"Bass is not played that way" ?!

[RATM-RHCP]

Hey all,
so I was playing a 16th note riff on the higher frets of the G and D string, then the guitarist comes to me and says: "man, bass is not played that way". I was so upset that there was someone making rules for an instrument haha. Have you experienced this as well, that someone said, stick to the root notes or anything like that?

Cheers

 

[Smoove-Groove]

It's kinda harsh, but I would have just said "shut the ***** up!"

 

[RustyAxe]

Hand him the bass and say, "Show me".

 

[Paulabass]

I've had a variation of that.
I don't play neat little 2/4/8 etc. bar repetitive parts. To me a bass line starts at the downbeat, and ends at the outro.
I've had band leaders, and even bassists from the audience say I can't do that...but it works.

 

[tb4sbp]

Unless I am being paid to play a certain style or performance I play how I want and feel what the song needs. There is no right or wrong way to play and those that say there is do not know squat. I would not tell a harp player how to play. If it sounds good then its fine.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I would have said, loudly, "It is when I play it!"

 

[buldog5151bass]

You just look at him/her. Smile and don't stop looking at them. Chuckle and shake your head.

 

[RattleSnack]

"Bass is not played that way!"
"Well, did it sound good?"
"Yes."
"Than, that's how it's played."

 

[charlie monroe]

I've had a variation of that.
I don't play neat little 2/4/8 etc. bar repetitive parts. To me a bass line starts at the downbeat, and ends at the outro.
I've had band leaders, and even bassists from the audience say I can't do that...but it works.

I hope you play jazz ...

 

[hrodbert696]

I've been asked to dial it back, often with reason. I've been lucky not to have to deal with the Right Way to Play Bass mafia too much. I recall one time a classic rock band I was in recorded some demos, one of which was Mary Jane's Last Dance. I played it the same way I always played that song, which means, not having the full instrumentation of Tom Petty's band, I filled it out some. The BL (who had played it with me lots of times before) listens back to the demo and says, "Dude, what's with the Chris Squire bass line?", like he had never noticed before.

I smiled.

Actually, I think it sounded a bit more like Dani California, which would be a Flea bass line. But I'll take Chris Squire.

 

[Watchootognbout]

There seems to be a lot of people out there who don't play bass that have some definite rules on how a bass is played.
They're usually those who play old school Rock 'N Roll,Blues and Punk.

Edit:
In addition to the above thought.
There are also seem to be those who will join an old school Rock 'N Roll,Blues or Punk band and for some reason think that the band will want to use advanced techniques.
You must play what's appropriate for the music type.

 

[Paulabass]

I hope you play jazz ...

Nope- rock. Take a listen to Phil Lesh, Otiel Burbridge, or Mike Gordon, to name a few. We hate repetition

 

[lavmonga]

I'm sure someone said that to Larry Graham 50 years ago too.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I hope you play jazz ...

. Jazz also has plenty of songs with repetitive bass lines, and it is just as easy to get too busy when playing jazz - sometimes the improvisation means playing LESS. But there is nothing wrong with adding to the part as you go.

 

[NoiseNinja]

What an absolute imbecile closeminded jerk.

I've always been lucky to play with relatively open minded musicians, so I've never had to put up with crap like that.

You should have replied: "Bass is supposed to be played however I want to play it, dimwit!".

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

No, bass IS played that way.

 

[dbase]

I would have accidentally hit him wit the head stock .. Opps!

 

[two fingers]

Hey all,
so I was playing a 16th note riff on the higher frets of the G and D string, then the guitarist comes to me and says: "man, bass is not played that way". I was so upset that there was someone making rules for an instrument haha. Have you experienced this as well, that someone said, stick to the root notes or anything like that?

Cheers

I'm all for it as long as you maintained a firm musical foundation for the song. If you pulled the rug out from under the song and left no bass in it simply because you get bored with repetition then perhaps you chose the wrong instrument.

If you were sawing away on high 16th notes during a breakdown bridge or verse after the solo, it probably sounded amazing. If you were doing it during a big chorus or verse then you probably made your band sound like a big AM radio with no bottom just to satisfy your own boredom.

 

[Wfrance3]

We are a vastly misunderstood bunch. Guitar players don't get it when we invade their sonic turf. It's not about right or wrong in terms of rules, it's just a difference of opinion. I'm with you, that you were probably just adding notes that fit musically, and that it was a missed opportunity on his part, that either instrument could have covered. The uniqueness of letting the bass have a small piece of the action to make a tune more interesting is getting obscured by the what's mine is mine and what's yours is yours fallacy. I think the term "dusty end" was probably invented by a guitar player...

 

[InhumanResource]

I've been asked to dial it back, often with reason. I've been lucky not to have to deal with the Right Way to Play Bass mafia too much. I recall one time a classic rock band I was in recorded some demos, one of which was Mary Jane's Last Dance. I played it the same way I always played that song, which means, not having the full instrumentation of Tom Petty's band, I filled it out some. The BL (who had played it with me lots of times before) listens back to the demo and says, "Dude, what's with the Chris Squire bass line?", like he had never noticed before.

I smiled.

Actually, I think it sounded a bit more like Dani California, which would be a Flea bass line. But I'll take Chris Squire.

Haha, I had almost the exact same thing happen with a different Petty song (American Girl). I have been playing it for YEARS with the last two notes of the intro (the d to e right before "well she was an American girl...) one octave lower than the record just because it sounds cool live and fills up the stage. I do this with other tunes here and there too, especially if I have a fiver around.

A few weeks ago our lead singer hits me with " why are you doing it differently, I can't find where to start singing!". I have literally been playing it this way for five years or so, but suddenly home boy can't feel eight and it's my fault