Who is the most important member of the band?

[tb-player]

Recently, a sax player I was jamming with asked me to join up with him for an R&B thing he’s putting together. My first question was, “Who’s on drums?” He told me it was the drummer who had just been a part of our jam. I replied, “Good! I only like playing with drummers I can trust.”

Turns out, the drummer was standing around the corner and heard the whole exchange. He walked toward us and said, “Man! I’ll take that as a compliment!” And he should, because he’s a solid, skilled drummer with good time, a tasteful approach and a locked in foot.

I only want to be a part of a project with good musicians who I can trust to have the right chops, be prepared, and not waste time. And for me, as a bassist, the drummer is the most important ingredient in that formula.

Besides the bass (obviously!), who’s the most important member of the band for you?

 

[JohnMCA72]

Whomever is collecting money!

 

[thabassmon]

To me, Whatever the central focus of the group is.
If that is a singer/pianist/sax player etc. That is it.
For example if I were playing in a group backing Ray Charles, Ray Charles is the most important. Same with if I were backing Carlos Santana, Little Mix, Justin Timberlake, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis. Whatever drew the crowd to create the opportunity to gig.

(Of course some of the examples are deceased so imagine a different example if you wish)

 

[feterpatch]

IME/IMO, in a good professional band everyone is important. For the rock band settings I play in quality vocals/front person comes first followed by drums.

 

[TreySonagras]

I have found that often the band is only as good as the bass player.

 

[AGCurry]

There are actually TWO most-important members of the band:

1. The person who is the most-accomplished and/or star of the show, and
2. The least-accomplished musician.

#1 represents how much potential the band has; #2 represents the limiting factor.

 

[Jefenator]

My old mentor (awesome drummer, awesome teacher) once stated that anyone can "drive" the band. Whoever has the strongest rhythm; whoever is laying it down with the most conviction.

 

[bolophonic]

The bassist.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I won't play unless there is a good drummer - I've spent too much time keeping one on track.

But frankly, the lead singer is what the audience notices the most.

 

[rickster4003]

Obviously the bass player!

 

[Hummergeist]

I came here to say drummer also. If the drummer sucks, everybody does.

 

[Gustopher]

Saw this in a post the other day and agreed with it...
1) singer - like it or not, people key on the singer first and if they are good or bad it makes/breaks the whole band
2) drummer - if they can't handle things, no one will sound good... even number 1

 

[gln1955]

The lead singer.

If the vocals suck, it doesn't matter what anyone else is doing.

 

[G On Bass]

As far as the tightness of the band, it's always bass and drums. I try to stay teamed up with a couple of drummers. Having an intact rhythm section that trusts the other makes every band sound much better, much faster. As far the show/audience engagement, that's on the singer. Unless they sing and play full-time keys, then a guitarist and maybe bass has to engage the people. Bad drummer + bad bass = terrible band. That'll drive away other good players.

 

[BSatt]

"...Besides the bass (obviously!), who’s the most important member of the band for you?..."

Similar to what buldog5151bass said...

Drummer....hands down. I've played with all sorts of skill-sets in various positions and I can still enjoy myself with sub-par members. However, if the drummer isn't good, there is no fun to be had.

 

[FunkHead]

No! Who's on 1st. I don't know is on 2nd.

 

[Gustopher]

A bad drummer can make good musicians sound like amateur hour. A bad singer can cause the audience to leave, lol

 

[imdkoz]

In my last band where I was the singer, bass player, sound man, light man and owner of the PA. I'd say me But in most cover bands probably the singer.

 

[jefkritz]

Front person / singer. Hands down. If that ain't amazing, you'll never be amazing.

Beyond that, everyone needs to be good. You're only as good as your weakest link. That said, it's context dependent. There was a great local dub reggae band when I was in college, and the guitarist wasn't great, but he was great for that band! Hence, he didn't limit the overall band.

 

[Eidolon0274]

My old mentor (awesome drummer, awesome teacher) once stated that anyone can "drive" the band. Whoever has the strongest rhythm; whoever is laying it down with the most conviction.

I immediately though of Metallica, where James Hetfield is the rhythmic center point, not the rhythm section. Now that I'm thinking about it, its surprising how many bands have a primary driving point (rhythmically) that isn't bass or drums. Another example would be Obscura, where the drums center on the rhythm guitar and the fretless bass player is left free to deviate from sticking to the rhythm and chord tonics (a very conscious choice made by composer Steffen Kummerer)