Hey Guys. We at Talkbass.com have expressed oinions regarding basses, amps, strings, etc. But I would like to know what bassist has inspired your playing styles. What bassist can you compare your sound to? Who inspired you to play the way you do?
I haven't been playing as long as you guys so mine is kind of a new guy. Sam Rivers from Limp Bizkit was the one I wanted to emulate, and still do in some ways. How about you?
To sum it up, who do you play like?

Most definitely Jack Bruce. Of course I have a looooong way to go.

Mike

Jason Newsted is "da man!"

Jason Oldsted

Stuart Zender (formerly of Jamiroquai) is probably the guy who's style inspires me more than any other.

when i started out i patterned a great deal of what i did after what i perceived to be geddy lee's style. for a period of time i was really into billy sheehan - wasn't everybody in the mid to late 80's?

then i branched out into fretless and slapping, and now i've been trying to do my own thing for the past 7 or 8 years. there are still alot of geddy-lee-isms in my playing though, at least to my ears.

in 1990 i was playing in a trio, an earlier incarnation of the band i am in now, and a couple of friends of mine gave me a tape and said "you guys sound like these guys" - it was Suck on This, by primus. it really opened my eyes - i realized the direction we were going in wasn't what i wanted - we did a major turnaround right there. probably one of the reasons why are cds are _still_ not out yet - we've become a bit too complacently perfectionist. :(

i was inspired to play bass by listening to mike watt, darryl jenifer, tommy stinson, husker du, mainly the meat puppets, i cant say who i play like, probably a little bit of all those inspirations

My bass guitar inspiration came from Gary Thain of Uriah Heep. His trumpeting style and complete lack of shyness was how I thought the instrument should be played. He also utilized a ... (searching for a phrase)...countered line with slick introductions into the next phrase. Man! That did it all for me.

I've probably drawn just a little bit from all of my influences - a bit of fingerfunk from Rocco Prestia on fretted and Percy Jones on fretless - Jaco showed me where it all could go (because he was already on another planet) -I realy like Dave LaRue's style of slap - Andy West showed me the real link between the instrument and the amp...and it continues even after a near 20 year layoff from the instrument.

Gary Thain, huh? Man, I haven't played one of Uriah Heep's records in, like, 25+ years! I do recall Thain having "it" together, though. Playing in a Hard Rock band, Thain did groove & keep it interesting...
IMO..Thain, along with guys like John Paul Jones & Entwhistle, were influenced by American R&B; in other words, check out Motown & Jamerson! :D

Now we're cookin with gas!

I choose to play like Gene Simmons a lot of times....I mean in the way he fills generally using octives and running up and down, hammer ons, all that stuff.

But I also play somewhat like Geezer butler since him and gene are very similar, but soon I hope to take up on Jaco (which I have been studying lately) and I'll study Wooten plenty once I get the hang of slap a little better.

My influences (I have many) are Timmy Commerford, Stuart Zender, Flea, Les Claypool, Sam Rivers, Dirk Lance.

I also was influenced in a huge way by a local bass player from a local band, Can anyone relate?

I'm a new generation of bass players. I don't know many of the older blokes that you all talk about. The oldest i know is Flea.

I have a very tough act to follow.

Originally posted by osama bin laden
I also was influenced in a huge way by a local bass player from a local band, Can anyone relate?

I'm a new generation of bass players. I don't know many of the older blokes that you all talk about. The oldest i know is Flea.


...about the local dudes, yeah! The local dudes that actually played here at one time include Victor Wooten(blew me away back in '75-'76); Oteil Burbridge(mid-'80s); & Keith Horne('90s). Also, James Genus, though I never actually heard him play around here...
Also, two cats in the mid-70s have had decent careers...Rusty Springfield(played a Fender fretless P-bass w/ a maple neck; was covered in BASS PLAYER mag as a gigging bassist w/ Barnum & Bailey Circus).
Benny Bialy was a monster player around here in the 70s; he sounded like "Jaco" before Jaco(I first heard Bialy round '74). Last I heard, he was in Vegas as a house bassist in some casino.


...and, BTW; Flea is about as old as us "older" blokes. Therefore, it stands to reason that the "older" blokes we might mention would be famaliar to Flea.
...ya dig? :D

Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order fame was my big influence when I first started playing. I have since been exposed to zillions of other bassists, but I still find myself warming up with "Love Will Tear us Apart" every time.

Geddy Lee was my first inspiration, but I can't say he's been an influence on the way I play. It was more his tone and the attitude of his playing that got me.
Mike Dirnt from Green Day, Bob Thompson from Big Drill Car and Karl Alvarez from Descendents and ALL are the ones who I think really shaped how I play. Those guys are all incredibly solid and very melodic. Thompson, in particular, was great guidance on when to step out and when to lay back. I feel like I now have a good sense of where to put fills and where to "keep my mouth shut."

My first and biggest influence was Chris Squire I loved the tone he got from his Ric and the way he was able to creaste some of the most melodic bass lines that I have ever heard. I know that I am definately not up to his caliber of playing or ability but he did start me to play with the dreaded pick. As far as fretless I would have to say that after listening to Waters of Eden from Tony Levin he is one that I would like to emulate as far as playing. I believe that he may not have the speed or overall technical ability of Jaco, but all of the songs on his album are incredible.

my electric style is influenced by geddy lee, chris squire, john paul jones, marcus miller, tony levin, some jaco, and chuck rainey...i am looking to modernize my style a little bit, seeing as how i can relate more to techniques and styles used more in the 70s...
i also listen to ppl like vic wooten and oteil and manring, whoever else...i'd like to start incorportating their kinds of techniques into my playing...
i've been playing upright for like 2 1/2 years now, and so of course a lot of my practice time is devoted to that....

Most people are talking about influences, and while thats coo, its off topic! And im too lazy, so i wont talk about it.

Whos style do i relate mine to? Nobody. I dont want to emulate anyone. Id rather have my own style than anyone elses. And thats what i try to do.

My style has evolved a bit over the last 5 years, more than it had in the previous 12. But, I'm very heavily influenced, even to this day by John Entwistle and Geddy Lee. A lot of my riffs are Geddy-esque, while the phrasology of my bass lines tend to be more Entwistle in me.

I've tried to branch out as I listen to a lot more styles of music and listen to the song differently now than I ever did, but if you're familiar with Lee's and Entwistle's, you'd definitely hear their influences in my playing.

the bassists that have influenced me are (in no specific order):

P-Nut (311), Flea (RHCP), Stefan Lessard (DMB), Eric Wilson (Sublime), Aston Barrett (Bob Marley), Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), and way too many more to list

im surprised someone mentioned karl alvarez, right on, hes a hell of a bassist, ive heard alot of his stuff but the only cd i actually own with him on it is descendents everything sucks, they have a tight ass rythm section, hes one of my favorites

Originally posted by the Qintar
im surprised someone mentioned karl alvarez, right on, hes a hell of a bassist, ive heard alot of his stuff but the only cd i actually own with him on it is descendents everything sucks, they have a tight ass rythm section, hes one of my favorites
"Everything Sucks" is a good representation of his innate Karl-ness, no doubt about it. It's more rock than a lot of the ALL stuff.. check out "Allroy Was Here", you can tell he listened to Mike Watt.

Hambone and I should start our own fan club for Gary Thain.
Actually, I've said this in other threads. The guys that I've consciously tried to mimic would be Jack Bruce, Martin Turner, Dennis Dunaway, James Jamerson, and almost anyone I listened to when I was young. When I started writing my own bass parts, and started actually listening to them, I heard a whole lot of Gary Thain coming through, which was surprising to me, since I didn't think that I really paid that much attention to him. My fingers told me otherwise.

I have to admit that I have stolen a lot of stuff from my main influences. You'll hear a lot of Jaco style finger funk in my playing (a la Come On Come Over, Black Market) and some Stuart Zender stuff. I've listened closely to a lot of Oteil's funky bluesy solos and I've tried to incorporate those Mixolydian and Dorian kind of licks with chromatic passing tones in my solos. I don't bother with the down/up slap thing, but I like to throw lots of percussive flams in my slapping like Victor. Marcus Miller is a big influence on my slapping. His earlier playing from "Straight to the Heart" (David Sanborn) has really taught me rhythm and how a groove can really change just by accenting a different sixteenth note. I'd like to think that somewhere in there, I'm on my way to finding my own voice. And of course, I still have light years of improving to do.:)

Originally posted by osama bin laden
My influences (I have many) are Timmy Commerford, Stuart Zender, Flea, Les Claypool, Sam Rivers, Dirk Lance.

