Why does it matter if a band is "more skilled" at their instruments?

Assuming they can play, which most bands can do fairly well, why are people obsessed with certain guitarists or drummers being more "skilled"? Isn't what really matters the composition and if their playing is appropriate to it? For example, Meg White may not be the best drummer ever, but if you played Seven Nation Army without the simplistic beats, it wouldn't sound right.

People always complain about how Cobain wasn't all that great at guitar, but I'd take a guy that can write and play great songs over one that can play 64th note triplets, but can't compose to save his life.

Generally, more skilled musicians make better sounding music.

Then again, how good music sounds is really only personal preference, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

Yngwie Malmsteen is that guy who can play 64th note triplets but can't compose to save his life, amirite?TheEraser

Depends how they are live I guess....squidder_doa

[QUOTE="squidder_doa"]Depends how they are live I guess....Quack_Attack

[QUOTE="Quack_Attack"][QUOTE="squidder_doa"]Depends how they are live I guess....TheEraser

I don't think it matters. Especially here because NOONE knows who the REAL talented bands are.

"Free Bird" containing the most complicated guitar solo. :lol:

I'd like to give them "No Anaesthesia" and see what they'd say. 

Mike Portnoy from the Progressiv Rock band Dream Theater is skilled in both his instrument and at composing and writing lyrics. He has written 'The Glass Prison, The Mirror, This Dying Soul, and The Root of All Evil. Plus a part of Dream Theater's 24 minute epic Octavarium. He is in the Drummer Hall of Fame!

So now that I have officially pimped my favourite drummer to everyone...

Everyone in a band doesn't necessarily have to be able to write and compose music. As long as you have at least one member who can do that your ok. But I believe that every member of the band HAS to be skilled at the instrument they play or else the music wont sound good.

Yngwie Malmsteen is that guy who can play 64th note triplets but can't compose to save his life, amirite?TheEraser

I guess he fits the bill, but when I read that I immediately thought of Herman Li of Dragonforce....

And yeah, you have a very relevant point TC.

I love metal myself, but I always look for that good composition along with the good technical skill when looking for metal bands. 

I don't think it matters. Especially here because NOONE knows who the REAL talented bands are.

Dencore

[QUOTE="Dencore"]

I don't think it matters. Especially here because NOONE knows who the REAL talented bands are.

gamefreakomega

[QUOTE="gamefreakomega"][QUOTE="Dencore"]

I don't think it matters. Especially here because NOONE knows who the REAL talented bands are.

Quack_Attack

I was givening that as an example, I judge talent by "hard to do"

You assume being a skilled instrumentalist is simply about being able to play with a certain speed or precision, but this is not what people mean.  Just look at Jimi Hendrix, he wasn't remembered as a great guitarist because he could play faster and more complex parts, he is remembered because of the soul he infuses into his playing.  When one talks about Dimebag Darrell or Joey Jordison as great musicians, it's that they have a technical ability, a certain soul, and an ear for music. 

For example, Kurt Cobain was once ranked fairly high in a list of the 100 greatest guitarist of all time by the Rolling Stone (number 12, just below Kirk Hammett of Metallica), because he had the ability to infuse the sound of his guitar with a certain emotion.  You also mention Meg White, who I've heard praised for her ability to know when not to play.  There are various factors involved when one refers to someone as a skilled musician.

It doesn't matter thats the thing. It irritates me so much when people base a band completely on instrumental skill. Plus musicians tend to be greatly restricted to what they can do in a band. It really depends on what Genre of music the band is.

It shouldn't.  Jimi Hendrix is probably more skilled than the music I listen to, but I still don't listen to him.  :PGameFreak315

 Im sure many people will agree with me in saying that Jimi Hendrix was a simply incredible player but I certainly wouldn't rank him with the best technically. It was more the sound he brought to that era that made him stand out more than anything else.

