Musical Help!!

IRE_Jordan

Okay so I recently got really into music, I thought myself how to play guitar and piano. I found some friends and started a band, now here is the problem, in the band we have a pianist, a guitarist, a bassist and a vocalist, and we cant quite figure out how to make all the instruments work together, everything we come out with is too soft because of the piano and our female vocalists voice, any help? Also out bassist is still learning so I write him tabs, how can I best implement the bass in a song. I'd like to be able to play indie/ alternative rock stuff with what we have if that helps... Thanks in advance

RealSneil

Might be getting very obvious here but I'll do my best to help.

Think of each instrument as having a function in the song. I don't know if you're playing original music or covers but the same guidelines apply. The bass will usually play the lowest sounds in the song and also usually play the root notes of the chords with a very basic rhythm that will be suggested by the song itself.

Piano and guitar are two instruments that can serve the same function as filling out the middle of the sound spectrum and so it is easy for them to get in the way of each other. If you can, try to pick one instrument to play chords rhythmically and one to compliment this with melodies that don't interfere with the vocal line. The piano or guitar could even mimic the vocals which should sit on top of everything. If you can't make out the vocals clearly amongst all the instruments, you may be too cluttered in the arrangement.

Using this method will hopefully give you a good low, middle and high parts to your sound and is a very basic way of arranging an ensemble.

>In short, if one thing is playing low, make something else play high and something else fill out the middle.

>One more thing, don't have everything playing all the time, leave off a guitar until the chorus for example.

Hope that helps and good luck with the songs and the band.

IRE_Jordan

Thank you, I really appreciate the help, also just so you know we are covering at the moment but hoping to break into writing very soon, thanks again

musicvine

This is just a suggestion as I understand a producer, songwriter or artist has their own creative way of working.

Every song created has its own instruments waiting to be played, to meet with the mood, style and story of the song, if there is one. Some of us may find that it's always good to listen to the melody line first, several times, to see if you 'hear' the leading instrument. Then from there you can add the next instrument and the next, each having a place to come in. In a way it's like fashion, it's important that the entire outfit matches, without being too toned up, or down. All the best to you and your band, and happy music-making days to you all.