I also was influenced in a huge way by a local bass player from a local band, Can anyone relate?

I'm a new generation of bass players. I don't know many of the older blokes that you all talk about. The oldest i know is Flea.

I have a very tough act to follow.

Well, when i said influences i meant i also relate my playing to them. The reason i didn't say so is because we all play our own style, Influences just create your style.

Actually my friend, who is the best american guitar player in okinowa japan, tought and influenced me, which is kinda cool cuz i not only play the phat bass tones in our band but i can also be a second guitarist.

adidas

I have to look to two main influences, Geezer Butler and more importantly Jack Bruce. After hearing Sabbath's first LP I knew I had to play Bass, I was 10 years old ( 1972 ) I was also mesmerized by the Virtigo label ( in the enter of the album )the way it looked like you were falling into a tunnel if you stared at it ! ( you don't get good labels to watch with cds). A little later I started to listen to Cream and Jack Bruce simply blew me away.

Someone said that they thought Geezer & Gene Simmons had a similar style - hmmm don't really see that !

Interesting question...

RHCP were my favourite band (and still are) though my late teens (13 onwards). I started playing bass at 16 and realised that Flea was pretty good and tried to learn his stuff, along with other stuff...

I can't be so arrogant as to say 'my style is like Fleas'. I cant play or write half the stuff he can, but he has always been my biggest influence as a bassist.

I honestly think I have my own style and I like it, I think I'm lucky in that.

my style is mainly like paul simonon and matt freeman, but to a lesser extent my first influences, p-nut and eric wilson, certainly put in an appearance...

Tim C. [RATM] Flea [RHCP]Traa [POD]then some more but i don't know their names.

listening to Geezer Butler got me stated on bass, but Cliff Burton just took it so much farther,

when i play the pinky on my right hand, points out, ( kinda like Cliff's did) and when ever i try to tuck it in, it sticks right back out again, Am I trying to be too much like Cliff???

Although in my younger days, I was more attracted to flashier players, I have since come to respect a lot of the busier studio players and model my approach after their more economical but tasteful lines. I like the playing of guys like:

Dave Pomeroy
Dave Hungate

and the great Joe Osborn.

There is a reason these guys have played on hundreds of records. Other musicians really respect what they do.

Originally posted by Hambone
My bass guitar inspiration came from Gary Thain of Uriah Heep. His trumpeting style and complete lack of shyness was how I thought the instrument should be played. He also utilized a ... (searching for a phrase)...countered line with slick introductions into the next phrase. Man! That did it all for me.


Thain was amazing!

FOr me, I hope that Phil Lynott's style shows in my playing. Oh wait, I haven't started doing any originals yet. I'll let you know then! hahahaha

That one guy from that one band.

Seriously, I liken my bass playing to any old hard rock bassist. I have a tendancy to become one with the Les Claypool in me, and my friends tell me to stop being all Primusy...

When I first started I use to play mostly things like The Cure, The Smiths, Mike Watt,Joy Division and a few others but my current style is somewhere between Nathan East and Verdine White (Earth, Wind and Fire).

My most obvious influence would be Chris Squire, it's somewhat evident in my playing I guess. He's a great player dishing out some inventive bass parts that work towards the whole and singing at the same time some really off the wall parts is truly amazing.

I'd have to name JS Bach as well. Man, he wrote some great bass lines and alot of that comes through in my playing. I like working in that sort of counterpoint with other players - guitarists and keyboards.

Early on I patterned my playing after Paul McCartney and Geezer Butler. McCartney for his melodic sense and Butler because he held the whole thing together rhythmically and melodically, he wasn't just hammering the root all the time, he was doing some really cool things with the bass.

Gary Thain was a very good player. A singer in one of my bands long ago said I sounded like him at the time. I took it as a big compliment.

More recently, I'd have to cite Steve Kilbey of The Church. This guy is so understated, and yet he plays some great lines that are cool in their odd simplicity, and yet they complement all the guitar work going on around him without intruding on it. And he is able to maintain all the lead vocals at the same time.

Originally posted by osama bin laden
[QUOTE]I also was influenced in a huge way by a local bass player from a local band, Can anyone relate?


I was influenced heavily by a guy in a local band. He had 4 SVT amps and he let me play his rig at an impressionable age. He also got a lot of tail. Kind of a local hero. "Be like Mike"

I relate to my self on style.. im forever changing and mixing them =oD maybe a lesclaypool wanna be but also a steve harris and alderete wanna be...=oD

My style is a little more eclectic. Geezer Butler (because of Black Sabbath), Jason Newsted (he uses a pick), John Deacon (Very intersting bass lines and also he plays some of Queen's music with his fingers and uses a pick on others), John Myung (underrated and plays 6-string bass really damn good)

This was not intentional, but about 10 monthes ago while I was listening to Van Halen on the radio, I realised that I play alot like Michael Anthony does. Don't get me wrong here, I never intentionally tried to emulate his playing, but While listening to him I heard alot the same ideas and phrases I have been pounding out. I don't particularly think he is a spectacular or flashy bassist but he is in the pocket all the time.

I guess I was surprised that I hear him playing bass the way I have always strived to do. I heard alot of very similar executions of bass lines.

I never really listened to Van Halen before this revelation, but I do now.

Man, I never would have guessed that I would ever sound anything similar to anyone "famous". I like the innocence of it because it was so unintentional.

And to think I have been failing terribly at striving to be like John Entwistle for all these years....geeezo..:rolleyes:

My first favorite bassist was John Paul Jones Of Led Zep. I don't really have a favorite bassist now. As for inspiration, I'm inspired by any bassist that can contribute something appropriate and unique to a song. When a song doesn't sound "right" with another bassist--that's when you're dealing with a good bassist. Also, I'm always impressed when a bassist will sacrifice their image (playing something that sounds perfect in the song instead of showing off) to make a song better. Later!

Woofy Out!

Vic Wooten was the last bassist who made a lasting impression on me...but then who did't stop in his tracks when he first heard Vic's music(!) ?

well I aint to big on real fancy bassin, so i have to go with Sam Rivers from LB. Even though i dont know how the hell he gets that crunchy growl on the first record.

Jamerson
Khumalo

Originally posted by JimK
Rusty Springfield(played a Fender fretless P-bass w/ a maple neck; was covered in BASS PLAYER mag as a gigging bassist w/ Barnum & Bailey Circus).
[/B]

I'm coming in late on this topic, but....

...I got to know Rusty somewhat at one time when he was in the Orlando area. He was a wonderful player, and a pretty cool guy. The bass he's playing in that picture in BP is a 7 string made by the same guys that made my two 6's, they also made Rusty a 6 string EUB. Very interesting bass, too bad they won't make any more :(.

On topic: My biggest influence was and still is Geddy Lee. The next influence would be Dave LaRue, because I studied with him for 4 years, can't help but pick up some influence there ;). Number 3 would be Roscoe Beck, he's just an amazingly tasteful player, and has killer chops that he lets out of the box on all too rare occasions. There are hundreds more, anyone that laid down a good smokin' groove or played a good solo is an influence. My newest influence is Rocco Prestia....WHOOOOOO that dude can groove :D.

I was mostly in fluenced by Duff McKagen of GnR. he used a lot of arpeggiated runs, chromatic and scale approaches, and didn't "ride the eighth note" like a lot of people will do. Listen to Appetite for Destruction album and you'll see why I was influenced by him

Originally posted by bassman420
My style is a little more eclectic. Geezer Butler (because of Black Sabbath), Jason Newsted (he uses a pick), John Deacon (Very intersting bass lines and also he plays some of Queen's music with his fingers and uses a pick on others), John Myung (underrated and plays 6-string bass really damn good)

My influences comes from JPJ and John Deacon but he had never use a pick even if the style is that. He also used his inch (See the video"One Vision")

I'd like to think I'm influenced in some way by everything I listen to, but here are a few:

To start playing: Roger Glover (Deep Purple)
To start using effects: Cliff Burton
To start playing funk/r'n'b: Stuart Zender, Jamerson, Bootsy, Flea
To be more melodic: Mani (Stone Roses)
To be more inventive/creative: Melvin Gibbs, Mike Watt, the guy from the Descendents (I'm VERY SORRY I can't remember his name)
To PRACTICE MORE! -all of the above+Jaco, Stanley, Entwistle, Bruce etc etc

I sound nothing like any one of these players, and I'm not as good, BUT hopefully I've learnt something from them and eventually I'll have a style of my own, which is the whole point isn't it?

