Steve DiGiorgio: Role of Bass in Modern Metal - Page 2

Epitaph04 · #21 11-11-2012, 02:05 PM

I really wouldnt be surprised if that was Araya's real bass track. Come on guys, this is Slayer not Tony Grey's band. Most metal bass tracks are pretty sloppy.

Duckwater · #22 11-11-2012, 02:21 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rN5N84lUFY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkQFxfVIKpk

Love these, they're good enough to listen to on their own.

ethanbowen666 · #23 11-11-2012, 02:31 PM

Ya he's totally right

Tituscrow · #24 11-11-2012, 02:37 PM

Sorry fellas, but you are all way off. Dick Lovgren is the master.

http://youtu.be/4A_tSyJBsRQ

http://youtu.be/KGHV4rwYXJo

Tractorr · #25 11-11-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herrick

Even though the uploader "promises" it's the real bass track, I'm sure it's meant to be a joke. From what I can actually hear on their albums, Araya's never used a tone like that.

I am pretty certain that someone nulled out the stereo information and then tried to EQ out only the bass frequencies. There are a couple parts where you can hear some drums. This method of isolating a bass track completely destroys the tone so it very well may be the actual track.

SBsoundguy · #26 11-11-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epitaph04

I really wouldnt be surprised if that was Araya's real bass track. Come on guys, this is Slayer not Tony Grey's band. Most metal bass tracks are pretty sloppy.

Yeah even some of Cliff's tracks sound kinda (only kinda) sloppy. The fuzz definitely doesn't help it either. No one doubts Cliff's skills though.

Duckwater · #27 11-11-2012, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tractorr

I am pretty certain that someone nulled out the stereo information and then tried to EQ out only the bass frequencies. There are a couple parts where you can hear some drums. This method of isolating a bass track completely destroys the tone so it very well may be the actual track.

I'm pretty sure the tracks are from Guitar Hero/Rock Band

Rev J · #28 11-11-2012, 02:52 PM

Actually on alot of Slayers stuff Kerry King plays bass on. Kind of like David Gilmore playing bass on alot of Pink Floyd stuff.

Stay Brown,
Rev J

SBsoundguy · #29 11-11-2012, 02:59 PM

I remember the first time I heard AJFA I thought the album was recorded without a bass. It made me feel sorry for Newstead that he was almost entirely kicked out of the mix.

kleinenenten · #30 11-11-2012, 03:10 PM

Being a metal bass player myself, I agree with DiGiorgio entirely. Every time I've jammed with a new group, they're all amazed that I don't just play root notes the entire time. I'm not saying that root notes don't sound good in the right spots, but come on, do something different. It's almost insulting to me as a bass player that I'm "so good" when I'm really only doing very basic things. My understanding of theory is very practical, but it does seem that most bass players in my area are just there because they thought bass was easy. Personally, I want my own sound and my own space in the mix. If I can't hear myself, I will say something, because my bass tracks add something to the mix. If I don't think that they do, I write a new line!

Anyway, that's just me. Bass players should be heard!

Epitaph04 · #31 11-11-2012, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBsoundguy

I remember the first time I heard AJFA I thought the album was recorded without a bass. It made me feel sorry for Newstead that he was almost entirely kicked out of the mix.

Although i like how raw the album sounds, it really is a shame. Newsted plays some really cool stuff on the title track.

Luke19Boarder · #32 11-11-2012, 03:17 PM

I think that Steve was onto something, in general, with his comments. However, there are a number of bass players in metal bands that really shine, and really pull their sonic weight.

Dan Briggs - Between the Buried and Me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IMbQ...feature=fvwrel

I really like from 2:00-2:27

Also Arif from Protest the Hero is a beast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF5AC...feature=relmfu

SBsoundguy · #33 11-11-2012, 03:20 PM

This is a good example of what I mean about DiGiorgio's noodling. It just sucks the bottom end right out of the track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbXEUGU4ED4

curbowkid · #34 11-11-2012, 03:25 PM

You guys should SERIOUSLY check out a band called Soreption. Their bassist plays finger style on a 6 string BTB and its flawless! Worth the listen for sure

Hamlet7768 · #35 11-11-2012, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

I try and avoid unison riffs for this reason. The modern heavy guitarist will try and displace the entire band in eq if allowed. If I'm doing something that's a counter melody, or counter rhythm, I think it allows more space between us to distinguish our respective lines and also makes for a more interesting product to listen to. Geezer would've been buried if he'd just doubled the guitar lines, but his groovy lines that followed the drums (almost in mockery of the guitar riffs) kept him much more audible in the mix.

