New to the bass ... WHO should I listen to?

[Turtlejimmy]

I just bought my first bass last week, am setting up lessons next week, and I've only got one famous bass player to study (James Jamerson, I'm a Motown fan).

HIS bass playing is enough to get me started (I bought a Precision, the Motown bass), but I'm wondering .... WHO else should I be listening to? (especially for R&B, but I like jazz and classical too). Thanks.


Turtle

[James Hart]

Everyone and everything! Not just bass, but where all things connect and intertwine within a song.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Everyone and everything! Not just bass, but where all things connect and intertwine within a song.

Big +1

[Audiophage]

Just listen to whatever you like and take inspiration from that.

[Jarrett]

Jamerson is a great start. In that vein Duck Dunn and Chuck Rainey are also great foundations.

[Turtlejimmy]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Jarrett, if you're usually playing bass when you post, what do you type with, your toes? Hey, thanks for those names ... I've not heard of those guys but I'll look for them.

Yeah, just any names of famous players in different areas of music, whose recordings I can find and buy. Or also, recordings that, as a bass player, you wouldn't want to miss. What's a must have album for any bass player's collection?


Turtle

[Jarrett]

Actually I meant to suggest that I am smiling or laughing as people frequently take my posts out of context. But a lot of times I am playing the bass when I post as well

The Motown stuff is a great bass to start. It's the roots of electric bass.

[Ron G]

I'm also a big fan of Motown growing up in Detroit. If you really like that sound/ tone put some flatwound string on our P-bass. I use GHS Precision flatwound string on all basses and they are less than $30. Jamerson used La Bella flatwound strings, but there is a big difference in price.

GHS Flatwound Strings Overview - YouTube

[lindseyp]

Originally Posted by Turtlejimmy

I just bought my first bass last week, ... I'm wondering .... WHO else should I be listening to? ...

Everyone. Figure out how each player makes the bass work for the music and the player.

[BassBus]

Originally Posted by lindseyp

Everyone. Figure out how each player makes the bass work for the music and the player.

Not just how guys make the bass work for the music but how some other guys get it wrong. Gary Willis says this. the people you don't like are just as much of an influence as those you do like. Why? They let you know what you don't like and what doesn't feel right to you.

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Everyone and everything! Not just bass, but where all things connect and intertwine within a song.

+1

[Tituscrow]

Rather than just namecheck a bunch of my favourite bass players, I will agree with most of the above...listen to anything and everything if you are serious about becoming a competent bassist. And for what it's worth, here's some other tips:

Pay attention to the bass lines in simple, quick things like adverts, or listen out for the bass in film and tv soundtracks. It will all give you a greater understanding of why it is such a crucial part of the whole...

Ignore debates about 'fingers vs pick'. Try both as much as you like and decide what works for you.

Try learning some stuff by ear instead of going straight for tab or YouTube instructional videos. Use them by all means, but only to compliment your instinctive feel for how to play a song.

If you are lucky enough to play with a good drummer - and you'll know if he/she is good - then work on your bond. Plenty of eye contact and visual cues. And do your best to hang on to them!

Keep a six string acoustic handy to play with chords occasionally. It will reinforce to you how bass notes and scales work within the tune/melody/harmony of a song.

Accept that you can always get better. No bass player worth their salt will ever say they know it all...there is always something new to learn.

Most importantly, if and when you hit the groove, you are smiling and nodding your head, then you will have that gift of knowing you've found your instrument.

Good luck and welcome

[BassBob1]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Everyone and everything! Not just bass, but where all things connect and intertwine within a song.

This indeed. But it depends on what kind of music you like. Start there. Here are some of my favorite bassist though.

Todd Smallie w/ Derek Trucks Band
Derek Trucks Band - Voices Inside (Everything is Everything) - YouTube

Oteil Burbridge w/ Tedeschi Trucks Band (also check him out w/ the Allman Brothers and Aquarium Rescue Unit
Midnight in Harlem (Live from Atlanta) - YouTube

Jerry Jermontt (he's played with a bunch of people)
"Ridin' Thumb" King Curtis & The Kingpins (live) - YouTube

[BigDaddyMick]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Jamerson is a great start. In that vein Duck Dunn and Chuck Rainey are also great foundations.

