Guitar parts on bass

ndrly · #1 08-28-2007, 06:07 AM

If you wanted to make your band sound bigger, would you play parts that are normally reserved for the guitar?

I mean, if I was in a band with only one guitarist, then I could still do Metallica's One. I could just play the rhythm part on bass. To make it easier, I could convert my bass to a piccolo bass by using a Whammy or a POG. What do you think?

WayneS · #2 08-28-2007, 07:14 AM

Whats the point of playing a bass if its a piccolo bass? Just play rhythm guitar instead.

A piccolo bass has its place in music, but not in Metallica.

rockwarnick · #3 08-28-2007, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneS

A piccolo bass has its place in music, but not in Metallica.

+1.

Honestly, there was a time where I wanted a double-neck bass/guitar. I had it all planned out. Seemed like a good idea to me. But a piccolo bass? Doesnt make sense to me.

tswd · #4 08-28-2007, 08:04 AM

Why not just play it an octave lower? With that song, the rhythm being played on bass might actually be a cool effect. It doesn't sound like you're doing a tribute band, so having it sound exactly like Metallica isn't really necessary.

Jeff Martinez · #5 08-28-2007, 08:12 AM

I say go for it. No matter what anyone else may say, there are no rules. If it sounds good, there's no reason to NOT do it.

ndrly · #6 08-28-2007, 04:47 PM

You don't understand. A piccolo bass is a bass tuned an octave higher. I could use a Whammy pedal or a POG to emulate that sound by turning it on during the clean parts, and then turning it off (and maybe putting some distortion on) during the heavy parts ("Hold my breath...", "Darkness imprisoning me...")

spindizzy · #7 08-28-2007, 04:56 PM

Get an ERB and do both parts.

HollowBassman · #8 08-28-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndrly

If you wanted to make your band sound bigger, would you play parts that are normally reserved for the guitar?

I mean, if I was in a band with only one guitarist, then I could still do Metallica's One. I could just play the rhythm part on bass. To make it easier, I could convert my bass to a piccolo bass by using a Whammy or a POG. What do you think?

Nothing wrong with playing the rhythm guitar parts on bass.
I have several songs that I play more guitar-like parts during the mellow part of the song and then switch to more traditional basslines during the heavy parts.

I don't understand why you would use the Whammy or POG though. Why not just play higher on the neck?

WayneS · #9 08-28-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndrly

You don't understand. A piccolo bass is a bass tuned an octave higher. I could use a Whammy pedal or a POG to emulate that sound by turning it on during the clean parts, and then turning it off (and maybe putting some distortion on) during the heavy parts ("Hold my breath...", "Darkness imprisoning me...")

I know what a piccolo bass is.

BellBottomBlues · #10 08-28-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndrly

You don't understand. A piccolo bass is a bass tuned an octave higher. I could use a Whammy pedal or a POG to emulate that sound by turning it on during the clean parts, and then turning it off (and maybe putting some distortion on) during the heavy parts ("Hold my breath...", "Darkness imprisoning me...")

I think we know what a piccolo bass is, and I think you don't understand the practical applications for it.

How would you quickly switch between basses on a song?
Do you know what a piccolo bass sounds like, as in actually hearing one, not in theory? In a live band setting?
Don't you think that, with a piccolo bass, the song will actually sound thinner?

Just play it higher on the neck and turn on some tube distortion.
Alternatively, you and your guitarist can work out a compromise to sound close to the way Metallica sounds.

Or you can go Page-esque and get a double neck (bass and guitar) then go Jaco-esque and get a loop station for the bass and then play the guitar part...........

I have a bass strung and set up for piccolo and its not a cure-all like some think.

ndrly · #11 08-28-2007, 09:22 PM

As soon as I get a whammy pedal/POG, and a video camera, I'll show you what I mean...

ndrly · #12 08-29-2007, 01:00 AM

Here's how I would play One on bass guitar.

