Video Guitar Lesson 12: Arranging parts for bands and situations with two or more guitarists
- What do I need to think about when playing with other guitarists and instruments?
- How can we create dynamics and difference in our sound
- How do I arrange cover songs for multiple guitarists?
- What ideas might help me to think on the spot?
- What equipment choices should I make to best complement our sound?
If these questions interest you and you want to arrange songs for multiple instruments and develop a good ear for frequencies and parts, then keep reading and be sure to check our video and audio out for this lesson.
(see below for timings for both this video and the audio version)
In this lesson, Dan and I continue to explore rhythmic patterns, looking in particular at the benefits and problems which arise when playing in situations with multiple guitarists. The focus for the lesson are two songs which I am arranging to play with a band that has in it a drummer, bassist, keyboardist/singer and me and another student of Dan’s on guitar. The two songs are ‘The One I Love’ by REM and ‘Feel Like Making Love’ by Bad Company, but throughout this lesson we look at things which arise in other songs to so that we can apply this to this situation. We look at octaves, open strings, pick up choice, EQ, guitar choice, briefly effects and playing using different inversions and much more.
Some things which I am really going to take away from this lesson are that:
- I will work hard with the other guitarist to develop complementary parts
- I will consider what equipment and EQ to use to gain the best sound.
- I will particularly take away the use of octaves to fill out riffs and parts and also the idea of diverse inversions (e.g. of triads).
This brilliant podcast gave us this idea – be sure to check it out below!
I’m sure you’ll understand the choice of two guitarists for our graphics for this lesson:
All the best, Gary and Dan
https://soundcloud.com/tunein-toneup/
Timings for the SoundCloud audio version
| 00:02:31 | The setup of my band |
| 00:03:24 | Introduction to the two songs which we are going to be looking at the parts for |
| 00:05:09 | First look at the One I love by REM |
| 00:05:59 | What Dan plays for the One I love |
| 00:08:22 | Playing a second part over the opening riff using octaves |
| 00:09:15 | Second go at the opening riff together |
| 00:11:10 | A more meaty second part – playing 5th chords piano style |
| 00:12:30 | Option of not playing at all and allowing the other guitarist space |
| 00:13:05 | Dynamics in Steve Vai’s – the Love of God – using increasing vibrato |
| 00:13:39 | Back off at the beginning and as the song starts to take off you increase what you are doing |
| 00:13:46 | You want to hit a chorus and have somewhere to go, some punch, some headroom |
| 00:14:00 | Using the volume on your guitar |
| 00:14:22 | Second demonstration of the piano style part |
| 00:15:12 | Money for Nothing is a good example |
| 00:15:22 | staccato style like ACDC a Long Way to the Top |
| 00:15:35 | Discussion about frequency and where you sit in the mix |
| 00:18:05 | Best thing you can do is be mindful of separating your sound from the other guitar |
| 00:20:19 | Second part for the Kings of Leon Sex on Fire riff |
| 00:21:13 | Recap of advice on frequencies and staying out of eachother’s way |
| 00:22:29 | Comfortably Numb – so many things to fill the air – use delay |
| 00:24:09 | Some effects are very indicative of the time |
| 00:26:11 | Second guitar part for after the introduction and during the verse |
| 00:27:40 | First way is to play chord shapes up at the 12th fret |
| 00:29:13 | Second option with a nice delay and more sparse playing |
| 00:30:00 | Third option – start with the Em even higher up the neck |
| 00:31:34 | Fourth option – really subtle notes with volume swells and delays |
| 00:32:52 | Chorus part |
| 00:33:52 | If someone is playing something rhythmic then a good second part could be blocky |
| 00:34:48 | Whole Lotta Rosie – ACDC |
| 00:44:33 | Humbuckers (e.g. Les Paul) Sad face EQ vs Strat smiley face EQ |
| 00:45:40 | Playing using gain – roll the tone back a bit |
| 00:47:20 | The middle position on the Les Paul mixing the pups |
