So what's the opinion of Talkbass about Roger Waters as a bass player?

Blazer · #1 09-23-2011, 06:59 AM

It's funny, when Roger Waters is brought up in casual conversations, he's always referred to as a singer songwriter, never as a bass player. The fact that if you enter his name into an image finder shows him with a Fender P-bass (or a Rickenbacker 4001) strapped on, doesn't really register. In the general eye he's "That guy from Pink Floyd who wrote most of their stuff." the fact that he played bass too doesn't come to mind, he might as well have been pictured with a Ukelele and people wouldn't know he played one.

But how do you guys rate him as a bass player, certainly when compared to other Prog Bassists like Mike Rutherford, Chris Squire and Geddy Lee?

My personal view is that he blossomed as a bass player as he embraced the Fender Presicion. Albums like "The Piper at the gates of dawn" and "Saucer full of secrets" where he used his Rick have that typical "Clank" but the bass is kinda buried within the frequency range it had to share with the keyboards and if Waters played high up his Rick sounded so guitar like that you wouldn't even know it was a bass.

So for me, it was when he exchanged Rickenbacker Clank for Precision Punch that his bass playing becomes interesting because of it now being audible, you can actually HEAR what he is doing.

Now certainly when compared to his prog peers, Waters isn't a flashy player, no growling lead bass like Squire or creating atmospheric textures like Rutherford. It's basically all about foundation as Waters' style is concerned, serving the song.
Pink Floyd - Echoes Part 1 (Live At Pompeii) [HD & Remastered Version] - YouTube
"Echoes" to me was the first indication of what Waters is capable of. Certainly when they arrive at that incredible groove at 6;27

And of course there are plenty of Pink Floyd Songs where the bass line IS the song, of which I guess THIS one is the best known.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NKDSDbipGU

What also contributes to Waters' overal sound is the fact that both Syd Barrett and David Gilmour played Fender guitars with their typical toppy sound quality. (Although as that "Echoes" clip showed, when coupled to a Big Muff, Gilmour could get a really gnarly and awesome lead tone going.)

And in songs like "One of these days" Waters went all out with his driving delay powered punches.
One of These Days - Pink Floyd - live at Pompeii - YouTube

JetBlackJazz · #2 09-23-2011, 07:05 AM

hes my 2nd biggest bass influence...besides Mr. Burton. I think hes probably about the most creative bass player ive seen floating around prog. Hes not incredibly flashy, but as you said, he puts such a solid foundation for the song it requires no flash. thats gilmours job

KillerPenguin · #3 09-23-2011, 07:17 AM

I was suprised he isnt mentioned more often.... Since I love that band, and ive seen him live performing The Wall, he was one of the guys that made me pick up the instrument.

And I have to agree with what you are saying about the Precision...

prd004 · #4 09-23-2011, 07:21 AM

Waters is an interesting topic. He's not a brilliant bassist, singer, or guitarist in my opinion.
But he is a gifted writer and a good all around musician, he's also been a driving force in a legendary band.
Tough to sum up but I'd say as a bassist he's solid but not spectacular, but the whole package is hall of fame material.

Warrior_Bass · #5 09-23-2011, 07:40 AM

For a second, I was confusing Roger Waters with Roger Glover. I was freaking out for a minute...Roger Glover played with Pink Floyd!?

Idiot moment aside, Waters style and tone has influenced my playing as of late. The first song on the Wish You Were Here album (among many others) is the epitome of groove and flavor. I could only aspire to such tastefulness.

**pringlw** · #6 09-23-2011, 07:49 AM

I think Roger Waters is a great bass player. Not a ton of flash, but the bass lines in so many Floyd songs are absolutely central to the pulse of the music. His lines are brilliant in their musicality. In that way, I almost compare him to James Jamerson. Ok, they have incredibly different styles, and they played in totally different genres - but the common ground is that the bass lines they wrote is the central pulse of the overall song in so many instances. Think "Money" or "Heard it through the Grapevine". In both cases the bass line is the center of the song.

DeliriumTremens · #7 09-23-2011, 08:12 AM

A lot of the Floyd basslines were played by Gilmour, especially on the later records. I think on Animals Waters only played on Dogs

bolophonic · #8 09-23-2011, 08:15 AM

I didn't even know who the bass player of Pink Floyd was.

