Who is the most important member of the band?

#21
Unpopular opinion - aside from obvious stuff like vocals (which yea, clearly most visible) and the whole rhythm section thing (I mean, I can't even count the number of bands I've seen where I heard the drums and was like, nah no thanks) - After years of doing this, the singular most important member of the band is whoever is acting as the "band parent", that is the person who keeps everyone on task and makes sure the things happen, whether that's booking, collecting money, following up re new songs/practice, or organizing everything. Lots of great musicians / bands fall to pieces because they don't have that person keeping stuff together like gorilla glue. I know this isn't the most idealistic, artistic, or romantic answer, but in my experience it's super true.

People might think this falls to like a manager or whatever, but I think needing a manager for the cohesive aspects a successful band requires is a sure sign that the band is dysfunctional in the first place. Sure, a manager or booking agent can handle SOME aspects of the biz end and make lives easier, but that's not what I'm getting at. I hate to use the term "band leader" because I typically don't think about it that way and different people have different strengths, but without the "leadership" to tie together some kind of joint vision and diffuse dramatic situations, no band is going to last long.
 
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#24
Like it or not, bassists are like referees -- we only get noticed if we totally blow it.
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#25
It's a team effort. For the record, You Can't Spell TEAM Without ME!

I'm with you, drummer is the one I have to count on. If the guitar muffs a transition or misses a note on a lead or one of the 5 notes in their chord is muted absolutely nobody gets worked up except the guitarist. If the bass or drums fall off that's the timing and people are aware of it even if they are non-musicians. You could argue frontperson, singer because that's what most people focus on.

But the Bassist...
Someone needs to know where the gig is, what time is the load in, what time is sound check, how the PA works, how to have a non-confrontational, working conversation with the soundperson, how to have a non-confrontational conversation with the manager or booker. And that ain't gonna be the drummer or the guitarist or the singer. And for God's sake, Never let the drummer drive.
 
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#27
tb-player said:
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?
Click to expand...
Drummer and bass! Always!
 
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#28
Musically? For me it's also the drummer. The singer is also important but not every band needs a singer. I suppose not every band needs a drummer, either, but the bands I like to work with do.

Overall? Whoever is booking the shows and dealing with venues. That's not to say the the person doing that work isn't expendable if there are other problems, but someone else has to be willing to step up if working with that person otherwise becomes unsustainable.
 
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#31
I've played with a band where the rhythm guitar player literally did the rhythm, driving the drummer and bass, giving cues to the other musicians. That clearly was the most important one.
That role, however, can be taken by virtually any of the musicians.

In my current band, three out of six have to be present: Bass, drums and rhythm guitar. If one of them can't make it to rehearsal, we'll reschedule. If any of the others can't make it, we meet without them.

Another past project had the lead guitar/singer/BL as the fulcrum everything pivoted around.
 
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#33
tb-player said:
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?
Click to expand...


The audience.
 
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#34
re: the actual music: i voted "unimportant trick question" :laugh: because the "best bands" have only important player/members...everyone contributes to some commonly held version of forward motion and 'the whole' tends to be greater than the sum of its parts.

in "bad bands," no single 'important' player can save the experience. ;)

as a bass player it's easy to say "drummer" but i find that whoever it is i'm accompanying at the moment to be pretty important.
 
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#35
The person with the ability to schmooze and network to get gigs is the most important. This is a talent in its own right. And like playing an instrument, it requires practice, repertoire, and a natural gift.
 
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