I don't think it's that big of a deal but it's fun to hear stuff normal guitarists/drummers/bassists/ have a hard time doing. It also enables you to do whatever you want to on your intrument. No boundaries.

I'd much rather be "more skilled" in songwriting though. It's more fun to hear a catchy tune then to hear an instrument with cool sounds. 

Because a band is a combination of instrumental and lyrical art.  If you don't care about the musicians' skill, why not just read a good book?  If you don't care about the lyricist's skill, why not just listen to an instrumental. 

 A good band should have a good combination of all things that go into making a band.

It depends on the extent. Green Day's guitarist for example, is pretty darned awful. But he takes what he can do and makes the best of it. Even though i'm not a fan, i can appreciate that they make some catchy stuff.

Fallout Boy, on the other hand, use the same recycled crap over and over again. Anybody with the slightest comprehension of music could recreate it.

If you honestly feel that you could pick up a guitar and replace a band member in a live show; there's something wrong. 

It depends on the extent. Green Day's guitarist for example, is pretty darned awful. But he takes what he can do and makes the best of it. Even though i'm not a fan, i can appreciate that they make some catchy stuff.

Fallout Boy, on the other hand, use the same recycled crap over and over again. Anybody with the slightest comprehension of music could recreate it.

If you honestly feel that you could pick up a guitar and replace a band member in a live show; there's something wrong. 

Ninja-Vox

It depends on the extent. Green Day's guitarist for example, is pretty darned awful. But he takes what he can do and makes the best of it. Even though i'm not a fan, i can appreciate that they make some catchy stuff.

Fallout Boy, on the other hand, use the same recycled crap over and over again. Anybody with the slightest comprehension of music could recreate it.

If you honestly feel that you could pick up a guitar and replace a band member in a live show; there's something wrong. 

Ninja-Vox

Ah...as to your last statement....you must admit....some bands are awful live.  That IS where the true talent is shown.  Studio recordings not so much.

[QUOTE="Ninja-Vox"]

It depends on the extent. Green Day's guitarist for example, is pretty darned awful. But he takes what he can do and makes the best of it. Even though i'm not a fan, i can appreciate that they make some catchy stuff.

Fallout Boy, on the other hand, use the same recycled crap over and over again. Anybody with the slightest comprehension of music could recreate it.

If you honestly feel that you could pick up a guitar and replace a band member in a live show; there's something wrong.

LJS9502_basic

Ah...as to your last statement....you must admit....some bands are awful live. That IS where the true talent is shown. Studio recordings not so much.

[QUOTE="Ninja-Vox"]

It depends on the extent. Green Day's guitarist for example, is pretty darned awful. But he takes what he can do and makes the best of it. Even though i'm not a fan, i can appreciate that they make some catchy stuff.

Fallout Boy, on the other hand, use the same recycled crap over and over again. Anybody with the slightest comprehension of music could recreate it.

If you honestly feel that you could pick up a guitar and replace a band member in a live show; there's something wrong.

LJS9502_basic

Ah...as to your last statement....you must admit....some bands are awful live. That IS where the true talent is shown. Studio recordings not so much.

Yeah, Dragonforce speeds up their playing with computers for the albums..... 

I guess it'd be quite safe to assume that being more skilled means better music. And by better, I don't necessarily mean from a subjective preferential perspective, but from the clarity and sharpness of the sound they can produce.

As a ska fanatic, I can say that the difference between a good horn player and a great horn player is very evident, and when more skilled musicians come together, the overall sound is noticeably better. They have a more professional sound.

Having said that, it all depends on what effect you're going for. If it's a simple sound and you can pull it off, you've succeeded. Being 'skilled' doesn't necessarily mean being complex, although the two can easily go hand-in-hand. Being skilled can often mean accomplishing what you set out to do and doing it right. And if you do it right, that's all that really matters, I guess.

