Hey,

I taught myself how to play bass, and thus I don't take the normal approach. Its my second instrument (after harmonica) and people keep telling me that I'm playing it wrong and that I should be playing guitar instead. I grew up listening to jazz and blues, and then metal, but when I think of real music, I think of blues.

So I started to play the licks from a lot of the old blues-rock bands of the 60's and 70's (Paul Butterfield, Bluesbreakers, Cream, etc) But I have trouble remembering complicated songs note for note, which isn't that good, so I do a lot of improv. I do however get the jist of the song before I even attempt to play it and do a lot of fills within the structure of the song. I solo when the guitar solos too (I'm a big Jack Bruce fan)

I've been getting offers to play with a lot of local bands, who enjoy my playing (currently I'm in a blues based band that does a lot of the old blues numbers as well as stuff by Cream and Clapton) but when I get there, they just want me to act like a normal bassist. But I'm not a bassist in the traditional sense, and they keep wanting me to play songs as they are right off the CD. I want to do new types of music, but I hate playing the root or someone else's music note for note. Any advice to be gotten from this long winded post of mine?

Well, it sounds like you're working with the wrong bands.

You'll either have to play the way they want, or find your own thing. It sounds like you've got some cool stuff to share, so maybe it's just a matter of finding the right people.

The only thing I would point out is that you say you can't remember lines, so you improv them. IMO improv is a great tool, but not a replacement for learning something that you would if you could remember it. If you'd rather it that way, then that's ok, as long as you recognize it.

I learn the main riffs but I do a lot of fills. I'll be the first to admit I cant do highly technical stuff, but that doesnt mean I forget the whole song. I can play songs like Iron Maiden, Cream, Zeppelin, etc, note for note as they are on record, but when I listen to some of this highly technical prog or metal, I just sit back and go whoah. I'll sit down and try to learn them note for note, but it seems like its worth a lot more time than its worth and then I'm not having any fun. When I do improv I can do the rinse and repeat thing if thats what they want, but that isn't much fun.
This is why I love playing blues, its as simple (or as complicated) as you want it to be.

Music is for fun, so its either I keep doing my own thing, or just do what people tell me to do... *bleh*

I'm getting a recorder to hook up to my own computer soon (once I find one to buy), so PM me if you want a listen.

Sure - I'd love to take a listen :)

[QUOTE=BellBottomBlues;3961350]Hey,
but I hate playing the root QUOTE]

Well to be quite honest a bassist's "job" per se especially in a group like your talking about is to outline the harmony and rythym. Now dont get my wrong I don't think its great to just play the root all the time but you do as a bassist need to give people a general idea of whats going on harmonically. If its getting to the point where your fills are overpowering your support or the definition of the harmony then I can see why they are saying what they are. In lots of situations you can trick a band who really wants it to sound like the record into thinking youre playing the written part but in reality youre improving. Dig?