I get what you're saying here, and I agree, but I think there is something to be said for locking guitar and bass in unison, preferably with complementary EQing, for emphasis on a riff.

I love threads like these as a budding player who figures that if he's going to make mistakes he might as well try not to make the same mistakes as before. In other words, thanks to those who contribute their informed opinions!

newbold · #36 11-11-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kleinenenten

Being a metal bass player myself, I agree with DiGiorgio entirely. Every time I've jammed with a new group, they're all amazed that I don't just play root notes the entire time. I'm not saying that root notes don't sound good in the right spots, but come on, do something different. It's almost insulting to me as a bass player that I'm "so good" when I'm really only doing very basic things. My understanding of theory is very practical, but it does seem that most bass players in my area are just there because they thought bass was easy. Personally, I want my own sound and my own space in the mix. If I can't hear myself, I will say something, because my bass tracks add something to the mix. If I don't think that they do, I write a new line!

Anyway, that's just me. Bass players should be heard!

It's when you're doing the basic things well that the rest of the band plays better.

As long as you can herd the melodies and roll grooves up and down, it's not about complexity but the little things that just happen to be there.

kleinenenten · #37 11-11-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbold

It's when you're doing the basic things well that the rest of the band plays better.

As long as you can herd the melodies and roll grooves up and down, it's not about complexity but the little things that just happen to be there.

Definitely! I could play a lot more intricate stuff, but it doesn't fit and detracts from the song. I prefer middle difficulty stuff that works so I'm not bored with my lines, but they also complement the rest of the song. Sometimes that just means blues/jazz fills, but if it sounds good it's good to me!

Clef_de_fa · #38 11-12-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbold

It's when you're doing the basic things well that the rest of the band plays better.

As long as you can herd the melodies and roll grooves up and down, it's not about complexity but the little things that just happen to be there.

I'm not sure of that ... to me it is more if everyone is on the same page as to what they will do, on the same technical level.

I don't like that much the rythm section VS melodic section most musician end up doing ... because you have a very active melodic and a very boring bass/drum combo. Because it sounds like everyone said ..."I don't tell you how to play your part don't tell me how to play mine". Or they think that by only be a support member it will make the guitar sound better so the band sound better. Which isn't always the case because it gives a feeling of two entity playing together and that the bass/drum could play whatever they want and it will work as long as they don't draw any attention ...

I prefer a band where everything sound like they worked together to make an awesome arrangement where you have many intricate things going on.

to me a root player is very boring to listen to or someone who only follow the guitar note-for-note ... it just create a wall of sound but just that is boring ... it is better to have a wall of sound at one point in the song to make that part really powerful then seperate. Even the drum can be really interesting and not just have a metronome duty. You are playing in Metal band not a dance band. This is why I like metal band that are drawing a lot from Wagner, Stravinsky etc. Not just how powerful and dark the sound is but all the style of composing music too ... like counterpoint, polyphony, you know the complexe arrangement classical composer are known for.

Herrick · #39 11-12-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tractorr

I am pretty certain that someone nulled out the stereo information and then tried to EQ out only the bass frequencies. There are a couple parts where you can hear some drums. This method of isolating a bass track completely destroys the tone so it very well may be the actual track.

I think you're right. I just couldn't accept that his playing was so damned sloppy because it sounds good on Hell Awaits

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev J

Actually on alot of Slayers stuff Kerry King plays bass on. Kind of like David Gilmore playing bass on alot of Pink Floyd stuff.

I've heard this from time to time but the limited searches I've done didn't turn up any information. Where did you hear about this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke19Broader

I think that Steve was onto something, in general, with his comments. However, there are a number of bass players in metal bands that really shine, and really pull their sonic weight.

Dan Briggs - Between the Buried and Me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IMbQ...feature=fvwrel

I really like from 2:00-2:27

This sounds cool. I have to check this band out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBsoundguy

This is a good example of what I mean about DiGiorgio's noodling. It just sucks the bottom end right out of the track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbXEUGU4ED4

Hmm...I'm not sure what you mean. It sounds ok to me. The lack of bottom end sounds more like a production problem than a problem related to playing technique.

Luke19Boarder · #40 11-12-2012, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herrick

This sounds cool. I have to check this band out.

I'm not big into metal, but these guys are hands down my favorite. I would start with their album "Colors." If you've got an hour to kill, listen to it all the way through:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-OagFHpYYs

They also have a live DVD (which can be found on youtube) of them playing the whole thing flawlessly.