Bass and Synth Simultaneously

[Blonde Bassist]

Okay, so I've tried this a little bit before when I've been arranging stuff just to get sounds right, and hear a couple more things that are going on. But after reading the Bass Player issue featuring Alex Al and the bassists of Michael Jackson I was surprised to hear him say he was doing this sometimes to get the right sound. He mentions in the break of Black or White, where he is playing the 16th note groove with the fills at the end of a couple bars (this is nicely notated in BP).

I've only really done this playing chords on the keyboard and a groove on the bass, but after reading that tried to do the same groove on both, especially that Black or White groove, which incidentally is really tough to play on two instruments at once.

Just wondered whether anyone else does this, whether practising or in a live show. I might try it do do some stuff on my gigs at the weekend, and see if I can pull it off. Could get some interesting looks from the MD either way.

Better get it practised before Friday!!

[need4mospd]

I've done it on a couple tunes in the last band I was in. It's about as hard as playing and singing at the same time for me. The key is to know both parts well enough that you can play them without thinking. Not really any shortcuts here, just excessive amounts of practice.

[Blonde Bassist]

That'll be the next objective, to add the singing on top, that would be awesome to do that.

Of course I might then have to do the whole JPJ thing and get on the taurus pedals as well. That would be immense! Doubt I'll ever get round to buying the pedals so I don't have to attempt that yet.

I just got the This Is It DVD, and on disc 2 there are some really good interviews/clips of the band. He had some top players in that group, it's really good to hear what they are doing as well. The bass is really high in the mix so you can hear exactly what Alex Al is doing all the time, whether on bass or synth... Right back to the woodshed I think.

[dream-thief]

WHat exactly do you mean here? are you talking about one person playing both simultaneously, or two people playing a groove riff together really tight?

...on the other hand, am I completely on the wrong track?

~ L

[Blonde Bassist]

I mean hammering on with one hand, and playing keyboard with the other hand.

[dream-thief]

I can do it fine with guitar (piece depending obviously) in that case, I haven't tried anything like that on a bass.

~ Lowell