A few of my favorite things

[dbflats]

Here's a few truisms in my bass playing world. But you folks got some too. I'll fling up a starter list . Add in if you care to!

1). When in doubt, play the root note. It's going to sound fantastic.

2). If a groove is close but a certain part ain't quite working, look to your bassline and see if simplifying it, possibly taking out a bit that you're doing, might not solve the issue.

3). If you use dubby-tubby tones ( I sure do! ), less-busy lines often fill the bill.

Alright 4, you're up!

 

[Docduval]

4 when not sure what to play, play nothing at alll. No one will notice.

 

[Spidey2112]

5. Unplug your bass, rack it, go get a beer, come back during the 2nd set, fist bump the drummer and high five the lady in the front with the big, huge '80s hair... what a night!

 

[BassChap]

6. If your sound is not OK (in any way) playing with a band, switch off all pedals, set all EQ knobs on the bass and on the amp in the zero position, to solve the problem.

 

[Nebadon2000]

When playing in Cover band 1& 2 may be needed if you are unprepared or put in situation of playing song you haven't played for whatever reason and I would add listen to other players and adjust accordingly

For Cover band #3 only if it has positive effect on song and band if different from actual baseline

For original band 1& 2 should be unessasary and addressed in rehearsal

#3 yes if playing dubby tubby bass lines
less is better especially for band and audience Unless your in a Reggae Band

If just playing at jams or get togethers
all 3 work except #1 only if you don't doubt the root play nothing is better choice

To add a truism
Playing Bass in a band with other good musicians in front of an attentive audience can be pure joy

 

[SC Bassboy]

Here's a few truisms in my bass playing world. But you folks got some too. I'll fling up a starter list . Add in if you care to!

1). When in doubt, play the root note. It's going to sound fantastic.

2). If a groove is close but a certain part ain't quite working, look to your bassline and see if simplifying it, possibly taking out a bit that you're doing, might not solve the issue.

3). If you use dubby-tubby tones ( I sure do! ), less-busy lines often fill the bill.

Alright 4, you're up!

4). If you play a wrong note, play it again on the next measure so everyone thinks it was an intentional, creative choice.

 

[pyrat56host]

#? let go and allow your ears and hands to PLAY~

 

[Ostie]

Learn the rules first, then learn when to break them.

 

[trothwell]

4a: When you stop playing because you're not sure what to play, be careful not to stop for too long. Figure it out and come back in.

4b. As an alternative to stopping altogether, shift into a passage of "walking bass" with a series of non-chord approach notes until you land somewhere that actually sounds good.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Finding the perfect balance of liquid intake so one is not dehydrated during your set and getting the uncomfortable "need to go" when you still have time before you can go.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

5. Unplug your bass, rack it, go get a beer, come back during the 2nd set, fist bump the drummer and high five the lady in the front with the big, huge '80s hair... what a night!

As I was reading this, I didn't think you were going to finish "...big, huge.." with "...'80s hair..."

I would high-five both....WOMEN, that is

 

[bassdude51]

1). When in doubt, play the root note. It's going to sound fantastic.

Exactly! Amen! Playing the root note is IMHO about 70% of playing the bass. (The root & 5 and the major and minor triads pretty much get ya there as a bass player.)

 

[Ron Berenato]

Rehearse at a reasonable volume. My first studio experience was embarrassing because the producer had to point out all my lines that were not accurate. We always rehearsed so loudly that it all melded together. And I tried to be cool with busy parts. After simplifying everything - everything sounded much better.

 

[dbflats]

Alright I'm up again; Your signal is cutting out at a gig or rehearsal. You've got multiple potential trouble spots to sift through. Always start with the instrument jack itself. Loose? Corroded and/or dirty?

 

[J Wilson]

MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT KEY, then LISTEN more and play LESS until you're up to speed on the tune.

Show up early and be tuned up and plugged in and ready to go RIGHT NOW. You don't want everybody to get up there, and they're waiting and staring at you tuning or screwing around with cables: You can't take the guitar player's job away from him.

And if you play a wrong note, DON'T STOP or stand there with that look on your face.

 

[pbassnut]

Here's a few truisms in my bass playing world. But you folks got some too. I'll fling up a starter list . Add in if you care to!

1). When in doubt, play the root note. It's going to sound fantastic.

2). If a groove is close but a certain part ain't quite working, look to your bassline and see if simplifying it, possibly taking out a bit that you're doing, might not solve the issue.

3). If you use dubby-tubby tones ( I sure do! ), less-busy lines often fill the bill.

Alright 4, you're up!

1) Being reliable is always going to help you get and keep work.
2) There's no money above the 12th fret.
3) Employ positive mental energy as much as possible.
4) Try to be a good hang. Nobody wants to play with someone who's cranky or is hard to get along with ... especially if you're a road band.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

17) when you make a rhythmic mistake, snap your head around quickly, glare at the drummer and shake your head at them disdainfully

21) when you hit a bad note, snap your head around quickly, glare at the guitarist and shake your head at them disdainfully

 

[JTNuney]

Good bedroom tone is not necessarily good gig tone, and vice versa.

(Wish someone would have told this to teenage me. That kid never met a mid he wouldn't scoop…)

EDIT: Stupid autocorrect turned "bedroom tone" into "bedroom time." Dorky teenage bass player me had zero experience with "good bedroom time."

 

[Kubicki Fan]

17) when you make a rhythmic mistake, snap your head around quickly, glare at the drummer and shake your head at them disdainfully

21) when you hit a bad note, snap your head around quickly, glare at the guitarist and shake your head at them disdainfully

Kindof like when passing wind..