a player's voice vs a player's tone

dedpool1052 · #1 02-27-2013, 09:43 PM

don't post threads often, but i've been genuinley curious what others think on the topic. i've hear people's comments about a player having a tone that makes them instantley recognizable in a recording and have heard similar comments citing a player having a "voice". is there a difference between a player's voice and their tone or are the one in the same?

Mushroo · #2 02-27-2013, 09:49 PM

Did you ask the people who made these comments what they meant by their comments?

Personally I would say that "tone" relates only to the quality of sound, whereas "voice" might arguably include other factors such as rhythm, dynamics, note choice, improvisation, etc. (depending on the musical style). In other words what you are "saying" in the musical language (just as we might talk about a writer's "voice"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer%27s_voice

zachoff · #3 02-27-2013, 10:02 PM

Voice... How you play.
Tone... The sound of the noise you make.

I know I have tendencies when I play. Certain patterns and stuff. Similarities in riffs I come up with. That's my voice. My fingers + bass + amp + cab is my tone.

two fingers · #4 02-27-2013, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mushroo

Did you ask the people who made these comments what they meant by their comments?

Personally I would say that "tone" relates only to the quality of sound, whereas "voice" might arguably include other factors such as rhythm, dynamics, note choice, improvisation, etc. (depending on the musical style). In other words what you are "saying" in the musical language (just as we might talk about a writer's "voice"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer%27s_voice

Didn't read the Wiki link but this is very well stated.

Dbassmon · #5 02-28-2013, 07:07 AM

Tone is part of your voice.

Your voice is what distinguishes you, makes you recognizable. It consists of your touch (tone) and your vocabulary (what harmonic choices you make). They are components of your musical world view (voice)

emblymouse · #6 03-01-2013, 08:28 AM

Voice is the intangeable combination for any artist. Some don't have one and some can't even recognize it (including the listener). Some are born with it and some mature into it.
Above all, you need to have something to say. This is the distinction.

dwagner · #7 03-01-2013, 08:31 AM

Or possibly even

Tone: sound of music/instrument
Voice: sound of the singer's er....voice.

Bob C · #8 03-01-2013, 05:58 PM

What distinction, if any is there between voice and style?

peledog · #9 03-01-2013, 06:39 PM

There should be a tv show called 'The Tone'.

Panel:

Pino Palladino
Flea
John Taylor
Esperanza

hunterred43 · #10 03-04-2013, 01:25 PM

I'm wondering if this is like the fingerprint of a person that you can't really change. How much of that is lost with today's heavy reliance on compression etc to even out musical dynamics.

phillybass101 · #11 03-04-2013, 01:37 PM

For me my voice is what I use to express myself best musically. I have found my voice in the Electric Bass Guitar. Tone is yet one characteristic of my voice. Some players have developed over time their voice and their tone to the point of easy distinction. Hence a Stanley Clarke, Geddy Lee, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten. When they all started out even though phenominal players way back then, if you followed their careers when they were young players they sounded just like every other bass player. Over time they developed signature tones, playing styles, cliche's etc. Another bassist who is doing this is David Dyson. I'm sure there are many other players in other genres of music who are doing the same or have already done it. Flea would be another one.