Originally posted by D.J
Originally posted by bassman420
My style is a little more eclectic. Geezer Butler (because of Black Sabbath), Jason Newsted (he uses a pick), John Deacon (Very intersting bass lines and also he plays some of Queen's music with his fingers and uses a pick on others), John Myung (underrated and plays 6-string bass really damn good)

My influences comes from JPJ and John Deacon but he had never use a pick even if the style is that. He also used his inch (See the video"One Vision")

Inch what? I've seen John Deacon using a pick on the "Champions of the World" video and the Freddie Mercury Tribute video as well. He uses a pick on "Tie Your Mother Down", "I Want To Break Free", and "Under Pressure"

Don't get me wrong I love jaco and victor as much as the next guy, but as far as actually influencing the way I play I'd have to say that Flea, Cliff Burton, and John Paul Jones are definately the main influences on my style.

Hey Bassman John played bass with finger-tip of his inch and forefinger in the song that you cite but he hadn't any pick!

I start to play seeing Steve Harris. ;)

Then more bassist have, for me, great style from Dave LaRue and Stuart Hamm to Patitucci and "The Jaco".

Today I crazy for Flea ;D
his wide style is inimitable!

The importat thing is the bass!!! :cool:

Sometimes Dave Pomeroy, sometimes Tommy Shannon. I'd like to be half as good as either of them. Nathan East is my favorite, but I only play jazz when I'm practicing, so I don't compare to his style, and I'm not even in the same solar system with his talent. But I can do a seismic response spectra analysis, and he can't. I think.

I have my very own style. I use my thumb on the picking hand more than ony other finger. However, I have found out that I play a lot like Sting. We both have this spanish guitarish way of playing. I play with my thumb on the E and A strings and my middle & index on the D and G strings.

~Loxley~ (I'm a guy ;))

DEREK SMALLS

As much as Id like to say i relate to flea or geezer butler, the two guys that got me playing bass, I like to relate to Duff mykager(i think thats right) of GnR.

Roger Waters, D'arcy, Melissa auf der Maur, Alex James, Colin Greenwood, Danny Lohner, Trent Reznor, Michael Rutherford and several others (bass players and non-bass players).

But then again, I have my own style and approach that's not like anything I've heard.

Hope this helps.




Derek J. Power

P.S. Then, there's always Rachel

I think influences are a little bit different subject than what this thread is asking. My biggest influence right now is John Myung from Dream Theater, but if you analyze any of my original basslines, you will see a predominant Geddy Lee influence with a touch of Steve Harris. Or maybe because JM has only been my primary influence for a few years, his style hasn't really crept into my playing yet. I don't know. Talk amongst yourselves.

ummm... Victor Wooten and Les Claypool meet Flea and Stefan Lessard...that about sums it up

Originally posted by D.J


He also used his inch (See the video"One Vision")

Sounds like cheap porno to me! :D

Tony Levin(I wish..)

For me, Chris Squire was the one who inspired me for a long time.

But, also nobody mentioned Pete Trewawas from Marillion as a great inspiration. He plays with Transatlantic super-group and he inspired me with his style a lot.

And like most of us, Geddy Lee.

I was (and I am still) inspired by Stanley Clarke, Lemmy, Dave Pegg.
Wish I could play as well as they do :).

Geddy Lee, first and foremost.

On covers and traditional hymns, I sound like McCartney or a pale imitation of Jamerson.

On originals, I sound like Geddy Lee. He got me serious about bass, when I was 12 or 13.

The first original I ever wrote has the same chord progression on the verses as 'Spirit of Radio', although the bassline is different and the chord progression on the chorus is different. I even sang lead on it(the ONLY song I have ever sang lead on, BTW) because our singer could not get the Geddy Lee sound with his voice.

I'll never forget our drummer tripping out on me when we played at a flea market.

He said 'Wow, you're only 18, and you already play and sing just like Geddy!'

Of course, even to this day, I still can't get the same TONE as Geddy, but you CAN hear his influence in my playing on originals.

To think that anyone would sing like, or even WANT to sing like Geddy....is a "scary" thing....:D

The bassist that has most influenced my style would have to be Matt Freeman of Rancid. His technical skill and chops was one of the first things I tried to emulate when I began playing, but when I listen to my own work these days, I hear a quite a bit more of his style included.

I'm listening to Will Lee right now. Smoothhhhh.

i play like a genetical mix of p-nut and eric wilson. and i can play root like nobody's business:D.

Flea was the one who turned me on to what the bass WAS. Because when I was younger, I could discern different musical parts from songs, but I had no clue what they were, for a long time I thought some of the bass parts were played by the guitar. Victor Wooten also showed me the extent of which you could take the bass. I don't really try to emulate these guys, but they really showed me extremes the bass could be taken, and where the bass could be placed in a song.

Paul McCarthey, even though I'm not a Beatles fan, I have to admire his awesome, yet simplistic lines. I remember when I learned day tripper for the first time and I was so happy that finally I had learned a line that sounded good without any accompaniment.

Matt Freeman and Paul Simonon were much larger influences though. Freeman from his OP IV years (I got into bass before I got into rancid) and I loved how bouncy he made his lines and how it affected the song. Paul S. was also such a steady player in the clash, he also helped show me how the bass affects the song.

I think the person I try to emulate most though,are Roger from LTJ, for his tone and hammer-ons/pulls offs and crazy riffs. St. Patrick from Dillinger 4, just because of his raucousness. Dee Dee Ramone, for his tone and just downright punk ness, and (of course) Bigwig's bassist.

mike dirnt from greenday has influenzed me, sugarloaf and goldfinger's bassist has influenced me too... i like melodic easy to listen to basslines

John Myung influenced me the most, probably because I'm just a big Dream Theater fan....Other bassist I really like and that have inspired me are Tony Levin (especially his paul Simon and Liquid Tension stuff), Dave Larue (Steve Morse's Stressfest still is one of my fav instrumental cd's), Geddy Lee and Robert Trujillo (especially the Infectious Grooves stuff, he is a great slapper....) But these are just a few there are so many bassist that have influenced me, probably without me even knowing it.....

Steve Harris
Geddy Lee
Stanley Clarke
Mark King
Jonas Hellborg
Marcus Miller
Jaco
John Patitucci
Rocco Prestia
Victor Wooten
Alain Caron

There are lots of other great players but these have had a noticeable effect on my style. Marcus is probably the most dominant of them.

Basscat

As you may see in my profile, my main influences are: John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, Flea, Jeff Ament, Adam Clayton, Mike Gordon, Mike Mills, Jaco Pastorius, Colin Greenwood, John Entwistle

My style is my own, id on't try to emulate anyone's, but all these players have given me inspiration and ideas...

Kip Winger.

Flea was my initial influence like many my age (16), but I've branched off into listening to guys like Larry Graham and other funk bassists.

John Paul Jones, & Tim C. are my biggest influences, Stu Cook from CCR, Bootsy Collins, Dee Dee Ramone, John Entwhistle, Jack Bruce & kim gordon from sonic youth are also huge influences. my setup, although cheap, provides me with a sound that i cant describe fully. really bassy, but punchy, and kind of dull beacuse of the flats.

Anthony Jackson, Jaco Pastorius, and Tony Levin are probably my biggest stylistic influences right now. Jaco, for all his flash, could be a stunningly sensitive accompanist ("A Remark You Made," pretty much all of Metheny's Bright Size Life, the Joni Mingus stuff, etc.)

I'd say Tony Levin is who I relate to most often; his approach seems to be to play what the song requires -- no more, no less.

Paul McCartney would be in the mix too, as well as Sting.

Now, back in my formative years, I would have said Geddy Lee or Chris Squire. I still try to slip a Geddy-ism in from time to time, strictly under the radar.

My influences include: Steve Harris, Gene Simmons, Geddy Lee, Billy Sheehan, Geezer Butler..............

The only person I was ever told I play like was Bob Daisley (Bass player for OZZY in the 80's). I think it is a fair comparison. I like to keep a solid bottom end, in the pocket with the drums, and throw in some fills on occasion.

In the stuff I come up with, I tend to sound like Tim C. of RATM. I suppose it is my love for pentatonic lines (or their ease.)

