How to play with a drummer who uses a double bass pedal

[walknbluez]

I'm in a rock/classic rock trio and the drummer and I lock in great. Occasionally, on a few songs, he starts using the double bass and it throws me off. What I mean is, I keep playing my part in time, but it somehow doesn't sound right to me and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to try to play more notes during his double bass playing (and match him) or not and if that would be the best thing to do, I'm not really sure how to do that. I personally don't like the double bass during those parts, I feel as if it throws the "tightness" of the song off but last night the guitar player said "Remember the part where you were playing the double bass pedal? Well keep doing that! It is perfect for this song".

[PBass101]

Maybe you and the drummer just need a "rhythm sectional" where the two of you alone work out various trouble parts.

[wysiwyg248]

If you are playing in a trio, just move up the neck and play more of the melody.
Don't get on the way, but direct the song that way... sooner or later, they will need you back setting up direction.
Listen to James Jamerson, he was on the pocket most of the time with just one note.
What he played in between was just the icing in the cake.

[T. B. Player]

Somehow "Classic Rock" and "Double Bass Pedal" don't go together in the same sentence. Modern Rock, Death Metal, yes...except in rare cases.

+1 to the other two ideas, though.

Here's my 2 centablos -

Listen intendly to Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" and hear what Michael Anthony's doing...almost nothing. When guys I play with start using a double bass pedal, I get out of the way, or lock on to half of what he's doing as an accent. Too much bottom makes for too much mud.

Z

[Mojo-Man]

The same way you play with a drummer with one pedal.

Find the pocket, and groove?

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by T. B. Player

Somehow "Classic Rock" and "Double Bass Pedal" don't go together in the same sentence. Modern Rock, Death Metal, yes...except in rare cases.

+1 to the other two ideas, though.

Here's my 2 centablos -

Listen intendly to Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" and hear what Michael Anthony's doing...almost nothing. When guys I play with start using a double bass pedal, I get out of the way, or lock on to half of what he's doing as an accent. Too much bottom makes for too much mud.

Z

I'll clarify. It's original rock but I describe it as classic rock because that's the sound it reminds people of, the early 70's type stuff. There are really only two songs he's doing this on though and I guess you could say these are more modern. But I like your advice and will give that a try.

[pretaanluxis]

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

Find the pocket, and groove?

I agree!

If I can't keep up with the the kick I:

*stay out of the way e.g. Led Zeppelin-Good Times Gone Bad
*keep it simple e.g. Deftones-Dai The Flu
*follow the guitars e.g. Disturbed-Just Stop
*play more melody. e.g. Tool


Also I find playing with a pick will help prevent the low end from becoming too crowded.

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by pretaanluxis

I agree!

If I can't keep up with the the kick I:

*stay out of the way e.g. Led Zeppelin-Good Times Gone Bad
*keep it simple e.g. Deftones-Dai The Flu
*follow the guitars e.g. Disturbed-Just Stop
*play more melody. e.g. Tool


Also I find playing with a pick will help prevent the low end from becoming too crowded.

Thanks for those references, I'll check them out.

I've been doing your third suggestion and following the rhythm of the guitar. I guess I just don't like double bass, it just doesn't sound tight to me.

[kb9wyz]

Originally Posted by T. B. Player

Somehow "Classic Rock" and "Double Bass Pedal" don't go together in the same sentence. Modern Rock, Death Metal, yes...except in rare cases.

+1 to the other two ideas, though.

Here's my 2 centablos -

Listen intently to Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" and hear what Michael Anthony's doing...almost nothing. When guys I play with start using a double bass pedal, I get out of the way, or lock on to half of what he's doing as an accent. Too much bottom makes for too much mud.

Z

I had the same problem with the "classic rock," "double bass" thing.

My 2 cents:
I listen to a lot of heavy metal which makes use of the "wall of sound" technique where the bass will follow the kick drum. I think that that will kill the "classic rock" vibe. So take T.B. Player's advice, I think he's right on the money.

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by kb9wyz

I had the same problem with the "classic rock," "double bass" thing.

My 2 cents:
I listen to a lot of heavy metal which makes use of the "wall of sound" technique where the bass will follow the kick drum. I think that that will kill the "classic rock" vibe. So take T.B. Player's advice, I think he's right on the money.

Allright already, I should have just said rock! I just don't know how to describe it since its not exactly modern day rock....sorta like Bad Company, Deep Purple type thing so its got some thickness and heaviness to it.

[kb9wyz]

I don't think it matters what way you put it. Where there's a spaz, there's a way.

I think that since nobody really seems to care about us until we stop playing, we have to jump on our chance to get attention.

Best quote never said, "Band! Love thy bass player!"

[StyleOverShow]

In one perspective, don't change and let the accented beats fall with the thud of your finger/thumb. The problem is that it makes you uncomfortable, like you aren't locked with the percussionist.

The other way of approaching this has been discussed by the other low lifers and I have nothing to add.

What do the other guys in the band say/think?

-richard

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by StyleOverShow

In one perspective, don't change and let the accented beats fall with the thud of your finger/thumb. The problem is that it makes you uncomfortable, like you aren't locked with the percussionist.

The other way of approaching this has been discussed by the other low lifers and I have nothing to add.

What do the other guys in the band say/think?

-richard

You hit the nail on the head, its the fact that I suddenly don't feel locked when it happens. I think the other two think it sounds great but I think it sounds tighter without all that double bass.

[JTE]

Classic Rock and double bass not together?!? HELLO!!! Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, Keith Moon!!!

But my first reaction to most double bass pedals is "hey, you just took your foot off the high-hat, so were's the groove, dummy!!"

jte

[TheFrogPrince]

Focus on the snare hits or cymbals etc. They will usually count the downbeats with those when going nuts with the kicks. That's what I find myself counting from anyway.

Also, I remember Paul Romanko of Shadows Fall (Jason Bittner, the drummer, has some crazy fast double kick stuff) saying that he usually doesn't match the kicks. He plays 8ths when Bittner is playing 16ths and that kind of thing.

[Vallejo]

Originally Posted by walknbluez

I'm in a rock/classic rock trio and the drummer and I lock in great. Occasionally, on a few songs, he starts using the double bass and it throws me off. What I mean is, I keep playing my part in time, but it somehow doesn't sound right to me and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to try to play more notes during his double bass playing (and match him) or not and if that would be the best thing to do, I'm not really sure how to do that. I personally don't like the double bass during those parts, I feel as if it throws the "tightness" of the song off but last night the guitar player said "Remember the part where you were playing the double bass pedal? Well keep doing that! It is perfect for this song".

Take the bearings out of one half of his double pedal and send them off for some relic treatment.