Top five signs of a good bass-player.

[Sneakypete]

When you go to see another band what are the top five boxes that the bass player (or any other band member come to that) needs to tick so you come away impressed by the performance even if the actual music isn't necessarily to your taste? For me it's;
1) Feel. When the phrasing and expression are just right.
2) Creativity. Pretty much anyone can learn parts and play them by rote - but adding something that's different, tasteful and good is far more difficult.
3) Sound. When the tone, timbre and volume fits the song perfectly.
4) Stage presence. (Rate myself zero!) some people are just more interesting to watch aren't they?
5) Preparedness. Mistakes happen and anyones mind can go unaccountably blank but stumbling through the set cluelessly is a real turn-off for me and thankfully rare.

An alternative list of completely unimpressive performance features 1) Amp running min impedance/max power. 2) Having the biggest/smallest stack I've ever seen. 3) Having more basses than I have pairs of shoes. 4) Having a laptop running on a side-table. 5) Bringing a small but adoring fan club.

[mboogiemanusa]

I'll play along

Top 5 things I like when seeing other bass players perform

1. Locked in groove
2. Energy ....is the bassist into the performance or just punching the time clock
3. Is it a Great musical experience?......great songs?
4. Fun positive attitude
5. Can I learning anything by studying this player and performance?

Top 5 things I hate when seeing other bands perform

1. Learning new material on stage during a performance on my hard earned dime
2. Playing songs with face buried behind big music stands and tab sheets.
3. Phoney stage presence like leaping around like an idiot when its not real
4. slap and pluck solos in inappropriate musical places
5. Bass lines that are way too busy for the needs of the song

[Hippos Melas]

Originally Posted by mboogiemanusa

I'll play along

Top 5 things I like when seeing other bass players perform

1. Locked in groove
2. Energy ....is the bassist into the performance or just punching the time clock
3. Is it a Great musical experience?......great songs?
4. Fun positive attitude
5. Can I learning anything by studying this player and performance?

+1 to this list. I'd add "modesty". The other bass play in my jazz band has an ego and it's annoying. She thinks she's better than she is. She's great on upright, don't get me wrong, just not...showing me up on my Musicman anytime soon. Fighting with egos is annoying because I strive not to be egotistical but defend my skills anyhow. Slippery slope.

But in either event, when a bass player thinks they're the shiz and tells you that, i-think-you're-a-tool-ism kicks in.

Although, FWIW, I find modesty in people a positive quality regardless.

[Killspringer]

GREAT thread.

1. Groove. Forget about the spelling b-a-s-s... are they spelling it b-a-s-e?

2. Passion. I want to see somebody who is unquestionably living the f*cking dream from the first note they play, the way they carry themselves, and how much love they put into their playing. Bare your soul, brother, you might die tomorrow.

3. Style. Can I learning anything by studying this player and performance? (thanks mboogieman, that's a great point) Are they just playing the part, or do they have their own style?

4. Focus. I didn't pay to see somebody who isn't %110 engulfed in the music and the moment. A performance is a conversation between player and audience. When you're making a serious point in a conversation, you stand up straight, speak with a firm voice, and look the other person in the eye.

5. The 5th and MOST IMPORTANT element: Undefinable. You know it when you see/hear it.


Technique is merely a means to an end. Making a human connection is the most important element of any performance.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by Sneakypete

3) Having more basses than I have pairs of shoes.

In that case I must be a great bass player ....

[Killspringer]

Originally Posted by Ric5

In that case I must be a great bass player ....

Hm. I only have one pair of shoes.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Sneakypete

When you go to see another band what are the top five boxes that the bass player (or any other band member come to that) needs to tick so you come away impressed by the performance even if the actual music isn't necessarily to your taste?

Just one. Are they sweating?

[SactoBass]

One of the top five signs:

Being a supporting member of TALKBASS!

[johndough247]

Originally Posted by Sneakypete

3) Having more basses than I have pairs of shoes. 4) Having a laptop running on a side-table.

3. How many pairs of shoes do you have is the real question (disclaimer: I've never owned more than 3 at a time and rarely take 2 to a gig)

4. Don't see the issue here. If you're doing a gig that spans many genres (thinking mainly modern pop and r&b to start), sometimes you just need a certain keyboard bass sound...I've played gigs where I needed not only that but also to help the guy on keys to fill out the sound more (i.e. left hand: bass, right hand: strings/pad/other synth sounds). I have a keyboard that does the bass sounds well, but I use my laptop/midi controller for other sounds just in case.