In no specific order:

- Noel Reding (Jimi Hendrix)

- Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)

- Tim C. (Rage against the machine)

- Duff Mckagan (Guns n´Roses)

- Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith)

- Cliff Williams (AC/DC)

- Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden)

- Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)


:) :) :D

I'd say one of my biggest influences is P-nut from 311 for
1)his playing of course
2)he has the best on stage antics I've seen and part of being a musician is also being an entertainer so thats big to me.

Some of my others would be:

John Taylor(Duran Duran)-He's what made me think the bass was the coolest instrument, I was a little kid then but Duran Duran had some cool basslines that I still love when I hear them now. I mean c'mon the bass line to Rio is awesome, IMO. Go easy on me guys, lol.

Flea(Chili Peppers)-It's Flea, that says it all!

Eric Avery(Janes Addiction)-He came up with such great lines for the tunes.

Dirk Lance(Incubus)-I like the earlier stuff more but they're still cool.

Tim C.(Rage)-He came up with creative grooves, I like "No shelter" among others. His sound is just so nasty too, I love that.

Stuart Zender(Jamiroquai)-I love listening to Stu provide the great smooth grooves.

Matt Garrison(Zawinul Syndicate, John Mclaughlin, and other various artists)-I just love his tone, not to mention he's an absolutely amazing player! Very inspiring.

:cool:

Sting.

But I'm way way way not even close. :(

My playing on electric and upright is a combination of these fellahs.....

Scott LaFaro
Jaco
Jason Scheff
Larry Grenadier
Matt Golombisky (my former teacher)

As far as non-bass influences go, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Brian Blade, and Bill Stewart have all influenced me greatly as well.

My slap technique is mostly in part to P-Nut and Les Claypool, then I heard Ryknow and I tried different things...also Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse cuz they're probably one of the few death metal bands with basslines that aren't just root notes.

A fusion of Geezer Buttler, Tony Levin, and John Myung with hints of Les Claypool.

I's have to say that my style is inspired by a cross between Rob Derhak (moe.), Mike Gordon and probably Berry Oakley.

Every now and then a little Phil Lesh will sneak in there, but not usually. If I'm stuck playing Dead tunes, well, there isn't much choice.

One of my bigger influances is: Hugh McDonald, I really love his style, And I think that alot of his style comes out in my own playing especially my fills.

I also consider Eddie Jackson an influance and some of his style comes out as well

Rocco Prestia, I emulate his style when I do 1/16 note style stuff.

I have other influances, like , Benny Rietveld, Stu Hamm, Louis Johnson, John Patitucci. But they dont come out in my playing as much yet

Hmmm as far as tone and style wise...ummm Geezer Butler for adding the fills and all...umm Jason Newstead (i'm trying to be more melodic), Gene Simmons, Billy Sheehan...idk there are probably more...

As for on stage looks probably Gene Simmons again, and Newstead/Cliff Burton (I'm always headbanging)....

As for non-bassists...well I admire Billy Joe Armstrongs' tone...ummm John Petrucci and the Keyboardist from Dream Theater...

To Hambone and Gweimer (sp?), I'll join you in the Gary Thain fanclub, not as an influence, but as a mate. Gary and I were best friends back when I was 14 thru 16, we did a paper run together after school, we went to the same guitar teacher, and I knew his older brothers, Arthur and Colin as well. Gary and Arthur eventually formed a band called the Strangers, and played Top40 covers. I veered into John Mayall, Pretty things and Downliners Sect covers. This was in Christchurch, New Zealand, back in 63, 64. I lost touch with him when he and Paul Muggleston, the rhythm guitarist in the Strangers, when to England to seek fame and fortune. A tragic loss of a very talented guy.

While I love listening to guys like Jaco, in real life I try to play like Leland Sklar and especially, Emory Gordy Jnr.

Fieldy! Most bestest playr ever!

Mark Hoppus! He plays so fast and bestest leads!!

Shavo! Most hardcorest!

Mickey Mouse!! He R amazink!

I relate most to Greg Ridley (Humble Pie) and Carl Radle (Derek & The Dominoes, etc.) Throw in a little Paul McCartney in my note selection and John Entwistle in my overall attitude (if not ability!) and you get a good picture of my playing.

BTW--isn't this thread superfluous? The use profiles here ask you to name your influences. ;)

Jaco. Not!

I would probably compare my style to Roger Waters (or Gilmour, it depends on who you think wrote the Floyd's basslines). that is, I like it low and loud, with an emphasis on groove and melody rather then filling eveything with slaps an pops.
Also Abbey Road era McCartney. Just not as good.
Jim

If I had to get rid of all my records, the most painful thing to me would be not to listen to Chris Squire anymore.

However, regarding to what the Beatles brought to my early desires of playing music, it would be very hard for me to get rid of Paul McCartney's basslines.

But I insist on the fact that, as a bass player, my absolutely main influence was (and remains) Chris Squire. His lyricism, even on the earliest Yes albums, still amazes me decades later...

All the best,

i have always tried to play like my heroes but i still have quite a while to go
i have noticed though that a lot of my improv work is a lot like john paul jones from led zep and my playing is kind of like dirk from incubus, he's a champ and I aim to play like him these days, nothing too hard but still so awesome to play

My first was Fieldy(No joke)

Then it was Tim C.

Then, Justin Chancellor

And now, Stefan Lassard

I've also been listening to Mudvayne, 311, Incubus, Vic Wooten, and Stanley Clarke.

Aw, I'm just a shameless Jamerson ripoff with some Macca thrown in, simplified just enough so I can sing! :)

Definitely Geddy Lee for me. He was the man that made me want to pick up a bass. I really discovered my own playing style by initially emulating Ged's. These characteristics are still dominant in my playing for most rock music.

My technique of course varies when I explore other genres of music, but my roots are really in hard rock, and that's where my personal style and technique is most apparent.

Joe Schaefer, of the Northerns.

Im really suprised no one has mentioned Robert DeLeo of STP! He has some really cool basslines.
Many other McCartney and JPJ influenced players.
I was a couple generations late for these guys, but their followers work for me.

What do you guys think of Rob DeLeo?

Geezer Butler Krist Novoselic of Nirvana and Rob of STP are the biggest as far as what I actually play.

Jeff of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden's bassist, and Alice in Chains bassist (sorry no names) have been influences in the way that when I listen to them I think that I'd like to do some of that, but I really dont play like them. Its more of a vision of what fits kind of thing.

As for the whole local players thing, 1st off my old bands guitarist who laid down the bass tracks for our first demo since my family dragged me outta town the week before we needed it finished. He had a great sense of what could fit, and gave me a great platform to build off of. Besides that, Jose of this local band PYGMY. He's great.


Nick

PS: Ive heard alot about James Jamerson (big influence of Rob DeLeo), and was wondering what songs i should check out to hear what he can do.

I have three main influences : John Myung, Billy Sheehan, and Victor Wooten.

Although I'm a little more of a rocker than a thump machine. It's just my double thump technique isn't up to par with the rest of my technique.

So I would sound a lot like John Myung. But I would prefer to be a good mix of Wooten and Myung, that would be ideal.

People have said to me that I sound like a bizzare hybrid of Justin Chancellor and Les Claypool.

I, of course, think I sound like no one but me. :D

I occasionaly play with this weird style of strumming that I've yet to see anyone else do. Sort of like a... flamenco-rake? Hmm.

I use a bit of Stu Hamm style tapping, but I apply it a little differently than he does.



Im really suprised no one has mentioned Robert DeLeo of STP! He has some really cool basslines.

Right on, Nick. I dig his playing, very melodic, but never gets in the way. Great tone, too.

Since most of what I play is Grateful Dead covers, I'd have to say Phil Lesh. I certainly don't consider myself "stuck" however. Even when I don't play Dead covers, I'm still told I sound like him. I always thank those people for the high compliment. :D

I Deffinetly know what you mean NioeZero!
Anyone else care for Rob DeLeo's style?

Nick

From what I've heard of DeLeo (not too much), he's pretty good.

Personally, I'm most heavily influenced by Colin Greenwood of Radiohead in terms of style. He's another under-rated bassist IMO, along with Nick Olivieri and Rex Brown.

I would have to say my style would relate to Ryan Martinie,although I had that style in mind before I ever heard of Mudvayne. = )

I'd have to say Mike Dirnt from Green Day and Cone from Sum 41.

I haven´t seen nobody talking about two masters: Paul McCartney and John Paul Jones....

