OK, what is the secret to playing bass like a guitar...

[PKr]

To clarify, by playing bass like a guitar I mean a mixture of hitting many notes and strings in a rythematic sequence to make the bass sound complex and full.

Here is an example of what I am talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJ...eature=related


How do these guys come up with this stuff? Or,
How do I come up with this stuff?

Thanks...

[Erick Lam]

There's no "secret". If you want to play like this guy, sit down, get your ears out and learn it. It takes work. Keep in mind he's using a piccolo bass so it doesn't get muddy.

[meev992]

Peyote

[PKr]

Originally Posted by Erick Lam

There's no "secret". If you want to play like this guy, sit down, get your ears out and learn it. It takes work. Keep in mind he's using a piccolo bass so it doesn't get muddy.

That sounds rather condescending...
Yes, I know that he is playing a piccolo bass and I also know how to learn things by ear. I do not want to play like the person in the video, I just want to broaden my bass playing horizon. I don't think you understand the intention of my topic, the video is an example of one of the many players who play with similar style (like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SFF-qRwQsU).
I am more interested in the massed arrangement of so many notes piled into one piece of music. How can I make my playing sound so full with just a single, 4-stringed instrument? How do I go about developing/creating a style that is like this?

[gkbass13]

i think you are asking questions that will really only be able to be answered through your own time spent with your instrument practicing and developing as a player.

[Hawaii Islander]

In the last video you show, the guy was playing multiple notes from each chord; Root, 3rd, 5th, Octaves to make the sound fuller and more diverse. The Jack Casady DVD I got, he describes this as one of the techniques he uses. He also strums chords where he thinks it fits in as well.

Sorry I couldn't explain it better.

[waffle puzzle]

I've seen Jeff Schmidt ( your first link ) a couple of times live at clinics and at a club. He is one of the top-eschelon bassists with a unique and exciting SOLO style. He uses odd-string thicknesses, altered tunings, and mostly a 5 string bass, so a standard 4 cannot match him at all.....

Are your goals to be a SOLO player ? If they are, study your ass off on scales and chords, and your fingers will be flying with time, practice and patience.

Even if you want to focus on a BAND setting, studying chordal structure and scales will help you fill out your sound immensely.

good luck and remember the big 3.....PRACTICE, PATIENCE, TIME

[SundanceChile]

Originally Posted by waffle puzzle

I've seen Jeff Schmidt ( your first link ) a couple of times live at clinics and at a club. He is one of the top-eschelon bassists with a unique and exciting SOLO style. He uses odd-string thicknesses, altered tunings, and mostly a 5 string bass, so a standard 4 cannot match him at all.....

Are your goals to be a SOLO player ? If they are, study your ass off on scales and chords, and your fingers will be flying with time, practice and patience.

Even if you want to focus on a BAND setting, studying chordal structure and scales will help you fill out your sound immensely.

good luck and remember the big 3.....PRACTICE, PATIENCE, TIME

End of thread.

[PKr]

Originally Posted by waffle puzzle

Are your goals to be a SOLO player ? If they are, study your ass off on scales and chords, and your fingers will be flying with time, practice and patience.

Thanks for the post.
Yes, I do aspire to be a soloist. Problem is: I don't know a single scale or chord and can only read tabliture (I've been playing for over two years and six months). It really bothers me.
I have a good ear, but I don't think that will save me...

[funkydanbass]

I guarantee that most, if not all of the guys you're trying to cop have a strong understanding of harmony, chord scale relationships etc etc. Technique is one thing, but really understanding 'music' is what will allow you to write or improvise music like that....

[PKr]

Easier said then done...

[Hawaii Islander]

Originally Posted by PKr

Thanks for the post.
Yes, I do aspire to be a soloist. Problem is: I don't know a single scale or chord and can only read tabliture (I've been playing for over two years and six months). It really bothers me.
I have a good ear, but I don't think that will save me...

The good news is there are many resources online that are free or inexpensive that can help you learn the music thoery that you need. There are even some here on TB.

[Mutant Corn]

http://www.robinmay.co.uk/index/inde...ndent_pages/1/

Best site I've found for noobs and advanced players alike. Not so good if you plan to read sheet music, but quite good for theory ^^

[Drucocu]

Originally Posted by PKr

Easier said then done...

yeah, right. but what exactly are you expecting? If it wouldnt take years of practice and knowledge, then everybody would be a basshero in a heartbeat, but thats not how it rolls.if you wanna reach something, you have to work hard, there is no shortcut!

[Erick Lam]

Originally Posted by PKr

Thanks for the post.
Yes, I do aspire to be a soloist. Problem is: I don't know a single scale or chord and can only read tabliture (I've been playing for over two years and six months). It really bothers me.
I have a good ear, but I don't think that will save me...

In that case you definately need to put your sleeves up and start working on it. I didn't mean to be condescending in my previous post, just realistic. You said it yourself, it's easier said than done. You can read all about it but you won't go anywhere without actually putting hours after hours of work. Pick one or more of those youtube videos and learn it note for note, try to replicate the accents, tone. It's not easy but doing will help you a lot more than a hundred answer on this thread.

[Bruce Lindfield]

As people have said - it's about hard work and this for me, is one of the insidious problems with the prevalence of Tab nowadays!

So - when I was first starting to play, there was no Tab and no internet, no bass magazines - so if you wanted to play something, you just listened to the record and kept trying - maybe if you were lucky you could see that person at a gig to help you work stuff out and you could talk to other bass players/musicians.

All these things develop your ear and your skills as a musician - whereas if you just run to look for Tab every time - then you are not developing as a musician really...

[mattblissett]

Chords and scales helped me immeasurably, and there are so many free resources to form a practice schedule around. But the main thing is to sit down and think about how you want to sound, and work hard at it.

[Linkert]

Originally Posted by PKr

To clarify, by playing bass like a guitar I mean a mixture of hitting many notes and strings in a rythematic sequence to make the bass sound complex and full.

Here is an example of what I am talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJ...eature=related


How do these guys come up with this stuff? Or,
How do I come up with this stuff?

Thanks...

If you want to play like jeff you will need to know scales, chords, improve skills and a bunch of fantasy.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Linkert

If you want to play like jeff you will need to know scales, chords, improve skills and a bunch of fantasy.

Actually - while agreeing with what has been said before - I just went and had a look at the videos mentioned in this thread and there is a definite trick or secret to these pieces!

So Jeff is playing a lot of open strings as drones and using what I would call "open tunings" - or altered tunings!

This is what gives these pieces their character - although there is also a lot of chordal knowledge and skill in there!

[kazamamaster]

Originally Posted by PKr

Easier said then done...

If I'm not mistaken, Jeff is a Tb'er. Try to catch him here..