Progressive songs with two guitars and no keys

[Shenron]

While casually chatting with bandmates about new songs to play together after the summer break (hence with time to learn them during the summer), I was told to feel free to propose also some songs from progressive rock bands I like, assuming I can find something reasonable for our technical level.

Now, before even getting to the point of technical skills required, I kind of balked a bit because we don't have keyboards in our group, and I kind of think keys are a staple of progressive rock and it's hard to find progressive songs that can be played without any keyboard... So I am looking for suggestions of progressive rock songs either completely without keyboard, or where keys are not so relevant and the song can stand on its own without them.

At the same time, we have three guitarists in the group, so those songs should have at least two different guitar parts. We can have the third guitarist double one of the other, but if the song has only a single guitar then it'd be a bit more annoying.

I am just trying to brainstorm something at the moment... early Rush and Jethro Tull should not have keyboard for example, although Jethro Tull obviously have an even worse problem with the flute, removing which risks ruining the song altogether. I love Yes, Genesis and Marillion but I can't think of anything of them without keyboards (I also love King Crimson and Dream Theater, but no way we can play something that difficult).

Anyway, so far I thought of a very few songs, so I am also asking if any of you has an experience on playing these ones by Rush:

- "Limelight": definitely has keyboards, but just playing chords in the background
- "Red Barchetta": same as previous, minimal keys mostly for enriching the sound in the background
- "The Spirit of Radio": I think it might have some minimal keys in some parts, such as the very end, but maybe not too important?

All these songs seem single-guitar to me, so we'd still have that other issue to sort out.

 

[DirtDog]

80s King Crimson, early Rush, Wishbone Ash, Animals as Leaders, Tool.

 

[Les Fret]

Some ideas here: Prog bands without keyboards !!

 

[Docduval]

Tool lateralus is fun to play.

 

[Dirtnap]

Meshuggah, Mastodon, and Gojira would be my suggestions.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Appears you want to be a Rush tribute band...good luck.

*What's your combined technical level?

*Take an honest inventory of your skills and build with that as the foundation.

*I'm always fuzzy on what constitutes "progressive"....likewise with today's "country".

*Don't be afraid to re-chart / re-arrange...put your own special spin on favorite tunes.

Some of these hyper-focused projects are unrealistic, undesirable, or unsustainable.

Riis

 

[Spectrum]

Some early Rush does have some keyboard, especially on songs like Xanadu, but you can work around it, maybe playing the monosynth parts on guitar.

 

[Ian774]

Check out the first couple of Oceansize albums.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I'm going to point you back to something much earlier, that you may be able to play, if you have the tech skills to play Jethro Tull. Check out "Curved Air." This was a prog band from 1970-72, very little use of keyboards, many songs no keyboard. Stuff from the first two albums, "Air conditioning" and "Curved Air Second Album," may be within your reach. They had a violin but you can sub a guitar for that part. They did some fabulous stuff but were not well know in the states, never toured here. Their opus was third album, "Phantasmagoria," but I think that is going to be out of your range, some pretty complex stuff there. P.S., after '73 it was not the same band, and quality fell off dramatically, so I'd stay with the early stuff.

 

[Shenron]

Appears you want to be a Rush tribute band...good luck.

Some of these hyper-focused projects are unrealistic, undesirable, or unsustainable.

Is this your project? It certainly isn't ours.

As I wrote, I am just looking for some songs to propose to play together.

 

[JonathanPDX]

It sounds like you're really trying to thread the needle with songs that match your instrumentation and skill level, which is going to be really hard, especially since none of us know exactly what the group skill level is.

Are the guitarists capable of listening to a part for another instrument and figuring it out? Keys, horns, etc.? If so, then you'd be better off picking songs you guys think sound cool and arranging them for yourselves than trying to find ready-made arrangements. On the other hand, if the bands you like already match your instrumentation, then perhaps it's a matter of combing through their catalog to find some songs you all like and then putting in the work to learn them, even if it's more technical than what you usually play.

Three-guitar no-keys prog-rock that isn't technically challenging is a tricky one.

 

[pb9717]

Steve Morse Band RocknRoll Park

Try this…….

