Bass is 'easy'

[MegaSwing]

It's like speaking a language: you can get your intention across to native speakers without knowing a ton of grammar, but it's not the same as truly understanding the language you wish to speak.

 

[QweziRider]

someone that just plays the root notes of the chords (e.g. playing G for a G major chord) is not really a 'proper bass player'.

You lost me right there. a "proper" bass player plays what the song requires - even if it's just the root.

 

[MVE]

Relax everybody!!!
Most electronic and dance music is made entirely ITB. It means 'in the box' or entirely within a DAW stacking synth tracks.
I am assuming that is close to the kind of music Vlad is producing.
He is just saying that, when he wants something that sounds like a bass he just selects it from the voices on his synth and starts banging away.
He's not saying that it is easy to play electric bass or even that it is easy to write a good bass line, he's just saying that when he needs a "bass" for one of HIS compositions, he can do it himself on his synth.
I don't disagree with him for that kind of music.
Thankfully, there are still many genres of music that demand live musicians to sound pleasant.
Its not like Vlad is advertising himself as a jazz trio or something.

 

[madbass6]

My reply to him would of been short and sweet
Would of been something like,
ok thanks for ur opinion.. but please take a moment and listen and " trancribe " these easy Bass lines ! it shouldn't take you long after all Bass is easy to mock !! (What ever the means) pick any of these easy Bass tracks from this list of Bass musicians then get back at me with your new opinion. And When transcribing don't forget the ghost notes..lol
1.Jaco
2.jamerson
3.McCartney
4.wooten
5.Michael manring
etc.

 

[MVE]

My reply to him would of been short and sweet
Would of been something like,
ok thanks for ur opinion.. but please take a moment and listen and " trancribe " these easy Bass lines ! it shouldn't take you long after all Bass is easy to mock !! (What ever the means) pick any of these easy Bass tracks from this list of Bass musicians then get back at me with your new opinion. And When transcribing don't forget the ghost notes..lol
1.Jaco
2.jamerson
3.McCartney
4.wooten
5.Michael manring
etc.

Respectfully, your response would only make sense if Vlad were working on a rock, fusion or solo bass project when he made his observation that bass was easy to produce in the box.
Do you really think he was?
He probably doesn't even know who any of those people are, with the exception of McCartney.
There are lots of different kinds of music in the world, they don't all need electric bass.

 

[Megalon]

After reading the initial post, I don't think the guy was putting down bassists ,it is simply something that he can replicate in the studio. His suggestion to learn more instruments could be seen as a little insulting but I think it has some merit. I think every bass guitarist should have at least some rudimentary guitar skills so that they can understand chord tones, figure out tunes or just be more versatile etc. I also think guitar players should know some bass. I play both guitar and bass, and I've always considered the electric bass a larger, 4 string guitar. It was made for guitarists to double on so there isn't as much separation between them as is sometimes portrayed.

 

[superheavydeathmetal]

Yeah, bass is super easy. Anybody could play this:



Honestly, though, bass is like guitar or piano or baseball or anything else. The instrument or activity itself not "easy or hard," it's the level that someone tries to attain that is easy or hard.

 

[Tom Henry]

This sorta thing is all about "who knows you." He obviously doesn't know you or who you are. How are you going to make him know who you are?

He could pay you to play for him, or do something quick on his left hand on a synth bass and move on with his life.

 

[madbass6]

Respectfully, your response would only make sense if Vlad were working on a rock, fusion or solo bass project when he made his observation that bass was easy to produce in the box.
Do you really think he was?
He probably doesn't even know who any of those people are, with the exception of McCartney.
There are lots of different kinds of music in the world, they don't all need electric bass.

Ok.. just to clarify sorry i thought the title of this thread was "BASS IS EASY! Wish why I gave a list of musicians that play there instruments (BASS) anything but easy! just so he can see its NOT as easy as he thinks!
BASS IS EASY? Nope!!
even if it's produced thru a box ! I wasnt refering to the electric Bass as a solo instrument but as "Bass" in general! Electric/acoustic/synth/ upright/EUB etc. Or what your calling bass thru a Box .
Bass is not as easy as he makes it sound period!! (was my point)I've heard crazy/very complex bass tracks produced thru a box ! Remember it's not just low notes when it comes to producing a GREAT Bass line!
feel/groove/ has a lot to with it!(especialy) if producing Bass thru a box ! hopefully my previous comment makes more scence now..

 

[MDBass]

I googled "ITB meaning" and now I'm really confused?

ITB = "In The Box" and refers to mixing.

Which obviously has nothing to do anything either he or the OP was discussing

 

[MDBass]

"In The Bedroom" AKA "In the home studio" ??

"In The Box", meaning using only plugins and no outboard gear.

Also not relevant to anything else in his reply

 

[MDBass]

Hello,

I contacted a few people asking if they needed bass parts for their projects and this is one of the replies I got...

"Thanks for contacting me, Patrick!

