Function/cover band number of guitarists

Keefy

I much prefer the space that you get from being the only guitarist in a band, with or without a keyboard. To me, the advantages of having two guitars to play different parts are outweighed by the considerable effort required to work out those parts, divvy them between the players, and then play them without musical toe-treading.

guitarcookie1

slacker said:
I was Tom he was Mike.

I’d always rather be Mike in that context. 

slacker

guitarcookie1 said:

slacker said:
I was Tom he was Mike.

I’d always rather be Mike in that context. 

I'm nice like that

Lestratcaster

I think I'll stick to a rock covers band then eh! I've always played in 2 guitar original bands so joining a covers band as the sole guitarist would be very different for me.

Nikc

3 would be the correct answer - which is why so many are so meh

HAL9000

p90fool said:

My experience generally with people who play "school" instruments on a semi-pro or amateur basis is that they have no idea how a band works and zero initiative. 

I assume by ‘school’ instruments that you mean people who have learnt things like, say, trumpet or flute in dedicated trumpet or flute lessons (usually during or after school).

If so, then I agree. They usually insist on playing the melody (loudly) in unison with the vocals, rather than giving the singer space to do his or her job. No idea of playing fills or when to back off a bit.

I’m sure that when I was starting out on guitar that I probably overplayed, but as soon as I got together with others then I soon learnt to play less, and certainly learnt that giving the singer enough room was a huge part of how things should be done. (I tend to like players like The Edge or Keith Richards who see their job as supporting the singer.) Unfortunately there are some people that never learn this.

uncledick

We have 2 guitars, bass, drums, and 3 vocalists.  We have a good laugh but even the best gigs like NYE are only £50 each.  Won't be giving up my day job.  Basic keys would be really useful though.  Listen to anything which is even vaguely 'current' and you'll probably hear a piano.  The other guitarist and I sometimes play as a duo which means we're learning to compliment each other quite well.  The worst thing is when two guitarists play the same thing.

Fez

I've always liked playing in two guitar bands so long as you have your shit together working out the parts is fun. My band is six piece bass, drums, two guitars and two singers. Male singer is also a good bass player so that can get us out of trouble. Female singer also plays sax and percussion. So it is quite a flexible situation as we can gig with either singer or both. Falling into the same territory as @Lestratcaster ; I do a bit of backing vocals.
It is rare that both guitars play the same chord inversion and we both play solos.