Heavly influenced by mediocre bassists

5string5fingers · #1 01-29-2010, 11:24 AM

A lot of people on here including myself look up to the guys,victor wooten,marcus miller,chris squire,geddy lee,john entwistle.

However I find myself being influenced the most by bassist,particularly one,who a lot of people don't find their playing to be anything special.

Todd Harrell from 3 doors down is probably one of my favorite bassist. I love his basslines,and his tone. His lines are really simple,but I consider them to be tasteful and very supportive of the music and I love his use of placing his notes right on the kick for more punch. You can always hear and feel his basslines in their music. I guess there's something about his simplicity that I love and strive to be like.

I love playing fancy,intricate, and melodic basslines but when it comes down to me as a player and what I like playing, I love that basement of low end that goes under and up through the music and supports everything.

Anything strange about not wanting to be flashy and play blinding fast solos or crush peoples heads with my bass playing?
Or does any of this make sense.
Sometimes I feel a little strange looking up to someone who's so simple with their playing.

If someone doesn't know what I'm talking about Not Enough has one of my favorite basslines in it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtDP6sK7_zI

stflbn · #2 01-29-2010, 11:32 AM

I wouldn't call anyone who isn't a wooten or miller, etc Mediocre. Everyone else are the everyday normal talented players.

Personally, I'd much rather hear an everyday player doing his best and fitting the music than I would every player show-boating their talent hell bent on being in the spot-light.

VincentGrim · #3 01-29-2010, 11:34 AM

I admire players like wooten and such for their sheer technical skill, and I do mess around with some of the techniques that they often utilize ((though I'm rubbish and no where near as good as they)). That being said, while I admire those fancy guys, the most influential bass players and the ones I strive to be like (for me anyways) are bassists like Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups, and Jeremy Davis of Paramore. Though I would consider these two to be somewhat advanced bassists, you won't find any "wooten-esque" craziness in their recorded works.
Nothing wrong with being inspired by simpler players, infact I would say it is quite healthy!

5string5fingers · #4 01-29-2010, 11:38 AM

I guess part of it comes from the love and passion of music and wanting to do whatever I can to make music and make it sound its best. I'd rather play simple supportive lines at my very best and enjoy the sound of everybody else than play crazy stuff at half my skill level and spend my whole time concentrating just on what I'm doing.

Richland123 · #5 01-29-2010, 12:08 PM

I admire many bass players who are part of the overall band sound and play in the pocket, keep the groove going, and add tasteful fills. I certainly would not classify them as mediocre players at all and I think they are great players. A few bass players that I think are anchors to the rhythm section and influenced me are Donald "Duck" Dunn from Booker T. & The M.G.s and many other bands, Larry Junstrom from .38 Special (he was also the original bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd), and Banner Thomas from Molly Hatchet. Here are just a few examples.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-7QSMyz5rg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5j8JPsS7Q8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBdE5...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvfc...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSa8IWWXX5k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtGL_...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwj_v...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhhtRxqSrys

codenamepaul · #6 01-30-2010, 07:27 AM

It's really refreshing to hear something like this.I've been reading here for a few days and am pretty tired of the Wooten disciples. Not to disparage the immense talent of bass players like Wooten or Jaco, but really, they would find themselves very much out of their element holding down the rhythm section of a country band. I think my job as the bassist is to couple with the drummer and form the foundation of the rhythm section of the band. That goes for any type of music. I hate blues and country, but have gigged with bands of both types. Give me a key and I'm there. Been playing for over 25 years and stood in with more bands than I can count. Been offered the full time spot in nearly every one of them. Utility player ?-sure. I'll take that...and a paying gig every Saturday night in a band whose music I may not like at all, but got some great people and a cool following.

ggunn · #7 01-30-2010, 09:29 AM

There's nothing at all wrong with being influenced by a competent pocket player. Guys like Wooten are great at what they do in the context of the music they are playing, but I wouldn't necessarily want him in my band.

sirpug · #8 01-30-2010, 09:49 AM

Fieldy from KoRn is one of my non Wooten favorites.

JTE · #9 01-30-2010, 09:56 AM

One of the marks of a great bassist is playing what's needed. How do you know Victor Wooten would find himself "...very much out of their element holding down the rhythm section of a country band"? Just because what he's known for and focuses his recording output on is pretty far removed from that, doesn't mean he wouldn't play the gig if that's what's needed.

That's the problem with these discussions. We assume that famous players are incapable of doing things other than what they're known for.

I too wouldn't label a great pocket player like Duck Dunn as "mediocre" either. His time, tone, and taste are impeccable, so that's way above mediocrity.

John

Thundar · #10 01-30-2010, 10:34 AM

Tony Butler of Big Country
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sScPlHoibqc

Pilgrim · #11 01-30-2010, 10:54 AM

If the music sounds good, the bassist is not mediocre - he/she is competent for that style of music.

