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A guitarists dream bass player

J

JasonTheRed

Jun 27, 2014
12
6
41
#1
A different thread I posted today got me thinking about how the perspective of a guitarist and bassist is often different within a band. So, I thought it might be interesting to post mine and other guitar players I've known perspective on our dream bass player. I've sat through many band auditions for bassists and have had the pleasure of playing with some amazing bassist. I've seen a lot of good and bad trends among them.

First, any good guitarist knows how valuable a good bass player is. From my perspective, a mediocre bass often works and can pass by more than any other instrument. But, a truly great bass player really makes the band. Unfortunately, from a lot of guitarist perspectives there are very few great bassist out there. A lot time a mediocre bassist will get the job out of necessity.

Here's what IMO a great bass player and a bad one in a band:
e you
 
#3
I play guitar and sing in an original rock trio. I also play bass in a power pop cover band.

As a guitarist, I want a bass player who takes up a lot of sonic space. Because I also sing, I spend a lot of time playing straight rhythm, and need the bassist to play a lot of melody and not be wallpaper. Especially during solos, when there is no other guitarist to hold down that rhythm. My bassist isn't the greatest, but I'll be damned if he doesn't play his best and write some great lines.

As a bassist, my guitarist couldn't care less about what I play. He'd probably be ok if I just stayed on the root. I'm not a great bassist, but I'm going to make this instrument my own.

So what I'm saying is that it depends on the guitarist.
 
#5
JasonTheRed said:
A different thread I posted today got me thinking about how the perspective of a guitarist and bassist is often different within a band. So, I thought it might be interesting to post mine and other guitar players I've known perspective on our dream bass player. I've sat through many band auditions for bassists and have had the pleasure of playing with some amazing bassist. I've seen a lot of good and bad trends among them.

First, any good guitarist knows how valuable a good bass player is. From my perspective, a mediocre bass often works and can pass by more than any other instrument. But, a truly great bass player really makes the band. Unfortunately, from a lot of guitarist perspectives there are very few great bassist out there. A lot time a mediocre bassist will get the job out of necessity.

Here's what IMO a great bass player and a bad one in a band:
e you
Click to expand...
u
I agree and disagree with you. I think many guitarists understand the importance of a good bass player but they rarely if ever pay attention to how good a bass player is. My guitarist has said on many occasions that he loves playing with me because we lock in so well together. I think that many people think that a bass player only has to lock in with a drummer but when you really analyze music you realize that the bass player is the most important member of any band. They have to lock in and keep time with the drummer while also playing in key with the guitarist, keyboardist and singer. When people dance, tap their foot, tap their hand or bob their head to music, they are always doing it to whatever the bass player is doing, even if they don't realize that they are doing so.
 
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#7
Since your only expectation of a bassist is to be above mediocre, let us flesh it out for you.

I agree with the specifics others have given you. I've offered some in your other post. Here's another: it's all about the bottom. That doesn't mean bassists should never go above the fifth fret; we just don't live there.
 
#10
Geezer Butler is perfect for Tony Iommi. Knows just what to play to finish the sound.

Likewise, Geddy and Alex pretty much go as a package. Rush switched drummers once and got better, but it was still recognizably Rush. Switch out the bassist or guitarist, though, and you may as well change the name of the band, even in the early 70s.
 
#13
JasonTheRed said:
...
Unfortunately, from a lot of guitarist perspectives there are very few great bassist other musicians out there.
...
Click to expand...

I mostly agree but had to fix that sentence for you. ;)

I feel the need for a bit of a rant ...

Bass is often a thankless job, guitarists and singers alike take the rhythm section for granted, it's something you have to have but quite few in my opinion have much of a clue what the drums and bass are doing for them or what constitutes a good bass line. Add the typical egocentricity of a person who has chosen to be a front figure in a band and you know you will be thought of as just a supporting player. I happen to like the support role but sometimes you have to bite your tongue. Even in our band which is a bunch of highly open minded and civilized guys it took me being away from a series of rehearsals to get any kind of comment that they actually missed the bass when it wasn't there.

Personally I have much more affinity with the drummer, we do our job together, it's what makes the music groove, and then the guitarists and singer can do their thing on top of our hopefully solid foundation. A couple of times when we've gotten comments from an audience that the band really had a nice groove going then I know it was not the singer or guitarist who made that happen, it was the rhythm section.

Anyway, I actually don't subscribe to all the us and them going on between different kinds of musicians, to make a good band all members are important and all parts have to work together. Big ears are required, from all members.

Here endeth the rant, back to your regular programming. :)
 
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#15
buldog5151bass said:
Not making friends coming on a bass player's site and starting successive threads denigrating to bass players.

Just sayin'.
Click to expand...
--The irony is that he is asking those who he belittled if he's a big enough man to take what he dished.--

I suggest JasontheRed visit a life coach's forum for direction since he already owns a bass and is writing and recording bass parts for songs but just can't bring himself to backup another guitarist.
 
#17
You guys are way too harsh on the dude. He pushed some buttons in the other thread, but he's not doing the same in this one. Chill already.

Unfortunately, it looks like something got deleted in the OP... actual examples of good and bad players?

In my view, being a great bassist is about musicality and listening to the other players and to the song. It's being able to stretch out and rip it up when that's what makes the song great; and having the self-discipline NOT to do those things when they don't serve the song. Sometimes we have this little bassists' civil war between pocket players and chops players; neither is right or wrong in itself, it's what's right or wrong for the song.
 
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#20
80jazz said:
I'm not entirely convinced about that, as the drumming John Rutsey did on that first album suited the songs quite well and he could also pump some energy into their performances as well.
Click to expand...

Have you heard any live bootlegs from that era? Everything I've heard was less Bonham and more like, honestly, Paul Cook.

Album sounds great but live he really doesn't appear to have solid chops. Energetic but under accomplished without a strong commitment to the groove....they're worlds better with Neil.
 

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