A most likely to be hated suggestion.

[xz falcon zx]

Ok, so i've been seeing all these posts about instrumentals, and after seeing a post about having a 3rd guitar(rythm) i thought about it. Why not release an expansion rock band(sort of like guitar hero:rock the 80's, except, you know, good) that features only instrumentals. That way, it would be completely optional and wouldn't require a singer to be left out. It wouldn't have to be full price. I just thought it would be a good idea, though most people will probably shun it. Just my 2 cents.

[xz falcon zx]

Feel free to flame or compliment it...

[afterstasis]

i actually instrumentals would be better suited as DLC if they were to be introduced into the game. that way they can be mixed with the other songs and bought on a "per-song" basis.

[xz falcon zx]

Yea but what about the singer :confused:

[Screaming_Evil]

Cowbell/Tambourine solo :p

[afterstasis]

Yea but what about the singer :confused:

he can alternate instruments, i suppose. i'm sure he'd rather alternate than be completely excluded if his group wanted to pop in the "instrumentals disc".
and if you have a group who wants to do nothing but instrumentals (kinda odd, but different strokes for different folks), then they can make a setlist of the instrumentals that they have downloaded.

[InB4Lock]

Sounds good to me. I'd buy it.

[instantdeath999]

To be honest, I would really like to see instrumentals. There could be songs that omit other instruments to compensate.

However, this seems like a good solution. I'd buy it.

[xz falcon zx]

Yay someone would buy it.

[The_Sailerman]

There are a number of instrumentals I'd like to be able to play in Rock Band, particularly "YYZ" by Rush and "Quadrophenia" by The Who.

If Harmonix released these for say, $1.49 each, I'd definitely buy some (and I'd even pay the full $1.99 for ones I really like).

[The Hungry Samurai]

You all make me want to cry.

SINGERS HAVE BIG EGOS!!! WE NEEEEEEEEEED SINGING LUVVINS

Isn't it bad enough you toss us in the corner with a cowbell and rock out so much on GGaHT?

Me Me me me me me me me!!!


Seriously. Me.

[Gatorguy91]

This is an amazing Idea. I AM ALL FOR IT.

i want me some racer x in it though

and buckethead and YYZ

[Hindesite]

I'd like to see a standalone release outside of Rock Band 2 that focuses specifically on songs with heavy instrumentals and no vocals.

They could replace the vocalist with a 3rd guitarist, still supporting 4 player bands, and all DLC that is instrument exclusive (ie. lacking vocals) could be released for Rock Band 'Instrument Kings' or whatever it may be called.

I'd definately buy it. Though I do have friends that like to sing (me included), sometimes we all want to play Rock Band and no one's feelin' the vocals, and I think this would fit the bill nicely.

I'd also play it heavily whenever I wanted to play solo.

[Agent Graves]

I agree. There should be some songs that not everyone gets to join in on. There's good songs that don't incorporate all four players, but I think people would buy them. Have a pack of instrumentals where the singer sits out. Release some stuff by the Black Keys and White Stripes where the bass player sits out. Release some acoustic songs where the drummer sits out. I think lots of people would be okay with a few songs like this.

[Julio_Strikes_Back]

I'd like instrumentals, but I'd rather just get them as DLC.

[zepplinmike]

There's a simple solution to fears of singers being left out when an instrumental pops up in a mystery set list... Just program the game so that when a singer is logged in, those songs don't show up randomly. When there is no singer, they can be mixed in like any other song. I usually play without a singer anyway, and when there is one, it's me playing an instrument at the same time.

[xz falcon zx]

I'd like to see a standalone release outside of Rock Band 2 that focuses specifically on songs with heavy instrumentals and no vocals.

They could replace the vocalist with a 3rd guitarist, still supporting 4 player bands, and all DLC that is instrument exclusive (ie. lacking vocals) could be released for Rock Band 'Instrument Kings' or whatever it may be called.

I'd definately buy it. Though I do have friends that like to sing (me included), sometimes we all want to play Rock Band and no one's feelin' the vocals, and I think this would fit the bill nicely.

I'd also play it heavily whenever I wanted to play solo.

Basically restated my idea, and aren't you on my friends list julio?

[statboyinva]

Only if they counter-balance it with a disc that lets us singers leave out the instrumentalists and sing in 4-part harmony. It could feature The Beatles, Queen, The Eagles, The Temptations, Boyz II Men, etc.

[Nocturnal]

We already have Behind Blue Eyes which pretty much omits the drummer for most of the song. I think it could be done, sometimes bands give their singer a break by doing an instrumental break. Just so long as the set list isn't dominated by instrumentals, I dunno why one or two couldn't be added as DLC.

I mean, just think of it like this, you just got done playing a marathon of Boston songs or something and your singer needs a few minutes to quench his thirst. Rest of the band still wants to play so they pop on an instrumental track without having to remove the singer at all, and the rest of the band just plays, giving the singer time to sit back and relax, get some water, and just enjoy watching the rainbows of notes.

[Tralfmadorian]

Make them DLC, that way everyone will know "THIS SONG HAS NO VOCALS". People who play vocals will not buy it, while people who never play vocals will.

The problems will only arise in online or quickplay, where a song might be avoided because the singer will be left out.

