What Is The Exact Number Of Band Members To Make A Great Band?

Drummer
Keyboard Player
Bass Player /Singer
Lead Guitarist
Singer

Deep Purple MK III

The definitive band line up

 

Well, since a lot of my favorite rock music has piano*, synth, etc., I think keys is pretty important. In fact, if I had to go to a four piece with one instrumentalist singing lead, I'd dump the rhythm guitar and keep the keys.

Fact is, it's hard to find good keyboard players where I live. It was somewhat difficult in Seattle, too, when I lived there.

*Think about the beginning of "old time rock and roll".

 

4 is the correct number. The Beatles had it exactly right.

 

The Doors did it with keyboards rather than rhythm guitar. The four of them made a lot of good music without the addition of horns, strings or back up singers.

 

If you think any Beatle song with saxes, strings, keys, sitars, piccolo trumpets is better than any drums/guitars/bass/vocals Beatles song, then you are not a rock and roller. "And Your Bird Can Sing" is drums, two guitars, vocals, and bass...and it is perfect.

 

The number is really quite variable, isn’t it?

 

Times change. There was a time when the US would promote people moving here from other countries. Those days are gone. Our needs changed. There was a time when you could spend a few months running moonshine and find yourself driving in Nascar. There was a time when three or four guys could become moderately proficient on their guitars/drums and have a good chance of becoming rock stars.

There was a time when you could hang a sign on your bar saying "live music" and people would flock to the place.

Those days are gone.

I've said for over 20 years that being in a band is like being on a softball team, except you are paid enough money to pay for your gas and some of your equipment. And yes, some people make money playing music, just like some people make money playing baseball, but still, for most people, even those that are really talented, we need day jobs.[/QUOTE]

 

Yes. You got it.

And here's the thing. When the boys made the band a five piece by bringing in Yoko, they broke up a very short time later.

Here's the band as a five piece. They went from the greatest band ever (magic number 4) to a band that broke up when they went to the number 5 members.

 

The Who, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and scores of other bands, disagree with you.

 

I don't think so. The number is six. It's just that a lot of people are wrong.

 

One, if it's Jeff Lynne ...

 

No, 4 is a constant. See my post above about what happened when The Beatles tried to be a 5 piece. They quickly imploded and split up.

 

Uh, live Doors had no bass player. And Robbie played plenty rhythm guitar and lead guitar, live and in studio. Just a little easier to do both in the studio.

 

I agree. Again, having been in over a dozen bands, I can tell you that a lead singer that is a GOOD front man is a game changer. People ignore that "front man" aspect of being a good band. It's not just music. It's entertainment. If we just want music, we can play a record, etc.

 

4
Joey, Johnny, DeeDee, and Tommy

 

Revolution has a piano and it rocks pretty f****g hard pal.

 

Who was bigger, those guys or The Beatles who settled on the magic number of 4?

 

Though I agree with your premise from a practical perspective, I think that case wasn't about the number, per se.

Reminds me of Spinal Tap.

 

I have a version without the piano and it is better.

 

Oh so that's why The Beatles broke up!

 

Someone already mentioned The White Stripes.

Also...





But, for two member bands, they typically can't rely on just two people to play their music live...Simon and Garfunkel, etc...all need a minimal number of musicians to make the music happen in real life.

So, three is my magic number. I'm not a Nirvana fan, but they could make a whole lotta noise with just three members. Green day, as well. So, three, minimum for performing.

Four seems to be the classic number.

 

And what version would that be, and is it better just because of the absence of piano?

 

If I average out my favourites it's 4.5

 

I need to mention that when I think of the "sweet spot" of band members, I'm only talking live. In the studio, Simon and Garfunkel can sound like a five piece backed by a full orchestra - because they are sometimes.

For me, the scope of the question is "live only".

 

Just John on his acoustic doing a demo. No piano. Piano ruins the song.