The Police never sounded massive. They sounded sparse even on their later albums with many overdubs. That’s what made them sound unique,
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The magic behind awesome three-piece bands. How do they do it?
- Thread starter Jaygetsreal
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One of the tightest power trios I seen!
Kick ass guitarist and singer..
Kick ass 6 string bass player and singer..
Kick ass drummer who plays percussion and drums all at once and sings all the high parts!!
Kick ass guitarist and singer..
Kick ass 6 string bass player and singer..
Kick ass drummer who plays percussion and drums all at once and sings all the high parts!!
Tight rhythm section, guitar player knowing how to go from rhythm to lead/fills seamlessly...bass and drums filling out a broader spectrum.
Everyone has to really flow together, but man when they do, it's awesome.
Everyone has to really flow together, but man when they do, it's awesome.
A lot of my music career was in a "Led Zeppelin three piece" - one guitar, bass, drums, and a singer who didn't play an instrument. There are a number of things that help fill out a sound: backing vocals, playing more notes, use of pedals (of the bands mentioned in the OP, I'd consider Muse and The Police (Andy Summers, anyway) to be quite effect-heavy)... The important thing is to be selective - know when to be busy and when to keep it simple, when to thicken up the sound with FX and when to keep it clean, etc. One of my old "tricks" from back then was to not just pay root notes, finding another note from the chord to add some harmony.
I'd widen the net to include 4 piece bands where the singer doesn't play any instruments, since it's the same thing from the instrument perspective. Tool is one of those bands, they sound absolutely enormous but a lot of that is due to the back and forth between Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor, their use of effects, and having one of the greatest drummers of all time backing them up
If a three piece impresses you - what about a 2 piece band like the White Stripes ? They manage to sound pretty large due to some magic chemistry and some well chosen songs . After years - well decades really of seeing live music in clubs and festivals - I really believe that creating a broad sonic spectrum is the province of the truly talented player - no matter how many there are in any band . I have seen many bands cover tunes virtually note for note - yet do so with a very thin sound - kind of a cliff notes version . It's very hard to explain but I know it when I hear it . R.L. Burnside's 3 piece was just the opposite of that - they sounded massive . Some old blues guys like Lightnin Hopkins could sound huge with just 6 fingers on a guitar and their vocals . To me that's how you can tell who's talented and who's merely competent ... Kelly
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Arrangements. Maybe even listening to each other.
Some of the great power trios also played more than one instrument at the same time. Rush, Primus, Muse, and The Police (who have been mentioned so far) all have utilized some form of synth, keyboard, or sampler into their music. It’s not a required thing for a trio to use, but it has been a common reoccurring theme among some of the best.
How do they do it? They sometimes make it so three people sounds like 5.
How do they do it? They sometimes make it so three people sounds like 5.
Royal blood and El Teneleven both sound pretty beefy for a duo without midi tracks. The secret to a good three piece or duo is having the right drummer, imho. The ability to be alternately "sparse" and "full" and have huge dynamics ultimately rests on the skill of the percussionist. All of the bands popping up in this thread have a top tier drummer for real.
I'm a huge Rush fan and love Cream, the Police, Triumph, and so may others, but I think the mystique around power trios is a bit overblown. Lots of "bigger" bands only have one guitar, bass, and drums as well.
Black Sabbath. Van Halen. Led Zeppelin. List goes on. They all sounded "big" as well; the key difference in a trio is that the bassist or guitarist has to sing while playing, which takes skill but isn't uncommon at all, many reading this can do it to some degree and with practice almost anyone can.
I think what it really comes down to is that more than one guitar is overkill or unnecessary in many cases, and three instruments is plenty. If one of those can sing while playing, so much the better.
ETA: need to mention Budgie. Because Budgie.
Black Sabbath. Van Halen. Led Zeppelin. List goes on. They all sounded "big" as well; the key difference in a trio is that the bassist or guitarist has to sing while playing, which takes skill but isn't uncommon at all, many reading this can do it to some degree and with practice almost anyone can.
I think what it really comes down to is that more than one guitar is overkill or unnecessary in many cases, and three instruments is plenty. If one of those can sing while playing, so much the better.
ETA: need to mention Budgie. Because Budgie.
Three is just the best size, most balanced unit for music and it's insecurity (or a need to hide) that says you need more instruments. More that 3 and you have to arrange the music to not step on toes. There's Plenty of musical information from 3. Crikey, I know of many 3 piece Jazz groups that don't or didn't have a chordal instrument and they sound Great (assuming you like their kind of jazz). Great players of course, players who's sound you want to hear and can solo all day, but fullness comes from a feeling of security and need to express yourself. It's 2-3 guitar bands don't make much sense to me...a wall of...never mind. I never got that phrase "I play lead guitar" vs I play "rhythm guitar". No Such Thing. There are lead and rhythm parts, yesh. It's like saying "I only drive on highways", once we are off the highway the other guy is driving because he can handle turns and bumps.
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I recently came across an amazing power trio Radio Moscow, if you get a chance, give it a listen. They are what I would call a Musicians Jam Band. Just fantastic.
There is an art to playing in a three-piece band that really can't be explained until you do it. I worked with great guitar players who couldn't play in a three-piece band to save their lives. And honestly, while there are things we can do to help, it's mostly on the guitar player. If you notice, most bassists and drummers just do what they ordinarily would do. There are certain exceptions but that's usually how they do it. I used to try to work in octaves to help fill things in. But I still believe it's mostly on the guitar player.
Someone mentioned Minutemen. They were a killer punk power trio with loads of talent with Mike Watt on bass. His band after that was Firehose, also amazing trio. Two others that really dominate in the punks scene are Nomeansno and Victims Family.
It does take everyone being on their game. It takes hearing the whole music and as the bassist if horn parts are called for play them as accents while playing your traditional role. Sometimes the drummer is playing strings or horn parts with cymbal washes. There is no instruction manual for this. It's hearing and anyone being willing to play any additional part on their instrument. Listen to Live at Leeds. They aren't stepping on each other yet they are playing in an orchestral fashion.
i play guitar in a three piece. the key is a really good rhythm section
To add to the list of huge sounding faux fours, which are actually threes: Pantera.
But to answer your question, what's the magic?
I think it's been said: good parts, listening, and leaving space.
But to answer your question, what's the magic?
I think it's been said: good parts, listening, and leaving space.
