Only listening to music because of bass?

JamesM · #1 05-22-2007, 08:13 PM

This is kind of a weird topic, and not sure if it belongs here.

But the other day i was listening to 'Diamonds on the Soles of her shoes' by Paul Simon with my mate, and just after Bakithi Khumalo did one of his really cool beautiful licks, my mate was like "oh now i can see why you listen Paul Simon" assuming that i only listen to music because of the bass, which is true sometimes, but most of the time it isn't!

Do any of you guys get that at all. It really annoyed me!

Matt Till · #2 05-22-2007, 08:17 PM

I'm sure back in the early college days/late high school days when I was addicted to Primus: People assumed it was because of the bass... I just like weird ass songs.

tycobb73 · #3 05-22-2007, 08:58 PM

no, I listen to songs for the songs. I also rate bass players bass on how well they fit into thier bands and how well the music is overall. To me Mike Dirnt is a better bassist than Geddy Lee because I do not like a Rush song (except for Working Man and the solo should be half as long).

AxtoOx · #4 05-22-2007, 09:29 PM

I don't get that, but I play more than one instrument. A lot of songs I could care less about the vocals on though.
I listen to mostly Classic Rock, Rock and some Metal. If you catch me listening to a Pop song, No Doubt "It's my life" comes to mind. It's becuase of the bass line. Suzanne Vega has some really cool bass licks in her stuff. I don't know what style you'd call her though.

Oh, yeah, I do listen to Funk for the bass for sure.

Bruce Lindfield · #5 05-23-2007, 01:14 AM

When I started out playing bass guitar as a youngster I defintely listened to stuff just for the bass - so with Yes, the bass was so up-front and audible, I was just listening to that.

I was taken aback when people said things like Jon Anderson's voice is such a beautiful sound - oh really, I never noticed, I was just listening to the bass line!

lemur821 · #6 05-23-2007, 03:04 AM

Sometimes I feel that as a bassist, I should be listening to the bass more than I do. But most of the time I don't focus on it. I like to think I'm a step above the commoners, since at least I can hear it, and I catch it the second time around.

Chili · #7 05-23-2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesM

This is kind of a weird topic, and not sure if it belongs here.

But the other day i was listening to 'Diamonds on the Soles of her shoes' by Paul Simon with my mate, and just after Bakithi Khumalo did one of his really cool beautiful licks, my mate was like "oh now i can see why you listen Paul Simon" assuming that i only listen to music because of the bass, which is true sometimes, but most of the time it isn't!

Do any of you guys get that at all. It really annoyed me!

yeah i get this from my mam and sister, it can get annoying, i listen to alot of differant styles and like to try music i've never heard etc, and they both always say and tell people i listen to all that music just for the bass, which isnt true, but i do like music with good bass, like funk, but i would like funk even if i didnt play bass, playing bass just opened me up to it, and now has opened me up to want to here everything, bass heavy or not.

Snarf · #8 05-23-2007, 11:23 AM

I CAN'T listen to music just for the bass. Music isn't made that way, it's not meant to be listened to that way. If you can't appreciate other instruments, then you'll never be able to write music, or even appreciate it. It's why I can't listen to Victor Wooten, it's bass bass bass all the time, with little musicality to it.

I guess the exception to this kind of thinking is solo piano or organ. But that's okay because of the simultaneous range that those instruments can cover.

ThorBassManiac · #9 05-23-2007, 11:34 AM

About 75% of my active CD collection is comprised of bands or solo acts with great bass players. This is mainly because I feel that a great song/band stems from having a great bass (it's the base of the song, after all!). I listen to a lot of basic bass player groups as well, but the ones that really stick with me have that grooving/technical/unique bass feel.

bassist15 · #10 05-23-2007, 03:05 PM

Not really . If I hear about a bassist thats good Ill check out the band , but its for the overall band sound. If I hated the band and the songs but really dug the bass , I wouldnt listen to it.

Cristo · #11 05-23-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycobb73

To me Mike Dirnt is a better bassist than Geddy Lee

Wow that's a good one. You really had me there for a minute. No Really.

Anyway, back on the farm, I'll pay more attention to something with an interesting bass part because, hey, I'm a bass player.

But I'm not someone with all the solo CDs from all the objects of TB worship. I listen to plenty because I want to hear the music, not just the bass.

Most of that stuff, IMO, is not much for being musical or enjoyable from any point of view other than "Wow how did he do that?!?"

RWP · #12 05-23-2007, 03:38 PM

I never really thought about it but it's true for me. I NEVER crank a song if it doesn't have a good bass line. For instance I would NEVER crank Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

Bruce Lindfield · #13 05-24-2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarf

I CAN'T listen to music just for the bass. Music isn't made that way, it's not meant to be listened to that way. If you can't appreciate other instruments, then you'll never be able to write music, or even appreciate it. It's why I can't listen to Victor Wooten, it's bass bass bass all the time, with little musicality to it.

I guess the exception to this kind of thinking is solo piano or organ. But that's okay because of the simultaneous range that those instruments can cover.

This is total rubbish - it is entirely down to personal preference - some people really like a lot of bass!

You can go to dance clubs and people will be saying - turn up the bass and many dance tracks are little more than bass with a very simple drum track!

One of the best gigs I ever went to was Black Uhuru, with the famous Reggae Dub, drum and bass team of Sly and Robbie. Huge diverse audience and some great tunes - massive applause and for the encore - Sly and Robbie cam back on their own - no band, no vocals - just bass guitar an drums.

They proceeded to play an encore of 20-30 minutes where the whole crowd went wild and nobody noticed it was just bass guitar and at times minimal drums - after the gig you could see the whole audience were completey fired up and as it was by the sea, everybody headed to the beach - so there were thousands of people on the beach swimming and partying - never seen so many naked butts in the water!

Anyway - Sly and Robbie have had a very long career and many hits with a huge number of artists - no problem with writing and producing music there!

Fishbrain · #14 05-24-2007, 03:05 AM

I do listen to some music just for the bass and I made a concious decision too, just to bring more ideas to my basslines. Music I listen to with good bass players where I dont actually like the bands are the likes of Rush, Bill Dickens, Mingus, some Jaco, that kind of stuff.

Pj,Rj,Hj · #15 05-24-2007, 06:09 AM

Some music I listen to is purely for the bass. I don't like level 42 that much (lyrics are awful) and I can't stand Paul Young but the bass lines are something to aspire to. I guess I uses them for study. Same goes for some Disco.

machine gewehr · #16 05-24-2007, 06:21 AM

I used to listen to Metallica all the time.Until we played Seek and Destroy I didn't know bass line and guitar lines were different.I didn't even know the guitar,when the guitarist played it,I was like "cool what is that?"

I only don't care about bass when it comes to classic jazz,the old songs.The recordings are usually bad(old indeed),double bass is there but not that much audible.