What instruments make up a country band?

Jim West · Posted 13 May 2003 7:52 am

I was thinking that if I could choose the instrumentation for a truely country band without having to worry about the economics what would they be?

OK, here's my lineup -

PEDAL STEEL GUITAR (maybe two of them, one or both players could also double on Dobro or PedaBro and banjo)

Acoustic piano (maybe some electric keys .... maybe)

Fiddle (two of 'em, one or both could double on mandolin)

Acoustic guitar (two also 6 & 12 strg. and hi strung)

Electric guitar (maybe two of them -Telecasters only)

Baritone (tic tac) guitar & 6-strg. bass

Drums

Bass (electric and upright)

Lead vocalist (male or female)

Background vocalist (at least three - males/females mixed)

Well, how does it look? Did I miss anything?

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

You'll just be missing one thing....gigs. With a band that size (16 pieces, when counting 2 steels, two fiddles, two acoustic guitars & two "teles only".....) I doubt you'll get any. Well, you did say, "without worrying about the economics..." Would be a great band if it could be done right....In reality, I'd hate to be the bandleader of that many musicians, or be the one to try and book it.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 13 May 2003 at 09:35 AM.]

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

It wouldn't hurt if one of the players or singers could double on harmonica.

The button accordian comes in handy every now and then, too. Flaco isn't always available.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Jim West · Posted 13 May 2003 10:02 am

I didn't think about the harmonca ... good call. Now the button accordian ....Hmmm ....I'll have to give that one some thought. I guess if your including Tex Mex in your set list.

Yeah, I did forget about the bandleader. Someone has got to bring the beer.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

It wouldn't hurt if one of the members could double as 'FINANCIER'.

(yeah, I know you said money's no object)
BUT . . .
. . . I'll take mine 4 piece, please
GTR BASS DRUMS STEEL
Any more than that gets too complicated -- musically AND OTHERWISE.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 13 May 2003 at 11:51 AM.]

Joe Miraglia · From: Jamestown N.Y.

Karaoke Machine and Drums

. Joe

Gino Iorfida · From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

I would say a good bare-bones band would be:
1- Drummer
2- bassist
3- lead guitarist (he better be playin' a tele!)
4- rythm guitarist (alternating between acoustic and electric depending on the song, and could also double on mandolin if need be)
5- keyboard player (if he could double on fiddle and acoustic guitar as well)
6- steel player
and vocals split among the rest, I think you would have a nice barebones country band. YOu'd have enough instuments to fill in any gaps needed, yet not too many to get clutter.

Joe Miraglia · From: Jamestown N.Y.

Gino--I work with a six piece band that has the six instruments that you mentioned (our leader does not play a Tele). We have a lead singer with three backup singers and our keyboard plays the fiddle sound so we are pretty well rounded. It seems to be paying off--we can do most cover songs. We will be playing in Pennsylvania on Saturday night in Titusville (near Erie). Joe

Gino Iorfida · From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Joe,
I know where titusville is. I grew up about an hour southeast/east of there. Wish I could get up that way to hear ya'll, but my band (basic lineup I mentioned, minus one 6 stringer -- I end up playing lead, rythm (acoustic and electric), and steel with the band though... one more guy would be nice!).
Best of luck

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

Accoustic guitar.
Bass guitar.
3 piece drummer.
Fiddle.
Steel guitar.

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

In my opinion, the quintessential country band would consist of:

1) A lead vocalist (male or female), preferably one who can strum an acoustic guitar

2) Electric guitar

3) Fiddle

4) Piano

5) Steel guitar

6) Bass

7) Drums

8) Four background vocalists (two male, two female - tenor, baritone, soprano, alto)

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

No horns ever!

Steel
Acoustic guitar
Upright bass/electric bass
Electric guitar
piano
one fiddle
drums

female vocalist/male vocalist
I prefer the female vocalist over the male because most of the males sing the same songs.

Joe Miraglia · From: Jamestown N.Y.

Frank all the female vocalist I know sing CRAZY

. Joe

Harry Dietrich · From: Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.

