Need to Learn Death Metal/Deathcore

[Bromatz]

I have been playing bass for about 7 years. Used to play Punk but now I mainly play Jazz and Reggae. I go to Shenandoah Conservatory for Jazz Bass. So now that you know a decent amount of my Bass history, I will tell you my problem.

A Deathcore band asked me to tryout for their band this Friday. I own a couple of Metal bands that I think are Deathcore (Job For a Cowboy, Black Dahlia Murder). But I am unaware if its customary to use a pick or to finger, what tone they go for, or how their bass lines normally are (I figure it's close/copying the guitar).

Is there anyone that can help me?

[Time Consumer]

Its more customary to use a pick because of the nature of the music but not uncommon to use fingerstyle if you have a good 3 finger technique for the faster parts. As far as tone goes a lot of folks will probly tell you to cut mids boost treble and bass to cut through the wall of guitar, the opposite may work as well, sometimes a lil EQ experimentation is needed. Other than that, just practice to your fave deathmetal bands to get ready.

[Beginner Bass]

When the guitars make a smiley-face of their Marshall amps' graphic EQs to get their "Brutal," tone out of their 89 distortion pedals, it carves a perfect little space for you to boost your mids and cut through. I think the standards are either a Sansamp Bass Driver DI or EH Bass Big Muff. Picks and fingers are both common, so do whichever you prefer. But always remember, what sounds good in the bedroom won't often sound good in the studio. EQ your gear while playing with the band, not by yourself.

[Codymb]

The truth is, it's hard to go wrong here. There's not much that's considered out of place in that kind of music these days.

But if you want to be safe and play into the stereotypes, just grab a pick, remember that treble, bass and volume knobs go to the right, everything else goes to the left, and watch the rhythm guitarist closely. You should be fine.

[pnut166]

Just look in the mirror and practice scowling and frowning.

[stepswork4me]

Honestly, just play how YOU play. If it's a fit then it's a fit. If not, then no sweat. I played in a Death metal band for years, sometimes I played with the guitars and other times I didn't. I played with a pick but a lot of players use their fingers. I would learn their tunes and play what felt right.

[wideyes]

Throw a little jazz in there once in a while and see if they go for it. Might help you define their sound.

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by wideyes

Throw a little jazz in there once in a while and see if they go for it. Might help you define their sound.

This is Deathcore. Hardcore Punk and Death Metal. Nothing Jazz about it. Lots of screaming and breakdowns and downtuned guitars. I think the best thing to do is just listen to a lot of the bands in that style and see how they sound and listen to the riffs they play.

[MysticMichael]

MM

[wideyes]

Originally Posted by somegeezer

This is Deathcore. Hardcore Punk and Death Metal. Nothing Jazz about it. Lots of screaming and breakdowns and downtuned guitars. I think the best thing to do is just listen to a lot of the bands in that style and see how they sound and listen to the riffs they play.

(Turn 'em on their heads! )

[FakeWhiteMan]

Originally Posted by wideyes

Throw a little jazz in there once in a while and see if they go for it. Might help you define their sound.

+1 You never know, it may just fit...

[Mr wiggl3s]

Death metal and deathcore are different.

First thing is to learn the difference. I assume it's deathcore. Which isn't like death mteal.

With deathcore, if it hasn't already been said, treble, bass, and volume knobs all the way to the right. Use a pick. Keep it simple.

Death Metal has it's roots in classical and is heavily influenced by it, so it should be really easy to play/improvise.

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by Mr wiggl3s

Death metal and deathcore are different.

First thing is to learn the difference. I assume it's deathcore. Which isn't like death mteal.

With deathcore, if it hasn't already been said, treble, bass, and volume knobs all the way to the right. Use a pick. Keep it simple.

Death Metal has it's roots in classical and is heavily influenced by it, so it should be really easy to play/improvise.

Death Metal has very little roots in Classical. It began as a direct change from Thrash mixed with a bit of Black Metal and flowered into a genre of its own. I mean if you go back far enough, all modern genres are a branch from Classical, but the bands in the style don't actively listen to Classical music. Leave that **** to Van Halen.

[Bromatz]

They listed these bands as influences:

Through the Eyes of the Dead
Oceano
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza
The Acacia Strain
After the Burial
Veil of Maya

So they basically want to be like all the bands out today. All the other bands wanting me to join basically want to do the same thing.

[Herbie 80's]

Death Metal is heavily influenced by jazz. Listen to DEATH, Cryptopsy (before their latest album...), Quo Vadis, or Cynic and you'll be able to tell that there is a great influence of jazz.

Now, deathcore is different. Deathcore is crap. If you want to know how bad deathcore is, listen to Attack Attack! It's a repugnant genre, and is blasphemy against metal.

And Bromatz, those bands are deathcore, not death metal.

[Mr wiggl3s]

Originally Posted by somegeezer

Death Metal has very little roots in Classical. It began as a direct change from Thrash mixed with a bit of Black Metal and flowered into a genre of its own. I mean if you go back far enough, all modern genres are a branch from Classical, but the bands in the style don't actively listen to Classical music. Leave that **** to Van Halen.

Um.. No? It seems like you've read your wikipedia death metal entry though. Nonetheless, that may be how the genre started, i'll dispute that (not now), but today's death metal bands have classical influence.

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by Mr wiggl3s

today's death metal bands have classical influence.

Bands such as?
I can't think of any element coming from classical music in any death metal band I listen to.

[NateS]

Originally Posted by Herbie 80's

Now, deathcore is different. Deathcore is crap. If you want to know how bad deathcore is, listen to Attack Attack! It's a repugnant genre, and is blasphemy against metal.

wow. way to pick a band of one genre and se it to say another genre is bad. "listen to bob marley! you'll see why i hate country!"




on the subject...

adding jazz nto it will be cool, if they want to do it - don't go in and ask them to change to iwrestledabearonce or anything. stereotypes for deathcore wold be scooped mids, pick, playing along with the rhythm guitarist, probably a clean signal - you'll be the foundation that holds the band down, and the guitars will be distorted enough. now, if you want, do the exact opposite of all of the above.

[omnimutant]

Prepare to down tune... it's almost a given. I think Jazz Bass would compliment it well as long as they aren't looking to be like a particular Band. Most likely there's not a lot you can do to prep until you meet them and know what they are really looking for. Maybe some Muting Techniques for the Gunky Parts? Genre is so vague anymore, that it means nothing.

[iamdenialNJ]

The next person who says Attack Attack is deathcore is going to be receiving some hate mail. That statement could not be so far from the truth that I think it was a joke. Troll perhaps?

I play in a death metal type of band and all I do it write heavy/catchy bass lines when the guitars aren't going full steam and when the guitars are going full blast I play simple bass lines that follow the drums. I do tend to pause a lot in the middle of songs to bring out certain guitar, drum fills only to be followed by an awesome part of the songs to come in again.