Another musical thread; my new band

[Top_Cat]

Well here's the deal.

I'm in the process of starting a band to play nothing but our own stuff which comprises the following;

Guitar - Me
Bass
Drums
Keys
Female singer
Rapper

The aim is to have a musical style mix of Jamiroquai, Public Enemy, System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine. The basic idea is musical layers i.e. not just having the bass follow the drums or guitar blindly but have point/counter-point lines, etc.

I've started scoring some rhythm tracks with the aim being to jam with the bass, drums and keys, recording the jams and then coming up with coherent ideas to present to the vocalists so they can add to them, add their ideas or help re-write.

The question is; I'm interested in opinions on the aims of some of my guitar parts. With that mix and those sorts of influences, do people think a REALLY heavy, power-chord-based guitar style is required (a la System of a Down) or more a funky, riff-based RatM would sound better with that mix? I'm in a bit of a dilemma because I don't want the music to be too heavy so as to drown the female singer (although Skunk Anansie does alright with her style of music) but I want it to be pretty intense.

Thoughts?

EDIT: I'm not expecting anyone to be fully musical theory literate in answering this. Any and all opinions are welcome.

[Mister Wright]

If you want the bass to be doing something different from the guitar/drums rythum etc, you need to go more with the Jamiroquai style, unless you go for a bass orientated sound - sought of like Queens of the Stoneage.

What you are doing sound interesting even though I HATE System of the Down(syndrome).

If you can get a funky groove Jamiroquai sound mixed with a RATM sound that would be very interesting indeed.

[Top_Cat]

Oh yeah forgot to mention something; when we lay down some tracks in a demo, I'll be putting links to some MP3's up here for the edification of the listening public. See what you think and all that.

[Langeveldt]

I can do the Bass as well, although Im so rusty on the guitar because I don't practise enough.. wouldn't make it into a proper band unless they were barrel scraping!

[Legglancer]

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

Well here's the deal.

I'm in the process of starting a band to play nothing but our own stuff which comprises the following;

Guitar - Me
Bass
Drums
Keys
Female singer
Rapper

The aim is to have a musical style mix of Jamiroquai, Public Enemy, System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine. The basic idea is musical layers i.e. not just having the bass follow the drums or guitar blindly but have point/counter-point lines, etc.

This is quite common in Jazz instrumentals ...... Bela Fleck's bass guitarist does it quite a bit in concert. Also some eastern groups like Shakti consistantly talkes conversing between instruments to another level.




I've started scoring some rhythm tracks with the aim being to jam with the bass, drums and keys, recording the jams and then coming up with coherent ideas to present to the vocalists so they can add to them, add their ideas or help re-write.

The question is; I'm interested in opinions on the aims of some of my guitar parts. With that mix and those sorts of influences, do people think a REALLY heavy, power-chord-based guitar style is required (a la System of a Down) or more a funky, riff-based RatM would sound better with that mix? I'm in a bit of a dilemma because I don't want the music to be too heavy so as to drown the female singer (although Skunk Anansie does alright with her style of music) but I want it to be pretty intense.

It all depends on the song and what kind of effect you would intend to have. Usually chord progressions will enhance the vocalist and if you are playing lead riff while the the vocalist is singing you perhaps play on a another octave on a lower Db level.



Thoughts?

EDIT: I'm not expecting anyone to be fully musical theory literate in answering this. Any and all opinions are welcome.

[Top_Cat]

This is quite common in Jazz instrumentals ...... Bela Fleck's bass guitarist does it quite a bit in concert. Also some eastern groups like Shakti consistantly talkes conversing between instruments to another level.

Oh yeah but I've been in those sorts of ensembles before. Looking for something with a harder edge.

It all depends on the song and what kind of effect you would intend to have. Usually chord progressions will enhance the vocalist and if you are playing lead riff while the the vocalist is singing you perhaps play on a another octave on a lower Db level.

That's one alternative I guess. Depends on the feel of the song I guess. Was just looking for peoples'opinions based on what they generally like to hear. Only so I can pervert it, of course.

[Legglancer]

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

Oh yeah but I've been in those sorts of ensembles before. Looking for something with a harder edge.



That's one alternative I guess. Depends on the feel of the song I guess. Was just looking for peoples'opinions based on what they generally like to hear. Only so I can pervert it, of course.

Lol well imo music has no hard and fast rules ...... whatever sounds good to you ....

[LongHopCassidy]

What are you christening your band?