Filling Out the Sound of a BGD Trio

[Chienmortbb]

Our band seems likely to go from a 5 piece (two guitars, bass, drums, lead vocals) down to a trio of bass, guitar and drums. Any advice on filling out the sound? 

[42Hz]

Play more. Not just you but also the drummer (Bruce/Baker style). Depending on the music you play some songs actually live better in a simple arrangement. Ask the drummer to work with her cymbals.

Edited Saturday at 09:48 by 42Hz

[BigRedX]

Haven't we already done this somewhere else on the forums?

 

IME what you choose to play is as important as any change in sound. And sometimes you don't need to "fill out" the sound. Live bands tend to sound better with less going on. If necessary work on your harmony vocals.

[Happy Jack]

What sort of music do you play?

 

What sort of venues do you play?

 

What type of bass do you play?

 

[fretmeister]

There is another big thread on this somewhere.

 

Short version - the arrangement is far more important than the tones. Enjoy the space.

[chris_b]

I play in lots of trio bands and it is my favourite line up. You just gotta do it right.

 

Don't play louder, don't add effects to fill out the sound, don't play more notes. These are all mistakes.

 

Nothing sounds worse than trying to fill in the spaces. Improve your timing, embrace the spaces and just play the songs. It might sound "empty" at first but you'll get over that and realise you didn't need 2 guitars in the first place.

Edited Saturday at 15:06 by chris_b

[42Hz]

A p-bass with flats and tort pickguard will do wonders 😁

[Linus27]

I think we need to understand what type of music you play. Many years ago, I went from two guitars, bass, drums and keyboards to one guitar, bass and drums and we were worried that our stadium rock sound would sound empty. It was the total opposite and the space was a wonderful addition to our sound and we had amazing seperation between the instruments. We went on to play Brixton Academy and many festivals and we had no issue creating a wide full sound and we never missed the other instruments.

 

These days I play in a 3 piece which is a singer songwriter on acoustic guitar, drummer with brushes and myself on fretless bass. We play with so much space and dynamics that you have to be creative in you area, otherwise it's going to sound flat and repetitive. So to fill the sound out in certain parts, I will add an octave which just fattens the sounds and the next level up after that is to introduce a little envelope filter to the octave sound. Other times I'll use a little chorus and reverb to make a beautiful sweet tone and then some time it will just be a clean tone.

 

So it really depends on what type of music you play and to decide on respecting the space or filling them but always try and maintain seperation between the instruments.

[Chienmortbb]

I have to say that in two of the last three bands, were in effect a trio with a lead vocalist and I enjoyed it more. The rhythm guitar is constantly straying into my sonic space so perhaps I have answered my own question. 
 

The current t band is 60/70s pop/rock but the trio (three from that band) is more blues rock. 

Edited Sunday at 00:45 by Chienmortbb

[42Hz]

If you are going instrumental (no singer) you will have to rearrange everything, won't you?

[Chienmortbb]

Myself and the lead guitarist can both sing and I have done so while playing bass before. I would prefer a charismatic lead singer though from preference. 

[42Hz]

I use a recorder - a phone can probably do as well - at most our rehearsals so I can relisten at home. The listening experience is often different from the playing experience. I used it to simplify my playing for de-mud'ing and for tightening the essential interaction with drummer. Maybe that would work for you as well in redefining the arrangements.

Edited 23 hours ago by 42Hz