I've been influenced by a lot of different bassists, I listened to Cliff Burton and I tried to play like him for a long time, then Jason Newsted, then I listened to some Primus and tried to learn to play a bit like Les Claypool, then I listened to Classical Thump by Victor Wooten and said to myself "screw that man" and played some more Jason Newsted solos :D.

Originally posted by leandro.eduardo
I haven´t seen nobody talking about two masters: Paul MaCartney and John Paul Jones....

Well my major influence (Robert DeLeo of STP) lists both of them as major influences to his playing style, so I guess that means that they inderectly influenced me.

Also I have a new influence.

He is a local bassist headed up to Berklee for college and plays in my favorite lacal band, PYGMY.

Check out his stuff at www.I-Am-Pygmy.org

He's got some killer stuff.

Peace
Nick

Difficult to say but after 28 years of playing, I still find myself gravitating back to Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, and John Entwhistle. No John, not everyone is striving for for Geddy Lee and yes some of us still like basses that come with less strings than a guitar does!:D

Jack Bruce played six string basses.

:p

Peace
Nick

In my orginal post in this thread I forgot to mention Matt Malley, influenced me alot.....

Originally posted by metallicarules
I've been influenced by a lot of different bassists, I listened to Cliff Burton and I tried to play like him for a long time, then Jason Newsted, then I listened to some Primus and tried to learn to play a bit like Les Claypool, then I listened to Classical Thump by Victor Wooten and said to myself "screw that man" and played some more Jason Newsted solos :D.

Hell yeah. :D

I'm a Jason Newsted clone. Without the pick. Sometimes.

I relate to Les Claypool. Even when I write something heavy, it sounds like him

James Jamerson

Jamaaladeen Tacuma (Totally unconscious)

Willie Weeks. Fat tone, and the groovinest groove

Originally posted by Nick man
Jack Bruce played six string basses.

:p

Peace
Nick

And JPJ played 8 and 12 strings.

What bassist's style do you relate yours to??

Welp, I'm not very good but I listen to and try to play all types of music... When I play it's 98% finger style with all my picks in a drawer. I'd like to think my style is related to an amalgamation of these guys:

Paul Simonon (Clash)
Noel Redding (Jimmi Hendrix Experience)
P-Nut (311)
James Jamerson (Motown)

Not that their the best or most awesome but when I think of their style and tone and attack and sound I think, "Yeah, that's what I want."

In the past it has been McCartney (when I first started on bass) ...Paul Jackson... (when I started to get into Herbie), and now Jaco...

I've also started to relate to John Myung & Geddy Lee for fretted and a hair bit to Jaco (still not there) & Yo Yo Ma (a cellist but eh, close enough) for fretless wise.

I'm tryin to get to Stu Hamm level and Mike Dimin with Chords and all, too.

Nick

Robert has been a very big influence on me just a well rounded guy i love his lines. I try bringing more character to the guitar rift like Rob does. you should listen to some Hot Tuna Jack Casady has good style to very bluesy. But Robert in my book tottaly rocks. Where do you think STP are going.

I'm an old-timer so you guys can have a laugh! I taught myself by listening to the simple prominent lines of Mel Schacher from Grand Funk. I was influenced by the diverse tones of Felix Papalardi in Mountain and John Entwistle of the Who. I probably was influenced by Entwistle the most--especially "the real me" I've always aspired to be as funky as Paul "action" Jackson of Herbie's Headhunters, but never came close!

I guess I would have to mention three bass players who have been vital to my bassplaying during the 1,5 year I have been playing and Matt Freeman's basswalks have influenced me alot... There was a period when I only played basslines similar to his style. Another guy who I've learned some technique and bassplaying style from is John Myung... The third guy is the guy who inspired me to play bass, Mike Dirnt of Green Day... He makes brilliant, melodic basslines... he is fantastic and I always try to use that melodic, experimenting style however i still try to remain as a solid ground on the song as the bassplayer should...

No single one, ever since I began playing bass I have been searching for my own style

Bily Sheenan or Les Claypool

On bass guitar, I play in the style of Duck Dunn and Emory Gordy Jnr, on double bass I aspire to be like Paul Chambers for jazz, Israel Lopez (Cachaoito) for latin, and Bill Black for rockabilly.

I'm sorta all over the map with my style of playing, very far away from finding my voice on the bass. I think most of my style falls along the lines of Jamerson, Rocco and Willis while some other stuff I do is more geared towards Louis Johnson, Graham and Clarke. Those are the guys that sorta subconciously pop into my head when I'm playing, they're all definitely direct influences of mine. I'm just signifigantly less talented than all of them.

Sometimes Bob Glaub,

Sometimes Paul Denman.

B

Chris Squire's tone, and Geddy's chops.

I'm playing with a lot of harmonic lines, so I would say Guys like Timothy B Schmitt (Eagles), John Mc Vie (Fleetwood mac), John Entwistle and Michael Rutherford (Genesis).
Those guys really know how to play. Referring to the slpa technique i would say Alex Sklarevski tought me alot

When I was 15 or 16 it was Jack Bruce and then Chris Squire. Later on when I was gigging every week, I discovered how important groove is. I then tried to emulate those incredible "unknown" bassists on the Motown releases - who were those guys??!!! (We wondered). Now I know it was James Jamerson and Bob Babbit.

Despite my admiration for Jaco and Rocco, I would say that I have tried most to emulate Jamerson and Babbit.

Listening to "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" made me realize just how solid Bob Babbit still is - he just kills on all of the live takes. I wish I could have heard Jamerson live today with today's production values.

Geeze, how did I leave these guys out of my profile!:eek:

I play bass doggy style with ur mom in front of me its real nice

Originally posted by JazzSucksAss110
I play bass doggy style with ur mom in front of me its real nice


What happens when you get tired...use the other hand?

Originally posted by JazzSucksAss110
I play bass doggy style with ur mom in front of me its real nice

::Sniff, Sniff, Sniff::

Whats that smell?

::Sniff, Sniff, Sniff::

Anyone?

Peace
Nick

Probably Jaco....but I slap like Victor Wooten(double thumb) and my tone is grungly like Les claypool(well not that grungly...but I have a pretty raw tone)

Originally posted by JazzSucksAss110
I play bass doggy style with ur mom in front of me its real nice

Hmmm - nice username and banned before his feet coudl touch the ground - but the thread's still here! :confused:

Let's see...

Firstly, Billy Sheehan. I "stole" quite a bit of stuff from him early on. I just love his "Swingy" feel and groove. Later on in my playing I tried to spin my own style off of his, especially when I started playing slap.

After Billy are a whole bunch of players like Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond from the "Aqualung" era of Jethro Tull, John Entwhistle, Geddy Lee, Felix Pappalardi from Mountain, Jack Bruce, Mike Trujillo, Flea, Dave Pomeroy. I try to listen to and learn bass lines from as many different players as I can.

:^)~

fIeLdY!!! He is sooooo coool:D :rolleyes:


Well, I really couldn't place who I play like, but to list some influences:

D'Arcy Wretsky From the Pumpkins-She had this fat groove that just really tied everything together, but she didn't use a lot of technical stuff.

Les Claypool-He's inspired me to find new ways to play the instrument.

That's about the only two that really stick out as far as what people I listened to the Bass mainly.

I don't try to sound like anyone but I'm very inspired by Nathan East and Will Lee. Both very good all around bassists with the ability to sing. They both have virtuso chops but have no need nor want to show them off. They both play very tastefully and clean. I also dig Scott Ambush(Spyro Gyra)!

On Fretless
Jaco
Percy Jones
Pino Paladino
Freebo
Fretted
Jack Bruce
James Jamerson
Will Lee
Anthony Jackson

I take a lot from claypool, including his style of flamenco playing... but I haven't been playing that long.

Talk to me in 10 years. :D

first and foremost, stefan lessard of dmb. then followed by les claypool, p-nut, flea, victor wooten, dirk lance, tim commerford, tad kinchla, stu hamm, hunter from AFI and the bassists from classical music kick ass!

Newsted, offcourse i have my own style but i suppose he comes closest

I sound alot like Steve Harris i find. But every now and then i hear some Geezer come outta me as well.

I started out being a Stuart Zender clone, but after about 2 years I branched off into doing my own thing.

The year was 1971.....Grand Funk was huge and there would have been no band at all IMO without Mel Schacher......kind of a toned down Jack Bruce but he held the band together and was very inspiring on this then-13-year-old.....guess ya' had to be there!

Flea + Geezer + Dirk Lance - Talent = Me.

