indie rock bass playing

[michaelstrand]

What are some tips for being a good bass player for an indie rock band?
By indie rock I mean music that sounds like The Shins, The National, Local Natives, etc.
So usually played with a pick. Any details you have are appreciated. Thanks.

[johnson79]

A P bass, ironic mustache, and western shirt.

[dalkowski]

Listen to and play along with music that sounds like The Shins, The National,
Local Natives, etc. Transcribe the basslines you like. Practice. Pick or fingerstyle is up to you.

[michaelstrand]

Originally Posted by johnson79

A P bass, ironic mustache, and western shirt.

I play a mustang, which pretty much sounds like a P. I'm too young for a 'stache, but I'll grow one just as soon as I can (:

[johnson79]

Just practice and listen closely to the bass players you admire. You'll develop your own style.

[catcauphonic]

I saw the national a few months back, & i dont recall seeing him using a pick at all. Though, I did notice how his super long thumb reached around the top of the fretboard more often than not. He sounded great

[Duckwater]

Originally Posted by johnson79

A P bass, ironic mustache, and western shirt.

Nailed it

[michaelstrand]

Originally Posted by catcauphonic

I saw the national a few months back, & i dont recall seeing him using a pick at all. Though, I did notice how his super long thumb reached around the top of the fretboard more often than not. He sounded great

Are you sure? I would be surprised, lots of their basslines (example, "Conversation 16") sound like picked bass...hmm.
I'm going to see them in September, can't wait!

[Fergie Fulton]

For all musicians its about the music and how you think about it not any instrument, technique or tone.

If you write and play a bad line, it is a bad line........full stop.
No instrument will make it sound right, no technique will make it sound right and no tone will make it sound right.
When something is wrong or does not work then nothing will make it better because it is wrong at source.

Now take a line that is right and everything else just makes it better, certain instruments will make it sound better, certain techniques will make it sound better, and that killer tone will make it sound better.

If you have the highest quality instrument ever made, with the most amazing technique ever seen, and the killer tone to die for, then a bum note is a wrong note....always has been always will be, so make sure your lines are correct and everything elses is what we called fashion.

You may not like it, but that is a fact, the instrument, the technique and the tone are just a phase.....a fashion, what is cool now will not be cool later, as with hair, cloths, decor, etc....everything has a time and place.....that is fashion, but certain things can be timeless, they can trancend fashion because they are right, so make sure your basslines in the first instance are right for the job.....everything else will take care of itself.....that is why good bass players are good.......add technique and tone and you have the potential to be a great bass player.

[t77mackie]

Fergie pretty much nailed it.

As far as being a player in a band, as opposed to just being a player, inter-personal skills are what is more important than how well you can actually play an instrument (within reason).

Lots of very successful bands have crap players and lots of unsuccessful bands had awesome players. It's all about chemistry, teamwork, sacrifice and compromise in a band or in any team effort.

I have crap equipment yet I'll blow away 99% of the gearheads out there. It's not all about equipment and junk like that - in the end did it matter if Picasso had really high quality paint and brushes? Music is the same.

Good luck!

[Clef_de_fa]

Originally Posted by t77mackie

Fergie pretty much nailed it.

As far as being a player in a band, as opposed to just being a player, inter-personal skills are what is more important than how well you can actually play an instrument (within reason).

Lots of very successful bands have crap players and lots of unsuccessful bands had awesome players. It's all about chemistry, teamwork, sacrifice and compromise in a band or in any team effort.

I have crap equipment yet I'll blow away 99% of the gearheads out there. It's not all about equipment and junk like that - in the end did it matter if Picasso had really high quality paint and brushes? Music is the same.

Good luck!

I think sometime it is more about meeting the taste of consummer which is harder when the technic is too advanced which often lead to more complex harmonies.

which is sad because since the serialism in classical music and the Free-jazz/jazz fusion thing, music became more and more simple. One day their will only be one single note in an entire song and painter will paint their canvas blue ... and call that art.

Also it may matter the quality of the paint and brushes Picasso uses if you want to acheive his level or explore a level of subtilities not possible otherwise.

[ronrule]

I've been a bass player in an indie rock band for the last 4 months. I was a guitar player in a different indie rock band before that.