| 00:48:23 | What’s a treble bleed? |
| 00:49:23 | Feel Like Making Love – Bad Company |
| 00:51:30 | Run Like Hell – Pink Floyd |
| 00:53:20 | Rejigging the inversions of the triads |
| 00:56:06 | Rejigging the inversions for Feel Like Making Love |
| 00:58:30 | Arpeggiated chord part for the verse |
| 00:58:56 | Sweet Home Alabama |
| 01:03:39 | Similar chord set in Feel Like Making Love so you can do a similar thing |
| 01:05:34 | Raising the dynamics for the chorus |
| 01:09:38 | Sometimes when you consider parts for songs you can bring some modernity to your parts |
| 01:10:35 | Add a dash of your own thing |
Timings for the YouTube video version
| 00:01:58 | The setup of my band |
| 00:02:51 | Introduction to the two songs which we are going to be looking at the parts for |
| 00:04:36 | First look at the One I love by REM |
| 00:05:26 | What Dan plays for the One I love |
| 00:07:49 | Playing a second part over the opening riff using octaves |
| 00:08:42 | Second go at the opening riff together |
| 00:10:37 | A more meaty second part – playing 5th chords piano style |
| 00:11:57 | Option of not playing at all and allowing the other guitarist space |
| 00:12:32 | Dynamics in Steve Vai’s – the Love of God – using increasing vibrato |
| 00:13:06 | Back off at the beginning and as the song starts to take off you increase what you are doing |
| 00:13:13 | You want to hit a chorus and have somewhere to go, some punch, some headroom |
| 00:13:27 | Using the volume on your guitar |
| 00:13:49 | Second demonstration of the piano style part |
| 00:14:39 | Money for Nothing is a good example |
| 00:14:49 | staccato style like ACDC a Long Way to the Top |
| 00:15:02 | Discussion about frequency and where you sit in the mix |
| 00:17:32 | Best thing you can do is be mindful of separating your sound from the other guitar |
| 00:19:46 | Second part for the Kings of Leon Sex on Fire riff |
| 00:20:40 | Recap of advice on frequencies and staying out of eachother’s way |
| 00:21:56 | Comfortably Numb – so many things to fill the air – use delay |
| 00:23:36 | Some effects are very indicative of the time |
| 00:25:38 | Second guitar part for after the introduction and during the verse |
| 00:27:07 | First way is to play chord shapes up at the 12th fret |
| 00:28:40 | Second option with a nice delay and more sparse playing |
| 00:29:27 | Third option – start with the Em even higher up the neck |
| 00:31:01 | Fourth option – really subtle notes with volume swells and delays |
| 00:32:19 | Chorus part |
| 00:33:19 | If someone is playing something rhythmic then a good second part could be blocky |
| 00:34:15 | Whole Lotta Rosie – ACDC |
| 00:44:00 | Humbuckers (e.g. Les Paul) Sad face EQ vs Strat smiley face EQ |
| 00:45:07 | Playing using gain – roll the tone back a bit |
| 00:46:47 | The middle position on the Les Paul mixing the pups |
| 00:47:50 | What’s a treble bleed? |
| 00:48:50 | Feel Like Making Love – Bad Company |
| 00:50:57 | Run Like Hell – Pink Floyd |
| 00:52:47 | Rejigging the inversions of the triads |
| 00:55:33 | Rejigging the inversions for Feel Like Making Love |
| 00:57:58 | Arpeggiated chord part for the verse |
| 00:58:23 | Sweet Home Alabama |
| 01:03:06 | Similar chord set in Feel Like Making Love so you can do a similar thing |
| 01:05:01 | Raising the dynamics for the chorus |
| 01:09:05 | Sometimes when you consider parts for songs you can bring some modernity to your parts |
Wrist Grips Website: http://www.wrist-grips.comGuitar Gear Mentions:
Sure Grip Guitar Picks Website: http://suregripguitarpicks.com
Curt Mangan Strings Website: https://www.curtmangan.com/
Last three lessons for new arrivals or those who want to brush up on this content
Keep watching listening and getting in touch. We really want to hear from you! Keep an eye out for some improvements to our video setup coming shortly which we’re really excited about.
You may want to check Dan Davies out in action. You can find a video I made of Dan and his band Full House on this YouTube channel: Full House Brighton Band (more to come with improved video and some different approaches to the audio).
Enjoy your musical journey 🙂
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