Will adding chorus help me fill more sonic space?

phxlbrmpf · #1 09-21-2009, 03:31 AM

I'm currently playing bass in a small musical production for/with kids and the person-in-charge-of-everything who also plays piano/keyboards in the band (the band only consists of keys, bass and drums) wants one of the songs to be accompanied by bass and cajon only. It sounded kind of empty to me the first time we tried it but apparently he liked it. I'm also kinda afraid dropping the piano part completely might throw off the kids who're trying to sing because I'm sure they're not really used to listening to low bass notes.

Now, with my rock band, I'd usually break out some fuzz, distortion or octave up effect (or all three of 'em) for situations like this but obviously this doesn't work here as the song is supposed to sound gospel-ish. I also don't wanna whip out the two-handed tapping thing because that would be kind of silly. Do you think adding a dash of chorus will help or are there any other effects I should consider? Thanks a lot in advance!

ItsMichaelYeah · #2 09-21-2009, 08:46 AM

all the chorus will do is thicken the bass. I don't know if that will make up for the lack of piano. having the octave up sounds like it could work.

groooooove · #3 09-21-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsMichaelYeah

all the chorus will do is thicken the bass. I don't know if that will make up for the lack of piano. having the octave up sounds like it could work.

or suboctave depending on the range of the piece. but, modulation could do the trick here.

takfar · #4 09-21-2009, 10:40 AM

I belive anything from the POG series by EHX would fit the bill nicely. I've got a microPOG myself, and it sounds very organ-y with all octaves dimed. Add chorus, and it's even thicker.

LowB-ing · #5 09-21-2009, 01:38 PM

You don't need no effect. Just grab this rare opportunity to overplay as much as you want.

Not taking about tapping. just a REALLY busy fingerstyle groove with some chordal accents here and there.

...Then some slapping in the bridge.

SteveMcB · #6 09-21-2009, 03:27 PM

Cheaper than a microPOG, is buying an octave-down pedal and playing up an octave. +/- overdrive. A Boss OC2 or Digitech Bass Synth Wah (great octave-down octaver) should cost you $40-50 on the forums here if you don't have one already.

Steve

standupright · #7 09-21-2009, 03:30 PM

let the music breath. you don't always have to fill the space with notes.

Pilgrim · #8 09-21-2009, 03:49 PM

A little reverb really fills out the sound. I use the Behringer DR100 on my bass and it sounds great. Cost was only $30.

phxlbrmpf · #9 09-21-2009, 04:12 PM

Thanks, guys, I'm gonna try the reverb suggestion first. I really don't wanna overplay (I get to play a solo in another song anyway), it will throw the kids off something fierce. Although I'm thinking of throwing in a double stop or two every other bar, that should be okay, I guess.

dmusic148 · #10 09-21-2009, 04:19 PM

I say go for some double-stops, or even chords. Done correctly and tastefully, it can really work when there are no other melodic instruments around.
Blurry effects such as reverb or chorus will, IMO, tend to make it WORSE for the kids singing, not better.
I could, on the other hand, see perhaps using an octaver. Or some sort of harmonizer.

phxlbrmpf · #11 09-21-2009, 04:30 PM

Hmmm, wait a sec. I guess I could bust out my fretless for this song, it sounds richer in the high mids than my fretted (naturally) so it'll gladly eat up the space left by the lack of piano. I think I trust my intonation skills enough to do this and I have lines anyway.