Musicians - Losing Rhythm Guitar from the band, any tips?

Ha. I'm in the same situation, but from the other side. I wasn't working out with the band, so they parted ways with me. =)

I hope your not as much of an arrogant douche as my lead singer was. When you aren't willing to be flexible, musically, sometime things don't bend - they break.

Well, so you don't want to get a replacement. Have you bass player get a boost or chorus or even overdrive/distortion pedal to fill out the sound when you're playing - that's pretty much the traditional way of doing it, with only one guitarist live.

Having the bass player play higher up on the neck, or alternate going higher/lower on the neck, too, that way they're covering the sonic territory that you've left.

I don't think a delay would work out, unless he can tap a tempo out, but an octave, a chorus/flange/modulation, overdrive, etc should all help flesh out the sound. I'm guessing (blindly of course) that a fatty raunchy fuzz on the bass would sound pretty sweet complementing your tone.

Saul

The FIRST THING IS you need to be able to play the song so well, you don't have to think about anything but the words. If you have to think of the words and think of where to put your fingers at the same time.. you can't do it. I promised to play some small concerts during the holidays. I bought the sheet music of some new songs that I don't already have in my repertoire and that I want to include in this years concerts.. BACK IN JULY and have been working on them off and on since then. Being a professional musician is making extremely difficult pieces look easy and the ONLY way to do that is to play them until you can (and sometimes do) play them in your sleep. Which is why so many amateur pickers can't play and sing at the same time... they aren't willing to put the time into learning to really PLAY the piece.. until the own it.. before they start trying to sing it too. It is also why you seen these kids on here who want to start playing songs on the guitar before they even spend enough time to develop the muscle memory for the chords... they just think they can pick up a guitar and start playing without having to learn any of the basics... and then quit when they realize it hurts their little fingers.

In order to be a successful Lead Guitarist, you have to know what you're playing. Traditionally in rock music, a rhythm guitarist is necessary for a proper tone.

You can play lead by itself. It's a lot harder to feel the emotion and play the music...and a delay pedal just won't give you enough. I'd suggest finding another guitarist, which shouldn't be hard considering it's rhythm, or to intergrate your playing more with bass.

Have you thought about adding some other chord instrument to the mix? A keyboard player or a horn section perhaps?

If you're looking to keep your same performing forces, maybe you want to check out the styles of rock trios: Hendrix, Rage Against the Machine, Sublime, Nirvana, and/or Explosions in the Sky.

Best of luck,

Jared Brickman

http://www.jbrickman.com/

http://jbrickman.wordpress.com/

Well..i completely agree what Jordan said...A band should have atleast two guitarists...(out of which one should be rhythm guitarist) as handing out lead and the rhythm at the same time is possible and people can manage to do it...but,if there are two guitarists...personally,i feel...the impact would be awesome...so..try to find a new rhythm guitarist...Else,you can fill the rhythm as well as lead..

Use your ears. Sounds obvious really, but it is so important. I take it that you are a loud band - how good is your fold back? You must be able to hear each other or it just won't work!

just play a fuller lead. and fill in the missing rythem with the bass.

zeppelin, Hendrix, rush, no rhythm guitar. surely you can do it.