simpler music = better?

[kski94]

Has anyone besides me gotten sick of the whole complicated bass playing thing? I grew up playing stuff like entwistle and pastorius, but eventually it started boring me. Then I joined a Blink 182 cover band. Alot simpler!!! BUt the thing is, its actually more fun to play! (IMO) Anyone else feel this way?

[billoetjen]

It's all part of growing up. Fundamental rule of bass playing: Make less do more...

It keeps you out of the way of the vocals and guitard, AND it's more fun.

[Andyrew]

The thing about Jaco, and many other virtuosic bass players, is that despite their ability to play lots of notes, they still abide by the law of "holding it down". In many musical situations, very few notes are required from the bass to compliment the focus of a band (singer, lead guitar etc.). For example in Blink, a lot of times all Mark feels the need to do is play lots of consecutive eighth notes and roots. This also enables lots of freedom to lock rhythmically with Tom and Travis' eighth notes, not to mention make an ass of himself and dance on stage!

[mcm]

yes, the simpler the better for sure.

[wagstaff]

I feel it depends, if it's say a complicated fill, thats fun. If it's for a whole song, it starts to grow tiresome and it fatigues your hand, making it less fun.

Simple songs are the same, theres a line between simple and boring, a very fine line.

Happy medium is the best place to be. Simple (to an extent) with the odd fill here and there.


Mark

[Andyrew]

There are so many songs that only have one or two bass notes in them. You can get so much momentum out of a fat, loud, single note. Try it out with your drummer!

[Vlasco]

This depends entirely upon whether you like complex or simple music.

(It's that simple! :P)

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Vlasco

This depends entirely upon whether you like complex or simple music.

Most people like music for it's own sake. Whether that music happens to be simple or complex is beside the point IMO. Having said that, I agree with the OP in that I find myself being more attracted by simpler bass lines.

[Rudreax]

Personal preference. I personally don't really like simple basslines unless they're essentially perfect in my ears. Most of the music I usually listen to is "complicated" so I guess it has to do with the music I listen to.

[mccartneyman]

There's a fine line between simple and boring. I don't especially like the trend I hear among so many younger bands of the bass holding the root with 16th notes. They don't even bother to play runs up or down to the next root. There has to be a middle ground.

[TheHegemon]

Whatever is right for the song IMO

[michael_atw]

I get what you're saying. I think that feeling just comes with enjoying music in general. For me, I just like playing almost everything I can get my hands on.

For example: the bass line for Thunderstruck. I got to do that on stage and it kicks! But for the most part it's just eighth note B's. Another one is Stealin' by Uriah Heep. What a fun bass line but very simple.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by kski94

I grew up playing stuff like entwistle and pastorius, but eventually it started boring me.

+1. I still like that stuff, but I'd rather listen to it than play it.

[bass12]

If you want to be simplistic about it...

[CoffeeJanitor]

Depends on the song/style.

[oboylebass]

Another consideration is the fact that the less notes you play, the more likely you are to be heard. Bass moves slow. Especially in a big room or concert hall. Also, the more band members there are, the less notes should be played (this is a law of physics). You can always hear Adam Clayton...there is a reason why U2 sells out stadiums!!

[trunkshope6]

yes, the simpler the better

[Nashrakh]

Complicated music doesn't have to have a lot of notes.

Personally, I'm bored of the whole 8th notes thing. Well, that depends on the song. For Blink type stuff, I couldn't imagine playing anything different.

If you think of Prog rock, there's a lot out there that doesn't necessarily have a complicated bass line but stuff is complicated on a whole different level (odd time signatures, polyrhythms, polymeters, heavy use of modulation, etc). That's the way I like it.

[billphreets]

in my experience, the simplest sounding things are sometimes the hardest to nail..

[steveksux]

As a general rule, most (relatively inexperienced) players overplay to some degree. Natural tendency to try to stand out, show off, make the song "better", add "more energy".

So because of that, most people can't go wrong with "simpler is better".

Which means it does not follow that simple is better...

Randy