I'm influenced and inspired more to create/write/play music through my bass playing by music in general than by 'bassists'.

I rarely buy music because the bass player is oustanding and I find that a good piece of music will inspire and influence me regardless of bass and/or technique used in creating it.

What do y'all think about this?

How are y'all most influenced by music? - Are you inspired to play when you hear great bass or great music?... or both... or neither?

Oh and I'm not trying to say either is right or wrong, just interested....

That's my stand, too. Once I find the music I like, I learn to play it (or past tense at my age). It's why (waiting for flames on this...) I'm not a big Jaco fan. All the technique stuff I understand, and I'm impressed, but I just never got into that style of music, so his genius falls on deaf ears to me. People like Tony Levin, Martin Turner, Jack Bruce, etc. - well, that's a different story. That's probably how some of us pull up names that many people don't know in the "greatest bassist" discussions. Gary Thain was an incredible bassist, but unless you happened to be a Uriah Heep fan, you might not ever hear his name mentioned. It's always been the music first, and the players after that.

Well as far back as I can remember, I have always heard the basslines first and foremost and quite often never even hear lyrics in music. I can remember at school that all my friends were into Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple etc and this was great as there were always bass riffs and lines to listen to. But quite often if you wanted to meet girls and go out with them, you had to go to "discos" where they played other sorts of music. Now my mates would be standing around the floor scowling, but I would be happy dancing and listening to the basslines - though the music (Motown etc) was "soppy" - I loved some of the basslines and spent all night thinking about them in my head! Ever since I have doen this and if a song has a great bassline I will get up and dance and be unselfconscious, but if not, I am lost!

Bassists are my influence/inspiration when I play bass.
But music in general is the driving force when I write songs.
That said, I rarely write anything these days.

That's my stand, too. Once I find the music I like, I learn to play it (or past tense at my age). It's why (waiting for flames on this...) I'm not a big Jaco fan. All the technique stuff I understand, and I'm impressed, but I just never got into that style of music, so his genius falls on deaf ears to me

Amen. Same here for Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, etc. I don't really care what any musician is playing as long as the song as a whole has that magic to it.

both are definetly influences but i think music in general has gotten me into it more than any one bassist.

I'd have to say that music is more of an inspiration - long before I picked up a bass, or even knew what one was, I listened to music. And when I write, I often don't even consider the bass until the band has taken it up, which isn't very often...

Music.

Originally posted by Brendan
Music.

ditto

Music is my life,to not hear would kill me.
But remember the music of vision is a dancer.
As long as the rhythm of life is in me,I'm happy!

We are all wrong if all we listen to are bass players.I love the low end,but all instruments add to our style,writing and inspiration.
Whenever i step up to solo on my fretless i think..
Play like miles would
play like miles would
...

music is the main inspiration for me too...glad to see most of you agree on that.

Originally posted by Dragonlord
music is the main inspiration for me too...glad to see most of you agree on that.

But what if these are the same people who come onto this board and say thing like they can't hear the basslines and can't transcribe them - there have been loads of threads like this - people saying things like "how do you isolate a bass part" or "how do you slow down the track so I can transcribe it".

And what's wrong with being inspired by the instrument you play - if I didn't like bass lines I don't think I would have chosen to play bass. But then I get the impression that a lot of people on this board aren't actually bass players - I'm not saying that this is the case with those who have replied to this thread - but I do get the impression that there are maybe 20 or so people on this board who actually play bass in a band out of hundreds or thousands (?) who post.

I agree with Oysterman that obviously music inpsires you, but as a bass player I think you do need to focus on the great players and hear basslines when you listen to music. If you are actually going to progress and learn, then you need to be transcribing this stuff all the time and basically every time you listen to music.

When I am listening to classical music, I am inspired to be a composer an dto think about writing a symphony, but when I hear any music with a bass line, I'm listening to that and thinking how I can apply it to my own playing.

