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"Is 3 guitarists too much?"

Ok, so I'm in this new band. We're all experienced musicians and we all have the same influences etc., but we have 3 guitarists. As you would expect, most people who hear about us say "Isn't three guitarists overkill?", but i'm not sure, it worked for Iron Maiden, right? And Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sweet Home Alabama!!!), and the soloing possibilities are endless: Twin lead solos with chords, harmonizing with chords, three guitars harmonizing!!! It would sound great, but what do you do for the rest of the song? Its damn near impossible to write a riff for three guitar parts, so we'll probably end up with one of us just having to miss out a bit of the song while the other 2 player. So anyway, three guitarists: Rock and roll, or bordering on Busted?

Ok, so I'm in this new band. We're all experienced musicians and we all have the same influences etc., but we have 3 guitarists. As you would expect, most people who hear about us say "Isn't three guitarists overkill?", but i'm not sure, it worked for Iron Maiden, right? And Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sweet Home Alabama!!!), and the soloing possibilities are endless: Twin lead solos with chords, harmonizing with chords, three guitars harmonizing!!! It would sound great, but what do you do for the rest of the song? Its damn near impossible to write a riff for three guitar parts, so we'll probably end up with one of us just having to miss out a bit of the song while the other 2 player. So anyway, three guitarists: Rock and roll, or bordering on Busted?

If you make use of the three then may as well have all of em. So you have a seperate vocalist...? If not, I assume one or more of the guitarists are taking up vocal duties, if so, when all three guitars aren't needed the singer could just not play to concentrate on vocals...

Anyway, may as well keep all three for now, you know that sooner or later someone will quit/get injured/be hungover... ;-)

Three's fine as long as you use them all at some stage, otherwise it's just a waste. Obviously that's going to be hard when you're just riffing but you could have two playing the same rhythm riff while you've got a lead over the top of that. Or something. Having three just for soloing and having one left out during the rest of the song does seem a bit silly, but Maiden use them all with no problems.

The issue is not going to be can three guitarists play together, they can and you gave proof. The issue is going to be ego and roles.

In the past, when I've been in knock about bands, I'm lead guitarist. I can solo better and faster than whoever plays rythm. Which is good, because I'm crap at rythm. But once in a while I would cede and let the other guy have his five minutes of glory. With three guitarists that gets harder to accomplish, keeping everyone happy.

Still, if you can work out the role issues, finding three guitar parts need not be that difficult. For some things, double up the guitars. Lots of people like Vai and Satriani for instance re-record parts to thicken the sound. Play one guitar on the extreme left, and one on the extreme right to get a panning sound, similar to a phasor, but not if you know what I mean. Different channels gives different sounds remember. You can play octaves, or different chord voicings, and I'm beginning to stray into jazz territory now :-D.

Three guitars also works for having a backing track and dual solos over the top. The only thing I would say is going to be necessary for it to work properly is different equipment and sound. See, whilst Iron Maiden have three guitarists, you could take one of them away and not really notice, because mostly, they have the same sound going on. So you really need to have at least one person on a Strat or Tele. To give a cutting sound. And someone else on a humbucker equipped guitar.

It "worked" for Busted.


Edit: Ugh just actually read the post, and realised that Busted has already been mentioned.

Busted only have two guitarists. The third one plays bass.

Generally you only need two, one for the base and the other one for hooks, the only time i've ever noticed 3 was on hotel california, and that was largely unneccesary.

Memorandum! wrote:
> Busted only have two guitarists. The third one plays bass.

Oh are triggyhappyrocker or whatever's band having 3 guitarists and a bass. Will be quite a thick timbre...

Busted also have an invisible drummer so I wouldn't put it past them having another guitarist hidden somewhere.

Actually did anyone see them on Jonathon Woss, where their drum was this huge, muscular bruiser with a goatee and tattoos. He looked so funny playing drums and jamming to the Teen Pop band that Busted are....

Well, if you want a job done, get a professional. Even if it's for a talentless pop group.

3 guitars? Damn good idea, should go down well, seeing as most bands have one or two.

Notorious Biggles wrote:
You can play octaves, or different chord voicings,

Exactly what I was going to suggest

> and I'm beginning to stray into jazz territory now :-D.

Exactly what I was thinking :-D