Back to a 4pc

Well it seems our other guitarist/keys is leaving. Real shame as I love his playing, but he has a new band with son and allready their gigs are starting to conflinct with ours.
Now I do like to have another member in band to take solo`s as I`m not the most gifted in that department, but feel now is the time to maybe go for a Piano/organist type to push the band in a more soulfull direction.
Got a gig tonight as a 4pc for first time in ages, so will have to see how that goes. Whats your favourite lineup when you allready have a singer who plays and a lead guitarist, is another guitarist too much ? :neutral:

Well it seems our other guitarist/keys is leaving. Real shame as I love his playing, but he has a new band with son and allready their gigs are starting to conflinct with ours.
Now I do like to have another member in band to take solo`s as I`m not the most gifted in that department, but feel now is the time to maybe go for a Piano/organist type to push the band in a more soulfull direction.
Got a gig tonight as a 4pc for first time in ages, so will have to see how that goes. Whats your favourite lineup when you allready have a singer who plays and a lead guitarist, is another guitarist too much ? :neutral:

Well...I've been through 3pc and 6pc band endeavors over the years since 1973.
Personally, more talent and less members is my preference as I've been through more band member BS than I care to recall.

Ideally for me....drums, bass, (1) guitarist that does leads/rhythm and keys/organ and all must sing well.
I am not the best singer but can pull off vocals/harmonies on the songs I write but I have no fantasies about having any mass appeal.
I just write for the therapeutic benefits.

That's my take on it....good luck at the gig tonight.

We're a 4 piece. Drums, Bass, Guitar/sax and Guitar/keys. Works well, very versitile. Three of us sing and can do decent harmonies. We also, have a lady singer, but I don't really count her because she's most likely leaving before our next booking.

I've been in numerous groups, from duo's to 8 piece with horns. You can get by without - we've done it.

I think as long as the bass player and drummer are on top of their game, it won't matter much about the rest.

I also can't help but feel this will make you a stronger player.

If you have a line on a keyboardist then go for it, but most of them I've run into were real flakes or money hungry.

Its all about how the members get along.
It has to be somebody you can hang with for extended periods of time.

If a second guitar player (or what ever instrument they play) pulls his or her weight and, brings out the best in everyone else, things should be fine.

Personally, I prefer people bring good vocals to the party.

"Its gotta cook and, its gotta swing"!
Sammy Davis jr

Four-piece band here as well. Lead and rhythm guitars, bass and drums -- plus I play harmonica. It adds a lot in that three of the guys (not me) all sing lead on several tunes. We all harmonize.

I agree with the sentiment of having band members that can multi-task (play instrument and sing) is best. Less people = less hassle, from my experience, and if they can multi-task, all the better.

Played in a 6-piece before, and it was more of a pain.

Four-piece band here as well. Lead and rhythm guitars, bass and drums -- plus I play harmonica. It adds a lot in that three of the guys (not me) all sing lead on several tunes. We all harmonize.

I agree with the sentiment of having band members that can multi-task (play instrument and sing) is best. Less people = less hassle, from my experience, and if they can multi-task, all the better.

Played in a 6-piece before, and it was more of a pain.

Harmonica is a great compliment to a 4 piece.
As I eluded to also more members = more "pain".
Being in a band is a marriage so maturity, chemistry and minimal egos determine success and duration of a band endeavor.

That's my take on it....carry on.

I love playing with another guitar, IF he/she can listen while they play. If they just thrash around, playing big huge chords and leaving no space for anyone else, then I'd rather be the only guitar player. If they can interact with and react to what I'm playing, play "cowboy" chords while I play double stops, and then play high 4-string chords when I'm playing on the bottom couple of strings, then it's the greatest thing.

Thanks for the replies, gig went well last night.
Band really enjoyed it as well. It does help that we all get along well, and as main singer plays acoustic/electric and mandolin as well as Harmonica that also helps a lot.
I tend to switch between lead and slide (and now lap steel for a couple of songs :wink: ) I can do a passable harmony (sometimes) but drummer sings harmony and lead as well. Its a real shame about other guy as he sings lead and harmony plus keys and is a pretty good guitarist (makes me laugh out lod at times with the way he seems to conjure solo`s out of strange set of notes) he will be missed, but last night proved with or without him band can do allright. But I think I would like a dedicated keys man , someone who can switch between B3 and piano tones.

I love playing with another guitar, IF he/she can listen while they play. If they just thrash around, playing big huge chords and leaving no space for anyone else, then I'd rather be the only guitar player. If they can interact with and react to what I'm playing, play "cowboy" chords while I play double stops, and then play high 4-string chords when I'm playing on the bottom couple of strings, then it's the greatest thing.

There's the trick -- knowing how to compliment each other playing guitar. If both guys play full on it's a god awful mess.