What to consider before posting that "Guitarist Wanted" ad
The guitars in a rock band set and define the musical style of a band and directly propel the feel of an album. I distinctly remember the first time that I noticed the acute difference a guitarist can make. After the band, P.O.D., blasted through the charts with their hit album, Satelite, guitarist Marcos Curiel left the band and was later replaced by Jason Truby. As a personal fan of P.O.D., I picked up their fifth studio release, Payable on Death, without a second thought. While the change in the guitarist brought some unique character to the music, a certain push was missing from the music…granted, the blast of success from Satellite may have been difficult to repeat, but the album that followed was the last one I purchased from the band.
Although a guitarist may not dictate the success or failure of a band, it is the guitar that directs and sketches out each song. As such, the guitarist of your band will have tremendous impact on the sound of your band’s music. It is no wonder why most band leaders and writers are guitarists. The guitar outlines the thoughts of the writer. Moreover, the guitar is the centre striking chord of the band and has the ability to vary immensely with character from the type of the guitar being played to the way a guitar is played to the way a guitar is tuned, to the sound effects that the guitar is translated through.
While most bands are started by guitarists, there are two circumstances where a band may need to learn how to find a guitarist. Firstly, if there is no guitarist, a band will need to reach out and find a creative individual with a broad range of playing ability and character. Secondly, if a band wants to layer its sound, the team may choose to have both a lead guitarist and a rhythm guitarist. Lead guitarists typically play the melodies and solos of songs, while the rhythm guitarist generally strums distortion or ambiance behind. No matter what type of guitarist you are looking to bring into your band, there are a few things you should consider before posting a "Guitarist Wanted" ad.
- Genre of music – An amazing guitar player should be able to adapt and creatively add value to any style of music, but, if you want passion and commitment out of your player, you need to ensure the guitarist aligns with your music because they love the music itself.
- Skill Level – a band is naturally going to require a better lead guitarist than rhythm guitarist. Discuss with your team just “how good” your new guitarist needs to be.
- Creativity – Guitars can be played to make a myriad of different sounds. As your band sees fit, find a guitarist that goes beyond reading sheet music and is comfortable experimenting with different sounds. However, heed caution, while a creative guitarist can direct some interesting and unique sound into your band, too much can distract from the music
Aside from each of these elements of a guitarist, your band should really be poking at the personality and commitment that each potential musician brings. To dig into this topic further, read How To Find Band Mates. |