Muttleybass · #9 09-23-2011, 08:16 AM

He's solid, in the pocket and has incredible tone. His lines fit the music perfectly.

Not everybody needs to be Flea.

iamthebassman · #10 09-23-2011, 08:17 AM

Wow, that was pretty good. 7 posts before the "Gilmour played the bass parts" line came up, usually happens by the 3rd post.

lankyloo · #11 09-23-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

Waters is an interesting topic. He's not a brilliant bassist, singer, or guitarist in my opinion.
But he is a gifted writer and a good all around musician, he's also been a driving force in a legendary band.
Tough to sum up but I'd say as a bassist he's solid but not spectacular, but the whole package is hall of fame material.

+1

tdub0199 · #12 09-23-2011, 08:22 AM

Waters is a solid player with great tone.... although Gilmour did record alot of the famous basslines we know from Floyd.......

HolmeBass · #13 09-23-2011, 08:23 AM

Yeah, I always thought Roger was a decent bassist, but have heard now that many of the best bass moments on the studio albums (like the fretless bass on "Hey You") were actually played by Gilmour. Slightly disappointing. Then again, in the movie "Live at Pompeii" you can see film of Waters laying down the defining synth track on "Run Like Hell", so they all put in what they could and there is no denying Waters' skill as a musician in the larger sense of the word. I highly recommend that movie to any Floyd fan (who am I kidding, you've all probably seen it 10 times already...)

Warrior_Bass · #14 09-23-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

Waters is a solid player with great tone.... although Gilmour did record alot of the famous basslines we know from Floyd.......

Is this verified or hearsay among the band members? How does a bassist just allow the guitarist to write and record the bass lines without losing his dignity?

NickLomango · #15 09-23-2011, 08:34 AM

I guess everybody eventually finds or constantly looks for his/hers personal playing style. What really matters is that you feel good about it. He might not be the most technical or even most creative bass player but can you imagine Pink Floyd without those bass lines? It doesn't matter who plays them on albums, live he did play them and as a songwriter he definitely had something to do composing those lines.
As for me I like his style and actually his signature P Bass it has been my first Fender, by the way I plan in buying a AV 62 P Bass since I saw Live in Pompeii.

domdec314 · #16 09-23-2011, 08:34 AM

Considering that Waters didn't seem to have trouble playing the songs live, even during the Animals tour, I find it hard to believe that Gilmour recorded "alot" of the basslines. It is completely hearsay, as there's no data to support it.

NickLomango · #17 09-23-2011, 10:16 AM

I guess what really matters is how you feel the music he played/plays. We all agree RW isn´t the most technical and skillful bass player around however can you imagine the Pink Floyd sound without those bass lines? Sure many people say Gilmour played some (or more then some) bass lines with the Floyd but live Roger had to do his part. I would say he was just perfect for the Pink Floyd sound.

emblymouse · #18 09-23-2011, 10:27 AM

I'm betting Mr. Waters considers himself in a somewhat larger scope than 'Bass Player', and might even consider it a slight. But then he did bite when Fender dangled it's carrot with the P bass thing.

The Mouse · #19 09-23-2011, 10:40 AM

Never thought of him as a muso as such. I feel that Waters wasn't interested in any other music except the music he was working on. Having said that, I believe he played his part when it came to doing what he had to do in The Floyd..

Imagine him jamming with Keith Richards for example?.. I can't..

In fact I can't imagine him jamming with anyone. Strange that. Doesn't compute in my mind

TC2112 · #20 09-23-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mouse

Never thought of him as a muso as such. I feel that Waters wasn't interested in any other music except the music he was working on. Having said that, I believe he played his part when it came to doing what he had to do in The Floyd..

Imagine him jamming with Keith Richards for example?.. I can't..

In fact I can't imagine him jamming with anyone. Strange that. Doesn't compute in my mind

+1

Roger has always been more of an intellectual to me instead of a muso. Roger does what he does well, but that's what he does. His song writing, musically, isn't so fantastic, but it works. Where Roger shines is lyrically and in composition and concept. He is able to bring ideas to life so well that you can almost always visualize a Floyd song. He had the other guys (especially David Gilmour) to be the musicians.

Rodger isn't going to do guest spots on other records or blow you away by setting in with somebody in an all star band. He writes stories and puts them to music, and he may be one of the best ever at that.

And by the way - I love Pink Floyd.