3 guitars question

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Mr. C

Mr. C

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Ok, more questions concerning my new band... We have ended up with three guitarists, two of us can trade off onto other instruments, myself, well just the guitar. We also have a bass player/lead male vocal, drummer, and female vocalist. One of the guitarists plays acoustic, while myself and the other are playing electric. One of the guitarists feels the acoustic should play the basic rhythms of the song while one electric plays fills and the other plays more of the higher notes of the chords the acoustic is playing. At first I thought that sounds reasonable, but now have second thoughts. After all not all songs are based on the acoustic guitar, some obviously have some heavy electric guitar. And another thought is just because a song may be acoustic based doesn't preclude us from changing it to a more electric guitar sound. And to be quite honest, I just love the sound of an electric guitar slamming some chords! Just for reference, we are playing "contemporary" Christian songs. Any thoughts or ideas on this topic?
 
You should all play what is right for the song, to get the best out of the instruments and best for the song. You could do everything in a regimented fashion and have everything the same every time but it would sound bland after 2 or 3 songs. Who's to say every song needs an acoustic? or 2 electrics? A song might require 2 guitarist put their instruments down and shake some shakers/tambourine etc.

The best route I found with my last band was to jam the song, try different things, dial in different sounds to the amps. If you hear something in your head that you think the drummer or guitarist or bassist could play to fit, suggest it. Also if you hear something that's off and sound terrible, speak up. Last thing you want is an off key part in a song that someone thinks sounds great but no one had the balls to tell him/her it was pants.

Jamming a song out can really bring the best out of all of the band, even more so if you're open with each other and can take suggestions and criticism. Jamming evokes creativity and musicians will bounce off each other, hear new things to try out, some work, some don't. It will also help tighten you altogether more as a unit as you'll know the song inside out right from the get go because you all had a hand in righting the wrongs and getting a great sound.
 
Mr. C said:
And to be quite honest, I just love the sound of an electric guitar slamming some chords!
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That told me all I need to know. You need a to find a different band. Let those other guys go play their grandma music, and you, my friend, you go rock out.
 
The Misfits "Last Caress" is a great song to play for a church crowd.
 
Mr. C said:
Ok, more questions concerning my new band... We have ended up with three guitarists, two of us can trade off onto other instruments, myself, well just the guitar. We also have a bass player/lead male vocal, drummer, and female vocalist. One of the guitarists plays acoustic, while myself and the other are playing electric. One of the guitarists feels the acoustic should play the basic rhythms of the song while one electric plays fills and the other plays more of the higher notes of the chords the acoustic is playing. At first I thought that sounds reasonable, but now have second thoughts. After all not all songs are based on the acoustic guitar, some obviously have some heavy electric guitar. And another thought is just because a song may be acoustic based doesn't preclude us from changing it to a more electric guitar sound. And to be quite honest, I just love the sound of an electric guitar slamming some chords! Just for reference, we are playing "contemporary" Christian songs. Any thoughts or ideas on this topic?
Click to expand...

As has already been suggested (before this thread went sideways), do what is right for each song. On some songs acoustic guitar may not work at all, but others a slamming electric won't work.
 
another vote for do what the song requires.
No rule like that is really gonna work on everything and will be limiting.
 
Greg_L said:
I play churches all the time with my GWAR tribute band.
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Went and seen GWAR once. Got there a little late, the opening act was on. I asked someone if that was GWAR, they laughed and said "You'll know when GWAR is on" (I had never heard of them, I was there with my cousin who is a die hard fan) so as I looked around and noticed all the plastic covering the walls, I was like WTF? is this a Gallagher show or something?

Any way, very interesting and offensive show. I'll never forget it.
 
I get Sweetwater's "worship" catalog...
1st pages are vocal mics... THEN keyboards... THEN acoustic guitars... THEN electric guitars. ANY other catalog...including Sweetwaters main catalog will be just about the opposite. Nice Strats and Les Pauls up front in the catalog. That tells you how fearful many churches are in making a joyful noise and how MOST people percieve of them. They've set boundaries on how to worship.

I play a lot at church, use my acoustic occasionally...but only if I'm the only musician... but I've since stopped doing that too. I've bonded with my Strat...though not a total idol yet!!

