What is "Lead Bass"?

[Poop-Loops]

I know Sheehan does it, but honestly, I don't listen to his stuff. All I know is that the guy is good.

Is it playing more than the guitarist(s)?

Is it playing the melody while other people take care of the rythm?

In that case, would Harris count? The guitarists usually play a power chord or double stop for a whole measure while he plays a melody.

Does it require solo-ing? Does Geddy Lee count in that case?

[BbbyBld]

What I always think of is Stanley Clarke or Victor Wooten when they play solos and have another bass player holding down the bass line. This is especially true when one of them is using a piccolo bass like on Stanley Clarke's "School Days" album.

I think it sometimes has a negative meaning like..."he's more of a lead bass player--why doesn't he just play guitar."

In some contexts I may call someone a "lead bass player" if they are blatantly overplaying and breaking the groove.

[Poop-Loops]

Well, I'm assuming we're talking in a neutral, purely descriptive context, i.e. calling someone a lead guitarist doesn't mean he breaks up the groove and overplays (even if it is the case), just that he solos and tends to play melodies instead of the rythm, right?

[Sir Edward V]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Well, I'm assuming we're talking in a neutral, purely descriptive context, i.e. calling someone a lead guitarist doesn't mean he breaks up the groove and overplays (even if it is the case), just that he solos and tends to play melodies instead of the rythm, right?

kinda, I see it as a bass player that stands out as much or more than the guitar part. So not as much doubling of the guitar part, playing mainly the root and fifth, pounding 8's of the root out relentlessly. More interesting, more rhythmic, more dynamic, more melodic, more involved with different techniques, more different notes.

Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, Bootsy Collins, Flea

they all can fit the bill as well as many more

[MysticMichael]

Whenever I come across the phrase "lead bass", I always think of Jack Bruce's work with Cream - and that wild, distorted, overdriven tone he would get during the heat of improvisation...

Another example might be Paul McCartney's playing on such tunes as Paperback Writer, I Want You (She's So Heavy), and at a least a couple of tracks from the Sgt. Pepper album...

MM

[Zappstorius]

Isn't "Lead Bass" exactly that? Plays the melodies of the songs, instead of playing typical supportive basslines? You don't have to be a vertiuoso bass player to play "Lead Bass" right?

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by Zappstorius

Isn't "Lead Bass" exactly that? Plays the melodies of the songs, instead of playing typical supportive basslines? You don't have to be a vertiuoso bass player to play "Lead Bass" right?

Correctomundo.

There is a difference between "melodic basslines" and "lead bass," though. I see Paul as being a melodic bassist, whereas someone like Geddy Lee is frequently playing lead bass. Other examples include Marcus Miller's solo work, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke.

[fraublugher]

pay attention now



as an example lead bass is often when a hit song is a hit because the bass is the hook that makes it a hit
ie moondance by van morrison's bassist [du jour]

[iamthebassman]

Peter Hook.

[Munjibunga]

Peavey T-40.

[Baryonyx]

It's a pretty wide term. Some guys are saying Jack Bruce, some are saying Stanley Clarke. I'd just say it's any time the bass takes a melody or a solo, in a manner more than just a fill.

At the same time, when someone says lead bass, I always see Stanley Clarke with his tenor bass in my head. We all know Stan can hold a groove, but over the years he has torued with guys like Armand Sabal-Lecco and even a young Kai Eckhardt, he would have these guys playing "bass" for him when he was soloing away.

Personally, I most like Stan when he's on a 4 string tuned EADG!

[JimK]

Another example-
Foley from Miles Davis' 80s electric band.

[steve21]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Peavey T-40.

I laughed.

Puns > Thread.

[CrazyArcher]

The dude from whom we hire our rehearsal place plays 'lead' bass in his own band - mainly due to the fact that there's no guitar there
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