# Irreplaceable Instruments in a Band? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269 "2020-04-21T15:28:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/1 "2020-04-21T15:28:31Z")
I consider vocals an instrument, and would say it would be #1. I know some bands try to find a sing-a-like, but its so rare that the new guy is better. I would say the next one is the drums. Rhythm is so important, and very hard to duplicate. Even a lead guitarist can mimic things note for note. I would say bass is the easiest to replace. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/2 "2020-04-21T15:34:18Z")
Jazz bands would agree about the drums but disagree about voice. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/3 "2020-04-21T15:39:11Z")
At least you are keeping the same instruments. What about replacement like substituting a cornet by a trumpet or a clarinet by a saxophone? That will definitely alter the sound. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/4 "2020-04-21T16:04:21Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > I would say bass is the easiest to replace. I’ve been listening to some late 50s Philadelphia-style soul-jazz organ combos lately, usually sax/Hammond B-3/electric guitar, drums optional, no bass. The organist can do that with his feet. But the classic joke is “the piano player can do that with his left hand.” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/5 "2020-04-21T16:09:05Z")
Also, bluegrass and especially “newgrass” bands have no trouble with propulsive rhythms, and they don’t use drummers either. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/6 "2020-04-21T16:21:09Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I’ve been listening to some late 50s Philadelphia-style soul-jazz organ combos lately, usually sax/Hammond B-3/electric guitar, drums optional, no bass. The organist can do that with his feet. > > But the classic joke is “the piano player can do that with his left hand.” And we can further replace both piano and organ by an electronic synthesizer… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/7 "2020-04-21T16:44:09Z")
What kind of band(s) are we talking about? Marching bands don’t usually have any place for vocals. Some jazz bands are built around pianos, some around trumpets. Bassists are indispensable for a rock band (The Beatles) except when they aren’t (The Doors.) ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/8 "2020-04-21T17:27:58Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > What kind of band(s) are we talking about? > > Marching bands don’t usually have any place for vocals. > > Some jazz bands are built around pianos, some around trumpets. > > Bassists are indispensable for a rock band (The Beatles) except when they aren’t (The Doors.) You mention The Beatles. I would say vocals were the most important. Same with The Doors. A jazz band with no singer won’t have that problem. I would say the drums by default. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/9 "2020-04-21T17:30:34Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Jazz bands would agree about the drums but disagree about voice. As would surf-rock bands. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/10 "2020-04-21T17:39:38Z")
John Mayall did just fine without drums in his “Turning Point” LP. I don’t think any instrument is absolutely essential in bands, since you can always find examples where they weren’t used. The Dixie Dregs never had a vocalist (and Soft Machine did without one once Robert Wyatt left), while the Persuasions did away with all instruments altogether. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/11 "2020-04-21T18:35:08Z")
In a general sense I would agree #1 voice (I actually hate music without vocals, it’s missing so much emotion, seems so empty) #2 drums. Cowbell would be hard to replace however it’s only really needed in the first place because it’s cool to say more cowbell. Though some music stiles would require a certain instrument, I think many are replaceable. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/12 "2020-04-21T18:41:25Z")
Substitutions for common instruments can lead to wonderful combinations. The original lineup of progressive bluegrass band **Crooked Still** consisted of vocalist, banjo, string bass, and cello…rather than typical fiddle. Later on the cellist quit and was replaced by a violin, and they lost that unique sound. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4Fk4uBgPSPc/hqdefault.jpg "Crooked Still - Little Sadie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fk4uBgPSPc) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/13 "2020-04-21T18:52:50Z")
For me, it all starts with the drums and bass. Gimme a good rhythm section and you could put any kind of shit over it and it will sound good. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/14 "2020-04-21T19:46:21Z")
Seems this is diverging into different discussions, but from what I can work out, the OP is about swapping players of the same instrument, rather than changing the actual instruments in the band? In which case, I’d say it’s massively dependent on how distinctive a given musician sounds. Without Carter Beauford, the Dave Matthews Band is going to be a radically different proposition…but, well, it wouldn’t have been hard to replace Tony McCarroll in Oasis and have the band sound the same. I mean, OK, they _did_ replace him, and sounded different, but that’s only because they wanted to. It would not have been difficult to copy his sound. I’ve been playing the drums for 30 years and, to an extent, I instinctively agree with you because I know what I can hear. But ultimately I reckon it’s down to the musician, case-by-case, not the instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/15 "2020-04-22T00:16:11Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I’ve been listening to some late 50s Philadelphia-style soul-jazz organ combos lately, usually sax/Hammond B-3/electric guitar, drums optional, no bass. The organist can do that with his feet. > > But the classic joke is “the piano player can do that with his left hand.” If you haven’t already listened to them, the guitarist Grant Green’s early sixties recordings with the organist Larry Young are amazing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/16 "2020-04-22T00:24:36Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > Seems this is diverging into different discussions, but from what I can work out, the OP is about swapping players of the same instrument, rather than changing the actual instruments in the band? I agree. If the musician has a very distinctive sound, they can be hard to replace to the point that the whole band changes. The Dave Brubeck Quartet doesn’t/didn’t work without the 4 key players. Take away Joe or Gene and the rhythm falls apart. No Paul, no soul. And Dave is/was _sui generis_. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/17 "2020-04-22T00:29:29Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > And we can further replace both piano and organ by an electronic synthesizer… And the drums, and the bass, and the guitars, and the singer…etc etc…depends on what kind of music you plan on performing/making. Everything is replaceable. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/18 "2020-04-22T00:36:42Z")
Ever see Luca Stricagnoli with playing three necks simultaneously? Amazing… [U2 - With Or Without You - Luca Stricagnoli - Fingerstyle Guitar - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg16mepPImk) ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/19 "2020-04-22T01:35:02Z")
awwww jeeze…ALL players are necessary … I vote Banjo. Can be rhythm and melodies at the same time. [Gentle on my mind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHOViCpkirs) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269/20 "2020-04-22T02:28:51Z")
I feel like you can interchange a euphonium and a trombone (I play both - with the same mouthpiece!) but if you want the sound AND the slide, you gotta go with the trombone! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irreplaceable-instruments-in-a-band/852269.md?page=2)