I would think of it as serving the song. With the instrumentation and the individuals we had, doing it that way produced the best performance we could give. And I wasn't necessarily playing Valory's part all that well...
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
6 String guitarists dictating the bass lines..do they get it?
- Thread starter gkella
- Start date
I would think of it as serving the song. With the instrumentation and the individuals we had, doing it that way produced the best performance we could give. And I wasn't necessarily playing Valory's part all that well...
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
In my current band, I will sometimes play very busy lines, sometimes roots all the way. Our guitarist (and the others with him) is welcome to give suggestions. But we play covers, and I know what I can and cannot pull off.
One previous band I was in, one of the guitarists would sometimes tell me: "If you don't follow us but play this instead, it creates a nice descending bass line that fits the progression." Now THAT sort of input is invaluable. With him, when he spoke I listened. We're still in touch and still want to get a band together again. Maybe soon ..
One previous band I was in, one of the guitarists would sometimes tell me: "If you don't follow us but play this instead, it creates a nice descending bass line that fits the progression." Now THAT sort of input is invaluable. With him, when he spoke I listened. We're still in touch and still want to get a band together again. Maybe soon ..
An update. We had a practice today.
It was actually pretty positive..No demands.
It was actually pretty positive..No demands.
Did you talk about this issue? Or was he just having a mellow day?
My first thought was that the OP was describing a situation that I would have very little patience for, because I am the King of the Realm of Low, then I saw your post and had to laugh. But I thought about it and realized that the difference is that this is a relatively new band and it doesn’t sound like there is a lot of chemistry between the members.
Now, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I have very little musical skills to fall back on besides the bass guitar, but I do often like to swagger in as the king of the low end in my bands—to a degree. However, I have had the privilege of playing with absolute top-notch musicians for years, so I know I can trust the ability of the people who might be giving me feedback and remain confident knowing they picked me for a reason. I also learned how to pick my battles. I’m not picking up a whole lot of that symbiotic jazz from the OP, though.
Just play the song as recorded. No need to add fills and frills. If the recorded bass lines worked for the original artist, then it's OK for you. They got paid to do it.
But I would tell Mr. Guitar player, You play your part and I'll do mine.
No pay = no complaints.
Find another band.
It took me awhile to settle down and play per recorded version. I had a tendency to want to add walk ups and downs and pops and slaps that weren't called for in the song. Bass is the backbone of a band, keep it straight and the band will walk tall.
I went back over our entire set list and was surprised to find I was adding notes to many, many songs. This is probably because we are a three piece guitar, bass and drums band playing songs by 2 guitar players, bass, drums and keys. I naturally try to add some of the missing chorus or melody lines.
Bottom line:
If there is no pay involved, I'll play anyway I damn well please.
But I would tell Mr. Guitar player, You play your part and I'll do mine.
No pay = no complaints.
Find another band.
It took me awhile to settle down and play per recorded version. I had a tendency to want to add walk ups and downs and pops and slaps that weren't called for in the song. Bass is the backbone of a band, keep it straight and the band will walk tall.
I went back over our entire set list and was surprised to find I was adding notes to many, many songs. This is probably because we are a three piece guitar, bass and drums band playing songs by 2 guitar players, bass, drums and keys. I naturally try to add some of the missing chorus or melody lines.
Bottom line:
If there is no pay involved, I'll play anyway I damn well please.
Last edited:
What is the point of being in a band that is not musically fulfilling and where someone deliberately put obstructions up for the songs sounding the best?
I would have serious talk with the guitar player, and if that didn't help find me a new one or ultimately a new band if it is not possible to get rid of the guitar player.
I've always played in originals writing my own bass lines but welcoming constructive critique and ideas from band mates.
I would have serious talk with the guitar player, and if that didn't help find me a new one or ultimately a new band if it is not possible to get rid of the guitar player.
I've always played in originals writing my own bass lines but welcoming constructive critique and ideas from band mates.
I'm with ya. I don't always go into "backing track mode" during someone else's solo. I actually love it when a solo interacts with the rhythm section and i feel the section needs to support the energy of the solo in their own way.
I've played with guitar players like that before and it's frustrating. It throws some guitar players to have ANYTHING going on other than pounding root - they usually aren't very good guitar players but sometimes they are. Although this example isn't THAT extreme - a friend of mine use to play with Robin Trower who was a big deal many years back and Trower had to have everything exactly the same way every night - the bass lines had to be dead simple and have no variation - same with the drums - just the basics and approved fills only in approved places. These were very unhappy guys that had to work with him because the felt like human jukeboxes, but it paid the bills. It doesn't sound like your guitar player's paying your bills - If you're unhappy, find another guitar player.
Tell Him to mind his own Business or Hit the Road Jack, and don't come back No more.
just playing roots only will be tantamount to a Cliff Williams or a Dusty Hill, in which context, 95% roots is appropriate and right. However NO bassist can just play root notes without any connecting tones between chords (mostly). Doing so forces a limited dimension on the song, but at the same time you must be able to justify everything you do on bass so that it supports the song/singer. So if a busy bassline sounds right and good, keep it, and if fewer notes is best, then do that. There's hardly anything worse than an overplaying (bass) part that isn't really cool to the song (like the drum part in 'Louie Louie'). If you get bored easily just playing roots, then try some varying rhythms on the tonic note (like Jamerson's break in 'Bernadette'). If you're still plain bored with heavy root playing, then either quit the band, or take up a different instrument: our obligation to the root is paramount; it should be our principal philosophy to 'cover' the root but still support the chord changes and whatever the singer is doing.
I agree. There's no need to go crazy but changing the vibe during a solo break can really enhance the feel of the break. You just need to do it tastefully and in a way that doesn't step all over the solo itself. I like to think of it as a showcase cradle for the soloist.
