Rests: Recordings with a sense of time

[KYJazzy]

I'm interested in seeing if this topic can take off or not.

I want to discuss and appreciate recordings with bass lines that make exceptional use of rests, or virtually any short or long instances where the bass ceases to play to create an emphasis, or another effect on the song.

To kick it off, I'll nod to a couple of maybe lesser known bass greats:

Airbag by Radiohead - the bass line on this has so much groove and timing. the bass line on this record kind of grounds you to the song and almost serves as the second most prominent musical idea (after the vocal track). he keeps his playing restrained to the lowest register of the bass, so its breaks are noticeable and missed.

Bed's Too Big Without You by The Police - prominent rests and repetition are throughout this song, but the greatest effect is created during the bridge which is something of a percussion solo - the rim shots of stewart's toms and the main bass hook dropping every couple of measures. I just love the bass on this song.


it's interesting to note in both of these examples, neither player is playing anything that can be considered difficult or technical, and are both repetitive, yet powerful.

So I'd like to create a thread where we can share and enjoy bass lines with great senses of time and rhythm.

[jerry]

'Allright Now' by Free, bassist Andy Fraser doesn't come in until the chorus. Andy made excellent use of space in his basslines, one of the best IMHO. In jazz, Charlie Haden comes to mind as someone who uses space to great effect. His note choices are perfect!

[Big nebula]

Originally Posted by KYJazzy

I'm interested in seeing if this topic can take off or not.

I want to discuss and appreciate recordings with bass lines that make exceptional use of rests, or virtually any short or long instances where the bass ceases to play to create an emphasis, or another effect on the song.

To kick it off, I'll nod to a couple of maybe lesser known bass greats:

Airbag by Radiohead - the bass line on this has so much groove and timing. the bass line on this record kind of grounds you to the song and almost serves as the second most prominent musical idea (after the vocal track). he keeps his playing restrained to the lowest register of the bass, so its breaks are noticeable and missed.

Bed's Too Big Without You by The Police - prominent rests and repetition are throughout this song, but the greatest effect is created during the bridge which is something of a percussion solo - the rim shots of stewart's toms and the main bass hook dropping every couple of measures. I just love the bass on this song.


it's interesting to note in both of these examples, neither player is playing anything that can be considered difficult or technical, and are both repetitive, yet powerful.

So I'd like to create a thread where we can share and enjoy bass lines with great senses of time and rhythm.

Maybe this topic is in the wrong place,I mean it's in the 'recordings' section and in here I usually expect to bear witness to recordings submitted from bassists? I feel that more and more threads submitted here are lacking in presented 'recordings' and lend more to discussion?