+1 to your 'great bassist' checklist though

[joeturbodiesel@]

Things I like:
Presence-I like it when the bass player is in charge of the overall sound. You can tell when they have presence, the music sounds better (at least to me ) and the rest of the musicians are looking at him for the que as it were.
Equipment-This may sound shallow to some of yall but I like to see a bass player that builds his sound by bringing the equipment that is high quality and a reflection of how he thinks about his contribution to what the band is playing.
Consistency- It is so refreshing to see a bass player that is so experienced that it seems effortless to pull off a near or complete flawless performance.
Creativity- I love to hear playing, licks or style I have never heard before as long as I like how it sounds. I usually like extra effort to pull out of the norm and put a little extra in there.
Attitude- I like positive people. There is no point of being an ass just because you are a great musician. To me, that could completely change how I feel about any musician. The best ones I know are super humble. They don't have anything to prove and they know it. as a side note, Their appearence is usually reflected by the way they think and I usually relate better to bass players that I think i could get along with based on how they look/ or carry themselves.
At the end of the day, I really like to come away from a show thinking I want to sound like or carry myself like "That" and feel like I would be a better bass player if I could be influenced by that person that impressed me with their performance.
Don't likes, Playing so simple I hardly recognize they are there. Or, be able to tell they would rather be playing guitar but got stuck playing bass. Or not play loud enough for me to hear that they are in a good mix with the rest of the band. I don't like songs with no bass.

[Muzoid]

1) Doesn't stare at his bass neck

2) Knows how to 'dead-note' and lock a groove

3) Listens to the musicians around him, and doesn't try to outplay them

4) Understands how to get good tone, and utilizes dynamics, and moves well with the music.

5) Thinks Justin Bieber and all Idols suck!

[James Judson]

1. He has to play more notes per second than the guitard?
2. Does he play louder than the rest of the band? After all thats what I came to see/hear.
3. He's got to have the biggest stack in the band.
4. Bass solos for hours.
5. Got to play the most expensive bass on the planet to impress me.

He can have an attitude as long as the first 5 are covered.

[FunkyMan]

1- Fresh Strings, Good Bass
2- Good amp
3- When the bassist play more stacatto, making the groove more clear
4- When Eq are set no more than 3 o'clock
5- When i go to talk him, should remain humble when I congratulated him

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by FunkyMan

4- When Eq are set no more than 3 o'clock

Wha?

[Tampabass]

not necessarily in order of importance ...
1 Locks in with drummer on grooves (as has been mentioned)
2 Supports the music/song at hand, rather than showboating or underplaying
3 Interacts with other musicians and listeners rather than merely playing to an audience of one
4 Makes interesting note choices, rather than merely playing what's expected
5 Consistently produces a pleasing tone (YMMV)

[unclekebm]

Originally Posted by Tampabass

not necessarily in order of importance ...
1 Locks in with drummer on grooves (as has been mentioned)
2 Supports the music/song at hand, rather than showboating or underplaying
3 Interacts with other musicians and listeners rather than merely playing to an audience of one
4 Makes interesting note choices, rather than merely playing what's expected
5 Consistently produces a pleasing tone (YMMV)

+1

[Rockmusician]

Stage presence means different things to different poeple and in my opinion, is overrated. Entwistle didn't have great stage presence but was a tremendous player.

Here is my list
1. Play what is appropriate for the song. No simplifying parts because you can't play them. No over playing.
2. Know the material well enough that you can play it effortlessly
3. Do not get into a volume competition with the guitarist
4. Ability to control the timing even if the drummer is not very good
5. Ability to have fun even when things go wrong

[PDGood]

Some of the most important things a bass player can do aren't immediately recognizeable.
1. Plays to make the song sound better rather than himself sound better.
2. Is the "glue" that binds the other players together. This includes locking in with the drummer but also includes picking up on things other people are playing and helping them mesh with the drum track.
3. Volume blend with other band members.
4. Volume blend with the room.
5. Plays the groove but every now and then gives a glimpse that there is knowledge beyond the basics.

Dislikes: I'd rather see people move when they feel it, not jump around because they studied moves they've seen other bands do. I'm looking for authentic. Anything that looks phony to me is a negative.

[Munjibunga]

If he ain't wearing the hipassmofo hat, everything else is irrelevant.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

4. Ability to control the timing even if the drummer is not very good

Big +1 to this.