Ignore these 'heathens" around here.... they're just good musicians and can't help themselves ! :-D
 
So this is my thinking, just because a song is played with an acoustic guitar where's the law that says I can't rock it up a little with electric? Heck, some Christian bands have taken hymns and rocked them up.

mixmkr, that makes sense that the catalog would be different in that way even though I never thought about it. I play in my church's worship band on occasion and have always played electric. Although sometimes they ask me to play bass which I don't really know how to "play", I just follow the root notes. The "heathens" don't bother me, I was one at one time. Anyways, there's a good number of Christian bands that rock just as hard as mainstream bands. They just aren't the bands you hear on KLOVE.
 
Mr. C said:
The "heathens" don't bother me, I was one at one time. Anyways, there's a good number of Christian bands that rock just as hard as mainstream bands. They just aren't the bands you hear on KLOVE.
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I don't want to take things off course, but want to make clear, as soon as you view and judge someone as a "heathen" you're doing exactly what NOT to do if you believe the Bible. You won't ever know what's in their heart... and "Mr. Goodneighbor" that sleeps in church every Sunday, might just be your next wife beater and hasn't a clue who Jesus is. Sorry for the bunny trail. I actually view music stands as "heathen" ;-D When someone slams your religion, if you're a Christian, who are you to judge? Instead show them by example why you are. Hypocrisy and Christianity...or religion seems to run rampant too much. No one is born NOT a heathen. However children hold a special place before they know right and wrong. As soon as they KNOWINGLY do something wrong, they've sinned....like everyone else on the planet. But sinning isn't the problem, you know that.

I thought KLOVE was local station. is it a natl chain kinda thing? Hard for me to listen to it, cause all the singing is soooo raspy, laid back..."typical" Christian singing and all the chords are either capo'd or droning the low E string, never mind the #3 in the bass of the chord.
 
btw...check my music in my sig if you ever get a chance. All Kingdom music. It'll never get air play on KLOVE ;-(
 
Only used the word "heathen" because you had used it. I'm not going to judge anybody. A lot of good people on here who are very helpful and overall, pretty much non-judgemental of others, whether or not they are Christians.

Yes, KLOVE is national. I believe it's out of Sacramento, CA, but seem to have perhaps some type of relay stations in some major cities. It also seems like sometimes the DJ's aren't actually in CA, but in other states. Not sure how that all works. I actually enjoy some of those raspy voiced songs.

As far as my band is concerned, I just want to make sure we don't just sound like a worship band you could just go to church and hear. I think you have to be somehow different than that, and maybe that is the challenge especially when many churches with contemporary services have worhip bands that play what you hear on KLOVE. I guess that is why I don't want to get stuck playing the song like a tribute band might, I want to put our own spin on it. Also in another thread I mentioned how I want to write originals, which is a debate that I'm going to have to settle soon with the band. I'll take a listen to your music and get back to you.
 
Two items...and I believe we're already on the same page. I didn't call the non Christians around here "heathens"...specifically... I said; "Ignore these 'heathens" around here.... they're just good musicians and can't help themselves ! :-D".... so I put a lame smiley at the end, hopefully referring as a joke (and NOT a two sided statement) and a compliment about musicianship as well. So... a lawyer would probably win his case that I did have mal intent with my verbage, but certainly not my intent. Apologies to all that might read this and take the above wrong. My earlier post was badly worded, and I'm more than comfortable with what you said. It was my follow up post that in re reading...I can see how I was unclear.

2nd... I agree that you should desire to put your own spin on the music. After all, you're leading worship with how YOU do best and your role is not as a copy band on the platform. Your not there for entertainment purposes.... as many might like to think!.... unfortunately.
I think you have to do what your heart tells you and I can honestly tell you after over 20+ years of playing on Praise Teams... you'll see attacks from all angles. Your band leader, even your Pastor may appear to be opposite of what you want. But remember your first role is to support your pastor... (even if it means pulling out the kazoos.... then God would tell me to leave that church!!)

Any rate...I try to keep religion out of threads, unless it at least seems half way appropriate to bring it up. Playing and discussing music in Praise Bands seems to be an open door sometimes.
 
Greg_L said:
I play churches all the time with my GWAR tribute band.
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Going to a GWAR show is a like religion for the most part.Lot's of loyal fans.I've seen them 3 times.Still remember Sly minstrel lifting her leg in spewing her filth all over the place.Last time i seen them it was scaled back though in a smaller venue and nothing like the Sleazy P. Martini days.They had a guitarist die about a year ago.
 
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