Since I work 100% ITB, I collaborate only with vocalists. But I know this market for many years, and would sincerely advise you to venture into additional musical instruments, to further increase your chances for a gig - guitars, mandolin, whatever. Just make sure it is an instrument which is problematic to emulate otherwise (unfortunately bass falls in a "easy to mockup" category, unless "starlike" quality and gear, or either complex funky genre is concerned).

Wish you a Happy New Year, and lots of success!
Vlad."

This was my reply...

"Thanks for replying, Vlad

I see what you mean about bass being in the 'easy to mockup' category, but for me, someone that just plays the root notes of the chords (e.g. playing G for a G major chord) is not really a 'proper bass player'. It's like in a boy band where one of the guitarists gets put on bass as they need a bass player. He just then plays the root notes on every song. A 'real bass player' would create bass lines which improve the song (this rarely involves just playing root notes throughout the song). Personally, when I write a bass line I make sure it is interesting and adds something unique to the song.

I do also play the Ukulele if that is something you would be interested in
Thanks, Patrick"

How do you feel about the bass being "easy to mockup"?

Thanks, Patrick

Playing multiple instruments equally well will undoubtedly allow you to get more gigs, and a lot of producers are solid (and sometimes phenomenal) bass players themselves.

However, no real producer is ever, EVER going to use key/synth bass instead of real bass in a tune unless that's the vibe they want, as they don't sound or feel anything alike in a mix.

If that's what he's suggesting, he's wrong.

I work 100% In The Box as well, but that literally has nothing to do with anything Vlad is talking about...I'm honestly not sure why he even bothered mentioning it.

 

[fourtet102]

Real bass player is mandatory if you require true groove but the question is how many tunes these days (pop music) have or even ask for groove lines? All about shamefully artificial sound and great looks. Same problem with guitars which are in demise IMO in music genres radio stations get paid to play.

 

[MDBass]

Yup - in the box. Meaning he tracks, mixes, masters etc. inside the DAW. Probably uses software instruments for everything except voice.

There's nothing wrong with tracking and mixing 100% in the box, but if he's using software instruments for absolutely everything but voice he produces demos, not professional mixes.

Any real producer knows that acoustic/electric instruments and synths don't work the same in a mix; each is a tool that has it's own voice.

If you tried to make an Alabama Shakes record using Superior Drummer and synth bass it would sound and feel ridiculous.

 

[MDBass]

Well, for much of the kind of pop that's being made these days, he's right. There's very little going on in the bass department where most contemporary top 40 pop is concerned. And it's not just bass. How much guitar do you hear in non-rock radio pop right now? It's all about one guy sitting at his DAW piecing things together with as few contributions from outside musicians as possible. Yay.

That's just not true; a lot of the biggest records recently (Bruno Mars, D'Angelo, Kendrick Lamar, Meghan Trainor, Paramore, Muse, Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons, every single major label country artist, etc.) have all had real bass on them.

 

[MDBass]

It sort of depends on the genre of music. Bass IS easy to mock up for a lot of styles of music. There are extremely realistic bass guitar libraries that are perfectly serviceable in rock music.

It really all depends on the sound you're looking to create; programmed drums can sound great in rock music and real bass can be perfect for a hip hop track.

"Perfectly serviceable" doesn't apply to making professional mixes, which is what this guy claims to be doing; if he's using synth bass because he can't play real bass and doesn't want to hire a player, and not because he actually wants synth bass in the track, he's a hack.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Should I explain what ITB means in this case, like 6 other folks? No, I actually read the thread!
The reply to the op made sense to me, but instead of describing what a bass line can do i'd just send a link to Marvin Gaye's "What's going on".

 

[JaredBT]

If it's a simple song and only requires root notes, (ie Folsom Prison Blues) I don't try to change the sound of the song by playing more bass than is needed.I leave that to the lead guitar player. Keep it simple, unless you're going to solo.. Some people tend to think that since your playing just root notes you can't play the bass. They tend to try to squeeze more bass riffs between each chord change. Experience teaches me that my job is to hold down the bottom end and not try to be the front man.. My band appreciates the fact that I keep the beat along with the drummer. (stepping down off of stool)

When I play "Folsom" I walk the freekin sheet outta that song... hang on the 5 often... its the only way to play bass. Getting out of the "root" rut is not hard, just noodling (practice) a few times a week will buy you that. If I can do it anyone can.

 

[Overloaded]

Ow countraire, mon sewer. Folsom Prison has BOTHS kinds of bass notes.... roots AND fifths!

.

And even a walking line or two...

 

[CGremlin]

Bass often *is* a relatively easy instrument to cover on keys or a computer, but the mechanics of making sound aren't what separates a "bassist" from "someone playing bass". Bassists have a completely different mindset and interpretation of a given piece of music, and it reflects in what comes out. Plenty of guitarists can play bass, but I wouldn't consider them bassists - Yngwie Malmsteen is a prime example. Great guitarist, but every last bass part he performs himself comes out sounding exactly like a guitarist playing bass. Contrast that to someone like Lee Sklar - who would you rather be holding down the low end on your project?