Your "playing style" - Page 2

artistanbul · #21 05-09-2009, 10:07 PM

I'm leaning towards long meaningful notes more and more. I need to get me a fretless already.

J. Crawford · #22 05-09-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

THIS is a rock song I played on fairly recently. The bass alternates between holding the bottom end during verse and pre-chorus sections, and then shifts to a counter melody during the chorus. The chorus needed something extra, so that's what I came up with. I was thinking about the bassline from Spacehogs' "Meantime" when I wrote the part.

Man, Dark.. That chorus line couldnt be any better. You go from prog rock 8th notes, to an awesome melody line..

Im jealous.

T40Chump · #23 05-09-2009, 10:29 PM

I suppose it depends on what I'm playing. Rock-wise, I go for a heavy (while fitting the tune), driving line with fills at appropriate points. For example; I will play a driving line with eighths, at the transistion to a chorus I will play a two beat fill to move into that verse.

If I am playing something at a more moderate pace, I'll bounce the line a little bit and try to add some funky fingerstyle stuff. I might even go busy with the line.

The summary of how I play would be akin to keeping the bass line moving without going into a drainage ditch. I like smooth transitions between chords and song parts.

I know this might not make sense to a lot of people, but it's the only way I can put it into words. Hehe...

J. Crawford · #24 05-09-2009, 10:32 PM

I play "in the box", or on the marked frets (1,3,5,etc.), and only stray from them when needed. There are enough notes there to suffice.

Finger style with barely any slap, pick, etc.

BananaKing · #25 05-09-2009, 10:45 PM

I generally play a bit of everything.

Slap, tap, and anything that needs to be played.

In band situations, however, I usually play with less over-the-top embellishments and just stick to making my line sound good, but I make sure that it sounds like me.

I rarely pump 8th notes and I tend to use a lot of syncopation and walking line-style bass parts.

I also tend to play very melodically and I throw in chords whenever possible (I arrange a lot of classical and jazz pieces for solo or a bass duet. Believe it or not, I'm in the middle of arranging some Debussy for Electric Bass Duet

Sonicfrog · #26 05-09-2009, 11:19 PM

OK, I'll bite.

If I were to describe my playing in terms of other players who I consciously or subconsciously seal from, I would say I'm a cross between McCartney, Sting, Nick Seymore (crowded house), and Mike Rutherford (genesis), with a pinch of Dave Hungate and Geddy thrown in..... except probably not quite as good as any of those guy.

Dogbertday · #27 05-09-2009, 11:57 PM

I try to keep everyhitng I play from sounding cheese- ball... that's my goal as a bassist (along with the traditional stuff)

mndean · #28 05-10-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Play whatever fits the song, not a single note more or a single note less. Bass can accent, support, and enhance - knowing when you're playing too much takes a lot of experience, as does knowing when you need to play more. If a song needs three notes, don't play four. OTOH, sometimes a song needs a counter melody that the bass can provide. I guess my "style" would be just trying to be the guy who plays the right thing all the time.

This is something I'm slowly coming to realize. The songwriter I play with has one song where I hear a bass line in my head that sounds pretty good. Problem is, when I play my line, it's too busy. I like the line, but I understood after awhile (months, really) that it wasn't doing the song any good. The songwriter originally put in a bass line that was dead simple, and now I use it (with minor modification). On the other hand, his bass line on a blues tune he wrote I threw out completely. It was almost nothing but roots, and kept the song from going anywhere. I have the good fortune of most of the songs being simple, so it's easier for me to devise a bass line.

**IvanMike** · #29 05-10-2009, 09:50 AM

some years ago i read a post by TB's "Embellisher" saying that he got that as a nickname for overplaying when he was younger.

I laughed so hard i thought I'd die.

I've always had to fight the urge to overplay. Of course, when i was learning to play i was listening to the first black sabbath album, Rush, and the grateful dead. Not exactly a recipie for simple in the pocket playing.

These days I'm pretty in the pocket with the occasional unexpected run. In my main band, my drummer and i surprise each other with odd little things we throw out once or twice a night, but we've been playing these songs for so long we've got to do something to stay fresh.

COOL AND DEADLY · #30 05-10-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excane

I believe I would fall into the category of "crappy" or "mediocre"

If you are making music, it's never crappy or mediocre. It might not sound the way you want, but you have to work towards it and enjoy each small goal as you get closer to the way you want to play. Music is like counting to infinity. You can count to a million, and you are really not much closer to your ultimate goal, but you have come that much further along. Be positive and work on your weak points, take enjoyment in your progress and music for it's own sake.

Phalex · #31 05-10-2009, 10:09 AM

I'm a punk. I never woud have considered myself as such, but after a long, and quite complimentary conversation with one of the "Oldtimers" around here, I have to accept it as a fact. I always thought my playing style was more bluesy, but I do favor sharp, sometimes clipped notes, and pentatonic is my bread and butter.

So, I'm a 43 year old punk.

mndean · #32 05-10-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

I'm a punk. I never woud have considered myself as such, but after a long, and quite complimentary conversation with one of the "Oldtimers" around here, I have to accept it as a fact. I always thought my playing style was more bluesy, but I do favor sharp, sometimes clipped notes, and pentatonic is my bread and butter.

So, I'm a 43 year old punk.

You're a 43 year old punk with the sharp, clipped notes, and I'm Smoove Lenny Legato. I do staccato notes every now and then, usually as counterpoint, but gimme a tie and I'm happy.

two fingers · #33 05-10-2009, 10:48 PM

My style is whatever the gig calls for. Seriously... I love all kinds of music. I love all kinds of styles. I'm a little heavy-handed at all styles, but I go for all of them. I have different basses, and even different rigs. I try to make my finger styles, and tones (and bass lines for that matter) suit the gig as best I can.

KFrost2008 · #34 05-10-2009, 11:12 PM

I'm influenced a lot by guys like Flea, Juan Alderate, and Michael Todd. When goofing off and writing songs I am always using lots of underlying melodic type ideas. I also try to throw strange rhythms, in particular triplet patterns around quite freequently.

Lindsay · #35 05-11-2009, 12:36 AM

I focus on not overplaying - but generally fail. Some of the comments that I've read over the years that have made me think include:

- you earn your money playing in the first 7 frets
- you earn your money playing quarter and eighth notes

- if you have to play quarter notes make them GOOD quarter notes
- don't play a fill every 16 bars in a funk tune, it's not helpful to those people dancing to your tunes
- make your occasional fills - once or twice in per song - melodic and pleasant (my own advice to me)

It sounds like a really boring and restrictive approach but when I listen back on recordings I find I'm prouder of the lines that follow this advice than songs where I cut loose. Overplaying can be satisfying in the moment but all too often I sound like I'm trying to prove something to the audience rather than delivering the best version of a particular song.

wazzel · #36 05-11-2009, 01:44 PM

My style is appropriate. I strive to play what the particualar song requires. I don't slap or solo or any of that other stuff. None of what I play requires it. I do tend to play moving lines. I'm not a bassist that is going to sit or root 1/4's or 1/8's. If I am playing the same note for an entire measure it is because it is either a whole note or two 1/2's. There is no problem wih playing long notes when required. I try to make the transition from chorus/verse/ bridge/etc interesting with out sticking out.

gotmule? · #37 05-11-2009, 09:46 PM

Everyone says I play like Phil Lesh and I would have to agree with them. I like to mess around with time and scales and I almost never stick to just root notes unless its necessary. Of course I don't quite have the skill of Phil Lesh yet, but I've only been playing for a little over a year. So maybe someday I will.