Ryan Martinie(Mudvayne) and Cliff Burton(Metallica)

As for playing pick:

Mark Hoppus(Blink-182)
and
Mike Dirnt(green day)


-Jon:o

Dirk Lance (ALEX KATUNICH) the earlier years.
Flea the earlier years.
Ryan Martinie, Ryknow, Rud D, whatever the h&ll his name is now.

A combination of Flea and Stu from Jamiroquai. I try my best to imitate Vic but i havent gotten that far yet... Give me a while and ill be able to pull it off :cool:

Peace.

I haven't played along to a lot of music yet, and I don't always specifically pay attention to the bass in songs in a bass player way, if you know what I mean :).

I know that MCA from the Beastie Boys got me started (yes, actually. I love the riff he plays in "Gratitude"). but as of late I'm most inspired my Joe Lally of Fugazi and Andy Rourke of the Smiths.

I really dig Eva Gardner's style (the Mars Volta's first bassist.. check out their Tremulant EP) but I haven't heard a lot from her so I can't say for sure that she has influenced me even remotely as much as the above mentioned two fellows.

when it comes to slap, I think I'm mostly influenced by Larry Graham, the little I've heard from him

I like alot of bassplayers but alot of them don't fit the music I play. But I try to emulate the styles, feel, or sounds of Berry Oakley(Allman Bros), the guy Wilkenson(?) from Lynyrd Skynyrd, and James Jamerson. Sheesh! All dead!

Mike Watt has been a big influence since I was a wee little bass player.

Jai Swann's.... J/K:D




George Porter, Jamerson...

cliff burton
chris chaney (his Jane's stuff)

timmy c from rage!!!!!!!! he is the greatest and most understated :bassist:

Somewhere between Chris Squire and Flea, with hints of off-time John Myung. Now, if I just could somehow muster all of their talent, I'd be a rich man. :D

My biggest influences have been Jim Lea of Slade and John Entwistle - sound and style-wise.
Tom Petersson gets in there through his invention of the 12-string bass.

I also love Colin Moulding and Graham Maby's playing among others.
I'm sure Nick Lowe and Macca's in there somewhere too.

For me it's been Leland Sklar for many years. Always the "best" note in the "perfect" place. He's so incredibly "musical" yet so wonderfully understated. I always try to think about what Lee would do when I'm working up new parts!

"Everything Sucks" is a good representation of his innate Karl-ness, no doubt about it. It's more rock than a lot of the ALL stuff.. check out "Allroy Was Here", you can tell he listened to Mike Watt.

I had the pleasure of meeting Karl briefly when ALL came through my hometown during the Pummel tour. After he found out I played as well he grabbed one of the T-shirts I bought and signed the sleeve "4 Strings Good, 6 Strings Bad" then the Allroy logo and finally his signature. Then told me..

"As long as Mike Watt is sucking air, we're going to be just fine."

The next day I got Double Nickels On the Dime and Ragin' Full On. :bassist:

Nefarious of Macabre
Geezer Butler of you know..
& Steve Di Giorgio of Death/Testament/... *dreaming* hehe

:bassist:

Hm....I'd say my style is closest to...ahhh...can't decide...
Billy Sheehan. (Not as talented, hahahaha, I wish.)

I would say a combination of Rob Derhak, Mike Gordon (sans pick), Dave Schools and Stuart Zender.

Am I as good as any of those? Pshaw! But I sure as hell like to try to mimic them! ;)

Try this on for size.

A geddy lee meets Jaco meest Chris Squire meets Victor Wooten.

He ain't a bassist, but I like to do stuff strange like Frank Zappa did also.

Jason Newstead has to be my biggest influence, I've seen him live more times than any other and know more of his songs than any other, then coming in very close second is Cliff Burton. Ryan Martinie also, but not as much.

I think my playing sounds like a mix of Jaco, Les Claypool, Vic Wooten, and a tiny bit of Geddy Lee. Depending on what type of music I'm playing, at any given time I sound a little like one of them.

My sound and style can be described as something between Billy Cox, Tommy Shannon and Marcus Miller :)
I really like using pentatonic rundowns like Billy, I like rhytm and phrasing of Tommy Shannon and finally, sound of Marcus :)

....What bassist can you compare your sound to? Who inspired you to play the way you do?.....To sum it up, who do you play like?

Hmmm. Probably Geddy Lee since that who I followed growing up. I thought he was the end-all. I never really wanted that growly tone but the finger technique was key for me. I formed many of my habits during that time so he's probably who I most emulate - even without thinking about it now.

As far as who's inspired me - many. Each player, no matter how flashy or how simple has something to offer. As an addendum to the previous paragraph, I now try to add a little of these guys to my style. Claypool, Flea, Sheehan, Sting, Mike Anthony, Stanley Clarke, Cliff Burton and I'm probably leaving some out. I've only discovered Jaco recently and I'm sorry I didn't earlier. It made want to get a fretless right then!

Flea was my first influence on bass and still is, but more resently (past 8 or 9 month) louis johnson has amazed me with his style of slap pop and just the way he plays, so the way i play is kind of a mix between Flea and louis and my own at the minute, but i also think john entwistle is an awsome bass player and want to learn more about his style aswell and some of billy sheehans tapping style, but yeah, Flea and johnson r my biggest influences to how i play bass

I've always been told my playing compares to Geezer Butler's - maybe that's why I formed my own Black Sabbath tribute band. :D

Ok, I'm gonna put these four oddballs together :eyebrow:

Billy Gould
Paul D' Amour
Eric Judy(Modest Mouse)
Adam Clayton?

Stir at your own risk! :eek:

Sorry to repost, but almost forgot:

Simon Gallup

HArd to tell really.

I guess Dirk Lanc (Incubus) and Flea. But i play a lot with a pick lately, and noone really influenced me to do that.

Mark(Mr.Mark)Adams-SLAVE and Louis(thunder thumbs)Johnson-Were/are my biggest influences so I kinda roll like them on occasion, my style is mor of an amalgamation of a lot of stuff I've incorporated into my playing over the years.

On a fretted bass, I tend to play & sound a lot like cross between Entwistle & Wetton.

On a fretless I pretty much sound like me. Not a bad thing, really.

Billy Sheehan, John Enwhistle, Geddy Lee

Hey Guys. We at Talkbass.com have expressed oinions regarding basses, amps, strings, etc. But I would like to know what bassist has inspired your playing styles. What bassist can you compare your sound to? Who inspired you to play the way you do?
I haven't been playing as long as you guys so mine is kind of a new guy. Sam Rivers from Limp Bizkit was the one I wanted to emulate, and still do in some ways. How about you?
To sum it up, who do you play like?

For me, a mix of Jack Bruce, some Stanley Clarke, Colin Hodgkinson and a couple of Magma's bassists (Janick Top and Bernard Paganotti) All told, I love to have my bass ROOOOAAARRR!!!!

Tony Levin ... I listen to many bass players, but the one I relate to most is Tony.

Absolutely:

SIMON GALLUP (The Cure) :hyper:
ANDY ROURKE (The Smiths) :hyper:

More and more, I find myself writing lines a lot like Myung.

Hey Guys. We at Talkbass.com have expressed oinions regarding basses, amps, strings, etc. But I would like to know what bassist has inspired your playing styles. What bassist can you compare your sound to? Who inspired you to play the way you do?
I haven't been playing as long as you guys so mine is kind of a new guy. Sam Rivers from Limp Bizkit was the one I wanted to emulate, and still do in some ways. How about you?
To sum it up, who do you play like?

Wow, old thread. Oldy but goody anyway...

The answer to that question really changes in time. As a kid - long before playing the bass - I was influenced by Paul McCartney. But subconciously, in ways I never recognized until I began to play. Jack Bruce was the first bassist whose style consciously caught my ear...

Later on, I deliberately (and pretentiously :o ) emulated Chris Squire. When I first sat down to really listen to his ultra-sophisticated, complex, composed yet totally rockin' neo-Bach lines on Close to the Edge, well it moved me and amazed me in ways that changed me forever... :cool:

During the '80s, I really warmed up to superb stylists like Bruce Thomas and Paul Denman, who always seem to know just the right thing to play to make the song groove.

Strangely enough though, I was never influenced all that much by the likes of Mark King or Geddy Lee or John Entwistle, or even Tony Levin...

But at the root of it all, a lot of these other guys were influenced first & foremost by James Jamerson. And thus the cycle of influence continues...

