is this right?

[Snackbass97]

yeah as a bassist i have heard "hey leave shredding to the lead ok? your just backup" but give me a normal electric and well yeah i can play at dragonforce speeds so clearly i can shred atleast decent. I try to shred on most basses i play and i just love the sound of it yet people are still giving me a hard time bout it. Is there something wrong with it? if there is please tell me

[iplaybasstexas]

so i confused am

please word in order right

thanks

[Snackbass97]

ok sorry if i didn't make much sense (i edited it sorry for that) but what im trying to say is:is shredding a bad thing to do for bass? cause i love doin it

[Erick Lam]

Originally Posted by Snackbass97

is shredding a bad thing to do for bass?

Yes it's bad for the bass.

[Step]

Originally Posted by Snackbass97

yeah as a bassist i have heard "hey leave shredding to the lead ok? your just backup" but give me a normal electric and well yeah i can play at dragonforce speeds so clearly i can shred atleast decent. I try to shred on most basses i play and i just love the sound of it yet people are still giving me a hard time bout it. Is there something wrong with it? if there is please tell me

honestly?

yes it's bad

I did it, and now that I'm past it, i can see why it was bad, and it was, only shred when neccesary, and always, ALWAYS, keep the groove, even when shredding.

so anyway, play some groovy stuff, and start off slow, and when the song climaxes, do some improv shredding

[Pedulla?]

If Billy Sheehan does it, that means its okay for the rest of us to do it.

[Arpeggiator]

As far as soloing goes bass solos have to have more structure and melody IMO Dragonforce style solos will sound like farts even in the basses upper registers. doing things like sweeping etc.. is far harder on bass and to make it sound good is even harder.

[Bass Troll]

Originally Posted by Step

honestly?

yes it's bad

I did it, and now that I'm past it, i can see why it was bad, and it was, only shred when neccesary, and always, ALWAYS, keep the groove, even when shredding.

so anyway, play some groovy stuff, and start off slow, and when the song climaxes, do some improv shredding

I don't see how it's bad. See the bass as an instrument, not just a "bass".

[Step]

Originally Posted by Pedulla?

If Billy Sheehan does it, that means its okay for the rest of us to do it.

come on, billy sheehan's technique is impressive, but I cant listen to him soloing, it's boring

[Step]

Originally Posted by Bass Troll

I don't see how it's bad. See the bass as an instrument, not just a "bass".

it's bad because it ****ed up songs, band members were complaining to me about how i was too flashy and too busy, like the OP's band members are doing to him.

so that's why I said it's bad

[mutedeity]

I'll give you a few tips here snack.

Some people are good at "shredding". Some people just think playing a lot of notes makes them good. The difference is usually context and attention to detail. Judging by the fact that firstly you are even asking if it's ok and secondly by your poor grammar with your post, that attention to detail and context are clearly not your forte.

That along with your signature, which tells me you think that being a good musician is a competition. No matter how hard you try you will never be Victor Wooten. Or Michael Manring, Troy Tipton, Lars K Norberg, or any other technically proficient bass player. You can only be the best you.

When people give you a hard time about the shredding it's probably because you are yet to realise that there is a time and place for everything and the time and place you are trying to do this stuff is not the right time and place.

My advice is to get a metronome and start with some basic theory. Study as many different types of music as you can and learn to play well with good timing and context. Keep practising the shred but think about when the right time and place is for it and people will think a lot more of it when you do it.

[Step]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

I'll give you a few tips here snack.

Some people are good at "shredding". Some people just think playing a lot of notes makes them good. The difference is usually context and attention to detail. Judging by the fact that firstly you are even asking if it's ok and secondly by your poor grammar with your post, that attention to detail and context are clearly not your forte.

That along with your signature, which tells me you think that being a good musician is a competition. No matter how hard you try you will never be Victor Wooten. Or Michael Manring, Troy Tipton, Lars K Norberg, or any other technically proficient bass player. You can only be the best you.

