Two bassists...?

powellmacaque · #1 11-30-2008, 07:52 PM

So I've been jamming with a few guys for quite a while now in a mostly punk/funk/alternative/ska setting. All of us have fun playing, are good instrumentalists, are friends outside of the band, and are serious about music.
The only problem is if we keep this format and try to make a "real band" our line-up would consist of 1 guitarist, 1 keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist, 2 bassists, a drummer, and a 3 or 4 piece horn section. Is this calling for sonic chaos?
How could we arrange the bass parts? I play both a 4 and a 5 string, where the other bassist only plays a 4 string. I was thinking about maybe learning some better guitar technique and playing baritone on certain songs. Any other ideas?

MatticusMania · #2 12-01-2008, 12:40 PM

No way man, keep the 2 basses! Mike Watt plays in a bnd made up of nothing but 2 basses.

My band consists of 2 vocalists, 2 guitars, 2 basses, 4 keyboards, a theremin, and a drumkit. Granted, we're not always playing 2 basses at the same time (multi-instrumentalists) but I often have my loop pedal looping one bassline while playing over it. If you balance out your levels and dont play all over each other you can do some awesomeness.

barbarbass · #3 12-01-2008, 01:37 PM

Listen to some old Herbie Hancock records -- I think at least two or three of the songs on "ManChild" have at least two bassists. One is playing at the bottom of the instrument's register, and the other near the top (and at times, one pops and slaps, and the other just plunks). Sounds enormous.

Since the other guy is a 4-stringer, let him be the "second" bassists -- particularly if your 5-string has the high C . . . ?

bass_freq · #4 12-01-2008, 01:43 PM

Victor wootens new project called Thunder has 3 bassists, real funky sounding, bass players Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and of course Victor Wooten.

I actually wanted to try getting a band together with more then one bassist, but there is an everlong shortage of bassists.

topper · #5 12-01-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass_freq

Victor wootens new project called Thunder has 3 bassists, real funky sounding, bass players Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and of course Victor Wooten.

+1000 they rock. Don't be afraid of multiple basses. If you're playing together now and it works in practice, why wouldn't it work live?

Jehos · #6 12-01-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass_freq

Victor wootens new project called Thunder has 3 bassists, real funky sounding, bass players Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and of course Victor Wooten.

I actually wanted to try getting a band together with more then one bassist, but there is an everlong shortage of bassists.

(technicality, the group is called S.M.V., the album is called Thunder. everybody go buy it, it rocks. hard.)

An interesting thing about that album is that at least one of the bass lines isn't really a bass line in all the songs--there's always somebody playing an extended-range or piccolo bass and getting up into the guitar range.

Wasted Bassist · #7 12-01-2008, 03:03 PM

This can be a very successful arrangement as long as you don't stay in the same range too often. If you play a fiver, then you'd be a more likely candidate to be playing the lower register, while the second bassist is playing in a higher register.

That was somethign I learned when I was writing for my quartet that consisted of 2 celli and 2 basses. My early stuff got a little muddy every now and then, but once I got my **** all worked out, I get a kind of dark, yet crisp arrangement for our songs. If only I could get published so we could play them at high school level competitions...

crow01 · #8 12-01-2008, 05:30 PM

Both bassist have to be in different octaves most of the times. Or one does arpeggios and the other solos.

I have seen a band with 2 bassists, trying to outdo each other. You can see it from the crowd, they look like they are fighting and it's a mess. (this was not a jazz band)

Or check this out. It works out pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00tzcnyDL68

warnergt · #9 12-01-2008, 08:34 PM

How about a band with four bassists!?
Check it out:
The Bassketeers

powellmacaque · #10 12-01-2008, 10:33 PM

Well it's been working relatively well so far because we have completely different tones.
I play very mid-range and clear toned with a bit of growl and bite of my Stingray 5 and Jazz Basses through a GK.
The other bassist plays a P-bass through a new Acoustic amp. He's more low-end rumble with slight overdrive.
I haven't tried it much, but would maybe one bassist laying down simple walking lines in addition to the other playing maybe a slap part work?

How would a bowed upright sound in addition to an electric bass? I'm just about done saving for an upright.

I'm planning on acquiring a 6-string in the near future, in addition to perhaps some other instruments to hopefully add to the bands arsenal (we play a lot of folk, so perhaps mandocello, cello, or baritone guitar)

bass_freq · #11 12-02-2008, 12:58 AM

I really wanna hear what you come up with!

oh and sorry about the band name mistake, your right its S.M.V, I just looked at the album name real quick and thought it was the band.

emythefretless · #12 12-02-2008, 01:13 AM

Don't play what's already there, play what's not there. Miles' words...

Deacon_Blues · #13 12-02-2008, 02:14 AM

Check out the song Billy Jean. There's clearly two basslines in that one - one pumping two low 8th notes per bar, and the other one playing the famous bassline on top of it. You might get some ideas from that.

DudeistMonk · #14 12-02-2008, 03:19 PM

Les Claypool's Frog Brigade - D's Diner

...nuff said

Gubna · #15 12-02-2008, 03:25 PM

I've wanted to do that...

anyone up for it in the bay area?

Jeff Martinez · #16 12-02-2008, 03:39 PM

I've been trying to get a 2-bass band going for years. I came close when I was with my old band. We auditioned a 2nd bassist, who decided that she "couldn't be in a band with another bassist". The band ended up firing me to go with her, because she's a promotional monster. (I guess I can't blame them, they are much bigger now than in the 7-years I was with them.)

Since then, I have been trying almost non-stop to get this idea off the ground. It's amazing how many bassists will be completely confused when I introduce myself as a bassist. I've even had a few get angry and yell, "If you're a bassist, why the *&^% do you want another!!!". No kidding. I think they all fail to see how well a solid groove would work with a wanker-style bassist like me.

If anyone in Denver is interested, let me know!!!

Rando McNally · #17 12-02-2008, 04:02 PM

I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned yet, but it's the number one multi bass song around:

SPINAL TAP: BIG BOTTOM

I saw them do this at the Beacon Theater and by the end they probably had 15 bassists up there, including Will Lee, Victor Wooten and, wha? JOHN McEnroe!!

scorpionldr · #18 12-06-2008, 05:33 PM

i had a two bass 80s style hardcore band that worked well for a while. if it wasn't for all the drama, i would've sworn good things would've happened.

i like tictacs · #19 12-07-2008, 04:00 PM

Check out Sigur Ros! two basses:

they bring the rock, as well. very simple, but interesting bass work in this stuff. the two lines weave together very well imo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvzkagVvOxs

The entire piece is awesome, but the real fun starts at 5:10

drden · #20 12-07-2008, 04:05 PM

dude get the worst bassist on guitar that'll be less sonic cacaphony