three piece band??

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

how many of your steel players play or have played in a three piece band?? i am doing a gig with out the guitar player and have to do all the fills Whoa!

talking here bass, drums, steel... let's here from you guys

p.w

Allen Kentfield · From: Texas, USA

When I lived in Nashville in 1974-75 it seemed the standard group on Broadway and East Nashville consisted of a 4/4 bass player-vocalist, D-10 pedal steel man and drummer. Singers would often sit in, strumming their accoustics. About 10 years later in Austin I got to put together such a group, and it was a blast.

Al

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

Yep,been there done that and didn't like it all that much.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Been playing with a six piece band,Getting hard to book a big band if you want to make a decent salary,cut down to three pieces,two singers,both play rhythum guitar,myself on steel and a good drum machine,Already have booked several small venues for the trio that we can make good pay,I was a little wary at first but it WORKS.Would rather have the big band with live drums,bass,and lead guitar,but sometimes you have to do what you have to do,if you want to work and make a few dollars,DYKBC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

Paul Frank Bloomfield · From: Greece

I played most of my steel playing career in the
UK in a trio, rhythm guitar/vocals,bass guitar/vocals
and yours truly on steel. No effects or drum beat
just good 'ole country music,see photo.
All the best
Frank. Corfu

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" The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you've finished "
ZBSD-10,ZB D-11/10, Franlin Tele,Epiphone customised Les Paul, 'Fender pro 185 amp.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

That's been the majority of my gigs over my entire career. That's one reason I use a single wide S-12 and play lead guitar with a thumb and fingerpicks. You can just go from one to the other even in the middle of a ride with a little practice.

The band I currently have with my wife (The Long & Short of It) is basically a trio as she doesn't play an instrument. I like it much better as the only lead and always will..........JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Like some of us that learned music the hard way........

a stand alone singer with guitar was a solo act.

A singer with piano or guitar, and a bass was a duet.

A steel, bass and drummer.....was a trio.

Not until the olden days STARTED, way back in the 1980', where 3-kids with a rock drummer, key board and g'tar player.......did it become a BAND!

To me, it is not a band until it gets 4 or more musicians with the right compliment of instrumentation. Just my opinion.

Paul Frank Bloomfield · From: Greece

I forgot to mention that here in Greece all hotels,
bars and clubs have to have various licenses to be
able to have live music. If there is three or over
the license is $2358 per anum on the current rate
of exchange plus the tax on the night which is
about $50/100. Now a duo is $786 and no tax so it
does'nt take Einstien to work out who,as an owner/
operator,who they're going to engage, ok, it's a
bit harder but with the backing tracks (of which
I'm not a great fan ) which we use makes us sound like a full -blown orchestra ! still it earns a
few Euros.
All the best
Frank. Corfu
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" The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you've finished "
ZBSD-10,ZB D-11/10, Franlin Tele,Epiphone customised Les Paul, 'Fender pro 185 amp.

Larry Scott · From: Virginia, USA

I just did a job last week steel, BIAB and a great singer !

Take balls big as Flintstones Laughing

Olaf van Roggen · From: The Netherlands

Oh man, one of the best things to listen to in Austin,Texas is Justin Trevino on bass, a drummer and the Faboulous,magnificant JIM LOESSBERG on pedal steel in Austin.....incredible music and you don't have a feeling you are missing something!!

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

When I played the clubs on downtown Broadway, Nashville, back in the late ’60's, the ’70's and early ’80's; it was almost always with Bass/Vocals, Drums/Vocals and myself on PSG! I always enjoyed it and whenever a Rock~Tune had to be done, it was mostly Country-Rock and just about any bit of steel was enough to squeeze by!!!
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

Andy Greatrix · From: Edmonton Alberta

I do a single with BIAB and my trusty Musicman guitar. I play lead and sing two six-nighters a month at a local dive.
I would love to set up my steel and keyboard for some numbers, but I would have to lug them back and forth every night as the stage is right beside an exit door and the patrons are not ready for the honor system.
(I'm just getting over my third hernia operation)

Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

Paul: A few years back I posted a thread on this Forum titled "A Singer Named Cheyenne." I can't bring it back up but it was in Bar Chatter or maybe Extended Family. It too was a trio and it was a fun time for me.

The only drawback I ever felt was in later bands, where I would keep on filling the background just as I had in the trio and forget to give the lead player a break. Just another task for the learning.

