Bassists have a local accent?

[allexcosta]

Can you hear a characteristic accent when you listen to bass players from different cities, countries? I think I can...

- Those raised in NY have strong phrasing ideas and a polite, yet defined tone. Very precise and respectful in a group or ensemble. Altered scales are often used. 4, 5 and 6 string basses are often used.

- Californians seem to develop a very intricate technique, most play 3 notes per string in an unique pattern. Pentatonic and blues scales are preferred, but played in a twisted way that's interesting. 4 string basses seem to be preferred.

- Nashville guys play in the pocket like few do. Play for the band and make everyone else sound good. Fivers are standard.

- North westerners (Seattle area) seem to opt for basic stuff with a round tone that blends well with the drummer. They can be very economic during the gig but will shine if a solo or drum/bass special comes in.

- Southern players like the low B and groove with the drummer in a tight and fairly busy (in a good way) approach. The tone is often modern and jumps in your face...

- Chicago players have attraction to what's different. Unusual techniques, tunings, scale lengths and number of strings are often seen and music goes out of the box pretty often.

- African bass players seem to have developed a very melodic approach to bass playing. Transition between grooving in the pocket and solos is seamless. They often go back and forth in seconds dialoguing with the other instruments.

- Latin players were built to make the crowd dance. Even when they solo, the rhythm patterns chosen are often syncopated in such a way that the audience will be able to enjoy the improvisation while the groove is well kept and tight...

What do you think?

[Roy Vogt]

I grew up in Texas and I think a lot of Texas players have the same swagger you hear in Johnny Winter, Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughn. I certainly hear it in Roscoe Beck, Chris Maresh, Kyle Brock, Tommy Shannon and my own playing.

[ffutterman]

Philly - "I got yer accent ride 'ere!" -throws a battery-

[BagelBruin]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

Can you hear a characteristic accent when you listen to bass players from different cities, countries? I think I can...


- Nashville guys play in the pocket like few do. Play for the band and make everyone else sound good. Fivers are standard.


- Southern players like the low B and groove with the drummer in a tight and fairly busy (in a good way) approach. The tone is often modern and jumps in your face...

I think you got Nashville generally pegged, though there is SO much music there it's really hard to say.

I am from the south, and you NAILED my style. Kinda freaky.

[BobaFret]

A lot of the Italian players I've seen/heard tend to use a lot of staccato and rhythmic punctuation. If that makes any sense.

[pbass888]

Here in htown we have a lot of nice southern jazz (especially after the migration from katrina) .I hear a lot of influence of r and b and gospel and also latin jazz (awesome time feel in the pocket) in bass players .... great sense of groove.

I try to bring in bebop lines in my solos and am def influenced by brother ray and jaco

[TL5]

I can't comment about all the regions.
However, I'm in Nashville and that's how I'd describe the way I approach bass.
I play 4 and 5 string basses, but a 5 string is almost always 1st call.

[dougjwray]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

Can you hear a characteristic accent when you listen to bass players from different cities, countries? I think I can...

- Those raised in NY have strong phrasing ideas and a polite, yet defined tone. Very precise and respectful in a group or ensemble. Altered scales are often used. 4, 5 and 6 string basses are often used.

- Californians seem to develop a very intricate technique, most play 3 notes per string in an unique pattern. Pentatonic and blues scales are preferred, but played in a twisted way that's interesting. 4 string basses seem to be preferred.

- Nashville guys play in the pocket like few do. Play for the band and make everyone else sound good. Fivers are standard.

- North westerners (Seattle area) seem to opt for basic stuff with a round tone that blends well with the drummer. They can be very economic during the gig but will shine if a solo or drum/bass special comes in.

- Southern players like the low B and groove with the drummer in a tight and fairly busy (in a good way) approach. The tone is often modern and jumps in your face...

- Chicago players have attraction to what's different. Unusual techniques, tunings, scale lengths and number of strings are often seen and music goes out of the box pretty often.

- African bass players seem to have developed a very melodic approach to bass playing. Transition between grooving in the pocket and solos is seamless. They often go back and forth in seconds dialoguing with the other instruments.

- Latin players were built to make the crowd dance. Even when they solo, the rhythm patterns chosen are often syncopated in such a way that the audience will be able to enjoy the improvisation while the groove is well kept and tight...

What do you think?

