Refusing to play complicated parts

pklima · #1 08-14-2011, 02:45 PM

What do you tell your bandmates to get out of playing lots of notes? Here are some lines I've really used in real life... funny in the right context.

"I don't need to, I'm too handsome - I'll attract attention anyway"

"No, that's what smaller instruments are for"

And to a church choir leader:
"If God wanted eighth notes played, He would have created cellists"

easyvision · #2 08-14-2011, 03:10 PM

Hm...can't say I've ever actually been asked. Stupid guitarists and their egos...no respect for the low end I tell ya!!!

Journey55 · #3 08-14-2011, 03:22 PM

"Uh.....that's not the bass, it's just a really low tuned guitar"

UnfortunateTony · #4 08-14-2011, 03:38 PM

"Yeah no problem."

Stilettoprefer · #5 08-14-2011, 06:43 PM

Today at practice I was told to play less notes haha. the guitards have a bunch of fun lines and I'm stuck with *thump *thump *thumpity *thump. So I threw in some fills over a particularly boring part and one of the guitarists loved it haha. The other told me to quit wanking:P I'm gonna have to write a better part for that song....

VanillaThundah · #6 08-14-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stilettoprefer

The other told me to quit wanking:P

Tell him "Hey, if yours was this big, you'd want to play with it too!"

neuman · #7 08-14-2011, 07:29 PM

I'm in an originals band and am fortunate with my drummer, guitarist and singer. We all write and contribute and we all agreed that sometimes the writer of the song dictates that a part be played as written, sometimes we all give input and modify a part.

So far, so good with that.

walkerci · #8 08-14-2011, 07:42 PM

I just don't get that church music thing at all.

When I play Highway to Hell it is with the love of Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father in my heart!

EatADeadGoat · #9 08-14-2011, 07:44 PM

I generally tell them "Let's replay this part like how you want to do it" then we play it. Then, we play it the way I want to, and then I explain why I prefer it my way. they usually see my reasoning. Music isn't about millions of notes and shredding - it's about the music itself.

chaosMK · #10 08-14-2011, 08:56 PM

Complicated stuff is what keeps me playing bass. Nothing like a mindbender rhythm or horrible odd time sig that takes multiple rehearsals for the band to get comfortable with.

pklima · #11 08-15-2011, 12:27 AM

Oh, if I was in a band with Americans old enough to get the reference, the perfect answer answer would be:

"Homey don't play that"

Munjibunga · #12 08-15-2011, 02:26 AM

"I've only got four strings ... how do you expect me to get more notes out of that?"

Russell L · #13 08-15-2011, 06:24 AM

I remember some piece we were working on in orchestra, but I forget what it was now---anyway, the bass part was something like 32nd notes at a brisk tempo for about 16 bars or so. Unbelievably difficult to play, if not impossible (why would anyone expect that from the bass?). So, there I was, sitting in the middle of the section (I wasn't the best or worst, lol). The section leader passed down the line for everyone to just hit the notes that were on the beat, and to kind of slur along them. Heh, even that was terribly difficult. Some composers just get on my nerves.

cnltb · #14 08-15-2011, 06:38 AM

Refuse to play complicated lines?
WHY on earth would i want to do that???

bassgod0dmw · #15 08-15-2011, 08:17 AM

Are you saying that you refuse to play complicated lines and are looking for a way to get out of it, or that you're asked by band mates to play less complicated lines?

Waffles and Scotch · #16 08-15-2011, 08:21 AM

Depending on the style of music, if properly implemented, shredding is where it's at!!! I'd have a very difficult time playing in a band that didn't let me play really complicated parts...

pklima · #17 08-15-2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Are you saying that you refuse to play complicated lines and are looking for a way to get out of it

Yes. I'm looking to make somebody else play them... usually a lazy guitarist who hasn't bothered to learn a song's signature parts, haha.

Chebass88 · #18 08-15-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell L

I remember some piece we were working on in orchestra, but I forget what it was now---anyway, the bass part was something like 32nd notes at a brisk tempo for about 16 bars or so. Unbelievably difficult to play, if not impossible (why would anyone expect that from the bass?). So, there I was, sitting in the middle of the section (I wasn't the best or worst, lol). The section leader passed down the line for everyone to just hit the notes that were on the beat, and to kind of slur along them. Heh, even that was terribly difficult. Some composers just get on my nerves.

For me, this was the "Storm" movement of Beethoven's 6th. I just wiggled my fingers and moved the bow back & forth. We had 6 basses - when we played Wagner, everybody sawed away. Beethoven - the section was decimated to ~20% of the total power!

Freez · #19 08-15-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stilettoprefer

Today at practice I was told to play less notes haha. the guitards have a bunch of fun lines and I'm stuck with *thump *thump *thumpity *thump. So I threw in some fills over a particularly boring part and one of the guitarists loved it haha. The other told me to quit wanking:P I'm gonna have to write a better part for that song....

Yeah, some guitarists think wanking is their job...scab!

pedroims · #20 08-15-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pklima

Yes. I'm looking to make somebody else play them... usually a lazy guitarist who hasn't bothered to learn a song's signature parts, haha.

It's about the song, if a song call for a complex bass line the go for it, if it calls for 8ths straight notes then stick with it, there is a thin line between overplay and complicated, nothing worst than a band when everybody is playing ''complicated'' stuff at the same... unless is King Crimson or anther band like that.