In my current band (with a rhythm guitarist, lead guitarist, drummer, and singer) I play alot of unison with my rhythm guitarist. We're an original hard rock band for your curiousity. I am fairly new to a band environment, but I find when I shy away from the guitar (while keeping rhythm), it makes the bass stand out.
Me personally, I use some of these tools of the trade:
Syncopation, add some weak beats, take away some strong beats, always the funnest part of playing the bass for me
Play a quick run, or just change the last few notes of the bar(Play a perfect 5th, octave, something along those lines)
Solo..... I know this one makes people cringe. But when both guitars play rhythm, it leaves you to throw in a little lead lick. I usually keep it safe, in the same scale structure or a similar mode ( I - IV -V for life! heh) I keep it short, just enough to make the song pop, then I pull back and let the lead guitarist do his job.
Last but not least, I play to the drums. It seems obvious and easy, but alot of new bassists miss this point. Instead of plucking away at that single note like a mad man. I'll play the scale out to the drum beat. So if the rhythm guitarist is tearin away on D minor, building tension or whatever them crazy guitarists do, I'll play the D minor scale. You can actually change the whole feel of the song if you invert it from D Minor to F Major. As long as it doesnt add to much tension, it can be killer if done right.
Well thats what works for me for the most part. Every song ya play is different, and has more / less wiggle room to add something cool in it.
But what do you all use? Sometimes your fingers just go to what sounds good, but besides that, do you have a general guideline you follow for NOT shadowing the guitarist and not playing in unison?
-Troy
