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what guitars do i need

C

cbrad

Jan 21, 2005
6
0
#1
ok, excuse my newbishness, but i have a question. my friends and i want to start a indies/rock band but don't know exactly what instruments to learn to play. I'm planning to play the bass, a friend the leader guitar, another friend the rythym guitar, and a drummer. Is that right? Do I need more guitars? Please reply, thanks!
 
#5
cbrad said:
ok, excuse my newbishness, but i have a question. my friends and i want to start a indies/rock band but don't know exactly what instruments to learn to play. I'm planning to play the bass, a friend the leader guitar, another friend the rythym guitar, and a drummer. Is that right? Do I need more guitars? Please reply, thanks!
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If the rhythm is a constant stream of notes (16ths, 8ths, etc)singing and playing is very easy. Alot of the indie bands I have heard play similar to this, so singing and playing should be easy with a little practice. But, when the bassline uses rests, odd time sigs, quick tempo changes, etc, that is when singing and playing is more difficult and requires that you know both parts (words and music) perfectly without thinking about it to hard. I know more than a few songs were I fell apart because I forgot a line and messed up the bassline.

One trick I do to get a comfortable with singing and playing a part; is to learn the part well, and then try and hold a conversation with somebody without messing up the part. Some parts are harder than others but anything can be done with enough practice; even Spirits in the Material World by the Police. :D
 
#6
Ok. I might have to be the lead or supporting singer since nobody else can sing. Would it be wise to get another person who actually can sing (that doesnt play the guitar)? Also, does it ruin songs if a female sings a male song?
 
#9
Benjamin Strange said:
I say you have too many guitars. I personally hate playing with two guitarists - there's no room for the bassist to do anything. Kick one of those guys out, or get him to switch to tamborine.
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I must respectfully disagree here. It's very tough to pull off a three piece, especially if you're just getting into it. Your guitarist has to be very good at doing the lead licks and filling in with rhythm chords. Likewise, the bass player has to be able to hold the beat while playing occasional tasty fills, without overdoing it. If you want to see the masters of 3-piece, watch a little of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton.

My vote is for two guitarists. You can kick one of them out when the other one gets good enough to hold it all down.
 
#11
I encountered a problem early on in my musical career, and that was 2 guitars being unable to sound good in synch. That might be tricky at first, especially if one of them doesn't practice a lot, for example.

Have fun singing. At times it's pretty tough to sing and play but it's rewarding and always fun. If you can find a good singer to do so full time, by all means, but if not, go for it yourself.
 
#16
I play in a three piece rock band (we mainly do covers)...I play bass, the guitarist is also the lead singer, and of course we also have a drummer. The drummer and I also do some background vocals.

We tried adding a second "lead" guitarist for a while. It sounded pretty good having him play lead and Wayne (our frontman) play rhythm, but the problem was...the lead guitarist was a total ass. He would always be playing way too loud...and he'd blame it on the fact that his Line 6 amp "is digital." Yeah ok...like just because it's digital it's going to turn itself up...OK...

We ended up kicking him out after about 2 months because he wasn't a team player. Now I'm glad we are just a three piece...although a keyboard player could be cool at some point. Anyone else experimented with adding a keyboard player to a three piece rock band?
 
#18
In my band we have two guitars, bass, keys and drums. I too dont like the two unison guitars thing. Thats why ours play different part. Usually the Keys and 2nd guitar will switch spots from playing rythmns to atmospheric stuff. The lead guitar and bass mainly carry the melody , sometimes keys will jump in . Drums do what Drums do.

I suggest you get one of the guitar players to learn Keyboard. Its probaly the easiest instrument anyway, least it was for me.

Once yall get better then you can try atmospheric things.
 
#19
paragsatyal said:
i would say one guitarist and horn (maybe a sax or trumpet) but i don't think that goes with the genre you're playing...maybe a keyboard/piano/organ/rhodes or something like that instead of a second guitarist???
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+1 on the sax or a horn if you must ;) Actually, a trombone might be cool. A sax player who also plays keys would be ideal! Unfortunately, you cannot just pick up a sax today and be gigging in a month :(
 

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