Opinions wanted, what's the most significant part in a band?

[guitargod09]

Originally Posted by BannedPromotions

Regardless of the style or age, the most significant (and vital) part of any band is COMMUNICATION.

IMHO...

That is the TRUTH! If you don't have communication, you are screwed! That means lack of contact with eachother, which means less practices and less devotion. There are less talented and creative ideas being thrown around in order to make another awesome song! It's possible that someone might have ideas to improve the band as a whole, or even just keeping ideas inside can ultimately wreck a band. A band is like any other relationship, you need communication in order for it to work! You can't live with 'em, but you can't live without 'em.

[jpeek345]

In all actuality, you can determine this yourself.
If you have equal parts songwriting in your group then there's a whole playing field thats leveled.
Your expectations of each other are alot less unrealistic.
When everyone writes then you've got all the instrumental roles staring you in the face.
If you're an early George Harrison then the band will forgive you for posing with a guitar and your back to the audience for only a short time.
If you adopt the principle of "build your own fan base" for the band (see gym class heroes) before you get to the negotiating table with your venture capitalists, then it's clear -people actually like what you're offering and so will the venture capitalists. It's good for their ROI.

This is if you know how to assume the principles your (potential) managers have assumed long ago but are now operating on the faith, drive, and results to make a "winning band". Whatever that is.

On a music only tip, the voice is the "primary instrument". All other instruments were developed to support it.
It's only natural that we relate through lyrics- Words carried out by the voice.

I claimed to never listen to lyrics. This was only half true. Lyrics seep into the subconscious at a rate faster than our present level of awareness.
We are in a state of being entertained and therefore vulnerable. Our subconscious laps up everything including the lyrics- whether we are on every consonant and vowel or not.

[pdalmolin]

Originally Posted by lolgreg

AGREED AGREED AGREED. LaBrie was good on Images and Words. That's it! He BLOWSSSSSSSSSSS!

I listen to Opeth and other forms of death metal (not anti-Christian though, listening to anti-Christian death metal and believing in Jesus is like walking around with a shirt that says I'M A VEGAN with three Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger in your mouth (for non-comedical purposes, of course). I also watch horror films and read horror stories. Enjoying fantasy that is about a certain topic is fine. Supporting the injury of others through music isn't.

There is plenty of love to go around at an Iron Maiden or rock show. At least the better ones. I don't enjoy going to shows where people are stepping all over eachother and punching eachother senselessly. I got kicked in the face at a Hatebreed showl; Nothing broke or was scarred, but please, have respect for other people.

Uh... I've never been to the Vatican and I don't really care to, but again, Christian Youth Conventions are life changing events. Especially since I was brought up without religion and became religious.

Also, BASSIST. Bassist is the most important member of a band =).

-Greg

So you go to a HATEBREED show, get kicked in the face and you're surprized about that? Let's continue with your analogy with the cheeseburger; If you fry a bacon cheeseburger wearing no shirt, you're probably going to get a fried nipple.

[EnSkorSang]

I think the most striking thing in any composition is the melody. What the melody is played on depends on the piece - if its a pop song then the vocals are most important, and in most cases the lyrics are tied into the melody - its easier to write a great melody to great lyrics than to shitty ones.

As for the backing in a pop songs - have you ever noticed how the best ones often are pretty simple? Look at Coldplays 'Violet Hill' - not everyones cup of tea Im sure, but its already a huge smash in the UK - the backing is mostly just someone banging out piano chords.

But then turn to later Beatles songs or the like - they often had quite complicated harmonies and chord changes, but are the later hits worse than the early ones? If anything I think they are more interesting.....

So.....in pop, I think melody is the king, a simple backing can make the melody stand out making the song appear simple, beautiful, uncluttered. A more complicated backing, treated right (not going OTT) however, can make the song more interesting...

But in Classical music, often there is a whole orchestra exchanging melodic lines. The melody is still king, but a whole plethora of instruments are used to make it up, and trying to transfer this to one instrument just isnt the same. Prime example - 'The Sorcerors Apprentice' by Dukas. (The part in fantasia with mickey mouse ) I have the piano music to this, and compared to the full orchestral version, its really, really shit.

The best/biggest songs are those which stick in your head, and you hum to yourself. You can only hum one part at a time, so naturally it needs a good hook/melody!

So to me, the most significant part of a band is the person writing the melodies...although if x person can only write good melodies if x person supplies good lyrics. If you all write the melodies together than you are all important

I agree with everyone whos said bass is very important - but there are plenty of bass players out there, if yours sucks, you can fairly easily find another if you are writing great tunes. Its much harder to find someone with an ear for a melody.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by izzme

when i first started the guy who could buy the pa was the most important in the band! yuk yuk. if his playing sucked i would spend the time it took to get him up to par. no pa, no play for pay.

I think this has a lot of truth in it!

For me, the most significant part of a band is in one word...... EGO.

Too much of it kills the band. It seems to come out when writing original material.

[harkowitz]

good stuff in here.

i think there is a lot to the melody is king argument.

ego killed my last band.

[j3emt]

For me it's what ever is driving the rhythm weather it is the drums, bass, piano, clapping hands, stompin feet, 2 sticks banging together or what ever. I don't think I could recite the words to any of my favorite songs and I don't think I would ever care to.

[Van Gell]

Well i'm a guitarist, when I play music, the only vocals I actually hear are the really catchy hook words, otherwise I really only hear notes coming from the mouth..if that makes sense. However, when I actually listen to music when im not playing.. it's so true.. i hear the intro of the song and the lyrics.. if the lyrics are bad i usually dont listen.
There is a case for argument against this tho, Van Halen. Lots of thier lyrics are really really bad.. but the way the lines are delivered with the music makes them good.
Go figure.

[Vulconizer]

What's the most significant part in a band?

The part that makes people feel something.....

[Van Gell]

Originally Posted by Vulconizer

What's the most significant part in a band?

The part that makes people feel something.....

Yes I missed the point of the topic there, for me, when playing in a band, it's the vibe of the collective. Never mind how good any one particular thing is, if the vibe isn't there, something needs to change.