Too Many Notes - Page 7

jsbachonbass · #**121** 06-19-2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbachonbass

Well for the record, whatever nasty things I said earlier about earlier....

Sorry, "...earlier about overplaying,.."

bigcatJC · #**122** 06-19-2007, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

Over-playing would hurt an original too.

I'll probably get scewered for saying this, but I don't care for Crossroads by Cream. Jack Bruce put too many notes in there, JMO. And I'm not just saying that because my band covers the tune and I have to learn it. I'll be learning a reasonable facsimile of it. The bass tab is 5 pages long! I don't have time for learning all that.

Whether you care for Cream's version of Crossroads is not the issue. If we're covering the subject of overplaying, then Bruce's line absolutely was not overplaying; it was appropriate for the style Cream played. If you don't like that style, play something simple. Nobody will fine you. But listen to some friendly advice -Taking the time to learn those five pages of bass line (and tab is a can of worms I'm not opening here) will improve your playing. It's like the calculus I hated in school. I'll never use it, I didn't like it, but it exercised my brain.

Regarding the original poster, I'm probably the last person to ever put up with someone telling me I play too much or too busy just because I'm a bass player. But there is a time and a place for everything. Unless the band has agreed to do something experimental, Stormy Monday probably ain't the place to cut loose.

Sneckumhaw · #**123** 06-19-2007, 11:49 PM

Bigcat's got some good points. No, Jack didn't overplay one bit on Crossroads. Listen to what Clapton was playing on there. Jack's line was 100% appropriate, as was his laid back and relatively simple stuff on the slower Stormy Monday.

Busker · #**124** 06-20-2007, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigcatJC

Whether you care for Cream's version of Crossroads is not the issue. If we're covering the subject of overplaying, then Bruce's line absolutely was not overplaying; it was appropriate for the style Cream played. If you don't like that style, play something simple. Nobody will fine you. But listen to some friendly advice -Taking the time to learn those five pages of bass line (and tab is a can of worms I'm not opening here) will improve your playing. It's like the calculus I hated in school. I'll never use it, I didn't like it, but it exercised my brain.

I can't disagree with the exercising the brain part, but right now I'm trying to learn a 44 song songlist. That's pretty good exercise, too. Crossroads is one song on the list. I simply do not have time to learn that song as Jack played it.

txbasschik · #**125** 06-20-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vandelay

There's certainly room for a little improvisation in almost any tune. The question is about degree. I think a good bass player, especially someone in a sit-in role, knows how to find his moments. In a typical 4/4 tune with a vocalist, you probably don't want to be calling attention to yourself during every bar (or even every other bar) of the song. Save the improv fills for the turnarounds, and occasionally during the dead spaces between the end of a lyric line and the start of another.

+1,000!!!

Embellishment should be used tastefully. Otherwise, its like a diet of all candy and no meat. Tasty at first, but ultimately unsatisfying.

Cherie

sobie18 · #**126** 06-25-2007, 08:55 AM

Never too many notes....

I just go in there and proceed to tear it up!

Double-thump EVERYTHING...make 'em smile...

sedan_dad · #**127** 06-25-2007, 01:38 PM

I don't imagine you play out on a regular basis do you.

sobie18 · #**128** 06-25-2007, 08:38 PM

Yup, I play all the time. Even take a solo or 2 @ church...

LumpyGravy · #**129** 06-30-2007, 02:45 PM

Yeah baby. Nothing like trilling on the final verse of the Our Father! Mother Mary by UFO would be killer with cathedral acoustics!

AdlerAugen · #**130** 06-30-2007, 08:05 PM

whoa I was wondering why this thread was still...someone performed necromancy on it...

KeithPas · #**131** 06-30-2007, 08:23 PM

There is'nt anything wrong with "spicing" the tune up a bit but be mindful; and listen to what the other players are doing. Embellishing a tune can be really cool if everyone is on the same page but it can sound bad if there is a tug of war going on between the players. Just pick your spots, don;t get too excited when the women start crowding the area in front of the bandstand and concentrate on grooving and you'll be alright.

BellBottomBlues · #**132** 06-30-2007, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LumpyGravy

Improvisation is what a true musician should posses.

Jaco couldnt improv

sobie18 · #**133** 07-01-2007, 03:37 AM

Yup, fills are like spices...

Too much Dave's Ultimate Insanity Hot Sauce and you'll get burned in and out...

daofktr · #**134** 07-01-2007, 04:20 PM

as an egotistical bastard, i feel i can opine eruditely...

i tend to want to overplay. i have for years. that don't always cut it, though.
i find that learning 'when to hold, when to fold' is a wonderful thing. i also most always ask the other musicians what they consider appropriate, thereby keeping them happy.
it is a balancing act, i gotta admit...and there are buttloads of times where less is more.
there are also times where quantity is it's own quality...i think it comes down to...
1) are the girls in the audience dancing?
2) is the beer getting bought?
3) are the other musicians happy with you (not counting the occasional asshat)?
4) do you get asked back?

i'm finding that i hold back my urges a lot more than i indulge them...at least for cover gigs. the fact is that folks prefer a human jukebox to innovation, and acknowledging that helps pay the bills...i'm a bit more 'stretchy' for originals and for jams.

this is only my opinion, fwiw, imho, etc.

KeithPas · #**135** 07-01-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daofktr

as an egotistical bastard, i feel i can opine eruditely...

i tend to want to overplay. i have for years. that don't always cut it, though.
i find that learning 'when to hold, when to fold' is a wonderful thing. i also most always ask the other musicians what they consider appropriate, thereby keeping them happy.
it is a balancing act, i gotta admit...and there are buttloads of times where less is more.
there are also times where quantity is it's own quality...i think it comes down to...
1) are the girls in the audience dancing?
2) is the beer getting bought?
3) are the other musicians happy with you (not counting the occasional asshat)?
4) do you get asked back?

i'm finding that i hold back my urges a lot more than i indulge them...at least for cover gigs. the fact is that folks prefer a human jukebox to innovation, and acknowledging that helps pay the bills...i'm a bit more 'stretchy' for originals and for jams.

this is only my opinion, fwiw, imho, etc.

I don;t think of myself as an egotistical bastard but you, my friend, nailed it!!!