Dave Matthews is the lead singer and rhythm guitar player of the Dave Matthews Band, a rock and jam-band ensemble that was formed in Charlottesville, VA, in 1991. Having one of their albums named as a Billboard Top 200 twelve times since 1995, DMB is one of the most popular rock bands in history. In addition to their frontman & namesake, the band consists bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer Carter Beauford, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, and violinist Boyd Tinsley. trumpet player Rashawn Ross & lead guitarist Tim Reynolds.
Singer and guitarist Dave Matthews uses primarily acoustic guitars in his songs, such as Crash Into Me and Crush. Dave does not use many fancy effects, as he has a crisp, clean guitar sound. His current equipment includes a Taylor 914c 6-string acoustic guitar, a Taylor 856ce 12-string acoustic, and a Veillette Gryphon. Matthews uses only D’Addario strings and Dunlop picks, and for amplification, he uses a Matchless DC-30 amplifier. He also uses a Shure UHF wireless system. When singing, Matthews has a mid-tenor range with accent that mixes his South African and Southern roots. His songs are generally somewhat easy to sing in terms of vocal range, however Matthews guitar style is very complex, so playing and singing his music can be difficult.
Bassist Stefan Lessard typically plays Modulus, Warwick, or Ken Smith basses. Like Dave, he does not use a lot of heavy effects either, but some of his effects include a Whirlwind 4-channel multi selector, a Korg DTR-1 digital tuner, and a Moog Taurus 3 Pedal. He also uses Ampeg SVT-2 and SVT-4 pro heads, and Ampeg 8×10 and 2×15 bass cabinets.
Violinist Boyd Tinsley plays a Zeta Boyd Tinsley violin, with John Norwood Lee bows. For amplification, he uses a Fishman acoustic amp, and an API 500HPR preamplifier. For effects, Boyd uses the Eventide GTR-7000 Ultra-Harmonizer.
Drummer Carter Beauford, a musical prodogy who plays without being able to read music notation, uses a Yamaha Drums Recording Custom drum kit, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks and mallets.
In addition to the strings and percussion players, the Dave Matthews Band has always been accompanied by a series of horns. When the band was formed, all of the horn parts were played by Leroy Moore, who dies in August 2008 due to complications from an ATV accident. After Moore’s sudden passing, the parts he traditionally were divided up between two horn players, Jeff Coffin and Rashawn Ross, and lead guitar player & long time friend of the band Tim Reynolds.
To sound like Dave Matthews himself should be a relatively easy task for the singer-songwriter musician. To replicate the full sound of the Dave Matthews Band, one will need a very talented violinist and percussionist, and a powerful bassist. Saxophones are typically added in many Dave Matthews song and on tour, so one would need to find an adequate saxophone player as well.
Keep Rockin’!!!
Dave Matthews Band by Cifo aka Big Cif taken on February 22, 2010
Novaes – Handcrafted Acoustic Guitars by dereckesanches taken on August 26, 2009
Warwick Thumb 5 NT by Beefy Basses taken on August 19, 2011
Boyd Tinsley by sportiqe taken on November 15, 2007
Yamaha Drums by David Watson taken on September 2, 2007