MM

I'd say my playing style is a cross between Jimmy Haslip and Janet Reno (upside-down and ugly) :D

Although I tend to have a brighter sound than him, I think I sound most like Bernard Edwards, the late, great bassist of Chic. He is not my only influence of course, I love Marcus Miller, Anthony Jackson, Mark Adams III, for r&b and Geddy Lee, John Wetton, and Chris Squire for rock, but I think the Bernard approach is closest to my heart.

Old school groovers rule (maybe this shows my age):

Jamerson
McCartney
John Paul Jones
Jack Bruce
Phil Lesh
Berry Oakley
Larry Taylor (w/ John Mayall)
Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull)
Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad)
Duck Dunn
Carol Kaye

Although Paul McCartney's playing is the style I most admire, I would say my sound is a cross between Allen Woody and Duff McKagan. I like to play in the pocket, throw in a tasty fill here and there and maybe spread out once in a while when there is space to do it.

FC

While I'd like to say Marcus Miller or Louis Johnson (mainly for slap expertise and uncluttered bass lines)... I'm probably more in line with gospel great Maurice Fitzgerald, who can play most genres and techniques admirably, but his "pocket presence" and funky grooves make him a first call bassist....and devoted disciple.

matt till

While I'd like to say Marcus Miller or Louis Johnson (mainly for slap expertise and uncluttered bass lines)... I'm probably more in line with gospel great Maurice Fitzgerald, who can play most genres and techniques admirably, but his "pocket presence" and funky grooves make him a first call bassist....and devoted disciple.

Did you miss the thread about Fitzgerald "stealing" that bass?

I suppose for me, I lie somewhere beween the style of Geddy Lee and Stuart hamm, and my tone is quite like Vail Johnsons....

Hi JimK, JT, and all you other guys,

I am old school R&B (read Jamerson/Rainey/Gary King/Gordon Edwards) by nature. As that music faded from the 60/70's I was more interested in contemporary Jazz. Today I enjoy the 60's rennasaince (sp) and playing big band jazz. I read music since the early 80's (not in the 1960's) so I am not limited to any kind of music but I not much of a fan for reading what a non bass player thinks is a funk bass line. Some are good most are not...


Bob

PS here is a clip of me playing Here (http://bassland.net/sound3.wma)

We are all Influenced by whatever we hear.
HOWEVER
My style is Psychotic mix of Tony Franklin and Geddy and Tommy Shannon and Bootsy and James Jamerson .
Gives Guitar Players Fits :bassist:

In the early 90's I got a gig with a 75% Hendrix songs and the other 25% a mix of Zep/Purple/Sabbath. I played that Gig Every Saturday for about 3 years and it was the first time I got on stage every weekend. The root of my playing style came from there. I learned how to improvise and try not to repeat the bass line everytime.

I think I can say that my style has a lot to do with Billy Cox's, with groves floating around the music and a lot of improvisation.

Realistically, I'd have to say the closest one person would be Carl Radle, bass player for Derek and the Dominoes. He fills out their slower songs with tasteful, relatively simple playing, but keeps it interesting. I don't feel that his playing on the Layla album is nearly virtuoso-like, but it's the right style of playing for that album, I feel. Tasteful and not so flashy.

On the other hand, I actively try to emulate the late Berry Oakley's sound and playing. I'm still finding my own sound, but his is a lot of fun to try. Playing along with the Fillmore Concert is a load of fun, and I'm learning a lot about tension and release from listening to "Stormy Monday". So I play more in the style of Carl Radle, but have to hand it to Berry, Jack Bruce, and Entwistle, although I'm not as much of a chops player.

John Deacon -Geddy Lee-James Jamerson inspired me originally back in the 1970's....my finger style is close to Verdine white and with pick I'd say-Sting from the Police era.

A mixture of Steve Harris, Geddy Lee, Rocco, Jeff Berlin and Paul Chambers. A bit of Stu Hamm as well probably. Well lets add John Paul Jones as well!!!!

Im influenced by a lot of bassists but i think dirk lance from incubus is a major inspiration to me.

John Myung, Michael Todd and Geddy Lee mixed into one

I do the same style as John for my plucking hand, I go up against the next string and don't really use the pickup except for the E string

I hear a bit of John Paul Jones' influence in my rock playing, and Robert DeLeo's phrasing and mine are similar. He must be a JPJ fan too. For groove-oriented playing I hear a bit of Jamerson's, Duck Dunn's, and especially Rocco Prestia's influence. -I really love those sixteenth-note lines.

I would belive (atleast i feel so myself) that my style of playing actually have developed as i have grown, i started out a huge Steve Harris fan, so for a while i did sound and play much like him, later i became a huge Geddy Lee fan, so still holding alot of my "Harrisy" style, i also got alot of geddy's stuff and way of playing in there(though i dont in anyway have his musicality) and then later again, John Entwistle became my idol, so while having elements of Geddy and Harris, i also started to get Entwistle's stuff in to my fingers.

i dunno who's style i resemble realy...

Alot of the stuff I've been writing lately is like a mix between JPJ and flea, according to my friends

The real inspiration to play bass was Geezer Butler.... i loved his lines... he made Sabbath thick..... But i can play hard, but not like geezer... still big influence... the bassist i can relate most to in terms of playstyle is Lemmy in Motörhead...

The funny thin is that i sorta developed my own style (as we all do) and then i sat down and listened to motörhead... and found that i made my own style of lemmys playing... not using a pick, only my thumb. Just mangle on power chords with the guitar and it kinda works with the bands style.

Of course i only play like this when it fits the song. But ever so often i use my thumb, ahh the blisters I've had ^^

Jason Newsted and John Paul Jones are my biggest.

Id say Im a mix of that guy from Fastball, John Deacon and Paul McCartney, as my lines arent as technical as they are melodic.

My influences are mostly grindy players such as Billy Gould, Chris Squire, John Wetton, Paul D'Amour, and Justin Chancellor..

Probably a mix between early Billy Gould and Paul D'Amour(technically, I can't touch Chris Squire or Wetton as of this moment..or later Billy Gould)

I'm sort of a cross between Jaco and Victor, probably better though. I think they both must of heard me and ripped me off before I was born or something :D

...actually, I don't know who the hell I relate to more, I just hear a drummer and a guitarist and whoever else is playing and go with it. Though, having recently heard the Minutemen for the first time I sort of have that same thirdsy-seventhy melody sense, combined with the odd slap-and-strum. I just groove the best I can, ya know?

Timmy C. (R.A.T.M., Audioslave) and Justin Chancellor (Tool) have been the two biggest influences on my playing. I try and blend some of the styles of each, along with other things I've picked up and various techniques I've come up with myself.

Those two are definitely the biggest, though.

-Dash

Hmm...
I guess I'd say Jimmy Johnson, Michel Alibo and Jimmy Haslip.

Jimmy Haslip made a big impression on me while I was just starting out. He's got great ideas. The other two I didn't discover until fairly recently. Mr. Johnson's note choices and sense of timing remind me of the choices I often make. Michel Alibo is a South American bassist that has recorded with Guillermo Klein and Angelique Kidjo. He's got a very fluid style and takes many chances. Both he and Mr. Johnson often pepper their lines with tasteful upper-register flourishes that never seem inappropriate or self-indulgent.

Chris Chaney for me. Really in the pocket, not flashy, but very present.

I would say my style could be described as a cross between Macca and Bruce Foxton. Maybe that's why I play a Ric. :p

Of course, I possess only 5% of their talent... :crying:

Geezer got me to REALLY like bass (The N.I.B. intro "Basically" did it to me.). But for playing style, I'd say Cliff Burton.
I also look up (but don't nessicarily sound like) to Les Claypool and Justin Chancellor a lot.

My style is pretty much a combination of these:

Technical stuff:
- All my slap tricks I ripped mostly from Les Claypool and Flea, and adapted them. Though the dynamics of Marcus Miller's playing are an influence also, and under assimilation (resistance is futile).
- With finger speed, power and dexterity I'm trying to reach the "Webster limit".
- With "serving the song", tonality and taste I'm aiming for the Tony Levin style of groove.
- Tonewise I'm pretty much searching still, but I have realized that the tone should always accommodate the song and not the other way around

The most important stuff:
- With the flow and the expression of my soul through the instrument/other ways: Jaco, Tom Waits, Hendrix, Gautama Buddha, Coltrane, Kerouac and Zappa are huge influences (more as artists and true individuals than technique-style idols).

