What bassist have tought you? (Game)

[azfryguy]

I was thinking about this last night while listening to Blink-182 and thinking of Primus. What bassists have taught you things about music? I want to make this a game because I feel a little challenge will give people more drive to make better answers. Here are rules! Use three bassist; try not to copy people answers. You can copy the bassist just not the answer. You do not have to use three bassist, you can use more or less. Please, if you are reading this thread, post something I do not care if your answer is simple or you are just adding on to someone else’s post. That being said here are mine:

Mark Hoppus, I have learned for him that bass lines do not have to be anything special. They can be simple and still sound amazing.

Les Claypool, He has taught me that not everyone is going to like odd and different music, but **** em. Music is about having fun and enjoying what you do.

Gary Willis, I watched a video and he was talking about playing with a light touch and being accurate with your notes.

[BigOldHarry]

Marcus Miller: I learned that you can play slap and sound great without spewing a thousand notes at once;

James Jamerson: I learned that the pocket is sacred, but real funk stretches the pocket.

Roger Glover (who, you ask? Deep Purple!): I learned that you don't have to play fast or clever, but play good news with good tone and support the band.

[MatticusMania]

My friend was literally taught by Kira Roessler, formerly of Black Flag.

[Aussie Player]

Jack Bruce - There is a long fretboard beyond the 5th fret.
Entwistle - Pushing your gear to the limits pushed your playing to the limits.
Andy Frazer - Short phrases and slides are very effective and individual.
JPJ - Bass can highlight a melody and drive the music.

I travelled my own road after these blokes and blended them with me.

[maturanesa]

BigOldHarry

[cableguy]

Cliff Williams-You don't have to be flashy are technically awesome to hold down the bottom end well. Groove does not have a minimum number of notes.

John Paul Jones-The blues are where we start. Even if you are playing rock.

Eddie Jackson- Find your tone a develop it. How many post do we see on how certain players get their tone? We all play bass, but you can sound a little different from the next guy it's OK.

[ster]

Chris Squire - Taught me that there is life beyond the root and you can contribute to the melody and also propel a song.

Geddy Lee - I learned that the bass can sound badass....and melodic.

Dee Dee Ramone - Helped me realize that to make rock or punk work, you have to play with attitude or it sounds like you're faking it.

Paul McCartney - Every song I learn from the Beatles teaches me something new.

Roly Wynn and Zia Geelani (Ozric Tentacles) Taught me how to hold it down while the rest of the band goes into outer space.

[Etchbass]

Robert Sledge- Fuzz is your friend.

Colin Greenwood- A lot of the time, the bass is there to hold down the lofty melody/songwriting of 2 or more geniuses in your band.

Sid Vicious- Practice your f***ing instrument and don't do drugs/kill your girlfriend.

[ThudThudThud]

Gary Thain: Taught me to think about melodies and counter-melodies without overplaying.

Lee Sklar: Taught me that sometimes you don't need to play too many notes to make a song groove. Sometimes less is more. (See also John McVie for the same thing)

Dee Murray: Taught me to play the song. It's what matters in the end. The individual part is irrelevant if the song isn't played by all. That could mean meandering melody lines, or simple whole notes. Play what the song needs.

[ster]

Originally Posted by ThudThudThud

Gary Thain: Taught me to think about melodies and counter-melodies without overplaying.

Nice to see someone giving props to the great Gary Thain.
There was a long period in my playing when all I wanted to do was sound like him.

[elgecko]

Donald Duck Dunn: "A" is a good country key!

[viper4000]

I'll throw out a few that usually don't get mentioned:

Oteil Burbridge (AAB) - Showed me how to join an existing band and keep the old music the way it was, while adding your own mark to it.

Billy Talbot (Crazy Horse) - the mere definition of "pocket"

Paul Jackson - (Headhunters) - his style of groove really inspired me to play bass. Lot's of motion, but the groove still maintains a focal point.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by maturanesa

BigOldHarry

???

[T-MOST]

Marcus Miller tought me how to groove and funk at the same time. He tought me how the notes you choose not to play are just as important as the notes you do.

Nathan East tought me how melody and harmony can be combined to create a foundation that is as solid as granite but as sweet honey.

James Jamerson tought me that creativity is a good thing. Nobody could take a bassline that could have/should have been simple and flip the timming and phrasing so that it danced within the song... Pure genius!

[cjmodulus]

Victor Wooten- music is a language. It sounds simple at first, but it's changed my approach to learning writing and playing.

Rocco Prestia- deep grooves are tasty.

Chris Squire- you don't have to limit yourself to roots or only to grooves. You can provide driving counter melodies as well. This may have been said, I did my best to rephrase it

[cjmodulus]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

???

Maybe you taught him that there really IS no best bass for metal...

[maturanesa]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

???

i meant "your three choices are cool"

I Should been write "the same as BigOldHarry"

[azfryguy]

Ed Friedland, It is important to know your bass

[UnfortunateTony]

Krist Novoselic: You don't just have to play the root note.

Marcel Jacob: Bass players can solo without ruining the integrity of the song.

Bobby Vega: Playing with a pick is okay.

Lemmy: Distortion is good. As are Rickenbackers.

Chris Squire: Rickenbackers.

John Entwistle: Bassists can play melodies. And Rickenbackers (towards the beginning of his career).

Geddy Lee: Bass players can play chords. (This has become a huge part of my style) Oh, and Rickenbackers.

[crustychef]

Juan Alderete - it's alright to make some noise

Claypool- slapping on fretless is fun and sounds good

Mingus- deep grooves can still sound a little off kilter and still groove deep