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08-15-2007, 02:30 PM
| | | | What Constitutes a Great Rock Bass Player?
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Is it simply being a solid groove player?
I've been watching what other bassists do and mostly what I see is them showing off. Can I be a successful rock bass player if I simply have a solid groove consistently?
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Squier Vintage 70's Modified Jazz Bass.
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08-15-2007, 02:38 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ontario | | | In my experience, you will get more admiration and calls for gigs if you're a solid groove player. The old saying "less is more" applies very well to playing rock bass IMO.
__________________ dvh  "Never lose the groove in order to find a note" - V. Wooten |
08-15-2007, 03:18 PM
|  | no really, smokemeth&hailsatan | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pueblo, CO | | | Solid groove. |
08-15-2007, 03:19 PM
|  | I took the one less traveled by | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Reims, Champagne, France | | | Yep. Rock steady. |
08-15-2007, 03:23 PM
|  | Life is Tough. Laugh more. Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island, USA | | | Agreed.
Take a lesson from the Godfather of Soul and STAY ON THE ONE.
Don't get fancy and make all your changes flawlessly. They
will call you back.
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08-15-2007, 03:27 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Boone, NC | | | geezer butler |
08-15-2007, 04:57 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | Bah...what makes a great rock bass player is to play whatever you play with the confidence of knowing what you're doing is the best thing for the song you're performing. If you're into showing off, make sure that your showing off makes the song stronger. If you're into grooving, make sure that your grooves are happening. |
08-15-2007, 05:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Catford, London | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM  Bah...what makes a great rock bass player is to play whatever you play with the confidence of knowing what you're doing is the best thing for the song you're performing. If you're into showing off, make sure that your showing off makes the song stronger. If you're into grooving, make sure that your grooves are happening. | + Lots.
Having had the good fortune to see both Gerry McAvoy and Colin Hodgkinson this year, that sums them both up - driving it solidly in the pocket all night.
The Hodge showing off is something to behold.
Pete. |
08-15-2007, 05:56 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland | | Woohooo! A Gerry McAvoy fan!! Was he with Nine Below Zero?
I've often thought when seeing him in his favourite, left lean forward stance when with Rory Gallagher, that he might have been mistaken for Status Quo's bassist instead. But that's when he had a bloody big head of hair he could shake around  But if he was maybe showy in his action, he wasn't in his playing.
He complemented Rory. Always consistent and solid and effortless. And truly an inspiration. He made the bass sound easy, and to me, a true artist of their craft is somebody who should make you feel that what they do is accessible to you, even when it's not that simple. Be that music, or any other skill.
What a great combo they were, with drummer Rod De'ath, who sounds like he should have been from a different genre altogether, and Lou Martin on keyboards.
Walnut
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08-15-2007, 06:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Catford, London | | Quote:
Originally Posted by 62Walnut Woohooo! A Gerry McAvoy fan!! Was he with Nine Below Zero?
Walnut | Indeed he was with NBZ at the 100 Club. Black pre-EB 'ray & a yuuuuuge Trace stack. Plucked with one finger for most of the set but drove it all along (Brendan O'Neill helped a bit too). To say that the place was jumping would be an understatement - one of those magical nights where the band hypes the audience who hype the band who hype the audience who... & everyone goes home knackered & buzzing.
Pete. |
08-15-2007, 11:33 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA | | | You can turn the volume down low and the bass is still musical enough to hold your interest.
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08-16-2007, 09:29 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Austin, TX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM Bah...what makes a great rock bass player is to play whatever you play with the confidence of knowing what you're doing is the best thing for the song you're performing. If you're into showing off, make sure that your showing off makes the song stronger. If you're into grooving, make sure that your grooves are happening. | +1
Write parts that embellish the melodies while holding down a strong rhythm.
I always think of the bass guitar as adding tones to the kick drum. I like to lock it up with the kick real tight and mute to keep it clean. |
08-18-2007, 11:56 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: Lakland, Genz Benz | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, that toddling town | | Sublimated ego.
Great Hair.
Ampeg SVT.
Old P Bass.
In that order.  |
08-18-2007, 11:58 AM
|  | Registered User
Builder: Valenti Basses | | Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Staten Island NYC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM Bah...what makes a great rock bass player is to play whatever you play with the confidence of knowing what you're doing is the best thing for the song you're performing. If you're into showing off, make sure that your showing off makes the song stronger. If you're into grooving, make sure that your grooves are happening. | Great Post |
08-18-2007, 09:49 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The little red dot on the map. | | | Besides grooving hard, showmanship is second important.
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08-19-2007, 03:35 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | Alip Bob, you're a nice guy and I hate to correct you, but showmanship is always #1. |
08-19-2007, 07:05 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM Alip Bob, you're a nice guy and I hate to correct you, but showmanship is always #1. | If you're grooving hard, you sure as hell should be putting on a good show. They're both important and both interrelated.
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Squier Owners Club Member #22!
Squier Vintage 70's Modified Jazz Bass.
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08-19-2007, 07:52 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: John Doe Guitars | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rochester, NY | | | Playing rock bass well. |
08-19-2007, 08:39 AM
|  | Layin' Down Time
Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, Nebraska | | | Exactly what makes a great bass player in any other genre:
Time
Taste
Tone
__________________ Groove is Everything
Jon Packard
Roscoe #6181/#6259/#D010/#D049 Quartus on Facebook my photography website Quote:
Originally Posted by KeithBMI Pacman. He serves out nice warm portions of kickass. | |
08-19-2007, 08:42 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The little red dot on the map. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM Alip Bob, you're a nice guy and I hate to correct you, but showmanship is always #1. | You must be correct then, you're the one with the bass!  
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