Virtuoso or simpleton or both

[Nobody]

When it comes to bassists do you appreciate someone who plays simple lines that suit the song or does one have to be a virtuoso for you to appreciate them? I like both but usually prefer to listen to music that calls for simple lines. If I like the music and the bass player is serving the song they are cool with me.

I had a friend that was a killer guitar player and he tended to judge music by the amount of virtuosity the guitar player showed. I thought he was missing out on a lot of good music by judging it that way.


What do you say, virtuoso or simpleton or both?

[dvh]

I like a Virtuoso who plays simple lines.....

(seriously)

[JmJ]

Confess, your friend must be Al Dimeola right? I don't judge people by how fast they play.
To me that's like admiring a writer because he or she types fast.

[mambo4]

I like good solid grooving bass lines in songs.
"virtuoso" playing rarely features that.
Jamerson being the obvious exception

[onosson]

The best bass lines IMHO are those where every note has a purpose, and is there for a reason. Simple or otherwise.

[AlvarHanso]

Entirely depends on the song. Some songs are simply best with a simple 1-4-5, and that can make the song fantastic, like the original Summertime Blues. But then John Entwistle gets his hands on it, and it becomes something more. But I think a virtuoso is going to know whether to go Jamerson's tasty lines or Entwistle's insanely fast lines, or to go Willie Dixon. But I have noticed that simplifying will more often get you praise for your playing than adding flourishes will. (If only I would remember that lesson whilst actually playing...)

[Rebop]

Originally Posted by AlvarHanso

...Entwistle's insanely fast lines...

When did that happen?

[jnuts1]

I like Matt Garrison & Ron Blair

both rule

[AlvarHanso]

Originally Posted by Rebop

When did that happen?

I'm going to go ahead and assume that's sarcasm.

[HolmeBass]

Both. Context is everything. With a 12-piece band, a simple locked-in line will rule. As a solo player, a simple line will be lacking. The reverse is true- a complicated line, chording, harmonics, extremely fast shredding, will all actually detract when playing in a 12-piece band, but will sound full, great, and interesting in a solo piece. Context is everything.

[Marty Forrer]

Lee Sklar is the man. They call him the master of the whole note, and he is. However I have heard him do a wicked solo, so he can fill both roles.

[Mayers]

Prefer solo artist or busier style but the music I like is made of that kind of virtuosity.

Dream Theater, Spawn of possession, Necrophagist, old RHCP when the bass line was on part with the guitar, CAB, Bela Fleck and the flecktones, Uzeb, Alain Caron, Joe Pass, Victor Wooten, Zon Zander, Chopin, Micheal Manring.

Otherwise I listen to the music but I won't ever play it nor will be like when the bass player only play root notes for a pop song.

[bassobrutto]

I think there is a vast space between these two extremes which most decent bass players occupy. The best of them, from Jamerson to Bruce Thomas, are great ensemble players who consistently add musical interest to songs through their lines.

[pnut166]

Originally Posted by HolmeBass

Both. Context is everything. With a 12-piece band, a simple locked-in line will rule. As a solo player, a simple line will be lacking. The reverse is true- a complicated line, chording, harmonics, extremely fast shredding, will all actually detract when playing in a 12-piece band, but will sound full, great, and interesting in a solo piece. Context is everything.

+1. All comes down to what the song calls for

[groooooove]

any virtuoso on any instrument is something i admire and get inspired by, regardless of that instruments "roll" in ensembles.

but as a bass player you need to get into groove-concepts, so absolutely i admire both.

[sigmafloyd]

Berry oakley. Simple when it needs to be, virtuoso when it calls for it.

[EricssonB]

As Desert Sessions/QOTSA so succintly put it: "GIVE ME SOUL OR SHOW ME THA DOOR!"

With that said, even when I played only guitar, I HATED listening to or watching folks like Steve Vai. Much more so now.

[Dark Barn]

Originally Posted by bassobrutto

I think there is a vast space between these two extremes which most decent bass players occupy. The best of them, from Jamerson to Bruce Thomas, are great ensemble players who consistently add musical interest to songs through their lines.

I love Bruce Thomas' playing, he seems to draw from both realms mentioned by the OP in equal measure, being modestly flashy in such an underhanded, subtle way. His playing is great on it's own merits but easily takes a back seat depending on what you are paying attention to as the listener. I wonder to what degree working with a brilliant songwriter like Costello is really what is going on here, my attention being competed for by 2 magicians.

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Dark Barn

I love Bruce Thomas' playing, he seems to draw from both realms mentioned by the OP in equal measure, being modestly flashy in such an underhanded, subtle way. His playing is great on it's own merits but easily takes a back seat depending on what you are paying attention to as the listener. I wonder to what degree working with a brilliant songwriter like Costello is really what is going on here, my attention being competed for by 2 magicians.

Great post, that ability is his genius.