Band Psychology
Posted: Sunday, December 30, 2007
by Richard Revelstoke
http://www.revolvingdoorsradio.com
Who are these guys we hang out with? Are musicians just a bunch of hapless misfits who don't want a real job? How do we, as songwriters fit into this band world? The best way to an understanding of the people we work with and make music with is to look at each member of the band and develop a model of their behavior. This may, of course seem stereotypical, but the following commentaries are at best, generalizations and are not meant to be conclusive, only indicative. There are many exceptions to these cases. (Now I'm really started to sound like Sigmund, yah?)
The canines of this world rule this world. They like law and order and submit to authority and love rules and regulations. The felines of this world are often indifferent to all these worldly restraints. They want to, like, mellow out man. Relax. Sleep in, enjoy life and live for the moment. The canines love routine, the 9 to 5, where the felines come and go as they please, set their own hours and stay out late.
Now how does all this relate to music? Oh, I am so glad you asked that. You see, as you probably already guessed, musicians are feline by nature. Musicians are cats! They like to stay up all night, they are fond of long sleeps and short naps and they love to wail! Is this nuts? Well, listen to this: cats are also highly spiritual animals, being symbolized throughout history with all kinds of spiritual meanings. Cats don't like rules, they are difficult to train and for the most part they do what they want . They also loooove affection and warm bodies to sleep with. They are highly independent and sometimes a bit anti-social. Cats tend to be cranky, high-strung and aloof. Cats are cool. And now to get on with our little psycho-analysis, please make yourself comfortable here on the couch and we will begin. (heeheehee...)
The drummer is usually the one who is hardest to understand. Drummers do what they want when they want and it is at times difficult to get a drummer to cooperate. They are usually uncomplicated, straight forward people. Due to the physicality of drumming, the drummer is usually the athletic type. He wants to bang on de drums all day. Drummers know where it is at. They are no nonsense types with a strong spine and iron will. Don't mess with a drummer cause once they've made up their mind, that's it, game over.
The bass player is the glue of the band. A good bass player is worth his weight in gold. Due to the chronic shortage of bass players (relative to the overabundance of guitarists) he is the hardest to find. Four-strings with no chords is one of the easiest instruments to learn and also one of the hardest to get good at. Bass playing is often a thankless and unrewarding task. The bass is the bottom and many times when a band is cranking you can't even hear him, cause he's lost in the mix. But you sure notice when he's not there. The whole strength and power of the song is lost without a big low end, so be good to your bass player.
He is often ignored and under rated. Many bass players are frustrated guitarists but because of their humble nature he will often perform a more serving role for the benefit of the band. He (or she) is often the "mother" of the group, possessing a kind heart and giving nature. It takes greater dedication and practice to become an accomplished bassist. There is little opportunity to shine and where all the other players in the band have ample opportunity to strut their stuff, the bassist is left holding down the bottom nestled comfortable in the back with the drummer.
Bassists often suffer from a mild inferiority complex and a wannabe attitude. Usually passive people, an accomplished virtuoso bassist is a rare gem. Overcoming many years of servitude, his character is probably the most refined and well-rounded of the group.
The rhythm guitarist. Often easy going, happy with his (or her) axe, "doesn't want to make it cry or sing" to quote Mark Knopfler (Sultans of Swing). Because rock music is centered around the rhythm guitar, he or she likes being the hub of the wheel without necessarily grabbing all the attention (see the Singer below). Difficult to peg as a rhythm guitarist is not too much this and not too much that. Sometimes eccentric or odd, yet rarely obnoxious or conceited. Usually likeable, friendly, but not a pushover. He's kinda que sera sera play that funky music white boy. Kinda yep kinda nope and it beats me if you can analyze him or her cause they aint telling. Sorry to be so vague, but vague often sums up the Rhythm Guitarist....so on with the show.
And speaking of egomaniacs, say hello to Mr. Ego himself, the lead guitarist.
He is often so impressed with himself it is just not funny. He can play for hours and hours and hours, in the basement, in the garage, on stage, in your face - it doesn't matter. He loves to play. And if he is good, and knows he is good, he is the king. Nobody can blow an audience away like a great lead guitarist. Try and get a piano to scream and wail and cry. Modern pop rock is built around the guitar and those who can climb up guitar mountain and stand at the top above the thousands of other screamin' hot axe masters, is truly a giant. Eric Clapton was called "God" for the longest time. Most lead guitarists have excellent ears and will often excel in the recording studio .
