world records set on bass?

[marchisgonebass]

this is kind of a weird, random question.

im curious as to whether or not there have been any records set on a bass guitar? things such as, playing quarter notes at a certain bpm, or with X number of fingers, or slapping triplets at X beats per minute, and things of that nature?

i know that there have been world records set on drums for things like quarter notes on a snare at X bpm but what about bass?

[5string5fingers]

I'd be surprised. Most bass players could care less how fast you play.

[colorblindbass]

what 5string said,

No one cares....

And if someone set some speed records, they would be laughed at, like Kenny G is laughed at for setting the longest circular breathing note on sax.

[Lurker79]

^^^^^

Time usually has nothing to do with speed. Wait for it, wait for it.....uhhhhhhhhh, there it is.

[colorblindbass]

So it would be like, Endurance?

how long can you play quarter notes at x bpm?


sounds like something a guitar player would do....

[bucephylus]

I can't remember the guy, but there was some hype back in the mid-nineties about some cat who could play at some crazy tempos; fastest etc etc. The concept never caught on with anyone, and the whole spin disappeared. Maybe someone else remembers whom I am talking about.

This kind of thing is so NOT what most bass players consider hip. The thing young players need to realize is that you need to develop your own thing with some kind of reference to the context of the previous art. For bass players there is a long history of throwing in totally cool stuff within the vibe so no one notices it if they are not paying attention. This happens because a lot of cats on the other instruments expect a certain really simple role for the bass. So, the coolness happens when they think you are playing simple, but clever stuff gets worked in so that it fits beneath the radar.

My 2c.

[5string5fingers]

Who cares how long you can play x notes for xbpm? Average song is 4-5 minutes long. Even then the amount of songs you're playing constantly on every beat is few and far between.

I would be more impressed about someone being able to play at super slow tempos like 2-3 bpm than someone who can play at 300 bpm. It takes way more skill to play at really low tempos than it does fast.

[marchisgonebass]

Originally Posted by colorblindbass

So it would be like, Endurance?

how long can you play quarter notes at x bpm?


sounds like something a guitar player would do....

when did I ever say anything about endurance or how long i can play something?

[mwbassace]

i remember an ad in bass player mag about a guy who claimed to be the world's fastest bass player. if i remember right it was 32 notes per second. can't remember his name, but the ad was for his solo album called "mens rea", back in the late 90's i think.

[champbassist]

This Indian guy claims to be the fastest bassist in the world: (edit: fastest percussive bassist)

http://www.myspace.com/jayenvarma

I don't think he's certified by Guinness, though

Originally Posted by mwbassace

i remember an ad in bass player mag about a guy who claimed to be the world's fastest bass player. if i remember right it was 32 notes per second. can't remember his name, but the ad was for his solo album called "mens rea", back in the late 90's i think.

Is it Adrian Davison?

[Distant Cousin]

Originally Posted by champbassist

This Indian guy claims to be the fastest bassist in the world:

http://www.myspace.com/jayenvarma

Hah, loving those messages supposedly from Bootsy etc.!

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by champbassist

This Indian guy claims to be the fastest bassist in the world:

http://www.myspace.com/jayenvarma

I don't think he's certified by Guinness, though

I think you would have to drink a lot of Guiness....

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by Distant Cousin

Hah, loving those messages supposedly from Bootsy etc.!

So is it possible that the messages aren't from those guys?

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I think you would have to drink a lot of Guiness....

LOL! Did any of you look at his playing? He strikes the strings with his fingers in a way I (and I'm sure many others) do many a time and he calls it "Indian Slap Bass". Not that I've anything against him (he's a fellow Indian bassist afterall ), but it's definitely not unique (Funk Fingers, anyone?) and I don't think he can claim to have invented it.

[thecool]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayen_Varma

"As per the validation in 2008 by The Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA&UK, he is the fastest in percussive bass playing"

I like him, he's got an interesting sound!