^^^^
This.

That's where I started.
Lots of good stuff between those three.

Soul/funk/disco.....it's ALL good.

[s_mcsleazy]

well if you've just started motown is a great place to start. means you'll get a sence of counter basslines fairly quickly but i also say try the following

the who (to give you a idea of how bass can be played)
shellac/jesus lizard/big black (helps you get a idea of how bass can lock in with the drums)
fugazi (how to fit a certian style of bass into another style that shouldent work)
the stranglers (because jj burnel made me wanna play bass)

[TeeAre]

So. Many. Answers.

Explore as much as you can. And as stated before, listen to everything you can stomach.

Jamerson, Dunn, and Rainey for sure. Motown and funk in general. As much jazz as your heart can stand, both standards and more modern stuff.

Once you get some more focused exposure like that, you might want to check out some more solo bassist. Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, etc. ... they'll make you want to give up bass forever because of how good they are, but don't .

The real stars of bass, at least to me, have heavy Jazz, soul, blues feeling. Still, there are tons of just straight rock bassists that are worth listening to and studying. ALWAYS HAVE YOUR EARS OPEN!

It won't be long before you realize just how flexible and versatile 4/5 strings can be, and just how endless the realm of bass can be. Just make sure you're having fun and be patient. and I don't think you'll run out of artists to listen to or things to try.

Sorry if this is a long-winded answer. I hope it helps, though.

[Turtlejimmy]

Thanks everyone! I knew this was the right place.

I hear what you guys are saying about listening to a lot of music (and therefore a lot of bass players). My recent UPGRADE in stereo system sound, with a good subwoofer, has just brought BASS back into my listening life, whereas just as recent as a few weeks ago, it was only bass. So, now I'm really hearing and feeling it. I no longer have to resort to studio headphones to really hear the bass parts.

Great suggestions, all. The thing I like best about bass is how it cuts across all musical styles and genres and belongs everywhere. That's not true about any other instrument I play (guitars, drums, trumpet).

When I listen randomly to bass in music over the radio .... it's amazing how different the styles are .... Some of it is inspired and inspiring and some is downright plodding. I'm hoping to develop a lively style of bass playing.


Turtle

[bass12]

Good suggestions so far. I'll suggest you check out some reggae, especially stuff on the Studio One label and anything featuring Flabba Holt or Aston Barrett.

[dukeorock]

You could spend your whole life on Jamerson, and I applaud you for starting with one of the greats of all time! It's tough to ask such a diverse group of folks to give suggestions...some love funk, some don't, and some have very different ideas of what 'funk' even means, really

For myself, as a kid I wanted to hear what I thought of as the most iconic players. JUST IMO

1.Paul MacCartney
2.James Jamerson
3. Carol Kaye

Then it branched out to whatever caught my ear...John Wetton, JJ Brunel, Ron Carter. When I stumbled onto Willie Dixon, EVERYTHING changed. His work with Howling Wolf, Chuck Berry, Little Walter, his solo work and of course, The Big Three Trio. I always hated the way most bands cover Chuck Berry tunes and it's mostly because they don't try to get that unique Willie Dixon feel...but that's me...everyone has to chase down their own sound and vibe...you can't go wrong with the first 3 I listed...those are people who changed the way we think about bass.

Best of luck to you!

[Turtlejimmy]

BassBob1,

Thanks for those clips .... I am a big fan of this band. I like Derek's slide playing and she is a great singer. They have such a good groove and great taste ... I like how they're taking a horn section on the road. Would love to see these guys in concert.

And thanks to who mentioned that it's okay to play with pick or finger(s) to get started on bass ........ I'm a guitar player .... the pick works great for me, fingers I'm getting used to. I'm hoping my new teacher isn't a one or the other sort of teacher.

And Dukeorock, I'm also a big MacCartney fan. So much so, that I almost bought a Hoffner Beatle bass (it was pretty cool). And of course, as I mentioned earlier, I'm making a study of Jamerson. But Carol Kaye ....... I don't know that I've heard that name before. I'll look into it. Thanks.


Turtle