Being stepped on...

Guiseppe · #1 01-29-2008, 09:59 AM

A while back, I decided to jump in with a geetar player who had an ad on Craig's List for a change. We wound up having a young lady singer jump in (who turned out to have REALLY good chops - not sure about her stage presence, though - but that's another story).

After a couple jams, the guitarist got a drummer who agreed to jump in and another friend to play "rythm". Well, the guy shows up with 2 LP's and a baritone (a Mosrite, I think...cool ax, but...).

So far, all he's played is the baritone, and I've been gnashing my teeth at the fact that anything he's not totally down with he's doubling on the bass line. Now, for a few of the songs, the baritone is in fact very cool - adds a nice tone that is actually something I like. But when he's doubling on the bass line, it sounds pretty cheesy, and it's kind of grating on me. I'm really easy to get along with, but I'm getting more and more inclined to just drop out of the song the next time he starts doubling me and allowing him to play the bass line (I know, I'm being pissy, but...)

I suppose that the mature thing to do will be to just casually mention that I don't care for the sound of the baritone/bass line and ask him to stick to the rythm chops. I still don't understand why he's bothering to bring the LP's though...

The Golden Boy · #2 01-29-2008, 10:19 AM

Rather than making it a confrontation- make it an opportunity to "work out parts."

"what are you doing here? this is what I'm doing. is there something else we can do?"

mjolnir · #3 01-29-2008, 10:30 AM

Having a guitarist invade a bassist's sonic space is a legitimate concern, so you have every right to talk to him about it. Just be cool about the whole thing and I'm sure it'll all turn out fine.

Marcus · #4 01-29-2008, 10:33 AM

Why not just ask him to stop doing that? Worst he can say is, "no." At that point, you have other options. Playing in higher registers, different notes, so on...

OtterOnBass · #5 01-29-2008, 10:43 AM

You're not being stepped on. I thought you were going to say they use you for your house/equipment/brand name soda...

You're having your sonic space crowded. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it makes it harder to distinguish the bass tone and possibly sounds muddy. Record your group and see what the effect is. Maybe it sounds great.

I got frustrated the other night when one of the electric guitars played because his bass (like when he muted strings) was so loud I couldn't hear myself play. However, I talked to someone from the crowd and they said the bass was very clear and the guitars (the 3 guitars...) were not as loud as usual. So, no problem after all, just my stage monitoring was poor.

LowDown Hal · #6 01-29-2008, 10:52 AM

you know the rules

no pics - no young lady singer

seriously though, talk to the guitard

txbasschik · #7 01-29-2008, 11:20 AM

Something like this:

"Say man...there is something bothering me. You very often double my bass lines, and I feel like that muddies the sound and is redundant...I feel like there is no need for two bass lines. Would it be possible for you to not use the baritone guitar except on these few songs? I believe the songs would sound better, and I would be happier, if you would stick to rhythm most of the time."

Tactful, but to-the-point.

Cherie

**Ryan L.** · #8 01-29-2008, 01:56 PM

When he sets it down, break it.

Or, just do what Cherie said.

sethlow3 · #9 01-29-2008, 02:00 PM

yeah just break it down for him. Are you playing 5 string bass? if you do, maybe the B string would help on some of the lines.

K2000 · #10 01-29-2008, 02:05 PM

You don't even have to say it "bothers" you... just do what was already mentioned (say "Lets work on these parts, what are you doing? Maybe we can do something different from each other").

You might work out some cool intertwining parts, or nice counterpoint.

Look at it as an opportunity to make the songs better.

If he still wants to play a conventional bassline, that frees you up to do something else.

Guiseppe · #11 01-29-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan L.

When he sets it down, break it.

Or, just do what Cherie said.

It's one of those hollowbody Danelectro (mosrite)? would be easy to break

but I think I'll just ask him to knock it off.

thombo · #12 01-29-2008, 02:15 PM

if you don't like it, you have a legit concern.

i (personally) always thought it would be cool to play with a baritone... it allows the bassist to still hold the lowest notes as he/she sees fit, but could also alow for some cool climbs up higher w/out sacraficing the bottom, kind of like playing with a keyboard (herbie's left hand holding it down for paul jackson on the headhunters' "chameleon").

moreover, if he is doubling your parts, you could take it as a compliment to your playing, adding even more balls to the sound; or frees you up to try other things... or could make for some cool new textures or arrangements.

though again, if you don't like it, you have a legit concern.