I've rarely seen "polite" said about New Yorkers! (And I was born in Manhattan.)
You left out Boston, which is schizophrenic: the hometown bassists never outgrew garage rock bass; the outsiders (namely Berklee students) are chopsmeisters.
Actually, in this day and age, I think regional styles are disappearing fast throughout all realms of music. I'll respect your observations, though.

[bosw04k]

Thats a really interesting idea, I don't think its unrelated to the fact that different genres of music seem to be more popular in different areas. Latin music, for example, uses loads of really cool rhythmic features, and I'm sure if you are brought up on that kind of music, it will rub off on you. I live in Britain, so I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in regional american music, but I could see New Yorkers with a strong jazz influence, and Californians with a much more mellow, harmonic playing style. Southeners are brought up with country - I guess you'd expect walking bass kind of ideas to rub off.

Of course, this is all a massive generalisation, but if it's what gets most airtime on local radio, that is what will (consciously or subconsciously ) Inspire local bassists.

[bosw04k]

+1 to regional styles going out though, I guess that's the influence of Itunes, internet radio etc. I mean I'm sure I have heard a good few tracks from the above areas

[mambo4]

I would imagine the playing varies by musical genere/style more than region?

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by mambo4

I would imagine the playing varies by musical genere/style more than region?

Yeah, I would say this ^

Also I would think that what you listen to would influence you more as well.

[Systolic]

The Midwest in general, is more or less a mash up of the NW and Southern styles in my opinion. Chicago is its kind of it's own monster.

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by dougjwray

You left out Boston, which is schizophrenic: the hometown bassists never outgrew garage rock bass; the outsiders (namely Berklee students) are chopsmeisters.

I left Boston out on purpose... Lived in Mass for 4 years and could never understand that place...

[drnknmstr]

I thought this was a great insight. I mean it's impossible to catch it all in large sweeping statements, but I think you know that.

There are certain subcultures, especially among pros in different regions. I mean you can listen to musicians overall. NYC and LA have pretty different styles. Chicago for sure.

There's a reason why Texas and Chicago blues are distinct styles.

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by mambo4

I would imagine the playing varies by musical genere/style more than region?

In what genre do bassists play 100's of notes per second in 42" scale basses with 19 strings?

I mean, what genre is inspiring Chicago bassists nowadays?

[dougjwray]

Just a quick comment about the disappearance of regional music. My wife and I were in Hawaii in 1998 (honeymoon) and I was delighted to go into a K-Mart and hear actual Hawaiian music piped in. By that time, you'd go into a similar place *anywhere* else in the U.S. and hear nothing but Backstreet Boys, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, etc.-- the same stuff everywhere. But not Hawaii. I hope it's still that way.

[dougjwray]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

I left Boston out on purpose... Lived in Mass for 4 years and could never understand that place...

I lived there for 20 years, and love it, but it is an acquired taste.
One thing-- you have hordes of musicians living there, yet almost no music business like what exists in Nashville, N.Y. and L.A. (For example, Rounder Records and Rykodisc -- if they still exist -- are the only labels I can think of.)

[shadowmac]

I disagree. In my experience, younger players in particular thrive on seeing live local bands and quickly determine the stand-outs in any specific genre and they pick up some techniques and style ideas from those players, BUT as one gets a set of chops to call his own, the regional stand-outs make way (in many cases) for the national and international stand-outs. Again, this is a genre specific quest for the "best" players - universal statements do not apply.

To expound, we had several talented bassists in Milwaukee as I was coming up (some are famous i.e. Duane Stuermer), they were to be found in every genre imaginable, but my tone, my style and the mix I wanted to hear was based on the national bands I was into. Based on the OP breakdown, there is nothing "Southern" nor "NorthWest" about my style or tone and I would argue that most of the players whom I know, that play original music, would say the same thing. Playing covers is something entirely different.

I do agree that the net and YouTube are fast eradicating any regional sound or style that might have been there...Sheez', a year ago I saw a band from Egypt playing Southern Rock...and doing it well.

Jusy my $.02

Mac

Originally Posted by Systolic

The Midwest in general, is more or less a mash up of the NW and Southern styles in my opinion. Chicago is its kind of it's own monster.

[loinmute]

I am from Texas where Rex Brown and Tommy Shannon, Mark Pirro, and Dusty Hill are the big names. I like your description about Southern bassists. I can't forget Leon and Oakley either.