It’ll keep ya busy for a bit, but you’ll be a better player if you nail it.

 

[Shenron]

It sounds like you're really trying to thread the needle with songs that match your instrumentation and skill level, which is going to be really hard, especially since none of us know exactly what the group skill level is.

Three-guitar no-keys prog-rock that isn't technically challenging is a tricky one.

Yes, that's why I am asking for help and wisdom!

At least one of the guitarists is very good and can play challenging stuff (although Dream Theater might be a bit too much for him as well). The rest of us want to see what we can pull off, or how far we are. We are not planning to play these songs live, we just want to challenge ourselves.

Given the sheer amount of songs to go through however, I am asking if perhaps someone already has some experience playing without a keyboard any song by the bands I mentioned.

We can also forget about the amount of guitar parts if it helps.

 

[Five or Six]

This won't answer much of your question but, with 3 guitars you just have to get a little creative. Should be able to cover most anything. Sure there are exceptions but, we did it for years successfully without issue.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Yes, that's why I am asking for help and wisdom!

At least one of the guitarists is very good and can play challenging stuff (although Dream Theater might be a bit too much for him as well). The rest of us want to see what we can pull off, or how far we are. We are not planning to play these songs live, we just want to challenge ourselves.

Given the sheer amount of songs to go through however, I am asking if perhaps someone already has some experience playing without a keyboard any song by the bands I mentioned.

We can also forget about the amount of guitar parts if it helps.

You might comb through other bands catalogues for interesting gems. Metallica's "Orion" might fit the bill, and there are lots of Zeppelin songs with multiple guitar tracks on the record. You could also take some songs everyone knows, like "House of the Rising Sun" or "Little Wing" and do your own arrangement to reharmonize it, change the groove, and let the guitars either layer interesting ideas over the chords or each take a turn shredding over the changes.

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

"Hold On / Surf City" or "Ice" by Crack The Sky
(Joe Macre's bass parts are really nice. Probably easier to learn these from the in-studio versions on their self-titled debut album, but first up here's a live version of the medley followed by the album version of the second song. Maybe a good idea to revise that one lyric in "Surf City"....)




Also "Ratcity In Blue" by The Good Rats

 

[nono]

While casually chatting with bandmates about new songs to play together after the summer break (hence with time to learn them during the summer), I was told to feel free to propose also some songs from progressive rock bands I like, assuming I can find something reasonable for our technical level.

Now, before even getting to the point of technical skills required, I kind of balked a bit because we don't have keyboards in our group, and I kind of think keys are a staple of progressive rock and it's hard to find progressive songs that can be played without any keyboard... So I am looking for suggestions of progressive rock songs either completely without keyboard, or where keys are not so relevant and the song can stand on its own without them.

At the same time, we have three guitarists in the group, so those songs should have at least two different guitar parts. We can have the third guitarist double one of the other, but if the song has only a single guitar then it'd be a bit more annoying.

I am just trying to brainstorm something at the moment... early Rush and Jethro Tull should not have keyboard for example, although Jethro Tull obviously have an even worse problem with the flute, removing which risks ruining the song altogether. I love Yes, Genesis and Marillion but I can't think of anything of them without keyboards (I also love King Crimson and Dream Theater, but no way we can play something that difficult).

Anyway, so far I thought of a very few songs, so I am also asking if any of you has an experience on playing these ones by Rush:

- "Limelight": definitely has keyboards, but just playing chords in the background
- "Red Barchetta": same as previous, minimal keys mostly for enriching the sound in the background
- "The Spirit of Radio": I think it might have some minimal keys in some parts, such as the very end, but maybe not too important?

All these songs seem single-guitar to me, so we'd still have that other issue to sort out.

Metallica maybe, something from the albums Master of Puppets or (especially) And Justice for All?

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

For something with a slightly more twisted pop edge, XTC has a few excellent tunes like these:

 

[KenSmithFan]

You seriously need to learn how to think outside of the box.

 

[J Gold]

I have a trio where I play guitar. We do Tom Sawyer and Subdivisions and I play the keyboard parts on guitar and it sounds fine.