It has occured to me that people are opinionated in the importance of band members on their own regarding instrument that is being played. I thought the whole point of a band that was to play your instrument in tandem with the other instruments creating a more complex peice of music. But when it comes down to it, is there an instrument that is more important than all the others? Obviously, im taking this in context when discussing your typical Rock group to keep on topic. What do you guys think and what would you say is the most important instrument - if indeed you believe there to be one?

I suppose you could break it down in respects of rythm etc, but even then, I dont think there is a most important instrument.

Cheers.

My opinion is that they are all important.

Lets be honest, it's the guitar

man, barring like vocals, the guitar is so far ahead of everything else.

I don't know if this is so much an instrument, but I would say vocals. A band will never be truly great and remembered without a good frontman (or woman). As far as an actual instrument, I guess I'd have to go with guitar, since rock features the guitar fairly prominently, but you still need a good rhythm section to back all that up. It's hard to say which is most important.

Bass. That's what the listener is tuned to, whether or not he or she even realizes it.

We had this thread topic before (and we had a very heated debate), but I think it's a good time to bring it up again... I will go with vocals,, next would be the electric guitar...


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guitar ,my friends
without it,rock would just be beats and we wouldn't have those great solos
actually i don't know what i'm saying i'm just rambling

Seerix says: "Bass. That's what the listener is tuned to, whether or not he or she even realizes it."

Very true.

morrisonj states: "guitar ,my friends without it,rock would just be beats and we wouldn't have those great solos."

Another excellent point.

its kind of a silly question. it all depends on the style of song you are trying to perform as to which instruments are most important and which are more disposable. some of the greatest tunes ever are instrumentals, as in sans vocals, so obviously for those vocals would definitely be the least in importance. of course, on the flip side of that coin there are songs that, even if there is some musical accompaniment, are nearly if not entirely vocal driven as many of my favourite artist, morrissey's songs are. some are guitar driven, some are bass driven, some are drums driven, and some of the greatest songs have none of these traditonal instruments at all.

if we're talking about a traditional rock band tryin to play a song, it is likely hardest for the other members to play without the rythm section, primarily the drums, than it would be for the srummer to play alone. but then are we suggesting a song of juste drums? thats not music, thats just noise.