Soul/R&B trio?

Have been toying with the idea of putting together a little group to do some soul/R&B songs. Im wanting to go stuff like try a little tenderness-Otis redding, knock on wood- Eddie Floyd, In the midnight hour and that kind of thing. I am having a hard time finding musicians so I am currently stuck in a bass, drums, guitar trio format. Would it be possible to put together an effective band with just the 3 of us playing and singing on these old songs?

I think so. I've seen Steve Cropper perform is this configuration...technically there was a fourth but she was just singing. And they were doing all the Memphis soul classics.

Absolutely, just do it!

I'm kind of in the same boat. I've been trying for a while to put together a band playing the music you mentioned but also going into 70's, 80's and modern soul/r&b/funk. Very hard to find the right players so I haven't made it happen yet but I have gotten far enough to tell it can be done with a 3 piece but sometimes you (guitar player) have to be creative with arrangements and figure out ways to combine parts - guitar, keys, horns, etc. It's more work than just having more players but could be worth it.

Big Steve Cropper fan and a keyboard player. Just the Atlantic Ocean stopping me from auditioning for your band.

Good luck over there in "Tupolo Honey" country.

You bet. At least try it is a trio and you can always add a 4th player later if you feel it's needed.

A 4th player might be nice, but it's a LOT easier to find another player to join your existing band than to find a 4th person who wants to help start one. I say launch as-is and keep your eyes open for somebody to add. Worst case, you've got a working trio.

I think an instrumental trio could work but that music demands a good/great vocalist.

A 4th player might be nice, but it's a LOT easier to find another player to join your existing band than to find a 4th person who wants to help start one. I say launch as-is and keep your eyes open for somebody to add. Worst case, you've got a working trio.

+1

And if it was me I'd be looking for keys when I did look.

Have been toying with the idea of putting together a little group to do some soul/R&B songs. Im wanting to go stuff like try a little tenderness-Otis redding, knock on wood- Eddie Floyd, In the midnight hour and that kind of thing. I am having a hard time finding musicians so I am currently stuck in a bass, drums, guitar trio format. Would it be possible to put together an effective band with just the 3 of us playing and singing on these old songs?

Vocals ride on top, IMO, do you have adequate vocals? If so, I
know it would work and along the gig route you might find a sax
player and/or keys player that would fit right in.

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm gonna try it. Push comes to shove, I can add some keys or something. I think our vocals are pretty ok. I've got to get us working on singing some stuff in the style. What songs would you guys say would be good to practice some vocals to? Also, what would you suggest are the 'essential' soul/R&B songs to get started?

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm gonna try it. Push comes to shove, I can add some keys or something. I think our vocals are pretty ok. I've got to get us working on singing some stuff in the style. What songs would you guys say would be good to practice some vocals to? Also, what would you suggest are the 'essential' soul/R&B songs to get started?

I saw it done back in the late 60's. It was a guitar trio, and all three sang pretty well. The material was mostly Motown covers, working to their strength. Not so much funky stuff, you really miss the horns and keys.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm gonna try it. Push comes to shove, I can add some keys or something. I think our vocals are pretty ok. I've got to get us working on singing some stuff in the style. What songs would you guys say would be good to practice some vocals to? Also, what would you suggest are the 'essential' soul/R&B songs to get started?

1. Wilson Picket
2. Wilson Picket
3. Wilson Picket

Then you can move on to the broader Memphis R&B catalog (Otis, Sam & Dave, Aretha, Booker T, etc.), or the Motown sound if that's what scratches your itch.

Where you take it from there kind of depends on what your goals and ambitions are.

Oh, and a shortcut to crowd-pleasing success: Any song that was covered by the Blues Brothers and/or The Commitments is usually very safe territory.

Started brainstorming...thoughts, additions?

Livin' for the City- Stevie Wonder
Walkin' in Memphis- Marc Cohen
Shaky Ground- the Temptations
Leave Your Hat On- Joe Cocker
Proud Mary- Turners
Knock on Wood- Eddie Floyd
Chain of Fools- Aretha Franklin
You Don't Know Me- Ray Charles
Georgia- Ray Charles
Sir Duke- Stevie Wonder
Try a Little Tenderness- Otis Redding
Dreams to Remember- Otis Redding
Midnight Hour- Wilson Picket
When a Man Loves a Woman- Percy Sledge
Don't Let the Green Grass Fool you- Wilson Picket
Congo Square- Neville bros
Hold on- Sam and Dave
Everybody needs Somebody- blues brothers
Signed, Sealed, Delivered- Stevie Wonder
Use me- bill withers

This thread is making ME want to start a soul combo :)

Hows about...

Johnny Taylor - Who's Making Love
Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music

And maybe if you need a good slow-dancin' ass-grabbin' song...
The Manhattans - Kiss And Say Goodbye

Sam and Dave - Something is Wrong with my Baby

Bobby Byrd - We are in Love

Great suggestions guys! Please keep them coming!

Oh, and a shortcut to crowd-pleasing success: Any song that was covered by the Blues Brothers and/or The Commitments is usually very safe territory.

True, but just make sure NOT to do those versions. Please.

Try a Little Tenderness
When a Man Loves a Woman (1X)
Curtis Mayfield (Superfly, Pusherman, Freddie's Dead)

1. Wilson Picket
2. Wilson Picket
3. Wilson Picket

Then you can move on to the broader Memphis R&B catalog (Otis, Sam & Dave, Aretha, Booker T, etc.), or the Motown sound if that's what scratches your itch.

Where you take it from there kind of depends on what your goals and ambitions are.

Hey, did anybody mention Wilson Pickett?

Have been toying with the idea of putting together a little group to do some soul/R&B songs. Im wanting to go stuff like try a little tenderness-Otis redding, knock on wood- Eddie Floyd, In the midnight hour and that kind of thing. I am having a hard time finding musicians so I am currently stuck in a bass, drums, guitar trio format. Would it be possible to put together an effective band with just the 3 of us playing and singing on these old songs?

It's totally doable if you're excellent singers and players. The best situation would be if the guitar player and/or bass player doubled on keyboards. Then you can have drums/bass/keys or drums/keys/guitar on various tunes. I know some people who do it that way and they're great.

By the way, if you've never seen the Holmes Brothers, you owe it to yourself to check them out. They are a guitar/bass/drums trio with a soul/gospel/blues sound and when I saw them live I was totally blown away by how great they are.