# What exactly makes a group a "power trio" in your opinion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 3, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600 "2023-01-03T20:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/21 "2023-01-03T21:02:43Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Are they a power trio? Not when they’re also playing keyboards. It’s not hard - drums+electric bass+electric guitar. One or more of those 3 sing (or no-one does). That’s it. Upright bass? Not a PT. Acoustic guitar? Nope. Hell, if the drummer adds bongos, they’re no longer a power trio to me. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/22 "2023-01-03T21:03:37Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > ZZ Top Perfect example. I’d add the Police as well. Think of all those 70’s rock bands (and going into the 80’s in some cases) which had a designated vocalist. The singer was not always there to perform lyrics, but to be the fourth (or fifth) instrument, especially when you listen to live performances. Check out any number of YT clips of LZ performing Whole Lotta love. The same goes for Deep Purple (Gillan), Who (Daltrey), Van Halen (Diamond Dave era), U2 (Bono) early Guns’n’Roses. A trio is three musicians. Full stop. A power trio is guitar, bass, drums. If there’s singing, it’s handled by one of the three musicians, e.g. Billy Gibbons and Sting. ETA: > [@MrDibble](#): > > Upright bass? Not a PT. It is if it’s the Police. Though videos and photos of Sting with upright bass might be just for show. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/23 "2023-01-03T21:04:13Z")
If a group is described as a string quartet, would you feel cheated if they showed up with two violins, a cello, and a singer? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/24 "2023-01-03T21:06:28Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Can we then have a _suspended quartet_ that’s made of three members? Suspended or truncated? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/25 "2023-01-03T21:09:43Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > It is if it’s the Police. Not when Sting’s actually playing it. But generally, he played just a bass guitar, at least live. But also, they often played keyboards. I think one thing is that some bands _are_ always power trios, others _act as_ power trios for some songs, and not for others. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/26 "2023-01-03T21:09:56Z")
How many ways Zeppelin split the take? How many ways did ZZ Top? OK, then. Money is the answer to all questions. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/27 "2023-01-03T21:11:29Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > If a group is described as a string quartet, would you feel cheated if they showed up with two violins, a cello, and a singer? Yes. If they were billed as the Skokie Illinois String Quartet. Because I’d expect a certain genre of music, and with a singer that ain’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/28 "2023-01-03T21:13:59Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Upright bass? Not a PT May the ghost of Buddy Holly haunt you forever. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/29 "2023-01-03T21:17:40Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > If they were billed as the Skokie Illinois String Quartet The baritone was a big fat guy, like, orca fat. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/30 "2023-01-03T21:20:59Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > May the ghost of Buddy Holly haunt you forever. Since they were a quartet, I think @MrDibble is safe from hauntings > the band line-up at the time: Holly on lead vocals and lead guitar, [Niki Sullivan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niki_Sullivan) on rhythm guitar, [Jerry Allison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Allison) on drums, and [Joe B. Mauldin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_B._Mauldin) on bass. > **[The Crickets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crickets)** > > The Crickets were an American rock and roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer-songwriter Buddy Holly in January 1957. Their first hit record, "That'll Be the Day", released in May 1957, peaked at number three on the Billboard Top 100 chart on September 16, 1957. The sleeve of their first album, The "Chirping" Crickets, shows the band line-up at the time: Holly on lead vocals and lead guitar, Niki Sullivan on rhythm guitar, Jerry Allison on drums, and Joe B. Mauldin on bass. The Cricket... > [@Joey\_P](#): > > The baritone was a big fat guy, like, orca fat. You’re mixing them up with the Skokie Illinois Polka Quartet. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/31 "2023-01-03T21:24:38Z")
Barbershop > I used to be in a barbershop quartet in Skokie, Illinois. The baritone was this guy named Kip Diskin, big fat guy, I mean, like, orca fat. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/32 "2023-01-03T21:26:19Z")
Planes, Trains and Automobiles? Uncle Buck? But it was John Candy, right? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/33 "2023-01-03T21:28:26Z")
Usual Suspects. Verbal Kint Apparently someone isolated exactly that quote. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ah5SzI5F8g8/hqdefault.jpg "Orca Fat - Kevin Spacey - The Usual Suspects") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah5SzI5F8g8) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/34 "2023-01-03T21:31:42Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > > > Can we then have a _suspended quartet_ that’s made of three members? > > Suspended or truncated? Probably _“Diminished”_ ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/35 "2023-01-03T21:31:47Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > Since they were a quartet, I think @MrDibble is safe from hauntings Read your link: “Sullivan dropped out after a little more than one year to resume his education. The Crickets, now a trio, continued to make stage and TV appearances and recorded more songs, many composed by the band members.” ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/36 "2023-01-03T22:29:53Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > > > Can we then have a _suspended quartet_ that’s made of three members? > > Probably _“Diminished”_ Yes! That’s the word I was looking for! I get my sus and dim chords mixed up all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/37 "2023-01-04T00:46:57Z")
I love power trios. Every person in the band _must_ play _something_. No slacking! One of my favorites is a somewhat obscure band from Wales called [Budgie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgie_(band)). They sorta looked and sounded like Rush, and unfortunately the press kept comparing them to Rush. But they were not trying to copy them. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/54H3EUAzpVg/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGGUgSChBMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDHuoa63eJG4IqSJWxCmrnZoHpotg "BUDGIE - BREADFAN") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54H3EUAzpVg) [Blue Cheer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as1NcX31szs&t=13s) is another power trio I like. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/38 "2023-01-04T01:12:00Z")
Had to skip right to the end here after seeing people define trio… Every time I saw Motorhead I came to a point where I was simply overwhelmed and amazed that all of the sound that was physically pounding off of my chest was being created by just the three guys on stage. It sounded like way more SOUND than just three guys could make. It was amazing. (Yes there were times when Motorhead had 2 guitar players, I’m talking about Motorhead as a trio.) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MHw0yzxHbQ) ---
**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:** [January 4, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/39 "2023-01-04T01:12:54Z")
This is my definition as well. A fourth person singing would not make it a power trio as, well, they are no longer a trio. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600/40 "2023-01-04T02:00:41Z")
Yep, only three members or it ain’t a trio. I’m flexible on the instrumentation, though. Rush is certainly a power trio, maybe the overlords of it. I’ve always thought of Emerson, Lake & Palmer as a power trio, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-makes-a-group-a-power-trio-in-your-opinion/977600.md?page=3)