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
[QUOTE]I agree with Oysterman that obviously music inpsires you, but as a bass player I think you do need to focus on the great players and hear basslines when you listen to music. If you are actually going to progress and learn, then you need to be transcribing this stuff all the time and basically every time you listen to music.
...but when I hear any music with a bass line, I'm listening to that and thinking how I can apply it to my own playing.

Right, Bruce...focusing on the great players. Those guys, in my world, are the Amrstrongs, Birds, Dizzys, 'Tranes, Miles, Shorters, Tony Williams, Coreas, blahblah in addition to all the guys who play a bass.
So, when I am in listening mode, I'm attempting to incorporate & apply many things into the BS that I produce outta my instrument. That may mean playing a Charlie Parker phrase but groovin' it like Clyde Stubblefield.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the bass; for me, it's pretty much the music(at least, I like to think so).

Both sides of the argument can co exist.

In some pieces of music the whole thing will inspire you and in others the instrument will.

I heard some Jaco stuff last night that moved me because he was a genius on bass but I will never buy it. I have liked U2 for 20 yrs but Adam Clayton is never going to win an award for technique without a demand for a recount.

Some music apeals to your head and some to your heart.

I wanted to take up the bass after hearing Jack Bruce in Cream, but none of my other early musical heroes and influences were bass players: Zappa, Todd Rundgren, Steve Winwood, Robert Fripp, Capt. Beefheart, Bach, Miles Davis, John Coltrane.

both.

originally post by Bruce Lindfield
I agree with Oysterman that obviously music inpsires you, but as a bass player I think you do need to focus on the great players and hear basslines when you listen to music.

This can be a problem, though. Great basslines are only great within the context of the music. If you're only focusing on the bass, then you're not seeing the forest for the trees. This is the approach that creates bass players that have technical prowess, but no clue as to what belongs, and doesn't belong, in certain musical settings. In a lot of ways, we may be saying very much the same thing, but I approach it from the music side first. So, as I'm working up a bass line on something, I might think, "Oh, a bass line like [fill in the blank] would work really well here", as opposed to saying "I need to find a way to put this bassline in here somehow". And, as we all listen and play more and more, these two approaches start melting together. Yes, I always start by listening to the music, but I always end up listening to how the bass works inside the context. Likewise, when I hear a really strong bassline, I'll examine the surrounding music to see why it's making a strong impact - is it a supportive or dominant role, etc.

Originally posted by gweimer

This can be a problem, though. Great basslines are only great within the context of the music. If you're only focusing on the bass, then you're not seeing the forest for the trees. This is the approach that creates bass players that have technical prowess, but no clue as to what belongs, and doesn't belong, in certain musical settings.

Ain't that the truth. That's who I am. And do not take pride in it - I would give all my chops (the few there are) and one of my fingers for the talent of playing the right thing at the right time. :(

"music was my first love
and it'll be my last"

Music is IMO still the most important fact of all playing and listening.

(Maybe that's the reason why so many people like the beatles although they weren't very good musicians?)

Originally posted by JimK
Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
[QUOTE]I agree with Oysterman that obviously music inpsires you, but as a bass player I think you do need to focus on the great players and hear basslines when you listen to music. If you are actually going to progress and learn, then you need to be transcribing this stuff all the time and basically every time you listen to music.
...but when I hear any music with a bass line, I'm listening to that and thinking how I can apply it to my own playing.

Right, Bruce...focusing on the great players. Those guys, in my world, are the Amrstrongs, Birds, Dizzys, 'Tranes, Miles, Shorters, Tony Williams, Coreas, blahblah in addition to all the guys who play a bass.
So, when I am in listening mode, I'm attempting to incorporate & apply many things into the BS that I produce outta my instrument. That may mean playing a Charlie Parker phrase but groovin' it like Clyde Stubblefield.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the bass; for me, it's pretty much the music(at least, I like to think so).

Well... Yes and No. For example I really like Freddie Hubbard's trumpet playing and try to trasncribe his lines, but I tend to think that when I play it on bass it never sounds as good - a lot of why what he's playing sounds so good is becuase it suits the trumpet. But when I play a Jaco line and find the same place and tone that he did - it just sounds right on the instrument - Jaco chose to play things that sounded good on the electric bass.

