bass soloing wooten style etc

[sk8erste]

hello ok the thing is with my bass playing i'v been trying out stuff like sweep and harmonics and other snazzy ott stuff and iv just been thinking what would the likely hood of using the stuff be in band because if i start doing this sort stuff in songs would it just sort of kill the groove and kind of mass the song up completely

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by sk8erste

hello ok the thing is with my bass playing i'v been trying out stuff like sweep and harmonics and other snazzy ott stuff and iv just been thinking what would the likely hood of using the stuff be in band because if i start doing this sort stuff in songs would it just sort of kill the groove and kind of mass the song up completely

You are talking about Developing Taste! There is a time and place for everything. Listen to JACO on Joni Mitchell recordings or some flash rock with BILLY SHEEHAN, JON ENTWHISTLE with THE WHO.

It's really no different than a drummer playing an amazing drum fill If you play with flash all the time, then you'll destroy the groove. Pick your spots... When it is "TASTY" the band members, producer, etc. will smile at you....

Have fun and remeber to keep the groove going... And there is a way to get outside and come back to it!

[sk8erste]

yeah cheers o i have listen to some of billy Sheehans stuff hes pretty crazy

[COOL AND DEADLY]

What's "Sweep"? I'm gonna search it now.

[sk8erste]

another point i was try to get is that learning the stuff is great but i do think some bassist me include need to realize the main job at hand is to kept the beat going but yeah now and again some solo s stuff on bass is great in song manly because it keeps the guitarist in his/her place hehe (not shore if am making any sense and prolably just rambling on but hey if kept me of myspace)

[LowBSix]

Learning the stuff will help you to grow as a musician and after awhile, let's face it boom-boom-boom, 1-3-5-6/7. 1-5 all gets old....

Plus you'll make your band/s sound better because you'll practice more!!!

[BuffaloBass]

Vic will be the first one to tell you, as he did in respeonse to a question at his lcoal clinic, that no one will hire you for flash. In fact, they may NOT hire your for your flash.

" I;ve got the only gig where your paid to flash". Of course, the audioence reminded him that Marcus was due in town in less than a week.. " One of the only...!"

Sometimes I'll do a fill using Vic's trademark open hammer plucks, but thats only since I;m showing off and trying to get eight notes in 1/2 bar!

[JKT]

Really monster players of the day, especially Vic have changed my playing, but not always in obvious ways.
Many of these techniques these guys use can be incorporated into ones playing in many subtle yet effective ways.

The open hammer pluck as a fill like Buffalobass suggested is a good example. Tapping a chord(s) for a great ending to an otherwise more traditionally played song comes out of nowhere and can be really nice. Up and down double thumbing ala Victor works great for me for example with an 1/8 note root oriented rock or funk groove. Major and minor chord extensions coordinated with the guitar and/or keyboard can be huge in a ballad.The list is endless. All these things mentioned are techniques that someone like Victor or Marcus might use to build an entire solo bass tune around, but as mentioned before, for most of us it is about holding it down. But nothing in the bass players regulation book says that we can't hold it down with style, creativity, and yes, a little flash now and then.

JKT

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

let's face it boom-boom-boom, 1-3-5-6/7. 1-5 all gets old....

I've never been able to figure this out: Why do so many bassists think that the "solution" to overcoming "boring" or "simple" chord tone arpeggios is some kind of groove-destroying flashy techique?

Howzabout using more adventurous pitch choices that expand your lines' harmonic/melodic function while still keeping the Booty Machine in high gear? Makes for a much more interesting bassline without completely tossing out listeners' and bandmates' expectations.

[JKT]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I've never been able to figure this out: Why do so many bassists think that the "solution" to overcoming "boring" or "simple" chord tone arpeggios is some kind of groove-destroying flashy techique?

Howzabout using more adventurous pitch choices that expand your lines' harmonic/melodic function while still keeping the Booty Machine in high gear? Makes for a much more interesting bassline without completely tossing out listeners' and bandmates' expectations.

+100

And in addition I hear way too many players not ever really exploring the ways and levels of locking with their drummer.
They say they lock and often they are in fact playing together
but it isn't really the same as when the drummer and the bass player are making a relentless,concious, handcrafted, concerted effort to form and maintain the groove. If that was happening more, practically nothing would ever be "boring."

JKT

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I've never been able to figure this out: Why do so many bassists think that the "solution" to overcoming "boring" or "simple" chord tone arpeggios is some kind of groove-destroying flashy techique?

Howzabout using more adventurous pitch choices that expand your lines' harmonic/melodic function while still keeping the Booty Machine in high gear? Makes for a much more interesting bassline without completely tossing out listeners' and bandmates' expectations.