[QUOTE="Ninja-Vox"]

It depends on the extent. Green Day's guitarist for example, is pretty darned awful. But he takes what he can do and makes the best of it. Even though i'm not a fan, i can appreciate that they make some catchy stuff.

Fallout Boy, on the other hand, use the same recycled crap over and over again. Anybody with the slightest comprehension of music could recreate it.

If you honestly feel that you could pick up a guitar and replace a band member in a live show; there's something wrong.

LJS9502_basic

Ah...as to your last statement....you must admit....some bands are awful live. That IS where the true talent is shown. Studio recordings not so much.

Indeed. That's what i was talking about. I'm usually at least reasonably open-minded with music, however witnessing Fallout Boy Live at a festival last year has pretty much engrained into my mind that they are, as most of the haters say, the single most undeserving of a record deal band currently in existance.

In my opinion at least. I know they have their legions of fans, but i would honestly say it's mostly down to the "scene" in which they adopt. Just like the tool from the Killers said, (though he is himself a douche) Fallout Boy are the epitomy of corporate music. Seeing them live simply proves what all of the haters claim; that they indeed cannot play their instruments and are indeed more about what eye-liner to wear and how to shoot their next teen-stereotype video.

Lord knows how that turned into a post bashing Fallout Boy. But these things happen.

Most of The Beatles' songs were simple, but sounded amazing. So, you don't need to be good at instruments to make good music I guess.solidscryer

True. Creativity and originality play a very big part. 

Fallout Boy are the epitomy of corporate music. Seeing them live simply proves what all of the haters claim; that they indeed cannot play their instruments and are indeed more about what eye-liner to wear and how to shoot their next teen-stereotype video.Ninja-Vox

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="Ninja-Vox"]

It depends on the extent. Green Day's guitarist for example, is pretty darned awful. But he takes what he can do and makes the best of it. Even though i'm not a fan, i can appreciate that they make some catchy stuff.

Fallout Boy, on the other hand, use the same recycled crap over and over again. Anybody with the slightest comprehension of music could recreate it.

If you honestly feel that you could pick up a guitar and replace a band member in a live show; there's something wrong.

Ninja-Vox

Ah...as to your last statement....you must admit....some bands are awful live. That IS where the true talent is shown. Studio recordings not so much.

Indeed. That's what i was talking about. I'm usually at least reasonably open-minded with music, however witnessing Fallout Boy Live at a festival last year has pretty much engrained into my mind that they are, as most of the haters say, the single most undeserving of a record deal band currently in existance.

In my opinion at least. I know they have their legions of fans, but i would honestly say it's mostly down to the "scene" in which they adopt. Just like the tool from the Killers said, (though he is himself a douche) Fallout Boy are the epitomy of corporate music. Seeing them live simply proves what all of the haters claim; that they indeed cannot play their instruments and are indeed more about what eye-liner to wear and how to shoot their next teen-stereotype video.

Lord knows how that turned into a post bashing Fallout Boy. But these things happen.

 Ok first of all Billie Joe started playing guitar at the age of 11 and is now 35 years old. He is NOT a bad guitarist but his musical approach is not so technical just thought I would clear that up.

I completely disagree with you saying that Fall Out Boy are bad live and they are NOT the most undeserving of a record deal . That is another thing. If you say that then it would be fair to say that about any band. But if they weren't talented then they wouldn't have gotten a record deal in the first place. The most inexperienced on an instrument in the band is the lead-singer, Patrick, however he rarely makes a mistake and his vocals are more important than his playing. Their drummer used to play in many metalcore bands and is very talented and their lead-guitarist has been playing guitar for about 12 years and is a huge fan of Pantera and i would imagine he probably plays some pantera since he and i quote described his pantera collection as his "Bible". So they can play their instruments. Oh and well the bassist I still can't decide whether he is good or not becuase yes a band is restricted by their music but i certainly don't see him busting out any funky bass solo's anytime soon but he co-writes the lyrics, so I think I will just leave it at that for now.