Who are or who is faster bassist/s in your opinion?

It would have to be John Deacon from Queen, hot-dang is he F...A...S...T !


To be honest I dont really know, the fastest playing I ever heard would either be Flea on a live CD (bootleg, sorry everybody I know I is done bad). Stu Hamm on an album of his doing a live solo (gor blimey!) or maybe Les Claypool, he plays some mental stuff (shame it sounds like it'll make you go bonkers)!

I know that there must be faster bass out there, but I don't really listen to music for the bass (well...alright...sometimes, I do), but mostly I avoid 'bass' music...it scares me.

I keep meaning to hear this Victor Wooten guy though, he sounds cool. (Honestly, I've never heard him play).

I would say something like "who cares, it's not a speed competition?" but it just so happens the fastest bass player I've ever seen live was Jeff Berlin, and he also happens to be among the most musical bassists I've ever seen.
But it's still not a speed competition.
It's WAY harder to play slow than fast, while keeping a good groove going.

There used to be a guy named "Adrian Davison" who was marketing himself as "The fastest bass player in the world". he could (or claimed he could) play 31 notes per second. The people at bass player magazine actually ridiculed him a bit, which I thought wasn't that cool, even though they guy's claim to fame was a tad ridiculous.


Will C. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

------------------
I'm not a genius. I'm just a hard working guy.
-BW

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Big Wheel:
There used to be a guy named "Adrian Davison" who was marketing himself as "The fastest bass player in the world". he could (or claimed he could) play 31 notes per second. The people at bass player magazine actually ridiculed him a bit, which I thought wasn't that cool, even though they guy's claim to fame was a tad ridiculous.


Will C. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yeah!!! That's right.. I forgot about him! Remember Jim Roberts' review of his album in BP, in which he parodied "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe and totally flamed the CD?
I believe Mr. Davison played the infamous Lado Zapper bass.

myung from dream theater is about the fastest i have seen live. and it was tight.

------------------
Sean

My website (http://www.geocities.com/metalhead70)

My eBay stuff (http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewListedItems&userid=acacia70&include=0&since=-1&sort=2&rows=25)

CDs and Concert shirts for sale (http://www.geocities.com/metalhead70/main.html)

&gt;but it just so happens the fastest bass player I've ever seen live was Jeff Berlin, and he also happens to be among the most musical bassists I've ever seen.
But it's still not a speed competition.
It's WAY harder to play slow than fast, while keeping a good groove going.

Dave, I completely agree. Jeff is amazingly fast and musical. Furthermore, I think you're right on the $ that speed 'per se' is a poor way to judge musicianship.

Um...uhh,, Stanley Clarke.

Oh, My God!! Yes!! Stanley's bass playing on "Captain Marvel" on RTF's "Light as a Feather" is amazing!

Will C. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

------------------
I'm not a genius. I'm just a hard working guy.
-BW

Jaco was pretty fast

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Big Wheel:
Oh, My God!! Yes!! Stanley's bass playing on "Captain Marvel" on RTF's "Light as a Feather" is amazing!
Will C. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

...and that was on ACOUSTIC bass!
(Right?) http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/wink.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JimK:
...and that was on ACOUSTIC bass!
(Right?) http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/wink.gif

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

JFC! I mean, Jim! I always thought that tune sounded kinda "uprighty" but I didn't think it was an upright! Same for "500 Miles High". It should actually be obvious. Well, I found the impetus to practice the upright again. Now where's that damn Simandl book?

Will C. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

------------------
I'm not a genius. I'm just a hard working guy.
-BW

BW-
I'm pretty sure that Chick Corea is the ONLY one playing an electric instrument on LIGHT AS A FEATHER.
BUT...I'm probably confusing RTF's version of "Captain Marvel" with the Stan Getz version(Clarke, Corea, Airto, Tony Williams, & Getz).

..."OK", I just checked; RTF's version is much quicker than the Getz version. The Getz version really sounds ACOUSTIC...now I'm not too sure what Clarke played on the RTF version. Either way, Clarke's smokin'.

