Playing in a Power Trio: the Pros and Cons

The "Power Trio" is a long revered institution of the music world, especially in the various genres of rock. Some of the biggest music ever made has come from these most basic of groups, usually consisting of a guitarist (the melody), a drummer (the rhythm), and a bassist (who fills in the huge hole between the two). Some of the best known power trios include Brownsville Station, ZZ Top, The Police, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, Triumph, Nirvana, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and (Jeez, do I EVEN need to say it?) Rush.

I have played in many different kinds of bands, from trios to six-piece outfits, and all sizes in between. Personally, I have always like playing in trios best, because their simplicity appeals to me as well as a greater musical intimacy between me and my bandmates. Not merely a band with three instrumentalists and a vocalist, a true power trio has just three musicians. If there is a singer, one (or more) of the three instrumentalists will take on the vocal responsibilities, which presents much more of a challenge than a stand-alone lead singer.

In this article, we will examine the pros and cons of playing in a power trio based on personal experience and extensive interviews with several different musicians who have served as a leg in what many call the "perfect musical equilateral triangle". First, the positives:

A Lighter Load is Easier to Carry - Three people mean less men crowding the stage at small local venues. Additionally, there's much less gear to haul, set up, and take down at each gig. Finally, in situations where bands are payed a flat fee to be divided among the members, a three-way split yields more money per man than a four, five, or six-way split.

Greater Musical Intimacy - It is far easier for three guys to read each other than four or more. This gives a trio a better ability to improvise.

Trios Tend To Be More Cohesive As a Unit - Three guys can generally reach an agreement in such matters as musical direction and playlists easier than larger groups, where factions tend to form within, causing much unneeded friction.

Better Capacity for Improvisational/Compositional Creativity - With only three people making the music, each player has the room to be much more expressive and creative with his or her playing. This can also result in the creation of some incredible songs.

And now the downside:

Mistakes Can Be Obvious - With no additional musicians making extra layers of music to cover up missed chords and/or sloppy rhythms, a wrong note can really stand out in a most undesirable way.

Each Man Has To Work Harder and Be More Creative - To sound like an exceptional outfit, anyways. Three instruments (with only two creating melody) can sound rather sparse and even incomplete. Each member of a power trio has to do his or her part to seamlessly cover any empty spaces normally handled by keyboards or additional guitars.

A Missing Man Will Kill Your Band - When you lose a man in a trio, you're pretty much stuck until a replacement can be found. A musician in a larger outfit may be able to cover the missing man's part until a substitute can be conjured up. This can not only cost you shows that have already been booked, but also any future shows if finding a replacement takes longer than expected.

So, in deciding whether or not to form or join a three-piece outfit, one must sit down and honestly assess whether the benefits of doing so outweigh the negatives. The lists given consist of the main points, and is by no means a complete or all-inclusive list. Personally, I have played in three different trios, and I have found over the decades that I prefer being in a three piece outfit over any other configuration, for there is much more room to breathe and explore musical possibilities in a trio.

No matter what instrument you play, if you are the type of player who has an affinity for creativity, loves to improvise, and doesn't mind some extra work to make it all come together, than a power trio would probably benefit you more than a larger band, where your mark on the music may not be as bold. Like everything else in life, there are downsides to playing in a musical triangle, but for those of us who love the challenge, such pitfalls are truly inconsequential.