Speed Doesent Get You Anywhere

[Digo]

Hey people ive recently been on youtube and been looking at all these videos and started getting opinions on speed with bass, now i watched a video of Flight on the Bumblebee on bass, then i watched Nathan East playing a bass solo on Eric Claptons 24 Nights, nathan was slow and moving and the FOTBB was VERY fast but Nathans was far better to watch

Now that makes me think, is speed actually important at all or is it more for a show off?

Is speed better than feeling the groove?

Just because you can play a million notes a second does that make you a good bass player?

[Jazz Ad]

It's important if the style you play requires more speed than groove.
It, however, isn't important if you play a style that requires more groove than speed.

And you know what ? It works the other way round too. Cool, uh ?
What's even better, you can develop both and use whatever you need for your gig.

[Digo]

well is flight of the bumblebee on bass (or sting of the bumblebee) actually any use for any reasons apart from showing off, cos it sounds horrid

[Jazz Ad]

It makes the audience happy. It's a good enough reason for me.
Now if you think it's horrible and it doesn't make you happy, that's fine. Keep listening to Eric Clapton.

[velvetkevorkian]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

It's important if the style you play requires more speed than groove.
It, however, isn't important if you play a style that requires more groove than speed.

And you know what ? It works the other way round too. Cool, uh ?
What's even better, you can develop both and use whatever you need for your gig.

+1
There's a lot of "less is ALWAYS more" feeling around here but there are instances where extreme speed is necessary. Its good if you can have both in your bag of tricks though.

[Sundogue]

Speed doesn't get you anywhere...any faster.

It does allow you to play more notes, within the context of each measure in the song.

If the song calls for it, you gotta play it. You can't use "not liking it" as an excuse for not being able to.

Some songs need it, some don't. I tend to like songs that have a more funky, grooving bass line more than those with killer lines flying all over. However, there are some songs I play where it fits and I need to do it. All it takes is practice.

It's nice to be able to do it. It's also mandatory to be able to do it when the song requires it. Personally, I think of the fast, flashy bass lines much like I do fast, flashy guitar lines...Musical masturbation. While I can appreciate the ability, technique and hard work that goes into being able to do it, I don't necessarily like to play it, or hear it much.

+1 to Clapton. Speed isn't tasteful...but it is fast.

[Scottgun]

Showing off technical prowess is hardly a crime. This is show-biz for heaven's sake! Of course it can be abused. If speed is all you can do, it is pretty lame. That's partly why classical concertos are multi-movement: One movement will be very splashy, the next will be slow and require sensitivity, and so on--it's designed to show the full-range of the musician. It's not either/or, it's both/and.



Scott

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by Scottgun

Showing off technical prowess is hardly a crime. This is show-biz for heaven's sake! Of course it can be abused. If speed is all you can do, it is pretty lame. That's partly why classical concertos are multi-movement: One movement will be very splashy, the next will be slow and require sensitivity, and so on--it's designed to show the full-range of the musician. It's not either/or, it's both/and.
Scott

Yup, that's why you see ten minute guitar and drum solos. The "Wow!" factor. They don't appeal to me much, but I do appreciate the skill nonetheless.

[cowsgomoo]

music is EAR FOOD

nothing wrong with trying a few different dishes every once in a while, and nothing wrong with having your favorites...

FOTBB type bass solos are like sherbet... nice to have every once in a while but if you make it a cornerstone of your diet it probably won't be good for you

but the 'slow is best' whiners are like the guys who eat only bread & water... (i.e. boring weirdos)

I prefer to have sherbet AND bread AND water... yum

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

music is EAR FOOD

nothing wrong with trying a few different dishes every once in a while, and nothing wrong with having your favorites...

FOTBB type bass solos are like sherbet... nice to have every once in a while but if you make it a cornerstone of your diet it probably won't be good for you

but the 'slow is best' whiners are like the guys who eat only bread & water... (i.e. boring weirdos)

I prefer to have sherbet AND bread AND water... yum

Yes, you can have your cake...and eat it too!!!

I agree, it's all good.

[superbassman2000]

personally i would revise the title to "speed for speed's sake doesn't get you anywhere" Speed is just part of the dynamics realm imo, sometimes its good, sometimes its bad. I think that playing like yngwie (running up and down scales at light speed) in every song is as exciting as someone doing just the opposite--a bassist pedaling one note for 40 measures at a comatose tempo (as in not at all )

[Correlli]

Originally Posted by Digo

Hey people ive recently been on youtube and been looking at all these videos and started getting opinions on speed with bass, now i watched a video of Flight on the Bumblebee on bass, then i watched Nathan East playing a bass solo on Eric Claptons 24 Nights, nathan was slow and moving and the FOTBB was VERY fast but Nathans was far better to watch

Now that makes me think, is speed actually important at all or is it more for a show off?

Is speed better than feeling the groove?

Just because you can play a million notes a second does that make you a good bass player?

So you don't like speed playing then?

[Grueber]

Originally Posted by Digo

Hey people ive recently been on youtube and been looking at all these videos and started getting opinions on speed with bass, now i watched a video of Flight on the Bumblebee on bass, then i watched Nathan East playing a bass solo on Eric Claptons 24 Nights, nathan was slow and moving and the FOTBB was VERY fast but Nathans was far better to watch

Now that makes me think, is speed actually important at all or is it more for a show off?

Is speed better than feeling the groove?

Just because you can play a million notes a second does that make you a good bass player?

yes, absolutely
seriously what did you want to hear?

for speed that grooves check out Adam Nitti's song Skitzo. At about 28 seconds into the song he bust out a killer groove that is anything but slow and moving

[The_Hat_Guy]

i think being able to play fast has done wonders for me at all speeds. Sure, my machine gun slap (as my bandmates refer to it, lol) may only be useful in the rarest of situations, along with my ability to fly up and down the next playing scales fingerstyle, but guess what?

When i play slow, it is sooo much easier for me. My endurance is raised, and precision I hit notes with is raised, the clarity of the notes themselves is heightened too. Overall, having the ability to play fast has made a much better bass player. I'll argue with anyone as to whether or not speed can be beneficial in any case.