Your perfect band line-up...?

HAL9000

For me it's a four-piece consisting of singer, guitarist, bass, and drums.

I've just been reading Motherless Child (the Clapton biography) and have just got to the first Cream gigs and the bit detailing the dynamics of a three-piece setup is fascinating, partly because of the animosity between Baker and Bruce, but also due to the fact that everyone tended to 'overplay' and fill in the gaps.

I find being in a one-guitarist setup forces me to up my game a bit. But I like to think I don't overplay. I feel that any gaps aren't actually noticed by anyone listening. I just go for a touch more gain and a hint of reverb to help during the guitar fills but that's about it really.

thecolourbox

We had a fantasy supergroup discussion at work the other day actually, if that's what you mean? Mine was:

2x singers: Jeff Buckley & a resurrected Nina Simone
Guitar and keys: Jack White
Bass: Paul McCartney
Drums: John Densmore of the Doors

In my mind they'd perform really filthy jazzy bluesey stuff, with the high voice of Buckley harmonising with the lower tones of Simone, with awesome hypnotic drumming from Densmore

meltedbuzzbox

I like a 3 piece personally. 

1 Guitar, bass and drummer. With one of them singing

HAL9000

@thecolourbox - I actually meant line-up in the sense of number of people and what they play. However, I think the Nina Simone / Jeff Buckley thing would work for me.

John_P

If my singing was better I would front a 3 piece band and if I came across a bass player with good vocals and the confidence  to front a band we'd be gigging  (I know some bassists with great vocals who refuse to step forward).   

While I do enjoy the extra layers of keys or another guitar player there is so much fun to be had with the simpler lineup and life is so much less complicated off stage as well as onstage. 

My dream lineup would be very different though - get Marillion and Rush onstage together and go for it. 

  

koneguitarist

I prefer a 5pc if I am on guitar, but I like playing in a 3pc when on Bass. Bass. Guitar, keys, drums, and singer that hopefully plays guitar or another instrument.

richardhomer

I've never played in a line up with keys - though I'd love to.

mike_l

2 guitars, bass, drums, singist, keys.

Provided the singist can play guitar/bass (or in rare cases drums) then a 4 piece.

 

Chuffola

Just The Mothers of Invention c 1974

That'll do.

http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/FRANK ZAPPA 1974.jpg

RocknRollDave

To play in, probably 4 piece with 1 x guitar and 1 x keys ( assuming one of the musicians sings, otherwise expand it to a 5 piece to allow for a frontperson).

Phil_aka_Pip

To listen to:

Keys: JS Bach
Bass: GF Händel
Guitar: Antonio Vivaldi
Drums: Bill Bruford

To play in: A 4-piece with the above instrumentation, or, that plus saxes & brass. Keys to include Hammond, Rhodes & Grand Piano sounds. Not really bothered with vocals, it's wasted space between the music.

jd0272

We are 5. Bass, drummy thingy bloke, some singist person, a lead guitaryist, and me the rhythm guitaryist/lead. 

Benefits are a fuller sound, and when lead's rig fucks up (often, it's digital) I can cover in a second. 

Plus I keep the bass and drums in time/check. Allows lead to ponce about a bit all gig really. Works well.

PolarityMan

Drums: Danny Carey

Guitar: Adam Jones

Bass: Justin Chancellor

Vocals: Maynard James Kennan

Roland

Vocals, with rhythm guitar a bonus

Bassist with BVs

Keys, preferably Rhodes and Hammond

Drums

Me

monquixote

Roland;645116" said:

Vocals, with rhythm guitar a bonusBassist with BVsjKeys, preferably Rhodes and HammondDrumsMe

Pretty much this.

cbilly22

Four piece with a singer that plays harmonica, then guitar, bass and drums, with everyone able to sing at least decent backing vocals.

mudslide73

We're a 5 piece with Vocalist, 2 x lead guitars, bass and drums. We both came from one guitar bands so we already knew 50% of the solos for the material. We've always been massive fans of each other's playing so it's been easy - we've had this lineup for 9 years. Very useful for Lizzy / Bad Co etc. harmony stuff too. 

My ideal lineup (off the top of my head) would be:

Steve Marriott

Jimi Hendrix (with a TU-2)

James Jamerson.

John Bonham with a small kit.

Maybe they'd play some music amongst the drinking.

HAL9000

mudslide73;646905" said:

Jimi Hendrix (with a TU-2)

Just spluttered coffee over my keyboard and it's your fault.

Blacksheep

1: Guitar/vox 2: Bass/vox 3: Drummer with small kit and volume control. 4: someone willing to endlessly chase gigs, arrange posters, liaise with venues and buy drinks.