...WHEW! I dunno; I listened to RTF's "Captain Marvel" twice. It sounds acoustic...damn, that S*** is quick!
Did Clarke play an EUB back then(like an Ampeg Baby Bass)? If so, the EUB would be my guess. Man, I haven't listened to this tune in awhile....it's F***ING depressing! http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by JimK (edited July 18, 2000).]

For speed, it's hard to beat a guy named Adam Nitti, he is a friend of Victor Wooten's and teaches at AIM, I think...
www.adamnitti.com (http://www.adamnitti.com)

------------------
http://www.puddinhogs.com

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JimK:

Did Clarke play an EUB back then(like an Ampeg Baby Bass)? If so, the EUB would be my guess. Man, I haven't listened to this tune in awhile....it's F***ING depressing! http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/biggrin.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jim:

I know that Stanley did own one of the old Framus Triumph electric uprights (which Warwick has brought back, by the way), but I think he had an early pickup on a regular upright. The sound has that upright timbre and warmth without the usual 'hollowness' and I don't think they had electric uprights that were that good around that time. Then again, I don't know. I was born in '71...

Will C. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

------------------
I'm not a genius. I'm just a hard working guy.
-BW

BW-
Hopefully, someone will enlighten us! That tune is one 5:00 samba that'll kill ya; check it out!

Usually the "fastest" guys are the nameless, faceless guys that perform at NAMM shows. Figure that out...

Guys, what about Stanleys solo work?

thats some prety a w e s o m e stuff too!!!

[This message has been edited by RIZ (edited July 19, 2000).]

I saw Stanley Clarke in concert about 5 years ago and he did an upright bass solo. If anyone is questioning whether he's playing upright on songs because of the demand of the instrument, I can tell you he had no problem with it the night I saw him. It was nothing short of incredible!

Rush's "YYZ" from "Moving Pictures" contains some frickin' fast finger pluckin' goodness. Geddy may not be the fastest out there, but he doesn't need to be.

John Myung is up there too. If anyone here has listened to "Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes From a Memory," Myung has some awesome riffs and fills. Of course, Petrucci and Portnoy tend to bury his stuff underneath their guitar and drum work (respectively). What a pair of arrogant @$$#*les.

------------------
"We told you before, but you didn't hear us then. So, you still question why! You didn't listen again!" -Rush

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JimK:
BW-
Hopefully, someone will enlighten us! That tune is one 5:00 samba that'll kill ya; check it out!

Usually the "fastest" guys are the nameless, faceless guys that perform at NAMM shows. Figure that out...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jim - I've got the 2CD "re-issue" (Verve Master Edition) of "Light as a Feather", which includes alternate takes with different solos and unrealeased tracks. It also has a lot of the original documentation and photos from the session. All the photos show Stanley Clarke playing a full-size upright bass, but it does say on the notes that he also plays electric bass but I think you can hear pretty clearly that he only plays electric on one track and that the tone is very different. I'm sure from repeated listenings that the tracks you mention are on upright.

steve harris has a fast gallop.

you want fast?????
get Slang by Jaco Pastorius

...whadda you guys think of the intro to Weather Report's "Punk Jazz"(Jaco jamming with Tony Williams)?

...today, I brought in RTF's RETURN TO THE SEVENTH GALAXY; hopefully, I'm gonna "Captain Marvel" it all day!

Who was/is the guy in Ramsey Lewiss band?he was incredibly fast but melodic.

When?

As far as speed and melodicism Gary Willis is world class. He blows like a horn player.

Al Dimeola's bassist on Race With The Devil on a SPanish Highway. Stanley Clarke I think. That whole album is amazing (Elegant Gypsy)

------------------
Sean

My website (http://www.geocities.com/metalhead70)

My eBay stuff (http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewListedItems&userid=acacia70&include=0&since=-1&sort=2&rows=25)

CDs and Concert shirts for sale (http://www.geocities.com/metalhead70/main.html)

Not Stanley. That's Anthony Jackson. Not many bassists could go note-for-note in Al's staccato style back then. Actually I can only think of one http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/wink.gif

Feildy. Oh no, please don't kill me!!! http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/smile.gif



------------------
4 U

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MrGump:
Who was/is the guy in Ramsey Lewiss band?he was incredibly fast but melodic.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I know Va.'s Keith Horne did a stint with Ramsey in the '80s...he's "Willis-like" when he really blows. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/smile.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MrGump:
Who was/is the guy in Ramsey Lewiss band?he was incredibly fast but melodic.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That was Bill Dickens.

