Multiple guitar players
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In rock and other related genres, bands often have multiple electric guitar players to perform the different musical parts, such as melody lines, guitar solos, chords, and riffs.
There are several ways that multiple guitar players are used.
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[edit] Standard configuration
In the standard configuration used in many rock, hard rock, and metal bands, a lead guitar player performs melody lines and guitar solos and one (or sometimes more) rhythm guitar player(s) plays chords or riffs as an accompaniment. The rhythm guitar part outlines the chord progression of a song and provides a rhythmic pulse.
[edit] Other configurations
Alternatively, each guitarist may play both lead and rhythm guitar parts at different parts of a song or at different parts of a performance. They will often trade off guitar solos; usually, when one guitarists is performing a solo, the other will maintain a backing rhythm by playing chords. In some songs, both guitarists may solo at the same time.
[edit] Bands with a single guitarist handling multiple roles
In rock or metal bands with a single guitarist, the guitar player usually plays rhythm guitar for most of each song, to accompany the vocalist. However, the guitarist may also perform solos during a song. In a small ensemble, the loss of the rhythm guitar role during a guitar solo can considerably thin out the sound of the band. To resolve this problem, some bands with a single guitarist use overdubbing on recordings to record a rhythm guitar part behind their guitar solos.
In live performances, bands with a single guitarist can create the effect of having rhythm guitarist playing behind the guitar solos by using looping devices. Looping effect pedals can be used to record a short riff or chordal accompaniment, which the guitarist can then solo over.
In some cases, an offstage guitarist may perform rhythm guitar parts during the guitar solo. However, this approach is actually a guitar tandem in which only one member is visible to the public.