At their worst they are selfish, non-committal, arrogant, argumentative, and sometimes childish and rude. Keeping them happy is often difficult. At their best they are endearingly friendly, confident and optimistic, full of gusto and enthusiastic about life and the band. They want to explore different styles and go off on tangents, fond of elaborate progressions and bridges. Mostly he just wants to wail and will take over the whole band if given the chance. A lead guitarist is usually a show man, an extrovert and quite confident. He is the mathematician of the band, able to memorize scales and riffs and leads with ease. Due to his mathematical nature, he (or she) is usually analytical, logical and a black and white thinker. Sometimes a perfectionist to a fault, if you can find one who is highly emotional and humble, you are truly blessed. If he can swallow his big pride and play from the heart instead of the head, he is a genius worth treasuring.
Handcuff The Guitarist. "The last person who really, really wanted to listen to a twenty-minute guitar solo finally flatlined in late 1978. Much like the dodo - and said to be nearly as intelligent - the Interminable Solo Aficionado is now extinct. And considering that the dead generally do not buy record albums, it is best to ensure that your guitar solos last no longer than, say, something someone would be willing to listen to on an answering machine." www.theferrett.com
And now, ladies and gentleman, the man you have been waiting for: The singer.
Because women are more accepted as singers than as any other instrumentalist, they are just as plentiful as men in the music industry. And I would like to say, that in general women make better singers than men. Because of the emotional nature of women (please don't shoot me, I'm not a sexist) they respond to music more deeply and react to life in a more profound emotional way. Singing has been defined as "the softly crying vowel". To me this sounds like a job for a woman who is deeply touched by life in every aspect.
Often capable of the highest joy and the lowest lows of depression, the singer is the bon vivant of the group. Also the one craving the limelight the most, he or she is often alternately obsessive and desperate in their pursuit of musical glory. Definitely the showman of the band, the singer is the one with the "personality". Charming, cultured, often well-read and educated, the singer is the romantic type to a T. At his or her worst: bounding from bed to bed, one broken heart after another, the singer is sometimes the most insecure member of the band. If successful, capable of outrageous acts of diva-ness and spoiled-brat tantrums.
Almost always the leader, he or she is a natural performer and a chronic socialite. Able to relate to all members of the band and keep everybody together and happy is a job that takes more than just singing talent. The singer wants to be the "star", sometimes just dying for attention, embarrassingly full of themselves, he or she is also the most likeable and often loved by all.
The Keyboardist/Pianist. Here is the true musical genius of the band. Capable of digesting reams of sheet music and tone theory, he or she is usually well-trained and way over the heads of the rest of the band in terms of theoretical knowledge. Often the egg or brain of the band, they are also often addicted to electronics and gadgets. Completely confident musically, they can pick up songs at a snap and wrap circles around melody. Sometimes a snob and sometimes a nerd, he can also be the most intelligent and best conversationalist of the band.
Because he or she is usually thoroughly trained he or she has nothing to prove and is not as self-centered as the rest of the band. You might have to step up a level to keep a keyboardist interested in your band. They are looking for a challenge so don't disappoint them. And don't take them for granted either. He might seem to be having fun because they will generally go along with whatever the band wants, but if they get bored....say goodbye. Try not to introduce them into the band until you are ready to gig, so at least they will be gratified by some success and audience appreciation. They are probably not going to have the patience to work through the jam stage. Usually agreeable and easy to get along with, the keyboardist is often introverted and unassuming.
Parents push girls to play piano more than boys at an early age. Girls seem to flock towards it whereas boys seem to flock to guitar. (Why, I must confess I don't know, I'm just making an observation. Perhaps it is for the same reason that young girls often get crazy about horses and young boys love motorcycles. You figure it out.) Therefore, I think there is a huge surplus of untapped female keyboard talent out there waiting to be discovered. Of course things have changed considerably in rock music in the nineties and there are now tons of female guitarists and bassists etc out there.
And as a disclaimer I'd like to say again that all of these character analysis (analysises? analysi?) are generalities and only based on my own personal experience in bands. There are probably many exceptions with bandmates you know, and hey, what do you expect, musicians don't tend to follow rules too well anyway!
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)It was great.lol. I am a drummer and i see some of my personality. The band i paly in has a weird mix the bass is the lead singer and the band leader, the lead guitar does back up vocals. It a weird melting pot of all those qualities.
I as a Bass player recognize everything, accept the degraded guitarist part. I started out as a pianist rather than a guitarist some 6 years ago, and I recognize most qualities and personality traits of a pianist in me too. I am the only one who can read sheet music in speed, and I like to make things interesting, or I get bored. But that conflicts with my role as bass player. The rest of the band is recognizable in this too.
That is so true- you have this down to a science! I have a crush on a drummer, and as a psychology geek, I've gotten to know the basic personality of a drummer pretty well. That sounded exactly like this guy.
I just referred to myself as a geek, so I bet you can guess which one I am. That's right... I'm a pianist. Your comments about us are also too true. When this guy asked me to be in his band, and I showed up to audition, and asked key the song was in, they were like "huh...?".
Appreciated your observations.
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