When people give you a hard time about the shredding it's probably because you are yet to realise that there is a time and place for everything and the time and place you are trying to do this stuff is not the right time and place.

My advice is to get a metronome and start with some basic theory. Study as many different types of music as you can and learn to play well with good timing and context. Keep practising the shred but think about when the right time and place is for it and people will think a lot more of it when you do it.

oh snap, you really don't hold back

this is what I tried to convey in my earlier post

[Snackbass97]

hey thanks all comments appreciated, and yes i know ill never be Wooten(unless i change my name of course) but im hoping atleast to reach the level of playing. but hey aint it good to have a dream

[mutedeity]

Originally Posted by Snackbass97

hey thanks all comments appreciated, and yes i know ill never be Wooten(unless i change my name of course) but im hoping atleast to reach the level of playing. but hey aint it good to have a dream

Of course, and I am not trying to discourage you at all. I just want you to dream of being great as yourself rather than being the next Victor Wooten. Always set your aims high but keep your eye on the ball and have attention to detail as you go.

[dannster]

It's only bad if you're playing with musician's who don't appreciate bass shredding.

you need some yin for your yang or Gilbert for your Sheehan.

Shredding has its place. You just need to go find that place. Then you can wail to your hearts content.

[LuckyCondlins]

what kind of music are you playing?

if you are in a skatelite tribute band than i think shredding would be a little out of the ordinary

[Arpeggiator]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

I'll give you a few tips here snack.

Some people are good at "shredding". Some people just think playing a lot of notes makes them good. The difference is usually context and attention to detail. Judging by the fact that firstly you are even asking if it's ok and secondly by your poor grammar with your post, that attention to detail and context are clearly not your forte.

That along with your signature, which tells me you think that being a good musician is a competition. No matter how hard you try you will never be Victor Wooten. Or Michael Manring, Troy Tipton, Lars K Norberg, or any other technically proficient bass player. You can only be the best you.

When people give you a hard time about the shredding it's probably because you are yet to realise that there is a time and place for everything and the time and place you are trying to do this stuff is not the right time and place.

My advice is to get a metronome and start with some basic theory. Study as many different types of music as you can and learn to play well with good timing and context. Keep practising the shred but think about when the right time and place is for it and people will think a lot more of it when you do it.

Bit off topic, but i am glad somone has mentioned Norberg. his work with Spiral Architect is amazing.

[Syph]

man, there is nothing wrong with being a shredding bass player.

there is also nothing wrong with being the root five bass player in a country band.

The trick is context. if there is a passage that calls for a 19 note a second bass line, then play it!!! enjoy it!! but if that role has been taken or doesn't exsist then do something else, maybe some chordal tap, some chilled counter melody, or god forbid even root note.

i have seen alot of fast musicians with no concept of context, but i have also seen alot of "musicians" that will ignorantly dismiss any intresting bass work (be it shred, tap, extended range basses, playing above the 7th fret, etc) as "closet lead guitar syndrome".

The challenge is to know when people (including your self) like a fast or slow line because it fits, and when you get to do that fast line or solo and its right, like, mind numbingly RIGHT (maybe even with harmonies from your guitarist) then enjoy!!!!!!

[ysand]

Shredding during a whole song (especially with the bass) -> Not pleasant to listen
Shredding in the right moment of a song -> Plly much more pleasant

Playing music ISN'T showing off!!

[Syph]

yea, even they ysand, i would say it comes down to the song, some songs you should never open up in, others you should never sit still. other times its about making something really complicated and moving sound simple, and other times its about making something simple sound complicated and crazy. i would say trying aply rules for how a musician should play with out knowing the context is a really limiting approach.

as for the bass shredding through a song being less pleasant than than a higher instument, 3rd movement of moonlight sonata is about all i have to say there....

i agree though playing music isn't about showing off.... its about KNOWING WHEN too show off!