Bass players and composing...

[Kyon`]

Not sure if this is the right section but I've found most of what I compose is very cheesy. Anyone else have this problem, I often put too much emphasis in technical chops, and drum fills and especially writing horn lines I just love adding in all these gliss and bends being a horn player myself I love doing all these fun things. But when the product finally comes out it just sounds like really advance elevator music XD. Anyone else ever feel this way about their own writing, I do think it's a trend with a few bass players granted some recent albums I've heard, not attacking anyone really, just do you get too technical when you're writing something?

[etoncrow]

I have earned my living both as an artist and as a musician. The reason I am telling you this is is because in both cases the most difficult aspects of creativity are the same. When involved in a painting project, for example, the two hardest strokes for me are the first stoke on that white pristine canvas and secondly, the last stroke; or, knowing when to stop. It sounds to me like you are having difficulty knowing when to stop.

[lambro]

there is a fine line between music and muscle memory

you have already identified a problem, if the techniques you were doing sounded right, they wouldn't sound cheesy to you, so get a technical foundation that is solid and focus on less frequency of notes and more on harmony and the groove.

Only let loose if you have something to say, not just to see your fingers move

[hockey_head]

try maybe totally different spin, try writing a blues song, an r/b song, country, waltz.
might not be your bag, but definately a few new looks from other angles can't hurt.

don't forget, often it's the notes you don't play, that are implied by their surroundings
that sit best in the mix.

[jarroc]

Originally Posted by hockey_head

try maybe totally different spin, try writing a blues song, an r/b song, country, waltz.
might not be your bag, but definately a few new looks from other angles can't hurt.

don't forget, often it's the notes you don't play, that are implied by their surroundings
that sit best in the mix.

This is a very interesting question. Historically, most of the great "composers" have been pianists. And most of the great bass players have not really been considered "composers." Some contemporary people who write music from the perspective of the bass would be John Patitucci and Michael Manring (at least those are some that I'm familiar with). Usually, when a rock bassist is credited with writing a song, it's because he "thought" of the vocal melody, and probably did so without "composing" it on his/her bass.

Anyway, this is a long way of saying, the bass is not a great instrument from which to "compose" complete pieces of music. It doesn't lend itself particularly well to harmonizing a melody or counterpoint. And if you can construct counterpoint on the bass, you're usually accused of "showing off" anyway.

I'm a bass player who has studied composition for several years, both commercial music and classical music. Some of my most interesting bass lines have come, not from the bass, but the piano. It gets me out of the rut of "following my fingers" (I stole that phrase from someone else, but I can't remember who).

I've grappled with this idea for many years. If anyone is interested in some of my solutions, you can check out my original "bass" oriented-compositions for free at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cambria/25358354528