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Always just like the record?

tunewriter

tunewriter

Jul 26, 2012
108
26
#1
Curious how many Bass players are sticklers for matching bass lines note for note. I play classic Rock and some songs have simple, straight forward, bass lines and the song would not be the same without them. But, for example, I started learning "Love Her Madly', by the doors, recently and found I could come very close to the record by just listening to the grooves on the recording. When I looked at the Bass Tab it was much more complex than what I heard. So, for songs like this, when I can come very close, but not exactly, like the record how important is it that I be right on the money. How many of my brother n out there take the freedom to be a little unique when it does not impact the song?
 
#6
In my 15+ year career of playing bass for a living, I've almost never played a song "exactly" like the record. Even if it was my part that I played on the record! For me, life's too short to not express yourself however you feel that given night.

On the other hand, it would probably benefit me greatly as a player to learn some classic songs note-for-note! Never too old to learn I suppose... :)
 
#7
I worked w/a songwriter who once hammered me for 45 minutes to get one specific section of a tune down, NOTE for effing NOTE exactly in unison w/his wanking... I quit that gig soon thereafter. No one notices except for the occasional uptight bass player. Make it feel right/sound good(when recording)& shake butts(live).
 
#8
tunewriter said:
Curious how many Bass players are sticklers for matching bass lines note for note. I play classic Rock and some songs have simple, straight forward, bass lines and the song would not be the same without them. But, for example, I started learning "Love Her Madly', by the doors, recently and found I could come very close to the record by just listening to the grooves on the recording. When I looked at the Bass Tab it was much more complex than what I heard. So, for songs like this, when I can come very close, but not exactly, like the record how important is it that I be right on the money. How many of my brother n out there take the freedom to be a little unique when it does not impact the song?
Click to expand...

First of all bass tabs are quite often wrong ... and most people will never notice if you play a different bass line as long as you nail signature licks.

Don't be the anal retentive bass player ...
 
#9
I think what you really need to play is the essence of the original.
Sometimes the essence is the rhythm of the bass part, sometimes it's the
actual notes.

To perform something note for note, seems to me more like practice and
less like playing. I like to honor the spirit of the original though, so there
is usually some aspect of the bass part that I don't alter

.
 
#11
bassteban said:
I worked w/a songwriter who once hammered me for 45 minutes to get one specific section of a tune down, NOTE for effing NOTE exactly in unison w/his wanking... I quit that gig soon thereafter.
Click to expand...
Wow - I don't blame for you for giving that one an early bath. I'd have been out of the door after ten minutes.

If the songwriter wants someone to come in and do that, then he could save himself (and his bassist/other backing musos) a lot of time and frustration by learning to write notation.
 
#12
What's on the recording is only what was done on that day, and any other day, or hour, could have yielded different results. I wouldn't mistake a recording for a written part. Sure, that doesn't go for all music, but I think it's a pretty good rule of thumb for much of it. Like others have said, as long as the feel is there, it makes the booties wanna shake, and you're expressing yourself, you have the key.
 
#13
I usually try to learn the bass part note for note, if I have time, so I know what was played.

I almost always never play this with the band though as unless the drummer and guitarists play their parts as the record (never happened yet) then there are usually better fitting bass lines.

As long as the memorable parts are there no one will ever notice if you change the rest, even most other bass players. IMO, IME, YMMV etc.
 
#14
personally- I like to do any "recognizable" main riffs very close to the recorded part. But if the song does not have recognizable bass part, I follow the chords and improvise for those sections.

A good example is "Good Times, Bad Times by LZ"
The main Intro riff- play it like the record (sometimes simplify it slightly)

Cool fill before verse (B Minor fill)- Play that note-for-note (if my band is cosniderate enough to drop out like the record so it can be heard correctly).
The chorus parts/verse- Improvise over the chords- ( JPJ does the same live). Although I will play similar "ideas" as the records for the choruse- IE walk ups and downs.
2nd cool fill- play note-for note.
Rest of song improvise.

MOST professional players (including the original artists) are not playing anything NOTE_FOR_NOTE- they are playing the signature RIFFS note-for note. And this is the misunderstanding.
 
#16
Agree 100% -

Bass Tabs are usually quite wrong - I appreciate the effort, but what are they listening to?

It is only necessary to play the "special parts" of the song, do the rest as you feel. Styles change!

It is nice to listen to and perhaps learn the original notes - this gives you an idea of what the artist and producer wanted - and then use that to go your own way.
 
#18
megafiddle said:
I think what you really need to play is the essence of the original. Sometimes the essence is the rhythm of the bass part, sometimes it's the actual notes.
Click to expand...

Precisely this. I don't even play "the bass line" on many of the original songs I have been part of writing and recording!

The essence is all that is important - it's up to you as a musician to zero in one precisely what it is, and convey it in your playing.
 
#19
Ive said it in another thread but, it depends on the song. If the bassline is very recognizable and integral to the song, I do it as close as possible. However, alot of the songs we play are pretty simple on bass...pumping eighth notes, supportive playing, etc, so I embellish those type of lines alot.
 
#20
That would give me a serious headache. I just try to get the message or concept down. No way am I sitting down and learning a James Jamerson bass line note for note. It kinda takes away from the experience of enjoying his playing when trying to listen to a song. Never been one to analyze every single thing. I've played What's goin on in several different gig situations but I play my interpretation. Can't be bothered with what did Jamerson play while I'm playing the song and getting into it. Some cats really get into that kinda thing though.
 

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