What makes a great band?

Question

wow. no offense, i love beautiful people and all but i'm shocked to hear so-called music lovers on this forum answer the question of what makes a great (not good, GREAT) is their looks.

Answer 1

1) A band that makes music for the sake of it and is committed to it, not for money. Looks do not count.
2) A band that has excellent musicianship.
3) A band where all the members are virtuosos in their instruments, and contribute a large amount when it comes to composing.
4) A band that does not promote themselves to the public.
(Of course, with these qualities they will receive little or no airplay.)
5) A band that has genius song writing skills, and are based on philosophy, satire, daily life, fantasy, concept stories and personal issues (not how their girlfriend/boyfriend broke up with them.)
6) The band should know music theory, without it, good music does not have form.
7) The band will be creative and innovative on their songwriting and instrumentals. Experimentation is also important. Originality pays off. The music will be timeless.
8) The band members should have an excellent personality, a sense of humour and no hint of elitism.


The band should have in their music -

1) Extended instrumentals, with a wide array of odd time signatures.
2) Concept albums.
3) Repetitive chorus and bridges will not exist, the music is ever changing in a single song.
4) Complex rhythm, harmony and melodies and song structures, of course they have to be concise.
5) Something in their music that will make people sit down and think, not let them flow their emotions. Therefore, the music will only be for solitary listening.
6) Use of instruments uncommon to common music, intriguing dynamics and unique timbre.

Answer 2

Well since I'm a musician and A solo Artist. I can answer this. A great band is someone who has incredible, deep, timeless lyrics, great hooky, & catchy songs. They have to make you remember the song enough to go out and buy it from them.

The old 80's band Tommy Tutone had a silly, infectious song called "Jenny"..What made them crazy was the chorus. It would go "867-5309". This song was so infectious. People were calling that number so much that the person who had that number evenutally sued the band later for that number. That's called "One hit wonder got sued big time".... LOL =)

Answer 3

Maybe this will help,i don't know.
I say what makes a great band is:
1.Chemistry.
"Part of my charisma comes from playing with the other three"-Robert Plant(Led Zeppelin),The Old Grey WHistle Test,1975
2.Everyone is able to have the spotlight at least once during live performance.

Answer 4

A great band is totally subjective. Each and every person is going to have a different opinion about this. What is your idea of a great band?

My IDEA of a great band is a group of people who play music because they LIKE TO. If they formed to project a political statement, encourage people to participate in a particular lifestyle or think they must dress a certain way to 'express themselves (a far too often mis-used phrase), then they fall out of my interest. Any band that follows a 'fad sound' loses my votes, too. All you have to do is listen to modern rock nowadays. Bowling for Soup, American Rejects, Fall out Boy and countless others sound IDENTICAL to each other. Their singers all sound the same. It's time to bring back the originality back into music. The NEW definition of individuality is "We sound just like the other guy, but we have different tattoos!"

If you took music videos away, music would fall back into place because you force the musicians to actually be good at their playing rather than the bands to depend on slick marketing. Take away the visuals and you are left with music.

I appreciate bands who would show up at a show and still play an entire show, even if no one showed up to listen to them. Those are the ones who play for the right reasons.

I like bands who tell their fans that they are just musicians and that they should not be idolized or emulated. How many brittney spears wannabees do we have in this country?? Do you people understand that her music is written for her, she lipsyncs during concerts and besides all of that she is a miserable human being? She is not a musician: She is a model who dances. Unfortunately in this day and age, hotness=talent.

If you want really good music, stop buying music from people who treat their fans badly, use their concerts to project a political statement or protest (regardless of what political view they have). Stop buying from any artist who participates in activism. These are clearly people who have let their stardom go to their heads. If an artist like Akon, who recently simulated raped a young girl and tossed another person from the stage after inviting them up, stopped getting revenue, their attitude will change. The Dixie Chicks will "shut up and sing" when their album sales plummet. John Travolta will go back to acting and Barbara Streisand....well, there will always be people you cant change.

Answer 5

A certain energy. Chemistry. Something that just clicks and can't really be put into words but you know it when you hear it. Something that has a little more. Something that sticks with you. To me, it's kind of like the unspoken thing. It doesn't have to be complex, take the Stones for example, they don't have the most complected stuff, but they certainly have IT.

Answer 6

the skill to be very unique, in a manner that they are going to be an exceptionally influential band interior the destiny with the help of expressing themselves as what variety of folk they are certainly. additionally they must be a band that particularly loves what they're doing and with a fondness, which makes them make song for the human beings, incredibly than for the repute and funds.

Answer 7

1) Talent (unlike most modern bands...)
2) A good sense of melody
3) Innovation, they can't reuse the same material over and over again
4) Emotions, or the music is just bland
5) Originallity, or else they are just copy cats
6) The ability to zone out what the fan wants. Once a band starts making music to please the fans and not themselves, they're screwed.

Answer 8

Dedication, good music, love for the fans, and people who arent in it just for the money. A band like Taking Back Sunday!

Answer 9

I have some friends in local bands, some turned downed signings b/c they play b/c they love it. IMO a great band is a band that loves what they are doing.
Asked a friend that has a band what makes a great band his answer was simple. THE FANS.

Support your local musicians!

Answer 10

a great band is original! somethin original different from than waht is out there today, be original dont follow the artisits around you, make ur own type of sound