Bands are tight-knit units by nature, so when a member quits it can seem like a blow to the head,emotionally and business wise. When the lead guitarist quits it may feel more like a knockout punch. Not that any other member of the unit is less important, but lead guitar is usually a signature element of most bands, along with the lead singer (sorry bassists and drummers, but you’re already used to being the butt of jokes about how overlooked you are, right?)

Now that the band is without a lead guitarist is no reason to panic or get despondent. In fact, it may be a blessing in disguise. Why would you want a guitarist who didn’t want you, anyway? There are a few ways you could handle this transition phase.

— The simple replacement. No one is THAT irreplaceable. Hire a new guitarist with a skill set that matches the old one, someone you can easily get along with. You’ll have to do some serious searching, such as placing an ad on Craigslist and posting fliers where musicians hang out, places like record stores and clubs, and put the word out among friends and other local bands. Unless you’re lucky, you’ll likely go through a long tryout phase before you find a suitable replacement. If it’s an all-guy group, consider shaking things up a bit and breaking the band’s gender barrier by hiring a female guitarist.

— The re-invention. Maybe now is the time to re-invent your sound. At the very least, if your band’s style was anchored by your former lead guitarist, it’s definitely time for a make over. Maybe you could hire a keyboardist to give the group more melodic depth; a percussionist to flesh out the rhythm section, or a multi-instrumentalist who can play horns, keyboards, sing harmony vocals and add extra percussion. Don’t get stuck in the box of the sound a former member helped to create. Fans may balk at new versions of their favorite songs, at first, but they’ll come on board soon enough if you stay true to your artistic vision.

— The “less is more” angle. If you were a four-piece band, try being a three-piece now; if you were a three-piece, consider how well The Black Keys and The White Stripes have done as two-pieces. Maybe you didn’t need that extra guitarist after all. Try picking up the slack among the band members that remain. You may find that challenging yourselves in this way makes for an even tighter, more well-rounded band.