Put these in a blender with some limited musical talent and you've got my style. :D

I'm kinda of old school - Duck Dunn, Verdine White and Jerry Jermott. I guess you can tell what kind of music I like, huh?

Steve Harris of Iron Maiden set me off. I heard that gallop and all those little walks of his and said to myself "I'm gonna be a bass player". Twenty plus years later that Harris influence still runs deep in my veins but I have definitely picked up all sorts of tidbits from John Myung of Dream Theater to Cliff Burton (RIP) to Vic Wooten.
I don't know about the rest of you but when I hear or see a way cool technique I always try to find a way to incorporate into my own style.
Man, I love playing bass!

Flea and Alain Caron for slap...
Fingerstyle? Maybe a bit of Victor Wooten (Beaver patrol from the new Jaco Big Band album), James Jamerson for more simple songs but with a bit of a smart lick here and there...

I'd say I'm somewhere between Dee Dee Ramone, Gaye Advert and Klaus Flouride; with the sound antics of Thurston Moore, Kevin Shields or Will Reid

My first encounter with a bassist that blew my mind was Cliff Burton (as my name implies). After that, came Flea, Timmy C., Mike Dirnt, and a few others.

I like to use effects and I like to follow the drums and complement the rhythm guitar with alternating lines, or by adding fills that round out the song.

To me, less can be more, but it is so fun to play more notes when they are not getting in the way of the song.

Nikki Sixx





















...allows me to play stoned.

Even though I'm not near a smooth ( in my dreams) I'd say Jonas Hellborg as far as fingerstyle, slap, and note choice. I wasn't really influenced by him. I got an ABG and bought three of his CDs, and I was like WOW this guy sounds sorta like me (more like I sound like him) but alot better.

i've said it before but rick price from the georgia satellites. i play the same basses and rip off everything he does on every song. i aint ashamed to admit it either.

I might be one of the few but I REALLY don't like Harris' bass tone at all. I would describe it as "liquidy" some of the lines are ok, but while I love Maiden, I just can't get into Harris.

I have no idea who I sound or play like, but Roger Waters definitely marked me.

When I get better, Jason Newsted and Johnny Christ

Chuck Rainey

i like to model a lotta my stuff after john entwistle and flea..maybe a little mike gordon...i wish les claypool but not quite..basically flea entwistle with no pick

les claypool / victor wooten in a nice blend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn43EGMBrSA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwZmBaf3hOw

Hmm for band puposes: Jason Newstead

For experimentation purposes: Michael Manring/Victor Wooten

My main influences (whom I most think I sound like) have evolved over the years. Of course, I only think I sound like them until I hear a recording of me playing. ;)

in the 80's:
Jason Newsted
Cliff Burton
Geddy lee

the 90's:
John Pattitucci
Chris Squire
John Myung
Stu Hamm

the last few years (or so):
Mistina Keith
Yves Carbonne
(most recently) Trip Wamsley

With a pick, I think I sound pretty similar to D.D. Verni.
Fingestyle, I aim for the Geezer thing, but whether or not I achieve it is another story...

well while not trying to sound "oh im so good", cause really im not (seriously im not)

Bass Players(In no Particular Order)
Timmy C
Chris Wolstenholme
James Jamerson
Justin Chancellor
Tony Levin
Michael Manring
Les Claypool
Roger Waters

Non Bass Instrumentaliest who ever made you go WHOA!!!:
David Gilmour
Every Player who made you go "whoa tha was cool"

Listening to Justin Chancellor's playing made me want to play bass, i take inspiration now a days from John Campbell of Lamb Of God, Cliff Burton's stuff with metallica, Martin Mendez from Opeth, Troy Sanders from Mastodon and the guy from A Perfect Circle. I'm developing my slapping style from Flea and Les Claypool's stuff.

I tend to find a lot of Geddy Leeisms in my playing, even before I ever heard Rush. This became more of a problem when I actually got into them, but I can't help that I like that band so much. Kind of weird actually.

Ray Shulman ......ya probably never heard of him.

I'm probably somewhere between Doug Wimbish, Tony Levin and Eddie Jackson nowadays, with the occasional crazy spot of Claypool-worship and Marcus-envy coming through. :D

Nate Mendal and Pete Mosley.

I'm a mix between Steve Harris and Geezer Butler.

A lot of bassists have influenced me over the years, but those are the guys I sound like.

Mark Andes

Ray Shulman ......ya probably never heard of him.

Gentle Giant, maybe? :cool:

"In A Glass House" changed my life. :)

I used to play like Sid Vicious and every pro emo cuntmonkey out there. Now I try and play like Flea and Les Claypool. And I've got alot more work to do.

im influenced and play like pretty much every bassist i have heard but mainly play in the style of Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse.Perfect 16th notes with fingers,thats for me!

I'm not particularily one-man knockoff, but my style is certainly closest to Carles Benavent. Other's whom have influenced me are Steve Digiorgio, Matt Freeman, Sean Malone, Rocco Prestia, Squire, Geddy, Jaco, Alan Goldstein (big time up-and-coming bassist), and certainly a host of others.

I've been studying Jamerson a lot, and it's starting to show in my playing. Also, I've been working on a Mark King-esqe slap style, since the funk band my friends and I are trying to get together will likely cover Mr. Pink. I have a blister covering half of my popping finger for that.

My style fundamentally, though, can be related to a lot of funk players. I have a naturally funky feel that I can't quite get rid of no matter what song I'm playing. Mostly I can relate to bass players such as Verdine White (and I even dance when I play...not quite to that extent, though), Rocco Prestia, George Porter, early Bootsy, and yes, Jaco.

hey,
i believe that im maturing as a player, and know what needs to be played to get the gig done. these players have really contributed to my recent playing style.

james jamerson: studied and transcribed a $*it load of his stuff. like everyone else on this board has already mentioned....look him up. im workin on "you met your match" by steive wonder...ah my work with jamerson will never be done :)


pino palladino: look him up please :) not just his amazing stuff with the try cd....but his work on voodoo...ill take his pocket over double thumbing....and also check out his stuff with paul young for melodic fretless work


me'shell n'degeocello: one of my favorite bass players. her tone and overall pocket is siiiiiiiiiiccccccccccckkkkkkkk!!!


rocco prestia: sick 16th note finger funk. complete awareness of the pocket :)


these are the people i am studing fulltime now...but in the past like everyone else it was jaco, vic, claypool...but i showed up to gigs with that mentality and never got hired back... :) so i revamped my outlook and prefer it better :p
oh....good lord...i forgot upright :) avishia cohen, ray brown, oscar pertaford, paul chambers, mingus...the list goes on.

peace ;)

Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Jason Newstead, Tim Commerford.

Tony Choy of Atheist and Cynic.

None. WoOt.

I believe you just can't help coming out sounding like your influences, and mine are like probably so many others....McCartney and JPJ. I try to sound like JPJ even though he's about 14 leagues above me. Being a guitarist first, I still struggle with fingers verses a pick, especially since McCartney used a pick. When playing fingerstyle, I'm always asking myself "why am I trying to do this when I can do it so much better with a pick"? Then I listen to JPJ and I'm reminded why.

Our band had no bass and I thought - 90% of listeners ever don't notice the bass, but without a bass song become powerless... Most of my guitar riffs during noodling sounds like bass lines.
Looks like bass is my instrument, and I start to play bass in our band and fell in love in it.
I have plenty of influences and all of them was mentioned before. But there was two mans which you probably never heard before, because they are from Russia and Ukraine. I've wrote small articles and made small playlists from YouTube about them to let everyone know about this brilliant bassists. :bassist:

Rostislav Chaban ( http://bass.x123.net/2006/11/24/i-drug-moj-gruzovik-power-of-ukrainian-bassndrums/ ) for his nonstandard thinking and excellent sound of pure bass'n'drum band.

and

Anatoliy Krupnov ( http://bass.x123.net/2006/11/27/black-obelisk-russian-way/ ) for his powerful bass lines and academic approach.

Jack Bruce....
Ronnie Lane....
James Jamerson....
Duck Dunn....
and JAM-era Bruce Foxton.

It's evolved for me over the years but right now the bassist I most admire is Tony Levin. He's one of the rare top-flight bassists who probably can play just about any hyper chop you'd care to subject yourself too, but doesn't. He just plays what's right, every time. His tone is amazing and his pocket is just ridiculous. I'll never sound like him because I'm not him, but his approach, for lack of a better way of putting it, is one that I try to emulate.