(whammy/POG on, set to one octave up. Add some chorus, if you like.)
|--------------|--------------|--------------|----------------0---|
|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0-------|
|--2-----2-----|--------------|--2-----2-----|-------------------|
|--------------|--3-----3-----|--------------|--3-----3----------|

|--------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------|
|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0--|-------------------|
|--2-----2-----|--0-----0-----|--------------|-----2-----2-------|
|--------------|--------------|--3-----3-----|--0-----2----------|

|*-------------|--------------|--------------|--------------0----|
|*----4-----0--|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0-------|
|--2-----2-----|--------------|--2-----2-----|-------------------|
|--------------|--3-----3-----|--------------|--3-----3----------|

|--------------|--------------|--------------|------------------*|
|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0--|-----4-----0--|------------------*|
|--2-----2-----|--0-----0-----|--------------|-----2-----2-------|
|--------------|--------------|--3-----3-----|--0-----2----------|

|---------------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|
|---------------------------|-----4-----0--0--4----|-----4-----0--4--4--0--|
|-----2-----2-----2--2h4--2-|--2-----2-----------0-|-----------------------|
|--0-----2-----0------------|----------------------|--3-----3--------------|

|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
|-----4-----0--0--4-----|-----4-----0--4--4--0--|-----4-----0--0--4--0--|
|--2-----2-----------0--|-----------------------|--2-----2--------------|
|-----------------------|--3-----3--------------|-----------------------|

And some of the other parts can be done with guitar...

Hold my breath...

(turn whammy/POG off. Add distortion if you want.)
|--------------|----------|
|--------------|----------|
|---020----2-0|2420-3-4-5|
|3-----3-2----|----------|

Although I prefer this variation...

|--------------|----------|
|--------------|----------|
|---020------0|2420-4-5-5|
|3-----3-2-3--|----------|

Some parts are repeated...

Darkness, imprisoning me...

Just strike the open E string several times. It's a matter of rhythm.

Hawaii Islander · #13 08-29-2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndrly

You don't understand. A piccolo bass is a bass tuned an octave higher. I could use a Whammy pedal or a POG to emulate that sound by turning it on during the clean parts, and then turning it off (and maybe putting some distortion on) during the heavy parts ("Hold my breath...", "Darkness imprisoning me...")

I say its good to experiment and try new methods. I haven't found any bass instructions carved on a stone anywhere that says "DO NOT TRY NEW THINGS". After watching Billy Sheehan shredding side by side with Paul Gilbert with MR. Big, I have to imagine that nearly anything is possible. Try it out. If you and your band like it, then keep doing it and develop it further.

JimmyM · #14 08-29-2007, 03:02 AM

Yeah, try it out and see how it plays. That's the only way you'll know if it works.

Man, I miss playing with effects sometimes. I do effects on some of my recordings, but the music I play live now just calls for a clean sound.

Joe P · #15 08-30-2007, 02:12 PM

I'm learning Suffering Overdue by Black Label Society right now (well - I mean like "right now, and for the last MONTH"!
sheesh...).

I tap the parts with both hands. The verse-part I arranged is fairly easy for that song, actually - two-note 5-1 and 1-5 chords for the right hand. The chorus has been very difficult for me - playing in octave-unison like that. For the bridge I'm generally using guitar finger-pick style.

..And that's on a regular low-B 5-string.

Go for it!

Joe

JebSmells · #16 08-30-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndrly

You don't understand. A piccolo bass is a bass tuned an octave higher. I could use a Whammy pedal or a POG to emulate that sound by turning it on during the clean parts, and then turning it off (and maybe putting some distortion on) during the heavy parts ("Hold my breath...", "Darkness imprisoning me...")

isn't a standard bass one octave lower than a normal guitar?

....wouldn't that mean a piccolo bass is just a guitar?

Que?

JimmyM · #17 08-30-2007, 10:02 PM

Basically it's a very long guitar, yes.

Joe P · #18 08-31-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Basically it's a very long guitar, yes.

Yes - with a much different tone!

Remember that the main difference between the 'Les Paul' sound and the 'Strat' - which are recognized to be quite different, even when you switch pickups between them - is largely due to the scale length ('Paul is short; Strat is long). A bass scale length is WAY-long compared to both.

Joe

Dr. Cheese · #19 08-31-2007, 10:32 AM

Single note, rythmn guitar style licks sound good on bass, especially if you are playing along with keyboard bass holding down the bottom. A good example of this is the lick that Paul Jackson played during the bass vamp of "Chameleon." When I played six string bass, I played guitar parts like the single note riff on AWB's "Schoolboy Crush" too.

lowphatbass · #20 08-31-2007, 10:04 PM

Guitar cats like Charley Hunter can cop mean bass grooves whilst chording, soloing or whatever, not too many bassists can cop mean guitar grooves whilst holding down solid basslines. It really depends on the context of the groove/music you are playing. As a general rule, I would never sacrifice a bass groove to initiate a rhythm guitar groove. It's like taking the meat patty off of a hamburger so you can add mayo or relish.