when less is more, on bass

[chuck3]

This seems like an obvious thing for a bass player, and I've only been playing bass for 40+ years so it should be obvious to me. But it's a lesson I had to learn again.

I was laying down a bass track for a song I wrote so my band could hear it, kind of a country-pop song, not simple 3-chord stuff but a basic beat. Using Garageband.

Did the first couple of tracks using my EBMM Stingray 5, because it was handy and the song is in D so I could hit the low D. Played a lot of fills and stuff. Impressive bass playing but the song didn't sound too good.

Did it again using my Jazz '62 RI which is one of my main players, trying to keep it simpler. Upon listening to all the tracks, they all sounded good except the bass. How much does that suck, when you're the bass player?

So I deleted the bass track and re-recorded that track only, using the only bass handy which was my practice bass, a Fender GB41-SCE, an acoustic-electric made in Korea (albeit it kicks butt for an A/E). Now I kept it REALLY SIMPLE, almost like bluegrass with a few passing notes thrown in.

Funny thing - the whole song started to rock once the simpler bass was in place. The guitars and percussion filled their slots, the vocals had their space. Taking the bass back to a simple if tasty role made it rock more than when I was playing twice the notes.

I know everyone knows this already. Just a reminder. Sorry for the long post, play on!

[MalcolmAmos]

+ 1 IMHO every instrument has a primary job ours is accompaniment. Lay the beat, build the groove and call attention to the chord change while not stepping on the solo instrument's toes. Like you said this is best done with "Less is More".

[CALopes]

Yeah, yesterday I had the same problem covering one tune.

I find that our first approach with most rock and pop stuff should be just keep up with the bass drum and then use some chromatic or ditatonic passing notes. We should never step in the way of the vocal line. And other "trick" is to leave room to the snare drum.
We have to leave always some space.

[Rockmusician]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

+ 1 IMHO every instrument has a primary job ours is accompaniment. Lay the beat, build the groove and call attention to the chord change while not stepping on the solo instrument's toes. Like you said this is best done with "Less is More".

I have to agree with this. I usually look at bass as more of a support instrument. If played properly, most non-musicians do not notice it. There are some exceptions such as Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee. All of them had bass as the lead instrument on many recordings.
Even the Motown recordings. The vocals are the main instrument even though there are some incredible bass lines.

[Russell L]

I agree that less is more. I actually can enjoy just playing alone and coming up with a simple groove. Or like the other night at practice when we jammed for 20 minutes on one of my simple grooves. Thing is, sometimes that groove can have a simple bass line that's also a motif. That is, the bass line itself is like a melody, but also defines the chord and give the song its feel. jamerson's lines are often like that. Or, another way to put it is to point out songs in which the bass part must be played just the way it was written (like Badge, simple, and must be played that way). In that scenario the bass is more than just an accompaniment instrument, it's the soul of the tune. I love the simplest bass lines, and never am I overly concerned with how many notes I can throw in, or how fast I can play. I mean, 1-5 all night could be boring, but ya'll know what I mean.

Very often it's the bass that is the whole feel of the song.

[mambo4]

I have found that after a certain amount of experience and practice, it is easier to come up with ideas and throw them in than it is to restrain yourself and play the simplest thing imaginable. I try to distract myself from my own ideas by consciously listening to others.

[chuck norriss]

paul denman (sade) adam clayton (u2) are some of my favorite bassists and they keep it simple. that's not to say they're simple minded
just different priorities in play/making muzak
different goals

[dtsamples]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

paul denman (sade) adam clayton (u2) are some of my favorite bassists and they keep it simple. that's not to say they're simple minded
just different priorities in play/making muzak
different goals

Ok, I admit that I know only one Sade song, Smooth Operator, but judging by only that one track, I wouldn't consider Paul Denman a "less is more" guy.

[chuck norriss]

"no ordinary love" is pretty minimal-istic-ism-ish
the lovers rock album is chill

‪02. Sade - Flow‬‏ - YouTube

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by dtsamples

Ok, I admit that I know only one Sade song, Smooth Operator, but judging by only that one track, I wouldn't consider Paul Denman a "less is more" guy.

the solo part is no favorite of mine, but he does a very sophisticated job in the accompaniment part, especially in the way that he builds two interesting, different yet related lines over the same rather simple progression.

[chuck norriss]

@dtsamples
oooh
check out "cherish the day" (sade)
verrry chill bass line. doesnt come in til later

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by mambo4

I have found that after a certain amount of experience and practice, it is easier to come up with ideas and throw them in than it is to restrain yourself and play the simplest thing imaginable. I try to distract myself from my own ideas by consciously listening to others.

I agree with that, too. It's not that I hold back, but rather to take a simple line and still make it say something. (Articulation is everything). Then, add little things of my own at the right time, but not so that it would clutter things up.

[dtsamples]

Originally Posted by Chris K

the solo part is no favorite of mine, but he does a very sophisticated job in the accompaniment part, especially in the way that he builds two interesting, different yet related lines over the same rather simple progression.

Don't get me wrong; it's a sick bass track. I just think that "less is more" is more like "What they do" by The Roots. There's a dirty "less is more" track.

[dtsamples]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

@dtsamples
oooh
check out "cherish the day" (sade)
verrry chill bass line. doesnt come in til later

Ahhh I see. Nice groove. Still a little active, but it's for sure tasteful. See my example above for less is more. One of the most powerful basslines I can think of.

[JimmyM]

I'm into less is more sometimes, but remember that sometimes, less is less. The trick is knowing which is appropriate.

[ILIA]

It's always good to be in a "chops" band as one of the groups one plays with. That way there is always an outlet for the inner Jaco wannabe in all of us, so the Jaco wannabe does not rear its head where it does not belong.

[mr george]

Andy Fraser with Free is a great example of less is more.