[instantdeath999]

Make them DLC, that way everyone will know "THIS SONG HAS NO VOCALS". People who play vocals will not buy it, while people who never play vocals will.

The problems will only arise in online or quickplay, where a song might be avoided because the singer will be left out.

This sounds great in theory... but people, particularly from these forums, tend to think they are "entitled" to DLC. If they get a week of something they don't like, they whine about it, rather than say "maybe next week".

I can only imagine it would be a similar situation for the vocalists. Though I don't think HMX cares about the complaints, so DLC would be the best option.

[WhiffleBallTony]

This sounds great in theory... but people, particularly from these forums, tend to think they are "entitled" to DLC. If they get a week of something they don't like, they whine about it, rather than say "maybe next week".

I can only imagine it would be a similar situation for the vocalists. Though I don't think HMX cares about the complaints, so DLC would be the best option.

Here's the solution:

Three-pack of instrumentals
Three-pack of vocal songs

[Orion.Rock]

Sounds good. Id buy it.

[senorchubbs]

White Stripes!!! White Stripes!!! I want some of those ****ing awesome Jack White guitar parts

[qweasdzxc]

The OP's idea was the best and only good one on this issue I've ever heard.

A spin off 4 player game with 3 guitars and drums would kick so much ass.

Mostly metal bands have 3 guitarists, I think it might even be almost as good as RB.

They could call it Metal Band, LOL, since most people into metal would rather play guitar anyway.

The only ****ty thing would be you'd need 3 guitars.

INSTRUMENTALS DON'T BELONG IN THIS GAME THOUGH.

They already are as "the hellion" and "foreplay", and that's the only way they should be done.

There shouldn't be any songs you can't play on your solo tour for any instrument, it's stupid. I wouldn't mind if Orion (as long as it is) would be included as part of another song either, but to completely leave any instrument out in this game would just suck.

[Zeleii]

OR HMX could rate your % on Instrumetals on vox based on heavy and challenging "tapping parts" on the mic sorta like the ones in Closer to the Heart... seriously hardcore tambourine

[krammkracker]

Some intrumentals for DLC would be awesome...The drummers have been left out for a couple DLC songs (aswell as some guitar parts), So I don't see why the singer can't sit a couple out.

[The Hungry Samurai]

Some intrumentals for DLC would be awesome...The drummers have been left out for a couple DLC songs (aswell as some guitar parts), So I don't see why the singer can't sit a couple out.


Have you played GGaHT with a vocalist?

[war_lord]

OR HMX could rate your % on Instrumetals on vox based on heavy and challenging "tapping parts" on the mic sorta like the ones in Closer to the Heart... seriously hardcore tambourine

The problem is that currently the singer's tambourine\cowbell parts are considered a bonus.

Personally, I'd have nothing against HMX releasing some instrumentals, but I don't know that I'd buy them... I rather like singing. Then again, it depends on the songs chosen too. Megadeth's Into the Lungs of Hell would rule all!

[OakTea]

I vote YES for instrumentals..
DOUBLE YES for a 3-pack of instrumentals released alongside a 3-pack of vocal-centric songs...
A NO for 3 guitars + drums...
And a VERY NO for a split from the Rock Band game with songs on the disc focusing on instruments/vocals only, with a clause that says..
UNLESS we can get all the songs available for 'regular' Rock Band DLC as well, so we aren't missing out on some potentially awesome songs.

I'm all for instrumentals; there are some dry songs on each instrument. We don't have any songs completely remove an instrument yet, but we've come close with Behind Blue Eyes, and (arguably) Silver for some instruments.
Behind Blue Eyes is a vocal-centric song, and is probably what a lot of them would look like.
Green Grass and High Tides on the other hand, is a fairly guitar-centric song, where there are very few vocal phrases.

Hmmm... I think I'd be the most reluctant to download a song that entirely removed guitar or bass though. I mean, think about it. The drummers can free-style as long as they don't have any notes coming up early followed by a long pause, the vocalist can make up their own song if they wanted to, or have an insane cowbell part... But the guitarist and bassist can't really do anything except stand there, put down their controllers, or press random fret buttons (don't strum!) or they'll fail.

I mean, in a game, it's not nice to have someone sitting out. But it happens all the time. Most sports don't have entire teams on the field at the same time, some players are sitting out..
And keeping with the 'real band experience', there are songs where a member of the band doesn't play. And really, who is it up to; which songs to play?
The band chooses which songs to play. This is usually true in band world tour.
Besides. In that (for most people) >1% chance that you get that instrumental in a random setlist... Big deal, right? S**t happens. You could always come up with an excuse for that.

Guitarist: "Okay guys, they want us to play YYZ, they couldn't stop screaming for it... I told them we didn't know it, but apparently there's a video on youtube of me playing it with my Rush cover band... They know; and we have to play."

Or..

Label: "We need you to play Orion for a cheap DVD we're making. We'll have our effects guy change some things around. If you don't want to, fine, you can walk out on us, and your screaming fans. But we won't pay you, and I'm sure they'll be displeased."

Imagination, people. Stuff happens in the real world, and I'm sure most of you will have better ideas than me.

Gh3 player: "GUYS GUYS GUYS We gotta' play this song or else THE DEVIL WILL EAT OUR WIENERS!"