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  #1  
Old 01-12-2009, 02:04 PM
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Discussion on Various Bass Players Style Technique

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I wanted to take a look at the style and techniques of various bassists listed below. Include best works (songs), and what makes that bassist unique, and also what makes that bassist a good bassist. If you can incorporate some theory or like to add other bassists as well please do. Also how about the band they were in, and there style of music and how did it influence the bass player. See example below, and feel free to add.

Flea
Known for bringing slap and pop from funk music to rock music. Creative bass lines. Typically creates melodic lines, that are easy on the ear. He uses speed to make bass parts interesting. He also seems to use hammer ons and pull off usually in a very fast fashion to create some fun parts in bass lines. His works can't be narrowed down into the top five since the majority of is bass parts are very good. Best works on Albums Californiacation and Bloos Sugar Sex Magic.

Paul McCartney
All around musician who can play any instrument. Along with all the musicians in this list, born with natural talent. Able to create melodic bass parts, that for the most part, when anaylzed are quiet simple. Not sure how he does this. Best works include many tracks on Abbey Road.

James Jamerson
Arguably the best bass player of all time. A pioneer in many ways. Jamerson took risks on the bass, that have never been done before. He tells a story with his bass parts. The motown music in itself is very melodic, and put you in a happy mood. Jamerson mostly used one finger known as the hook. He loved to use open strings, walking back to the root, common arpeggios, and his sense of timing allowed him to play around with the bass, and have fun with it. His son once said that James Jamerson told him that if you don't feel the music, or dont play with feeling, don't play at all. Best works include every song.

John Paul Jones
Very good bassist in a band full of very talented musicians. Influenced a lot by Jamerson. Great works include the lemon song. I would like to say that he really tells a story with his bass parts. Led Zeppelin II is an example of his best works. Likes to walk the bass, and uses the blues scale.

Roger Waters
Ok, so he isn't the best bassist, or a very good one, but he deserves some credit. The bass parts of Pink Floyd, actually all music of Pink Floyd, is very simple and easy, but at the same time very meldoic and full, well rounded. He was able to like Paul McCartney make interesting bass parts, while using minimal work.
  #2  
Old 01-12-2009, 08:28 PM
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no response???
  #3  
Old 01-13-2009, 12:28 AM
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I can agree with you here....Just a very subjective topic that I'm too lazy to go into.
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  #4  
Old 01-13-2009, 09:25 AM
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I have to disagree about McCartney's lines being "simple." I think you have to look at them in the context of when they were written. Those kinds of patterns were virtually unheard of at the time. But because The Beatles had such an impact on the development of modern popular music, we kind of take them for granted.
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  #5  
Old 01-13-2009, 10:54 AM
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This has kind of been done before:

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