Isn't it great to litterally take things out of context.... Please take the time to read the entire text, which clearly approaches practicing and devoloping skils to be used tastefully...

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

Isn't it great to litterally take things out of context.... Please take the time to read the entire text, which clearly approaches practicing and devoloping skils to be used tastefully...

Huh... I'm still trying to figure out where "Learning the stuff will help you to grow as a musician and after awhile, let's face it boom-boom-boom, 1-3-5-6/7. 1-5 all gets old....Plus you'll make your band/s sound better because you'll practice more!!!" mentions anything about "devoloping skils to be used tastefully". It definitely doesn't mention anything about expanding the note choices one uses beyond the few that you cite and deem as "old".

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

You are talking about Developing Taste! There is a time and place for everything. Listen to JACO on Joni Mitchell recordings or some flash rock with BILLY SHEEHAN, JON ENTWHISTLE with THE WHO.

It's really no different than a drummer playing an amazing drum fill If you play with flash all the time, then you'll destroy the groove. Pick your spots... When it is "TASTY" the band members, producer, etc. will smile at you....

Have fun and remeber to keep the groove going... And there is a way to get outside and come back to it!

SELECTIVE READING OF POSTS PERHAPS???[[/b] I might suggest lightening up and attempt to edify rather than making this a place to take out your frustrations. I may or may not be the player or human being that you are, but dear Lord, take it easy on your bad self.....

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

SELECTIVE READING OF POSTS PERHAPS???

Just so I am clear: You originally took offense at my claiming that your quote
"let's face it boom-boom-boom, 1-3-5-6/7. 1-5 all gets old"
was "taken out of context" because I didn't relate it or connect it to another separate post you wrote earlier in the thread where you extol the virtues of "Developing Taste", right?

And then you got your panties in a bunch because I pointed out that my post addressed expanding one's harmonic/melodic vocabulary via pitch class choices, which you somehow thought you'd already covered in one of your previous posts? Have I got that right too?

I'm reading your posts now. I'm being careful to parse every word, because I want to be sure I haven't missed anything explicitly written.

I haven't.

You might be within reason to accuse me of Selective Interpretation -- assuming of course that there's some cloaked alternate meaning hidden within those words -- but you're way off base if you think there's any "Selective Reading" going on. I'm just reading the words that you've written.

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by Hoover

Just so I am clear: You originally took offense at my claiming that your quote
"let's face it boom-boom-boom, 1-3-5-6/7. 1-5 all gets old"
was "taken out of context" because I didn't relate it or connect it to another separate post you wrote earlier in the thread where you extol the virtues of "Developing Taste", right?

And then you got your panties in a bunch because I pointed out that my post addressed expanding one's harmonic/melodic vocabulary via pitch class choices, which you somehow thought you'd already covered in one of your previous posts? Have I got that right too?

I'm reading your posts now. I'm being careful to parse every word, because I want to be sure I haven't missed anything explicitly written.

I haven't.

You might be within reason to accuse me of Selective Interpretation -- assuming of course that there's some cloaked alternate meaning hidden within those words -- but you're way off base if you think there's any "Selective Reading" going on. I'm just reading the words that you've written.

No offense intended..... May I sugges lighten up. This is to exhange and grow. Not a contest. There's enough of that out in the world. Peace.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

This is to exhange and grow.

Right. Hence my initial post (#9). If you're interested, I would even be happy to exchange more details on how to expand your harmonic/melodic vocabulary so that your pitch choices don't "get old."

Growth is good.

[jgroh]

My cats breath smells like catfood

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by Hoover

Right. Hence my initial post (#9). If you're interested, I would even be happy to exchange more details on how to expand your harmonic/melodic vocabulary so that your pitch choices don't "get old."

Growth is good.

Thanks for the offer. I studied at The Dick Grove School of Music in Studio City, CA under Joel DiBartolo. On these forums there are a lot of younger guys that are not studied and are looking for growth, so, having young adult children of my own, I attempt to choose vocabulary that they comprehend. I do not want to talk down or at them. Many come here for experience to strengthen knowledge and to be filled with hope. Then there are those that are frustrated and come here to attack posts in an arrogant smug and self righteous way.

I come here to learn and to share with the younger guys to help them. K.I.S.S.
Peace.

[Hoover]

[wazzel]

Originally Posted by sk8erste

hello ok the thing is with my bass playing i'v been trying out stuff like sweep and harmonics and other snazzy ott stuff and iv just been thinking what would the likely hood of using the stuff be in band because if i start doing this sort stuff in songs would it just sort of kill the groove and kind of mass the song up completely

Learning to play like that would be another skill you would have at your disposial. Make sure you use them with at the proper times.