Regards, Paul

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

Played back in the late 60's & with the black & white group [I was the guitar picker]
& the other picture is a group from the 80's that I worked in, I played guitar & steel, and switched with the bass player on some that he backed himself up on. It was fun & I was the 'Boss'!!

Ernie Pollock Very Happy

Danny Crelin · From: Wylie, Texas, USA

We have a trio gig that we do here in the DFW area. The only time we get to do it is on an off night from our main act, which isn't too often. Stripped down and sweet.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=154414069

The name of the group is TEN HIGH TRIO.

Danny
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Steel Player for Matt “The Cat” Hillyer
RAINS D-10 - Amp - Seat

Terry VunCannon · From: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

I played a while back in a unit with Bass, Drums, & myself on Lap Steel, & a singer up front...I called it my Lap Steel power trio......

...It was a lot of fun.

Olli Haavisto · From: Jarvenpaa,Finland

I gig with a trio w. acoustic guitar/voc, fiddle/voc and steel/dobro/weissenborn. Love it ! I did a few gigs with a voc, upright and steel trio a few years ago doing Norah Jones etc. That had me strecthing my imagination!I had to give in and play acoustic on a few songs, though Smile

Ernie, very cool Kustom cabs ! 2 12s and 3 10s ?
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Olli Haavisto
Finland

Terry Winter · From: Saskatchewan, Canada

One of the groups I play with right now has a rythm guitar/ singer, bass player/ harmony vocals and myself of steel. It's great simple and clean and very interesting having to play lead and quiet padding in the background. Love it! Boy you learn in a hurry.

Terry

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

That's my favourite way to play - just bass, drums and me. No-one else to clutter things or have their own ideas about the chords or inversions! Very Happy

Sadly, it's all too rare an occurrence , but I love it when I get the chance. Playing rhythm and fills on steel is an absorbing pursuit....
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Dave Harmonson · From: Seattle, Wa

I sometimes play 3 piece with bass, drums, and me on guitar and steel. I believe that was the idea of the original post here. Playing steel without another rhythm or lead guitar or keys. If you have a good bass player and drummer that know how to keep the groove it works, but I prefer having another lead player. Some of the best fun I've had playing is working off of someone elses licks. I've been fortunate that for the most part I've always played with good musicians. I would rather be short one player than to fill a spot with a substandard player.
Playing 3 piece I've found it sounds better if everyone simplifies their playing. Instead of a bass player thinking he has to play more to fill things up, if they just play it straight and the drummer keeps it steady and simple and then the steel plays simpler with more emphasis on melody it sounds like a band.
Playing 3 piece without drums is a different kind of thing. In this situation you're usually talking about having two lead instruments and a bass.
The volume is generally lower, but the way you approach the playing is not much different than having a full band with drums, in that there is another instrument to fill in rhythm sounds while you're playing leads.

C. Brattain · From: Balch Springs, Texas, usa

I allways worked with a bass player that sang, and a drumer that did the same and I played steel and doubled on lead guitar, more money, honey.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

drums, bass and steel sucks as far as i'm concerned. i don't like playing that way or listening. the only time i've done it was when the idiot guitar player didn't show up!

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

I think the B-3 organ trios of the 50's, 60's and 70's: Jimmy Smith, Dave "Baby" Cortez, Bill Doggett, Baby Face Willitte and others had a big influence on Day, Emmons & Chalker. Chalker worked extensively in a trio configuration. I worked with Day and I could really hear his B-3 roots on the bandstand even when he was playing 4/4 shuffles.

The steel is just made for trio work and (as Roger R. said) you don't have to think about about pre-arranged intros, chord inversions, turnarounds, endings, etc. It's all on you to play at your best.

Especially, if there's swing music involved.

joe long · From: San Antonio, Texas

Many moons ago I played in a 3 piece group in the Dallas area. It keeps you on your toes. Personally, I would rather work in a 4 piece band with lead guitar. That can be a lean and mean machine.

Jon Jaffe · From: Austin, Texas

I like it. Most of the time it has been flat top, bass, and steel. Occasionally, bass steel and drums. When I was looking for a picture of me playing three piece, I ran across this, shot with my cell phone at Ginny's in Austin.

Justin Trevino, Jim Loessberg and guess who on drums (see insert)?

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