I often hear basslines and think - that sounds great and I know what he/she is doing - they're playing it in this position and using the fact that these notes sound good played like this. It helps me to transpose it and inspires me at the same time. Whereas, although I admire Charlie Parker lines, I have no idea where to start and it is just down to hard work!

Songwriting influences-
Justin Heyward, Syd Barrett, Roger Waters

Bass influences-
John Lodge, Chris Squire, any prog.

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
For example I really like Freddie Hubbard's trumpet playing and try to trasncribe his lines, but I tend to think that when I play it on bass it never sounds as good - a lot of why what he's playing sounds so good is becuase it suits the trumpet. But when I play a Jaco line and find the same place and tone that he did - it just sounds right on the instrument - Jaco chose to play things that sounded good on the electric bass.


...yeah, maybe I see your point; then again, it's still 12 tones(usually)played in some sorta rhythmic fashion...if it doesn't sound "good", then that's my problem & that's something I have to address.
And you are familiar enough with Jaco to know about his horn-like solos.
(Dammit, I said solo in a post; that's usually Bruce's word...). :D

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
Originally posted by Dragonlord
music is the main inspiration for me too...glad to see most of you agree on that.

But what if these are the same people who come onto this board and say thing like they can't hear the basslines and can't transcribe them - there have been loads of threads like this - people saying things like "how do you isolate a bass part" or "how do you slow down the track so I can transcribe it".

And what's wrong with being inspired by the instrument you play - if I didn't like bass lines I don't think I would have chosen to play bass. But then I get the impression that a lot of people on this board aren't actually bass players - I'm not saying that this is the case with those who have replied to this thread - but I do get the impression that there are maybe 20 or so people on this board who actually play bass in a band out of hundreds or thousands (?) who post.

I agree with Oysterman that obviously music inpsires you, but as a bass player I think you do need to focus on the great players and hear basslines when you listen to music. If you are actually going to progress and learn, then you need to be transcribing this stuff all the time and basically every time you listen to music.

When I am listening to classical music, I am inspired to be a composer an dto think about writing a symphony, but when I hear any music with a bass line, I'm listening to that and thinking how I can apply it to my own playing.

I see your point...what I was thinking was that I'd rather play a good song,than a good bassline.Of course,the ideal would be to have both,but you know what I mean...I play bass to serve the music,as opposed to many instrumentalists who see songs as a way to play their instrument...mainly guitar players,who sometimes lose the essence of music just to play cool stuff on the guitar.I don't say that a little musical masturbation is necesserily bad,if you like it go for it,but I prefer beautiful SONGS.I know that's not what you meant,but I just wanted to make my view clear.I think you just misunderstood me,maybe...

The biggest influence for me is definitely the music itself. However, don't you agree that a good bassline will make a song better? Sometimes, music becomes good because the bassist is good. There are a lot of Motown songs, that as a whole, are just so-so without Jamerson. When you put Jamerson in the mix, the songs come to life and really become something more than they would have been if there were some other bassists playing root-fifth, root-fifth, root-fifth. Although every piece of music comes together, sometimes one part of that music really carries it. The 4th movement of Beethoven's 9th symphony would not be the same without the chorus.

Music

Anybody ever heard John Myung of Dream Theater? i think he is supurb. the whole band seems to be just a fun solo out band.

Oysterman, you would do yourself right by listening to Yes and Chris Squire. Among the classic prog bands, Squire is unique because he knows what to play when. He's about the only one who understands that "thump, thump, thump" with the bass drum actually has merit.

Originally posted by gweimer
Oysterman, you would do yourself right by listening to Yes and Chris Squire. Among the classic prog bands, Squire is unique because he knows what to play when. He's about the only one who understands that "thump, thump, thump" with the bass drum actually has merit.

