How many guitar tracks are too many?

[VTgreen81]

I'm just wondering if our guitarist is getting a bit overindulgent, he's up to ten so far and expects me to be able to have each voice defined in the mix. I'm getting close, but damn it's busy in there. I'd like to cut him back to about six or less. I know it's hard to respond without hearing it but does this sound excessive?

 

[IchabodVer7]

Well it all depends on how it sounds. There is no rule of too much, or too little. I would say that if it sounds too busy to you then it is too much. Especially if there are vocals in those sections. Remember vocals are the main reason why most people listen to the music in the first place. You don't want to tire the listeners ears with lines that are too busy.

Usually when I record guitars I do a bit of layering and I will record a guitar track for each side left and right to create a stereo image. Then I will layer another guitar on top of that with a different EQ curve or with a different guitar for both left and right. Right there, if you are counting tracks, it is up to 4. Of course the goal of that wasn't to make it sound like 4 different guitar tracks, it was to make it sound like one awesome guitar track.

I hope that helped a little bit.

 

[grinder]

Let your ear be the judge. If you pull up a fader and if it doesn't add anything or is distracting , don't use the part. Having 10 guitar parts for a song doesn't mean they all have to be playing through the whole song. It's common to have differant tracks come in on differant parts of the song.

 

[Cyrokk]

There is no way you are going to get 10 tracks of guitars mixed so that each guitar's voice can be heard, and have a decent mix.

I say let him record all the tracks he wants, then when it's time to mix, throw them all up with all the instruments, including vocals, and print the track, mud and all, and give it to him. Then mix it for real by hacking at each of them one by one until you get a good solid mix going. Have the band as a whole decide which is the better mix. I'm sure they will chose the uncluttered version. If not, then give the client what they want.

 

[Armistice]

I've recorded 10 guitars before - the difference being that (a) I record instrumental music, so no voices, (b) they're not all meant to be heard up front. Some of them are very subtle & quiet and buried way deep in the mix.

 

[c7sus]

Tell your guitarist it's time to cut down on the KGB.

I could maybe see cutting and pasting from 10 tracks to do some solo's. Hendrix sometimes culled bits from as many as 8 to create a solo.

But 10 tracks is a bit ridiculous. If he can't say what he wants to say in less than 10 tracks, something is the matter. Like the other 9 voices in his head need to shut up..............

 

[bennychico11]

Take a look at Steve Reich's "Different Trains" album...the 3 movement song "Electronic Counterpoint" has Pat Metheny playing 11 guitar parts and it never seems over bearing. Great song too.

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

10 seperate lines seems excessive. Only the best players could pull that off. Chances are your guitarist isn't one of them (no offense).

As far as multi-tracking/doubling... 8 guitars for rhythm is about my theoretical maximum... and that's for metal. For more lo-fi/organic punk stuff about 6 tracks is good enough.

Any less than 4 isn't trying though.

 

[4-Man Takedown]

The dude from a band called revis went to my school and claimed that there were about a hundred tracks on most songs off their new album, mostly guitars, but I haven't heard it and the song on the radio blew. I believe that he was saying that they just layered the same parts over and over.

 

[bbop73]

10 tracks seems excessive, but it all depends on the style, song, and his playing ability. If he's overdubbing the same part then it really helps to be consistent. I've had luck tracking 4 distorted guitar parts,an acoustic, and clean electric panned to give a nice thick sound. Let your ears be the judge.