The magic behind awesome three-piece bands. How do they do it?

[wraub]

The three piece bands I have been in have been my favorites.

 

[JimB52]

For me the fullest sounding trios have a busy soulful kinda raspy hot female singer as a 4th member.

 

[nabilhuakbar]

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.

Absolutely this. The majority of my musical life has been spent as the guitarist and backing vocals in a three piece. You've gotta be a lot more flexible and versatile as a 3 piece guitarist since you don't have another rhythm guitar backing you up. You have to structure your parts to cover a lot more sonic ground but if you can do it right you end up being a much better overall guitarist for it.

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

My problem with the White Stripes is that Meg White is an objectively horrible drummer. Not because she plays minimalist, but because she's always chasing the beat and over a 5 year career she's never managed to progress beyond sounding like she just finished her first month of drum lessons

 

[vincent69]

When you speak of a three piece band with a massive sound The God Machine instantly come to mind.
Here is an example of what they were capable of

 

[bbh]

The thing that makes them slam is timing. I was in a small time 3 piece mostly Zappa cover band for years and we killed. I’ve also seen this phenomenona while watching Janes Addiction rehearse. Of course, being an excellent player is a given.

 

[BobDeRosa]

Think of each instrument as a voice. A strictly instrumental trio presents three voices, which sometimes is enough. If one also sings that's four, and if the others harmonize, that's six. If all six players/singers know what they're doing and listen to each other, that's a lot of opportunity to create a full, rich soundscape, as you've noticed.

 

[nabilhuakbar]

Think of each instrument as a voice. A strictly instrumental trio presents three voices, which sometimes is enough. If one also sings that's four, and if the others harmonize, that's six. If all six players/singers know what they're doing and listen to each other, that's a lot of opportunity to create a full, rich soundscape, as you've noticed.

This is a really good point.

If you have a great backing vocalist in a three piece you can cover a lot more ground with your live shows. One of Chris Wolstenholme's best talents isn't just his bass playing, it's that he's a great backing singer and he can basically act as a second bass part live and add an enormous amount of depth to their live arrangements

 

[deernaes]

Trios have always been my favorite format, and surprisingly I have never played in one. Although I have been in quite a few "three piece +vox" groups.
But Triumph, Gov't Mule, Rush, The Police, Zebra, and Minutemen are all some of my favorite bands for one reason; Chemistry....

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I have often wondered how some bands can sound so 'full' with just 3 instruments playing live. Cream, Police, Muse come to mind and you will know more.
OK some acts cheat with hidden players and MIDI tracks, but barring that it seems like some kind of magic. How do they create this impression, this massive sound?

PS this is a serious question - no flippant answers please

Good vocals. Without the melody, what’s the point?

Seriously, well defined musical roles, not only note wise, but tone wise as well.

As the Bassist, more than likely you need to do more than thumping quarters or eighths on the root. The primary job is providing logic for chord changes whether they are played or not. If they are aren’t, your going to be filling in the blanks with your implied logical direction.

You will need a fuller tonal EQ as you have more sonic space to cover. The “flying geese” EQ setting (scooped low mids) is not going to fly. In fact, boosting low mids instead of cutting will enhance a basses presence. That goes for larger ensembles as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed my years playing it power trios, but man, am I glad that is over. That said, it’s a great way to explore your tastes and chops to find out who you are as a player. But truth be told, playing in larger ensembles is a whole lot easier.

 

[micguy]

I play in bands of...variable size. Sometimes just a trio and a singer. Sometimes there are 2 electrics, 2 acoustics, keys, drums, and half a dozen singers. What you play (even on the same tune) depends a lot on what's going on around you. In a trio, IF the song demands it, you fill some space - octaves, grace notes, etc. When there are a lot of other players, it's usually (but not always) much more of a "stay in your lane" situation.

One thing you'll notice about good 3 piece bands (Police, Rush) is they don't have a lot of turnover - it takes good relationships between everyone to where they can all know when to stick out, and when to lay back - usually, the songs are written and arranged with the instrumentation in mind, and the better everyone is at keeping their ego in check, the better things go. Rush lasted a lot longer than the Police - if you watch them talk about things, you can see why - much healthier (less inflated) egos.

 

[LowActionHero]

Each player is playing a lot more than if they were in a larger band.

I agree, my band used to be a 3 pc, I had to add a lil bit to fill the sound, especially during guitar solos. Extra notes and occasional octavers/chorus/dirt. When we added a few players I had to dial it back.

Extra guitars and Second and third vocals fill it up better than more bass notes, but I do miss those days.

 

[bassdude51]

Lots of volume.

 

[lfmn16]

Not all space needs to be filled.

+1

I played in a trio with a guitarist who wanted to fill every space. I kept saying, “ The music has to breathe and a wall of sound has NO dynamics.” What makes a band sound full? The contrast with the empty space.

 

[TemplesOfSyrinx]

Vocals go a long way. I've been playing in a classic rock / gulf and country trio for a few years. It's my favorite format. All three of us sing lead in different songs and all three of us can harmonize.

 

[telecopy]

I have often wondered how some bands can sound so 'full' with just 3 instruments playing live. Cream, Police, Muse come to mind and you will know more.
OK some acts cheat with hidden players and MIDI tracks, but barring that it seems like some kind of magic. How do they create this impression, this massive sound?

PS this is a serious question - no flippant answers please

Seeing Cheap Trick live makes you realize how much space is filled by that 12 string bass Tom Petersson rocks.

 

[31HZ]

Live, most bands sound way too full. It takes a skilled soundman or a very aware set of bandmembers to find particular places in the mix for more than just a trio. (Witness all of the "what to do about mud" threads.)

 

[LBS-bass]

Most of the time a band like that will have a guitarist who is very adept at weaving rhythmic chord chops into solos so that things do not drop so far out when a solo occurs. Then there's Andy Summers, who just never played a solo. I think there's one solo on a police record somewhere.

This is why I don't like playing in trios. It's hard to find a player who can do that well.

Of course, Jazz trios are a whole different thing.

 

[nabilhuakbar]

Live, most bands sound way too full. It takes a skilled soundman or a very aware set of bandmembers to find particular places in the mix for more than just a trio. (Witness all of the "what to do about mud" threads.)

If you want an example of a band that is exceptional at creating musical space, go check out Kings of Leon. Their first album was a bit raw and muddy but all the rest of their discography is a masterclass on how to give every instrument room to breathe.

 

[LBS-bass]

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.

The best players I knew for this were the guys who took a lot of classical training when they were young and learned to pick chords with their fingers in a melodic way. Those players can translate that level of skill over to playing electric and do some incredible things.

Also, I'm seeing certain bands mentioned here that did a lot of mulitracking in the studio and sometimes they'd hire people to go on the road with them and play those parts live. Those may be "trios" in the sense that there were three core members, but I'm not sure I want to include those bands here.

 

[CassiusRegular]

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

Difference being a two piece band LIVE will start getting a bit repetitive after 25-30 minutes of gig.
Don't get me wrong, I still love duo bands. But after seeing several two piece bands live, I always felt mid-way to the show that the lack of third member limited the possibilities.