Oh, I've heard Squire. I just happen to be a big Yes fan. I have TYA, Fragile, CTTE, TFTO, Relayer, GFTO, 91025, BG, ABWH, Union, Ladder and Fish Out of Water (Squire's solo).
I also have TAAW, Drama and OYE in MP3 format, as well as half of Tormato and various other Yes-related stuff. :D

And I still don't have his talent. Perhaps I should try some more... :)

Originally posted by jazzbo
...don't you agree that a good bassline will make a song better? Sometimes, music becomes good because the bassist is good. There are a lot of Motown songs, that as a whole, are just so-so without Jamerson. When you put Jamerson in the mix, the songs come to life and really become something more than they would have been if there were some other bassists playing root-fifth, root-fifth, root-fifth.

Jazzbro-
I concur 100%; there have been many discusssions at this site about certain players who play the song. Guys who do what's required, yadda. Well, there's also guys, like Jamerson, who play the song while making it interesting. Just trying to be honest...let's face it, some guys who play the song are just not very interesting musicians(IMO). Especially if they're considered to be Rock/Jazz players where it's supposed to be about attitude, experimentation, & goin' for it.

Three phases I've gone through:
1)Being inspired and influenced by bass players and then players of other instruments too.

2)Being inspired by the music of Mozart, Ellington, Mingus, Bach and all kinds of folk music.
Through these first two periods (most of my life) I was trying to "be" someone I just wasn't quite sure who that someone was.

3)Recently during the first lessons I'd taken in over fifteen years I realized while I found great joy in other people's music I was never gonna be anyone but me and that that's a good thing (former girlfriends might disagree). At this point my music is more inspired by how I feel and the things I do. It could be a piece of music heard but a painting, a conversation or a fast car at dawn on a mountain road are more likely catalysts. Music used to be my life but the music never seemed to be mine. Now my music is a reflection of my life and if it's influenced by bassists or by the music of others music that's not something I'm really conscious of.

jello biafra for president

Originally posted by JimK
Originally posted by jazzbo
...don't you agree that a good bassline will make a song better? Sometimes, music becomes good because the bassist is good. There are a lot of Motown songs, that as a whole, are just so-so without Jamerson. When you put Jamerson in the mix, the songs come to life and really become something more than they would have been if there were some other bassists playing root-fifth, root-fifth, root-fifth.

Jazzbro-
I concur 100%; there have been many discusssions at this site about certain players who play the song. Guys who do what's required, yadda. Well, there's also guys, like Jamerson, who play the song while making it interesting. Just trying to be honest...let's face it, some guys who play the song are just not very interesting musicians(IMO). Especially if they're considered to be Rock/Jazz players where it's supposed to be about attitude, experimentation, & goin' for it.

This started out being about music and suddenly switched to "the song"! I think that the song format is just one of many types of music and I find that nowadays that only a very small percentage of what I listen to are "songs" as such. I particularly can't stand any songs where you can hear it's just a guy strumming a few chords in a very square rhythm, with the bass player following the roots in a similar vein. As JimK says - these are just not very interesting musicians - dull,dull dull!!

There is so much music out there and even songs as such, can be based on an interesting bass line and to me this often enlivens the music - people dance to basslines!! Whereas plodding, strummed chords are just a lack of invention/ideas to me.

Music inspired me to take up the guitar. Guitar playing inspired me to listen to Clapton. Listening to Clapton caused me to hear Jack Bruce. Listening to Bruce inspired me to take up bass. All is right with the world. :D

Quote: "I particularly can't stand any songs where you can hear it's just a guy strumming a few chords in a very square rhythm, with the bass player following the roots in a similar vein. As JimK says - these are just not very interesting musicians - dull,dull dull!!"

Amen.

I am SICK of the brit-pop genre... dont get me wrong some GREAT music came from it , but I'm tired of seeing 'The Grimstrummers' whining about some girlfriend that dumped them when they were a teenager and starting at their shoes.