Some style and substance rules. Break too many of these and you'll stand out in a bad way:

Gear should be vintage or should be a brand that has been around awhile. Can't go wrong with a Fender P
Don't have shiny, new gear
Tube amp
Avoid blues scales. no minor 7th notes
No slapping
Lock in with drummer
No noodling, but pre-written melodic lines that serve the song can definitely work at times.
Seems about 75% pick players. (I prefer fingerstyle since I'm a convert from guitar and want to try something new. I already rock at picking. haha)
Try flats. Try some string muting with foam, etc.
don't wear baggy clothes
don't wear clothes with other band names on them
very few effects. tuner, fuzz.
Steal from Paul McCartney

[michaelstrand]

Originally Posted by ronrule

I've been a bass player in an indie rock band for the last 4 months. I was a guitar player in a different indie rock band before that.

Some style and substance rules. Break too many of these and you'll stand out in a bad way:

Gear should be vintage or should be a brand that has been around awhile. Can't go wrong with a Fender P
Don't have shiny, new gear
Tube amp
Avoid blues scales. no minor 7th notes
No slapping
Lock in with drummer
No noodling, but pre-written melodic lines that serve the song can definitely work at times.
Seems about 75% pick players. (I prefer fingerstyle since I'm a convert from guitar and want to try something new. I already rock at picking. haha)
Try flats. Try some string muting with foam, etc.
don't wear baggy clothes
don't wear clothes with other band names on them
very few effects. tuner, fuzz.
Steal from Paul McCartney

looks like I'm ok then haha. good stuff, thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for.

[The Wiz]

Its been awhile since ive been in an indie band but its lots of fun and im thinking of starting up one as a side project. Everyone above me pretty much nailed it as far as playing and basslines go. The only thing i have to add is, definately go with flats if youre doing lots of acoustic stuff. It sits in the mix better. Also, dont go heavy on effects. Just a little bit of reverb goes a long way. And look into a vintage fender musicmaster. Theyre cheap (for a vintage fender), got that beat up look, have a nice solid tone that really sparkles in an indie band. The bassist of real estate plays one and i cant get enough of his basslines and tone

[michaelstrand]

Originally Posted by The Wiz

Its been awhile since ive been in an indie band but its lots of fun and im thinking of starting up one as a side project. Everyone above me pretty much nailed it as far as playing and basslines go. The only thing i have to add is, definately go with flats if youre doing lots of acoustic stuff. It sits in the mix better. Also, dont go heavy on effects. Just a little bit of reverb goes a long way. And look into a vintage fender musicmaster. Theyre cheap (for a vintage fender), got that beat up look, have a nice solid tone that really sparkles in an indie band. The bassist of real estate plays one and i cant get enough of his basslines and tone

I play a fender mustang bass, sounds like a p bass and looks pretty similar to a musicmaster. I don't use effects, mainly cause I have no money for pedals haha. I don't like flats at all though...

[ronrule]

I don't think flats are necessary at all, just a nice trick to have in your bag if your indie rock is more retro than modern.

[michaelstrand]

Originally Posted by ronrule

I don't think flats are necessary at all, just a nice trick to have in your bag if your indie rock is more retro than modern.

I see what you mean. the kind of indie rock I'm into is, for the most part, probably considered modern, being pretty experimental and electronic.

[brumshine]

Play parts within your ability. Don't over complicate things to try and make your self stand out as a good bass player. Focus on how you play the simple stuff like straight 8ths. If on super simple phrases, think about how long you let each note ring, accents and dynamics.

[sevdog]

Originally Posted by dalkowski

Listen to and play along with music that sounds like The Shins, The National,
Local Natives, etc. Transcribe the basslines you like. Practice. Pick or fingerstyle is up to you.

This is the answer to your original question.

I can't tell if some of the other responses are attempts at humor or what.

[OffTheClef67]

A lot of listening and understanding how the technique applies to the music you're playing helps-sounds like you've got half the battle won.

Your first duty as a player should be to anchor the music by tying together the groove sympathetically with the drummer and driving home the core structure of the harmony. If you come up with something that accomplishes that and make a good hook that appeals to the listener, you've pretty much sealed the deal in creating a tasteful and powerful bass line.

Use a pick if you need to add strong attack to the notes you're playing. If you're more comfortable with fingerstyle, you can use your nails. (For me, using a pick and working on the technique helped my guitar playing quite a bit....)

...and wear a lot of earth-tone clothes and a cool hat.