Irreplaceable Instruments in a Band?

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.

Specialized instruments for certain bands can be irreplaceable.  For example, the signature violin sound from Robby Steinhardt of Kansas (yes I know they replaced Robby with David Ragsdale, but it just wasn't the same and it was apparent in their loss of popularity) or (even more so) the trademark sound of Ian Anderson's flute in Jethro Tull.

Edited by The Anders - April 21 2020 at 13:53

MortSahlFan wrote: If you hit a middle C on a piano, it will sound the same if you get 5 piano players.

I don't agree with this, certainly when taken at the level of playing a phrase or more rather than hitting a single note. The speed and force with which the player strikes the keys, the duration of his holding down and releasing them, the use of pedals, etc can give individual players a very distinctive sound IMO. This is perhaps not easily discernible most of the time in a rock band context, but if you listen to solo or trio recordings of some of the great jazz players (e.g. Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Cecil Taylor) it's easy to hear.

Argo2112 wrote: In some situations keyboard players can cover the bass parts

Mascodagama wrote: MortSahlFan wrote: If you hit a middle C on a piano, it will sound the same if you get 5 piano players. I don't agree with this, certainly when taken at the level of playing a phrase or more rather than hitting a single note. The speed and force with which the player strikes the keys, the duration of his holding down and releasing them, the use of pedals, etc can give individual players a very distinctive sound IMO. This is perhaps not easily discernible most of the time in a rock band context, but if you listen to solo or trio recordings of some of the great jazz players (e.g. Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Cecil Taylor) it's easy to hear.

As far as keys, there are certain techniques that do make some keyboardists quite distinctive.  Take Keith Emerson for example, I mean without Emerson, ELP would have not even existed because he was non replaceable, except for maybe most of the time from Love Beach onward).  Rick Wakeman is irreplaceable.  Who has ever sounded like him?  You can definitely tell when Wakeman is with Yes and when he isn't. 

Grumpyprogfan wrote: 1 is most irreplaceable to me. 1. Vocals 2. Guitar 3. Bass 4. Drums 5. Keys

I can't even count the number of times I've said "this band would be great if that vocalist would go away". Additionally, I can only think of a handful of acts where I thought the vocals were crucial. A capella groups obviously.

Basically I'm in the nothing is irreplaceable camp.

Except bagpipes, accordions and steel drums.



Edited by Tapfret - April 22 2020 at 09:17

most of the time it's people that are irreplaceable not the instruments themselves, if that makes sense...