bass in a metal band

[pinkapples69]

Hey Everyone I am playing Bass in a 4 piece metal band. And I wouldn't say I am that good or anything but some of the stuff I play sounds pretty cool my bass is tuned in drop D and all. My question is I seem to play mostly on the lowest string is that bad should I work the rest in or should I just stick with what sounds good now for my level? Sorry if I don't sound very experienced I don't know many musical terms.
(I have a video of me on my stickam account stickam.com/pinkapples69)

 

[JimmyM]

Depends on the song. If it sounds good to play higher, play higher. If you're looking to build a massive wall of sludge, stick on the lower strings.

 

[pinkapples69]

yeah we play like really heavy drop D music. Thanks for the reply I am feeling a little bit more confident now and my band mates think I do fine I just feel like most of what I play is like set in a certain pattern and I need to break my mold that I put myself into so that all my bass lines don't sound to similiar.

 

[JimmyM]

In order to break molds, I suggest listening to other forms of music and then trying to adapt them to metal. A lot of these newer metal guys listen to jazz extensively because it's probably the most difficult type of music to play well. Then they incorporate it into their bands.

On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with milking a style, either. Look at Cliff WIlliams from AC/DC. The guy plays pretty much the same bass line in every song they do and it sounds great. So just realize that it's all about making the song strong, and if everyone agrees the song is strong with your bassline, then it's more than likely just fine.

 

[tom once dead]

In metal, you'll find that the bass follows the guitars alot, sometimes the best bass lines are simplified versions of what the guitars are doing.

Good examples of this are in Entombment of a Machine by Job for a cowboy, every now and agian the bass just does a big slide down the B string (they play B F# B C# I think) and it sounds really good, makes the song.

But also look at A Fire in Babylon by Shadows Fall, in the chorus, the bass bassically does runs the whole time and it also sounds awsome.

So play whatever you think will make the song the most brutal, if its a shred run that does the whole fret board in a second or just hitting a long open note.

 

[pinkapples69]

Thanks guys this is the kind of stuff I needed to hear to really encourage because I intend to pour my life into being the best bassist I could possibly be because playing music is probally my favirote thing in the world to do. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Double Agent]

Listen to some Iron Maiden to get an idea of how to play across the fretboard in metal while still supporting the rest of the music. The bands that I like best, and that tend to stand out the most IMO, are ones where the bass and guitar are melodic equals that support each other. If all you do is double the guitar, all you are doing is making yourself easily replaceable. Sometimes, maybe a lot of the time, you will have to double the guitar. But, be on the lookout for places in the music where you can take the melody and the guitar can take a back seat for a little bit and make the most of those moments.

 

[atheos]

Depends a lot of the song. Some riffs simply require that the bass just doubles the guitar riff one octave lower while other riffs sound awesome if you play something different that what guitar does.

As said, listen to all genres, rock, pop, jazz, classical... Then find some cool bass licks and adapt them to your band's songs.

For greatest bass in rock/metal, I'd say: Tool, Iron Maiden, Metallica (the first three albums with Cliff, songs like The Four Horsemen!), (old) Korn (being such unique approach), Muse (Hysteria anyone? ) and yeah, RHCP has cool bass lines too.

Just don't push yourself too hard - playing has to be fun and likely it's not if you're constantly pushing your limits. Learn what's the desired level of your playing skill and become a bit better so you don't have to push it. I've found that the best way to play though some like pushing themselves. I don't.

 

[troll]

I try to approach it on a riff by riff basis. But one thing I've noted over the years works in 99% of the situations.

If you've got a tight specific rhythm and a lot of note changes, follow the guitar. You can change octaves from time to time just to give everything a bit more texture. If they are sustaining big chords or hovering around the same key for a section, it's all wide open and go nuts. Stick to your drummer for those sections but branch out with a melody or walk into the next section and you'll be out of your shell in no time.

There are no rules. Experiment and figure out what works.

 

[Willy2911]

You have to keep learning, and get to know the rest of your bass. I played in a METAL band also and It was mostly all low notes and power chords, and that is cool, but there comes a time when you have to do the work and practice so you feel confident and bass will seem brand new to u when you learn a new trick.
I like Tool alot and If you listen to Justin - Man - he has alot of stuff going on - and tool is pretty heavy. I am sure he has a blast on stage cos he can rip -
In my opinion there are alot of really cool sounding metal bands, that actually can't play for Sh$$ - and any muscian can tell that they are only playing about 3 chords - so the talent is missing - We need to continue to raise the bar, challeng ourselves and other muscians to play our hearts out.
Hope this helps Man...
Keep shredding!