I'm a bit surprised that noone mentioned Marcus Miller...I'm listening to him at this very moment, and he's got lightening fast grooves!

Another one I'm surprised that noone mentioned is John Entwistle! Seen him live lately? The guy spans 26 frets on his Status Buzzard quicker than lightening! Oh...rythmically and melodically, no less!!!

the fastest i think would be jaco or flea. the fastest slapper is fieldy from KoRn but he really sucks he only plays open notes the whole time.

So tell me. If Feildy "sucks", does that make you a great bassist? He has done some pretty damn original stuff I'd say. Just cause you don't like his style doesn't mean he "sucks". Not by a long shot. MO.

Flea has got to be one of the fastest. Anyone seen his solo on the "Psychedelic Sexfunk Live From Heaven" video?? I thought that that is sort of fast, but I could be wrong.

What about Billy Sheen ? He seems to be able to play ...quickly ! ......

Someone said Geddy Lee he is quick but I think it's the complexity of his work that appeals to me more, I kind of think " What !!! " when I listen to some of his runs or how on earth did he think of putting those notes together?

Personally, I think Victor Wooten is VERY fast on some of his songs on his CDs.. like "A Show of Hands" or "Classical Thump". I also think Billy Sheehan, in one of his live songs he wrote. i forgot what it was.. it was a bass solo and it had a bunch of numbers for the title. But anyways, it was him playing with the bass upside down on the floor. It sounds really awesome :) and really fast too =)

DM

John Patittucci is pretty dang fast.

the fastest bass player on planet earth is me sitting on my 308 ferrari. i'm also the fattest bass player on earth

Originally posted by barroso
the fastest bass player on planet earth is me sitting on my 308 ferrari. i'm also the fattest bass player on earth


Is that why you're not sitting "in" it?
:D:D:D:D

Les Claypool is pretty fast....
but for my money,,,it's still Jaco, hands down.

dear friend i sit on my 308 ferrari and not in, because i like to have fresh air on my face

Damn! I thought it said FAT Bassists. I was gonna say the guy from ARS (can't remember his name). Now he was big. :eek: As for fast, Dave LaRue really impressed me live. He was doublin up on some guitar and violin lines that were smokin and he did some really nice work with SMB too. (BTW saw John Myung the same night and he didn't come off nearly as impressive.)

hunter from AFI is an amazingly fast bassist. hes incredible.



Adam

Thank you, kind sir. I meant no offense.

Eric Wilson from sublime.

hmmmmmmm......Adam Nitti.......that guy is pretty fast. I think he's one of the first guys I've heard that could play arpeggio sweeps as cleanly as he does...and given the string spacing of that monster Curbow six he plays, well, I imagine his fingers are moving pretty quickly...I would have to say Billy Sheehan, as well. He uses a pick, but who cares? I dig all those artificial harmonics. The Niacin stuff really rocks......Adrian Davison? I remember him.......blahhhhh...

Anyone here have napster. If so look for Victor Wooten Bass solo. It will be the song called "awesome bass solo." It is one of the most melodic basslines I have heard, it is very fast too! Whenever I heard it I burned it onto a cd and played it for all my friends and my bass teacher........

If you guys want some FAST playing...check out Tom Araya from Slayer! The bass playing may not be interesting...or audible...but its REALLLLLY fast!

Paul from SlipKnoT (my fav band) is pretty fast. Not that Good of a bassist but pretty fast. He gets me pumped up thumping on that B.

One of the fastest bassists I have ever heard, would have to be Lonnie Chapin from Petra. Just listen to God Fixation,
from the God Fixation CD.

Hmmmm...and the point of all this fast playing is???????

Fastest using fingers or cheating with a pick?

What's wrong with using a pick? I don't use one myself, but plenty of great bassist HAVE used one.