I'm perfectly happy to be influenced by people whose playing sounds good to me.

codenamepaul · #12 01-30-2010, 02:22 PM

Never said he was incapable, although he may very well be. I would wager a beer that he could not suffer a complete gig with a band playing stuff that makes me want to spoon out my own eyes. Not without breaking out into some ridiculous 12 minute solo.When our guitarists overplay, we get bored/pissed/whatever-yet somehow, that makes this guy some sort of lesser deity when he does it.

Nathan East,John Giblin,Alphonso Johnson -great bassists you've never heard of.

Nurb · #13 01-30-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirpug

Fieldy from KoRn is one of my non Wooten favorites.

+1.

ggunn · #14 01-30-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codenamepaul

Nathan East,John Giblin,Alphonso Johnson -great bassists you've never heard of.

I've certainly heard of Alphonso Johnson. He played with Bobby and the Midnights back in the early 80's. I caught one of their shows; he rocked.

Tommygunn · #15 01-30-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

I wouldn't call anyone who isn't a wooten or miller, etc Mediocre. Everyone else are the everyday normal talented players.

+1

But by 5string's definition... I'd say:

Mike Dirnt
Duff McKagan
Mark Hoppus
Dee Dee Ramone
Glen Matlock
Paul Simonon

to name a few

JTE · #16 01-30-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codenamepaul

When our guitarists overplay, we get bored/pissed/whatever-yet somehow, that makes this guy some sort of lesser deity when he does it.

I don't think he (if you mean Victor) over-plays. He plays what's right for the gig. His gig means he gets to/can/is expected to play more than what I play in a country band. Big deal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by codenamepaul

Nathan East,John Giblin,Alphonso Johnson -great bassists you've never heard of.

Nathan East has a HUGE list of credits for decades...- He did some early Kenny Rogers (post- First Edition) work including apparently being asked to come in and record some tracks Jamerson originally recorded in LA because James (very late in his life) wasn't able to play what the producers wanted. Nathan's played with just about everyone from Rogers, Clapton, Eurythmics, Anita Baker, Fourplay, that guy who used to play drums in Brand X, etc.

Speaking of Brand X... John Giblin was there too...

Alphonso Johnson was in Weather Report before Mr. Pastorious, and worked with Phil Collins also. Also he was the first endorser for D'Addario's Half-Round strings back in 1976 or '77.

John

Pilgrim · #17 01-30-2010, 09:06 PM

I am not in the habit of criticizing other bassists, at least those who know their style of music and play it well.

Victor Wooten is highly competent for what he plays - but I don't enjoy the music of his that I've heard. Not to my taste. That's not criticism of him, but the style of music. There's also a lot of Jaco's stuff that I don't like at all - but again, that's my personal taste.

But - as John said above - IMO Duck Dunn is the schiznit! HIS playing is one style I like to emulate.

XtheDeadPawn · #18 01-31-2010, 03:20 AM

One of mine (besides Fieldy and Paul Grey) is Jerry Only.

codenamepaul · #19 01-31-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

I don't think he (if you mean Victor) over-plays. He plays what's right for the gig. His gig means he gets to/can/is expected to play more than what I play in a country band. Big deal.

Nathan East has a HUGE list of credits for decades...- He did some early Kenny Rogers (post- First Edition) work including apparently being asked to come in and record some tracks Jamerson originally recorded in LA because James (very late in his life) wasn't able to play what the producers wanted. Nathan's played with just about everyone from Rogers, Clapton, Eurythmics, Anita Baker, Fourplay, that guy who used to play drums in Brand X, etc.

Speaking of Brand X... John Giblin was there too...

Alphonso Johnson was in Weather Report before Mr. Pastorious, and worked with Phil Collins also. Also he was the first endorser for D'Addario's Half-Round strings back in 1976 or '77.

John

We are most definitely on the same sheet of music here, no doubt regarding bassists. Not a huge fan of Wooten myself. I can appreciate it, certainly, but after about half a song, I'm bored. Just not my idea of what the job of the bassist is.

rapturebass · #20 01-31-2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentGrim

I admire players like wooten and such for their sheer technical skill, and I do mess around with some of the techniques that they often utilize ((though I'm rubbish and no where near as good as they)). That being said, while I admire those fancy guys, the most influential bass players and the ones I strive to be like (for me anyways) are bassists like Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups, and Jeremy Davis of Paramore. Though I would consider these two to be somewhat advanced bassists, you won't find any "wooten-esque" craziness in their recorded works.
Nothing wrong with being inspired by simpler players, infact I would say it is quite healthy!

Jeremy Davis is a beast. and i really like this 3 Doors Down song, i love how he aligns the notes with the kick, gives it so much punch.