janmaat Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Was joking in the band practise, the more members in the band the less costs pP for the rehearsal room. Obviously the other way round once you get paid gigs - that's when it's time to get rid of some. What's the ideal number of players to a band to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Its hard because we are all compromised by the amounts that venues can afford/are willing to pay but I rarely play above a 5-piece and ususally 4. Some venues only pay for duos and trios. We can always make music but the choices around the size of an ensemble are seldom musical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Not interested in less than 5 and need keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 More members also means less room on stage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 3 is the magic number.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stylon Pilson Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 More members also increases the likelihood of hearing "I'm unavailable that day." S.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sticker Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 my band is a 6 piece , at yesterdays rehearsal however we were joined by a string quartet , 4 piece brass section and 2 additional backing vocalists ...Motowntastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipperydick Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Prefer 3, or 3 plus Vocals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I play a lot as one half of a duo. There's no hiding place, and you've got to be 'on the money' all the time. But, we find that arrangements can be much more fluid and having worked together for a few years we can, by a simple gesture or voice signal, go to different palces musically. When I play as part of a bigger group (in church or other projects) the arrangements have to be much more fixed and disciplined, else it easily collapses to a mess. To be honest, I like playing in both small and big groups. I think it's better for developing and keeping an all-round skill base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 3 and 4 piece gtr bands are very limiting IMO. It becomes all gtr and you really need a very good player to be able to entertain. That said, I am not a fan of twin gtr bands either. But the same applies..the gtr needs to be very decent so as not to sound samey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I don't think i could be in a band with just 2 players. Don't know why, it's just one of those things i suppose. For me i think 4 or 5 would be ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmer61 Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 [quote name='Low End Bee' post='1340400' date='Aug 15 2011, 10:37 AM']3 is the magic number....[/quote] ^ This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 yeh 3 musicians, and either one of them sings or a 4th member on vocals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I much prefer 4 piece (vocals, bass, guitar and drums). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 (edited) I've done 5's and 4's in different combinations (2 guitars and a singer, singer/guitarist plus keys) and the latest is a 3 piece so I've blown the dust off my midi pedals to flesh out one or two songs. I think for rock my ideal line up would still be a 5 piece of drums/bass/guitar/keys fronted by a top notch singer. Deep Purple or Yes basically, you can't see how those bands would function properly with one of the 5 missing. Zeppelin had a huge slice of luck in having a multi instrumentalist bass player, like a 4 and a half piece really. Edited August 15, 2011 by KevB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROConnell Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 4. Couldn't imagine more than that. Hard to work with. Unless it was someone who can keep impeccable time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 [quote name='bartelby' post='1340520' date='Aug 15 2011, 11:43 AM']I much prefer 4 piece (vocals, bass, guitar and drums).[/quote] We're now the same format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Undead Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 There are five people in my band including me, and it works well for us. Vocals, 2 guitars, bass, drums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 3 or 4 for me, any less than that and the sound isn't properly full (in rock at least) and any more than that and it starts to get too busy or people are doubling up parts which sounds messy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisdaman Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 The band im in has 4 members Drums Bass Guitar Singer who plays keyboard/guitar depending on song 4 would seem ideal to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 [quote name='Low End Bee' post='1340400' date='Aug 15 2011, 10:37 AM']3 is the magic number....[/quote] ^ This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benplaysbass Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 We have five at the moment, unfortunately we don't have a drummer so that is done with the dreaded machine. Not ideal at all, but think a drummer should be joining us soon. which will make us six. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Currently a 5 rock band Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys & vox. Historically 3 piece rock / blues bands which are a lot less work both during reahearsal and playing gigs. You don't get the keys playing the bass part and the "i can't hear myself syndrome" along with the constant battle between gtr & kys on who plays the solo. Maybe I'm just an old cynic. With a 3 you find the guitarist does the vocals and therefore most of the work. He's usually an organiser and therefore arranges all the bookings I just turned up and played as any professional would Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeBrownBass Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I'm in a 8 piece function band. (Bass, Drums, Guitar, Keys, Percussion, Sax & 2 female singers) But on big shows we have upped to a 11 piece with a second sax & 2 backing singers. My originals band has 4. (bass, drums, guitar & Keys. The keys player is the singer) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkpegasus4001 Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I play in a trio and i'm happy enough with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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