Fast bass player would be steve harris or john alderete... or john myung

I've seen a bunch of players, but I would have to agree w/ Dark Mazda. "Classical Thump" is quite possibly the most mind-numbing fast melodic playing I've ever heard. Billy Sheehan, Jeff Berlin, etc. are fast as hell, but I don't think they've got that particular piece beat. (Honorable mention: Stuart Hamm)

John Myung is fast in "Metropolis Pt.1" (that f**kin' amazin' bass solo with two-handed tapping). I have Dream Theater live twice and Myung's bass playing blows my mind. I forgot to mention "The Ytse Jam" on "When Dream and Day Unite"

Check out Dominique DiPiazza (ex-John McLaughlin Trio),
Carlos Benavent (Paco DeLucia) or Matthew Garrison...talk about frightening...and forget about Flea, for god's sake...;)

The fastest bassist I ever saw ( and still can't get it out of my mind) was Leroy Gorman of Bow Wow Wow.

OK...so the band was terrible, but Leroy was all over that neck in a blur of melodic funk.

Listen to a Bow Wow Wow album and you'll go away wondering how puts in all those low F's when he's in a high register.

Classical Thump...well, ive heard much more impressive stuff lately. Hell, i can play most of Classical Thump.

We are proud to submit a World Record information, created by an Indian in the Bass Guitar World. Jayen Varma from India, created a World Record as the Fastest PERCUSSIVE Bassist. Jayen Varma is only one of the Fastest Bass Players, but he is the Fastest PERCUSSIVE Bassist in the World, since he plays Bass percussively like Indian Percussion instruments Tabla and Mridangam.

Links:-

http://www.myspace.com/jayenvarma

http://www.recordholdersrepublic.co.uk/recordholdersdetails.asp?id=484

http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/kickapps/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2700383&as=7691

http://www.4to40.com/recordbook/default.asp?guinness=Jayen_Varma

Mail.jayenvarmafansclub@yahoo.com
Jayen Varma Fans Club
New Delhi
India

There are many fast bassists out there.....Alain Caron, Brian Bromberg, Jeff Berlin, Bill Dickens, Dominique Di Piazza, Billy Sheehan, Oteil Burbridge.... just to name a few of them.. actually I think that speed is the less important thing for a bass player, and definitely it shouldn't be used as a parameter to evaluate a bassist's skills.
When I think of Jeff Berlin, speed is the last thing that I consider in his incredible playing; when I think of Bill Dickens, speed is the only thing that I can consider...so you get the difference :)

Billy Sheehan is fast. But it doesn't make him a great bass player.

[QUOTE=Blackbird;25726]There used to be a guy named "Adrian Davison" who was marketing himself as "The fastest bass player in the world". he could (or claimed he could) play 31 notes per second. The people at bass player magazine actually ridiculed him a bit, which I thought wasn't that cool, even though they guy's claim to fame was a tad ridiculous.[QUOTE]



In fact, Adrian Davison is really fast, but his speed was highly unlikely the un-musical speed demons that were much present in that era (think of 1988-1990 speed frenzy). No matter how much I respect Jim Roberts, I took the time and listened to Adrian's body of work once I picked up the bass. He has something to say, and "speed" is not what his compositions scream ("Speed" was the flavor of the month so he used the word to attract attention but that turned against him due to the bad review)

IMHO (and having heard his CDs timely) Adrian is a talented and amazing bass player with a very unique approach over music and bass playing.

People's uninformed opinion dissing over someone's work, based on one influential person's opinion, is not the proper way to judge things.

There are many fast players out there (many have been noted and many of them are really great MUSICIANS), but speed alone has nothing to do with musicality or any other valid musical statement (it does get one recognised in the "sports" field of bass playing ;))

For speed, it's hard to beat a guy named Adam Nitti, he is a friend of Victor Wooten's and teaches at AIM, I think...
www.adamnitti.com (http://www.adamnitti.com)

------------------
http://www.puddinhogs.com

That's what I was thinking... And I'm going to meet him today at a bass clinic!

Cliff Burton.

