One Guitarist or Two?

[BigMesa]

My band is kind of in a delima right now, a few months back we fired the other guitarist. We have been looking for another guitarist in the local area with the talent we need to keep up with the rest of the band. No such luck so far. Since then I have been the only guitarist and we have been alot more productive and the sound has gotten alot tighter without having to deal with two guitars of two different tones battleing for airspace. This is probably due to the size of the practice space we use. The only downside I see with having one guitarist is that when I play a solo I have to use delay to sort of fill in the gaps that another guitarist would fill. So from your experience what is better to have? One guitarist who can do it all, or two to split lead/rythm? Which has a better live sound?

 

[cvansickle]

My 2 cents:

If you're happy and productive with the way things are now, why bother getting another guitar player? Sure, things could be even better, but they could be even worse than before too. I wouldn't spoil this new great dynamic you've got going now. Go for what you know!

 

[Russ]

I second the idea to not bother yourself finding a second guitarist. Also, I would not worry too much about filling the gaps that a second guitarist would. Have your bass player play something complimentary to your solo that still follows the song's structure or that at least fits. Sometimes more is not better. Besides, your playing will stand out more and again you will not be fighting for bandwidth and presence. Personally I like a single guitar player if you can handle the dynamic. It will push your playing to a higher level. Sometimes 2 guitarists can sound a little too much especially live. Though harmonies can be nice along with the added punch. You can get an effect to apreggiate or octave your sound though and it will always be right on time. That might be an option with your delay. I guess it depends upon what you guys are playing though as far as what will sound better. With one guitarist you will get a straighter sound. Rock sounds great with one guitarist. Hard Rock too. Even Metal can sound great with one guitarist if your songwriting is capable. One advantage of being the only guitarist is that you have more autonomy over what you play. Sounds like you are happier with just yourself playing guitar. I would leave it as is. Another thing to consider is that there isn't really a need to fill any gaps while you are soloing or lead filling because you want those moments to stand out and not be muddled by another guitarist carrying some rhythm track. If you want, have your bass player play higher up the neck or do something more dynamic. Consider it a time for him to play something else while you solo, almost like you both get a break from the song. Or he can just play a bass line that mimics what you imagine the other guitarist would play in that part of the song.

 

[Russ]

Oh yeah, you can always prerecord a rhythm track to be played during your solo if you must have the sound of another guitarist. Sampling can be your friend. The only drawback is that you are stuck playing at that tempo and for that many bars so you may want to have more than one recording to fit your needs.

 

[JamesD]

If things are going good with just you playing, i would say don't mess with that. 2 guitar players is great but like you mentioned, it is a lot to factor in as well.

 

[Brewski]

If you think that your music sounds better with another guitarist, keep looking, but remember chemistry between all of your band members is important. If you can't seem to find a guitarist that fits, then keep doing what you're doing now, or sample a rhythym track.

 

[Red Barchetta]

I agree with the others...to an extent...if it's working, don't mess with it. But for me personally, I like playing in a 2 guitar band. The other guitarist has different strengths and weaknesses than me, so we compliment each other. Also, after playing together for about 10 years, we know each other's styles pretty well. In addition to that, out tones are different enough to not try and grab the same "space", and if we are plaing similar tones for a particular song, we'll play in different positions from each other, or do partial chords....it also fattens things up when we take solos, as well as making it easier for me to sing and play.

RB

 

[riddick]

I'd say, don't worry about another guitarist, in previous bands where l've been the only guitarist, the bass player would nomally use a boost/EQ or something to fatten the sound when l'd break into a solo, or DUg from King's X would use some distorian on his bass.

If it's all working out fine as is, why screw around with it, leave the line up as is, but from my experiences l don't like being in a band with another guitarist, cause my experiences have been, the 2nd guitarist was the singer, and was a very very limited guitar player and start and stop playing when ever they feel like, and l'd crack it, there's no point stop playing guitar halfway through a chord progression, l'd rather them not play at all.

Or,

They are great guitarists, but with no band experience, and don't know when to play appropriatly, like trying to shred in the middle of a verse (UUUGGGG).

BUt if you wanted to bring someone else in, maybe a keyboard player (depending on what type of music you play), l play rock type of music and find keyboards sound better than a second guitarist.

I hope this helps,

Riddick.

 

[JamesD]

That isn't a bad idea depending on the style of music you play. Bringing in a keyboard player will add to everything and in most cases can sound really good. Also the bass player playing through a solo break with some overdrive is a good idea as well.

 

[overwater]

i think sometimes two guitars can clutter the sound up unless its two guitarists with different sounds and they are not fighting for the same frequency, i think it sometimes works when yu come to a solo, instead of going hell for leather and try and carry on where the vocals left off ,its sometimes better to create a different mood and add some space in your playin then reach the climax as you go through the solo, by doing this youve got somewhere to go without relying on another guitar or keyboard for harmonic intrest

 

[riddick]

i think sometimes two guitars can clutter the sound up unless its two guitarists with different sounds and they are not fighting for the same frequency, i think it sometimes works when yu come to a solo, instead of going hell for leather and try and carry on where the vocals left off ,its sometimes better to create a different mood and add some space in your playin then reach the climax as you go through the solo, by doing this youve got somewhere to go without relying on another guitar or keyboard for harmonic intrest

I think 2 guitarists playing the same chord progression is just one big cluster f%^k, one guitarists playing rhythm and the other doing appripriate melodic playing can sound real nice, or the foo fighters trick of doing octaves underneath sounds great.

But yeah 2 guitarist with different voiced amps is a whole heap better, maybe like a 6L6 and EL34 combination, in a old band, the rhythm guitarist used a Line 6 spider 2 and l used a Peavey 5150ii, the Line 6 sound like **** by itself, but added a nice flavour when all the band was playing, and all the band mixed properly.

Riddick.

 

[Guitarzan]

"Racer X" 'nuff said.

 

[Cleekster]

My opinion is this(i've been in both 1 and 2 guitar bands)....i'm a Melodic Metal guy.

one guitar gives the freedom to "chunk" however you want and to do guitar fills however you want but when you play lead the song will hit a brick wall unless youre a shredder or youre bassist is......i mean really when you are the only guitarist and you solo i expect more than some lamea$$ 3 doors down solo.(think Kryptonite)
However you aren't fighting the other guitarists tone for space...BUT...your tone has to be KILLER!!!!

with 2 guitars.......for me personally 2guitars playing the same riff cannot be topped by anything...it's way more powerful to me than even 1 guitar and a keyboard..but in a 2 guitar band if you are going to almost have to have the same brand of amp or you'll just be fighting each other......i'm currently in this situation right now.

I prefer to be the only guitarist myself because i have the chops and melodic sensability to make it work and i don't like to be tied down to chunking a certian way or whatever.

I agree if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[FunkenGrooven]

Well as many have said it does depend on the type of music you play. It takes chops buy all members if your gonna be a power trio because when you go to your lead break and that big power chord rythm drops out it can be as if a black hole just sucked all the life out of your tune. Bass and drums gotta hold it down or it just blows. Of course I play with a keyboardist and an acustic guitar but I dug the likes of David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) Neil Schon (Journey) guys like that. If your a Metalica kind of guy I would agree you need two distinct tones and the willingness to see your band as a team were each member plays whatever part makes the overall sound the best. Nothing worse than 2 jagoffs fighting for solo's. If your the only one on the other hand then you don't have that prob I guess. Good luck. 8)