When I had my band we had electronic drums, male lead singer who played rhythm guitar, female lead singer, bass player, and me, who played lead and steel guitar, and mandolin. so we had a pretty good mix in our songs. Some of the clubs we played in had very small stages, and we had to squeeze to get all of us on, so you would never get a 16 piece band on one......half of them would be standing on the dance floor. LOL!!

Happy pickin'

Harry

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Steel guitar (all except Dobro-relegate that to bluegrass)

Bass

Rythym Guitar

Fiddle

IF they can afford 5..Lead Guitar, IF he KNOWS instinctively when NOT to play.

carl

Dave Grothusen · From: Scott City, Ks

Sounds to me like Ricky and C. Dixon have it nailed down.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Jim - In my part of the world, ya just gotta play a little Tex Mex!

Do you remember those funny-looking little reed instruments that Stevie Wonder used to play? You blow into one end and the air goes through reeds, like on a harmonica. The instrument has black and white keys, arranged length ways, like a small piano.

Our guitar player plays one of those on our Tex Mex tunes and it sounds very much like a button accordian. It works well on Texas Tornado tunes.

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

It takes only four plus a lead singer for an ideal country band:

1. Bass___acoustical (always)

2. F-hole rhythm___acoustical of course

3. Electric lead guitar___no soild-body (ever}

4. Electric nonpedal steel guitar.

5. Lead vocalist___with round-hole acoustical guitar, preferably Martin D-28

Drums and electric bass seem to always compete with lead instruments and vocalist. This is the reason so many bands sound so terrible. If there is a situation where more volume is needed, the acoustical instruments can be miked.

I don't like to see any member of a country band seated on stage. I like to play pedal steel and I like to sometimes hear other pedal steelers play; but for my listening pleasure I prefer the above.

Rick

Jim West · Posted 14 May 2003 5:35 am

It looks like this post has turned to a "less is more" thing. I like it!

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I played VFW's and Eagles clubs for years with a rhythm gtr/lead vocalist, bass, drums, and me. As long as the singer knew the words and either the bass player or I was familiar with the progression, we'd go for it. I got lots of practice and we got few complaints.

My current 'main band' is also a four piece, with lead guitar, bass/lead vocalist, drums, and me. I have played in 6, 7, and even 8 piece bands that sounded no better.

If I had my 'druthers', I'd be working lounges with steel, bass, and drums.

The logistical, musical, and personal conflicts are multiplied the more people are involved. BUT some music may dictate that size or array of ensemble. I prefer small groups hands down. It is critical that ALL FOUR pull their weight, but the KISS principle applies very well. The simpler the better.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Electric Bass...
Drums...
Pedal Steel...
Lead guitar who can double on fiddle...

Ideally, The four musicians above should be able to carry the vocals, but if not, you may also need to hire a "star", preferably a female, to sing.

Let the "star" use a guitar for a prop if he or she insists, but never let them get anywhere near an amplifier!

www.genejones.com

Scott Henderson · From: Camdenton, Missouri, USA

In the group I play in we have eight peices.
6 guys
2 girls
evryone plays at least 3 instruments and we have guitar piano steel fiddle( 5 at one time aahhhh!!!)bass drums banjo mandolin and I myself have just added a new instrument to my wepitwar>>>goard!( yep pretty proud of myself!!)
Yep you guess it we're an opry.
Scott

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

PSG / Dobro / lapsteel / pedalbro
Mandolin / fiddle / bazouki
Fiddle / A+E guitar / bass
E guitar / banjo / bass
Upright and 6 string bass / mandolin / lapsteel / dulcimer < moi
drums / baratone tuba / jewsharp
piano/organ/ diatonic squeezebox
F soprano singer / A guitar

Everybody sings! Everybody doubles.
Of course you never specified EXACTLY which country...

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 14 May 2003 at 03:14 PM.]

Tony LaCroix · From: Austin, Texas, USA

Five or more good-looking females playing various exotic percussion instruments- And me with a telecaster and a case of beer.

Johan Jansen · From: Europe

http://listen.to/cashondelivery

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Click on the pic!

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