good gigs to be able to sustain, unless y'all have outside jobs.

Some members have outside jobs and some don't. It all depends on lifestyle.