Working with multi-instrumentalists who happen to also play bass

Eminentbass · #1 05-18-2010, 03:39 PM

I'm currently doing a gig with a singer/acoustic guitarist who also plays bass along with a number of other instruments. What's getting on my nerves is that because he plays bass, he thinks he can tell me what fills to play, what tone I should have, etc. It's got me wondering if I'd be just as annoying if I had to give the bass to someone else and whether or not I'd be able to let them play without interfering. Anyone else experienced this at all?

MatticusMania · #2 05-18-2010, 03:43 PM

My band is full of bassists, seriously. Everyone has played bass at one point or another. Anytime I want I can hand my bass off to someone else and play some synth or concentrate on my vocals. I never tell anyone what tone they should have, or what fllls to play. Your singer is a ~~douche~~ egomaniac.

Eminentbass · #3 05-18-2010, 03:51 PM

He's actually a great guy and we get on well socially which makes it hard to tell him off. He's a decent bassist too but our styles are very different. I've fronted with an acoustic a few times but I didn't enjoy it because my ear is always focussed on the bass and I didn't want to tell the guy filling in on bass(not the guy I'm moaning about) how to play even though I would've done it differently.

RustyAxe · #4 05-18-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eminentbass

I'm currently doing a gig with a singer/acoustic guitarist who also plays bass along with a number of other instruments. What's getting on my nerves is that because he plays bass, he thinks he can tell me what fills to play, what tone I should have, etc. It's got me wondering if I'd be just as annoying if I had to give the bass to someone else and whether or not I'd be able to let them play without interfering. Anyone else experienced this at all?

I don't know ... how well do you play bass? I play several instruments, and it's difficult to refrain from speaking up when someone else is playing something badly ... but I do manage to shut the hell up if they're just playing differently than I would.

Eminentbass · #5 05-19-2010, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

I don't know ... how well do you play bass? I play several instruments, and it's difficult to refrain from speaking up when someone else is playing something badly ... but I do manage to shut the hell up if they're just playing differently than I would.

Well, it's hard to rate or prove how good I am online without sounding like bragging or speaking bs

so I'll just say that while I'm no innovator, I am a fulltime professional and know the material backwards. As a session player I place importance on being open to suggestion and taking direction but this is a cover band scenario where I'm actually playing the songs as they were recorded. It's more a question of style, he actually sometimes asks me to play busier that I think necessary or in strange places where I feel the bass needs to be solid rather than standing out. It got me thinking of the funny side of it because I play a guitar, drums and a bit of piano too although I hardly ever do within a band situation and I can sing but I don't like fronting at all because I like to be able to have eye contact with the drummer. I'm always open to suggestion but he seems to take liberties with that so I do a lot of smiling and nodding. He's also always asking me to turn up which I avoid doing too much because I've heard how much my amp actually projects even though it sounds relatively soft on stage

somegeezer · #6 05-19-2010, 12:06 AM

The singer/lead guitarist in one on my bands is always saying "more bass!"... I just look at him with an emotionless face and he soon shuts up. I like my mids and I keep it that way. I cut through nicely and I don't deafen myself turning up too loud. If anything the guitars end up deafening me. You just gotta stand your ground. You're the bassist in the band, you control what the bass does.

VinKreepo · #7 05-19-2010, 12:43 AM

I've had the same thing... compromise

crow01 · #8 05-19-2010, 11:43 AM

i played in a band where everybody played bass. even though i played lines that were already written. i did some variations to it or added my own stuff. if they constantly nag you or tell you what to play, it won't be fun anymore. Unless they are paying you to play.

skidrawk · #9 05-19-2010, 11:48 AM

I am the best bassist in my band so I don't have that problem. Every now and then my band leader will adjust my amp volume but he's usually turning it up so I don't mind.

lancimouspitt · #10 05-20-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eminentbass

I'm currently doing a gig with a singer/acoustic guitarist who also plays bass along with a number of other instruments. What's getting on my nerves is that because he plays bass, he thinks he can tell me what fills to play, what tone I should have, etc. It's got me wondering if I'd be just as annoying if I had to give the bass to someone else and whether or not I'd be able to let them play without interfering. Anyone else experienced this at all?

If the guy has years of experince playing bass and you don't I would listen to what he says for the most part.
However, if he's telling you what fills to play he may just be a control freak who likes telling you what to play.
Have you ever offered him constructive criticism on what he plays,and if so how did he take it?
I've jammed with musicians who have offered me great advice from an outside perspective that has really helped me evolve into a better player. But then their has been a few who just seem to want me to play bass the way "they" want it to sound. I once played with a drummer that hated evey little piece of of personal creativity I added to a song while the rest of the band offered constructive critisism and praised me for what worked and let me knew when it didn't. Of course their is always difference in pure opinion. You can't avoid it.

Gopherbassist · #11 05-20-2010, 05:46 PM

Are you playing a gig with him, or working HIS gig? If it's his music he can dictate fills, tone is a little more touchy, but if he knows what he wants you should probably do what he wants. Unless you agreed to something else.

michaelgilleran · #12 05-22-2010, 09:32 AM

It sounds like this is an acoustic solo project of his; in which case, I would just do whatever he says. How many people are in the band? If its you him and a drummer, then I agree with him that your going to have to be busier than normal

Eminentbass · #13 05-22-2010, 09:42 AM

It's a Neil Diamond tribute of all things. We're both hired by a production company to play and there is a separate musical director who trusts my playing enough to hardly ever give me directions. He's a great guy but we play very differently but because he's fronting I'll accommodate his requests to a point because he's got to be confident out front. I never thought I'd enjoy a show of this nature but the bass really drives the music and holds it together.

6jase5 · #14 05-22-2010, 11:43 PM

To me, it's all about the song and making it great. My band has two songwriter's, me and the guitar playing singer (not our lead player).

I re-recorded two of our new songs because our lead player could not cop the right vibe. I'm a tone freak so I'm the one doing the tweaking and usually recommending sounds as I think about things like that when I write. If he can re-record and give it the attitude, then we'll use his take, simple.

It's a hard line to walk, but I have vintage amps and multiple guitars that I use for recording as otherwise it would be the same sound all the time.

That being said, my guitar player is really good and can solo over anything. Sure, he's also incredibly stubborn....just like me.

totallyfrozen · #15 05-23-2010, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eminentbass

... I am a fulltime professional and know the material backwards. As a session player I place importance on being open to suggestion and taking direction but this is a cover band scenario where I'm actually playing the songs as they were recorded. It's more a question of style, he actually sometimes asks me to play busier that I think necessary or in strange places where I feel the bass needs to be solid rather than standing out...I'm always open to suggestion but he seems to take liberties with that so I do a lot of smiling and nodding. He's also always asking me to turn up which I avoid doing too much because I've heard how much my amp actually projects even though it sounds relatively soft on stage

Sounds like you might be above this guy's league. As a bass player, he should know that you're louder in the House than you are on stage. Maybe he wants more bass in his monitor mix?
The style changes that you said he asks for make me think that maybe he's actually going for a different feel than how those songs are on the CDs. Maybe if you guys could clarify what he wants, you could anticipate what he's looking for at a giving moment. In any case, it sounds to me like he's micromanaging you. That's freakin' annoying as hell. He knows that you know that he plays bass too. He could/should just leave it at that and let you play your thing. To be blunt, he's being rude and unprofessional about it. You know you can set healthy boundaries with this guy (and all others) without burning a bridge or being nasty about it. Maybe you have already talked to him. I don't know. Sure seems like you need to assert yourself a little bit and draw a line though.

my 2 cents