The Non-Traditional Band Line Up

The English rock band Keane and the winners of the American Idol spin off The Next Great American Band The Clark Brothers have showed us how bands can make it without the traditional rock band line up of guitar, bass, and drums.

In the case of Keane, the trio employs a lead singer, a piano player, and a drummer. There are no guitars of any kind in the band.

The Clark Brothers are all multi instrumentalists but a drum kit is no where to be found in this band. The lead singer also plays fiddle and guitar, one brother plays bass and dobro; while the other plays guitar and mandolin.

Traditional Irish bands play without the use of a drum kit. Sometimes one of the band members will play a bodhran (an Irish drum).

As long as there is one member in the band who can hold down the bass or rhythm line the traditional band line up is not necessary. A rhythm player is required to help keep the beat and keep the rest of the band together; but there is no rule that says it has to be a drummer or an electric bass.

What matters in a band is the music and band members ability to perform that music, not the line up of instruments. Any mix of instruments can sound good as long as the players work together to produce the right sound.