The whole 6 chord song (4 for the verse and 2 for the chrous!)and LAMO bassline thing gets right on my tits too. Bass can be sooo textural and melodic, it seems as tho alot of these brit-pop bands could be greatly improved from a bit of thoughtfull bass? Rather than the 'even less talented' guitarist from the band thumbing out a few root notes.

To JimK: One of my fave players was a "play for the song" guy, Emory Gordy Jnr. He had the three T's, taste, tone, time.
To Gweimer: Your mention of Gary Thain made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Gary was my best friend when we were 13 through 18. We learnt guitar together, we did a paper route together, and got into a lot of trouble together. We lived in Christchurch, New Zealand, and he was always a better player than me. He and his older brother, Arthur, had a great band called the Strangers. Gary got itchy feet, so he and the rhythm guitarist from that band headed to England to seek fame and fortune. We lost contact then, but as you know, fame and fortune did not do well for Gary. A shame, he may have ended up as one of the greats, he certainly had the talent.

Marty-
...my point was that there are plenty of guys who play the song & do it like no one else(like your Emory Gordy, Jr).
Then there's those hordes of players who get praised for playing the song & really, IMO, it's nothing more than playing stock lines/parts that have been played since the dawn of time. I guess some/many will counter with "those lines/parts stand the test of time 'cause they work".
...my reply?
"Whatever"...

both have influenced me greatly. right now my influence is primarily Alex/Dirk Lance of Incubus. Great basslines and he looks like a dude who knows how to chill.

i think it's a clsoe tie, i am mainly inspired and get ideas and inspiration from bass players
but i can't turn my back compisitionally on music, i love paul chambers, and i would love him even the bands he plyed with suck, but i also love listening to trane and miles etc. a better example- i don't really liek bela fleck and hte flecktones, but vic's playing inspires me, and i cna listen to there music and enjoy it because of his playing, i agree we can't turn our backs on music as a whole, but its equally important to focus on our instrument.

Marty, you knew Gary Thain?! How cool. Actually, in my book, he did end up one of the greats. It's just a shame he couldn't have stuck around a little longer.

Originally posted by Acacia
both.

'nuff said. John Myung is a good bassist but I do not enjoy Dream Theater. I think Queens of the Stone Age are brilliant but there is nothing amazingly difficult about their basslines. And so on.....:)

QUOTE: "I think Queens of the Stone Age are brilliant but there is nothing amazingly difficult about their basslines."

I am pointing out the obvious here: a bassline doesnt have to be difficult to be amazing.

QOTSA are brilliant, they're one of my bands shared influences, overall sound and texture-wise.

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
And what's wrong with being inspired by the instrument you play - if I didn't like bass lines I don't think I would have chosen to play bass. But then I get the impression that a lot of people on this board aren't actually bass players - I'm not saying that this is the case with those who have replied to this thread - but I do get the impression that there are maybe 20 or so people on this board who actually play bass in a band out of hundreds or thousands (?) who post.

Let's take this with a tounge-in-cheek attitude here. :)

According to this, only the bassplayers who are in a band are real bassplayers. Let's say those who gig instead, so we won't c*** all over the solo players.

When you look at myself in this light, I am not a bassplayer. No big suprise, I've only begun to scratch the surface of playing and this in no way hurts me. But if I were to get into a band tomorrow, I would suddenly be a bonafied bassplayer. Would I still be a bassplayer if in that band I only played straight 8th root notes? Where is the point where you can say: OK, I'm a bassplayer? Do I my lines have to be this and this hard to play, or do they have to outline the chord changes perfectly or what?

And another thought. I've been trying to get into a band for the past three months. So far I haven't even gotten an audition. I practise hard at home because I want to become a good musician, and I'm trying to get into a music school. But despite my efforts, I'm not in a band. Does this make me a failed bassist? I clearly am not even in a band and have repeatidly failed to get in to one, so that must make me a failure. Maybe I should just drop this bass thing, huh?

Let's hear it, Supreme Arguer. :)

How's that for getting pissed because of an old thread that no one looks at anymore? :D