Pl don t judge Jayen's speed with the videos avilable out here. He has a unique style of playing bass, which is invented by him.. He plays Percussive Bass like Tabla..
He is not the Best or fastest Bassist. He is ,but, the Fastest Percussive Bassist. Thump and pop can not reach near tabla style Bass slaping.. Many Basists around the world are adapting this style now. Pl follow the link and just watch the way he plays Bass .. Don t care about the sounding, coz he plays on a US 150 $ Bass Gtr... ha ha ....Many greatest Bassists like jeff berlin have appreciated his playing style...
Pl watch the viseos and listern to it... these re not fast Bass. But in songs which have got higher BPM he uses the same technique.. then the speed is too fast (percussively)
http://www.myspace.com/jayenvarma

myung from dream theater is about the fastest i have seen live. and it was tight.

------------------
Sean

My website (http://www.geocities.com/metalhead70)

My eBay stuff (http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewListedItems&userid=acacia70&include=0&since=-1&sort=2&rows=25)

CDs and Concert shirts for sale (http://www.geocities.com/metalhead70/main.html)

+1 on Myung, Opeth opened and their bassist was very quick as well. He actually had a better sound than Myung.

+1 Myung

Entwistle
Buddah Dickens
Jack Bruce had some fast lines in some of the live takes

The fastest I've ever heard that you can actually hear every note the guy is playing is Alex Webster. The man is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOb6JSQd-Qw - that vid has been posted a couple of times around here but here it is again.

There used to be a guy named "Adrian Davison" who was marketing himself as "The fastest bass player in the world". he could (or claimed he could) play 31 notes per second. The people at bass player magazine actually ridiculed him a bit, which I thought wasn't that cool, even though they guy's claim to fame was a tad ridiculous.


Will C. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

------------------
I'm not a genius. I'm just a hard working guy.
-BW


In fact, Adrian Davison is really fast, but his speed was highly unlikely the un-musical speed demons that were much present in that era (think of 1988-1990 speed frenzy). No matter how much I respect Jim Roberts, I took the time and listened to Adrian's body of work once I picked up the bass. He has something to say, and "speed" is not what his compositions scream ("Speed" was the flavor of the month so he used the word to attract attention but that turned against him due to the bad review)

IMHO (and having heard his CDs timely) Adrian is a talented and amazing bass player with a very unique approach over music and bass playing.

People's uninformed opinion dissing over someone's work, based on one influential person's opinion, is not the proper way to judge things.

There are many fast players out there (many have been noted and many of them are really great MUSICIANS), but speed alone has nothing to do with musicality or any other valid musical statement (it does get one recognised in the "sports" field of bass playing ;))

This brings back some memories. I just went to his website (http://www.adriandavison.com/) [he looks like Russell Crowe these days, no sh-t].

I skipped the flash intro, and played the tapping vid and audio from the "soundpage" [the audio page wouldn't work for me]. I'm not a big fan of Stanley Jordan technique on a bass, but Davison sure can do it. His right hand tapping technique is very good.

Who are or who is faster bassist/s in your opinion?

While being fast doesn't make for a great bass player there are some great bass players who can play incredibly fast.

I certainly agree with many of the names already mentioned; Jaco, Victor, Bill Dickens, Marcus, Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Jeff Berlin, etc...

I'm suprised (I may have missed it) that no one has mentioned Michael Manring. He plays with great fluidity and minimal motion. He always amazes me with how easy his playing appears to be, even when he is playing riduculously fast phrases, and he's always in tune. Steve Bailey is another guy who plays difficult lines with what appears to be great ease.

Just thought I'd throw them out there since I hadn't seen them mentioned.

Steve digiorgio of Sadus (and about 100 other bands and projects :) ) is very fast. SAdus's new CD out for blood is a pretty good example of his bass playing. Im surprised noones mentioned him

Steve bailey, Gary willis, les claypool, john myung, billy sheehan, john entwistle, sean malone, and geddy lee are all pretty fast with thier fingers

Jason newsted, matt freeman, are fast players who use picks

Victor wooten, flea, Mark King, Marcus miller, and Stu Hamm are fast slap bass players