 

[chaosMK]

I've been playing in all kinds of heavy, low-tuned (D, C#, C, B), tech metal bands since probably like 2001.

Nothing wrong with playing in the low range, or even lining up exactly with the guitarist or bass drum and just doing roots. I do that if I want it to be extra heavy.

Even doing that type of match up, you can add in octave-oriented stuff (think Tool - The Pot)...

I usually only do the cooler stuff on the higher ranges of the bass when the songs have space to "breathe."

When all is said and done, these days I dont care too much about What I do- it's more about How I do it. I am prefectly happy using my judgement and doing some real simple lines if that's what I think is best, but adding complexity to the finer points (accents, mutes, attacks, the amount of sustain, overall feel, throwing in a harmonic, etc).

 

[Crazy Ivan]

While my opinion of Tool as a band is not so high, you guys are right on the money in giving Chancellor as an example of how to mix it up on the bass in heavier music.

Another great guy to listen to is John Myung of Dream Theater. Have a listen to the Images and Words album.

Getting progressively heavier there is Cannibal Corpse, Necrophagist, Atheist (first album mostly), Cynic, and anything with Steve DiGiorgio. All really interesting bass playing.

 

[perogato02]

I try to approach it on a riff by riff basis. But one thing I've noted over the years works in 99% of the situations.

If you've got a tight specific rhythm and a lot of note changes, follow the guitar. You can change octaves from time to time just to give everything a bit more texture. If they are sustaining big chords or hovering around the same key for a section, it's all wide open and go nuts. Stick to your drummer for those sections but branch out with a melody or walk into the next section and you'll be out of your shell in no time.

There are no rules. Experiment and figure out what works.

+ 1.

I've played years in a thrashmetal band where I basically just followed the guitars. When I play those old songs again now, I can add variations in it.
A lot comes with growing selfconfidence and an enlarged musical perspective.
You are the captain on your boat -a.k.a. the bass- and only you can choose where you want to steer it to

 

[Buddah999]

I believe bass is an instrument of taste. Sometimes its good to float in the upper regestier, sometimes you need to provide a wall of lows that make babies crap thier pants. It just depends on the situation and your personal taste.

I've noticed playing in heavier projects, you will double guitars often. And the more technical the metal, the more technical the doubling will be. In Tool, Justin often has more room to breathe, so he can do a lot of cool stuff. However, when its time for him and Adam to lock up, they do so.

I think you should learn all the techniques you can. Even if you don't use them in your current project. Learn as much theory as possible. Even if your not going to use it right now. Just because these songs your working on currently don't call for slapping, or counter melodies, doesn't mean you'll never use them in your musical carrier.

 

[theunknowndude]

I'm in the same boat my big one right now is looking for more ways to add to the lines,...

if you feel like spending money you can buy the metal bass dvd's with dave ellefson going through things,...

from his own mouth and from my teacher, what you DONT play is important too,... I loved in metallica where in intro or outro they would have bass drum and bass just hitting a big 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 whilst the guitars did a harmony thing on top...

I very much agree with tool's playing as they all branch all over the joint but justin often bring it back to simple locking in with either the guitar or drums for great effect,...

also what made geezer butler throw me out when I first started,... doing 8 or 16th root notes but throw runs in or a few passing notes,... just spices it up a tiny bit

 

[chrisisnotevil]

try listening to some isis, specifically oceanic, panopticon and in the absence of truth, those albums are all about space and dynamics for me and always give me ungodly amounts of inspiration. maybe not the most technically challenging bass playing, but sounds wicked all the same. but yeah, if you do what they said ^^ you'll be up and away in no time, good luck!

 

[djwackfriz]

Tons of excellent tips in this thread...

My main advice would be to listen carefully to your favorite bands, specifically your favorite moments (when it gets really heavy, when it gets really technical) and pay attention to what the bassist does to underline that PARTICULAR part of the song.

It doesn't help to be wanking when the rest of the band is crushing slow and heavy, unless that's specifically what you're trying to accomplish in the song. On the other hand, if doing a run alongside some techie guitar makes the part sound faster or more dynamic, it's better than just playing root notes or drones.

Many times in metal bass, less is more. Unless more is more. or something.