"Bass is not played that way" ?!

[two fingers]

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 sound.

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

For me, that's what a 5 string is good for. Toward the end of a song (if it fits) I will go an octave lower to make the song sound "bigger" and build to the end. Some get it. Some don't.

 

[InhumanResource]

For me, that's what a 5 string is good for. Toward the end of a song (if it fits) I will go an octave lower to make the song sound "bigger" and build to the end. Some get it. Some don't.

Yeah, I think it adds a little drama when you do it in the right place. Anyway I'm not into copying EVERYTHING note for note on stage, what fun is that?

 

[charlie monroe]

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

So you're in a rock band but you play as though you were in a jam band?

I expect that you will hear those comments again.

 

[lfmn16]

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

and Jaco, and Victor and Chris Squire and Les Claypool and John Entwistle and Paul McCartney and Jack Bruce and every other bass player that ever had an original thought. What is REALLY pathetic is when you hear if from another bass player.

To the OP, just say, "Do I tell you how to bore everybody to death with your long, rambling leads??"

 

[lfmn16]

Anyway I'm not into copying EVERYTHING note for note on stage, what fun is that?

Some people get great satisfaction out of being able to copy the original lines as perfectly as possible. Nothing wrong with that, nothing wrong with doing your own thing.

I always have the "How close to the original do you want to play covers" discussion before I join a band. It makes things so much easier down the road.

 

[MoeTown1986]

Music is played however you want it to be played. Rock n roll has no rules.

 

[obimark]

There is more to this. If you are playing covers most of them need a certain bassline to sound and feel somewhat authentic. I couldnt imagine some of the ac_dc classics without the throbbing low eighth note bass for instance.

 

[dheafey]

As long as you're supporting the song, tell him to wank off.

 

[Sixgunn]

I'm awesome and it's eminently clear to all that the way I play bass is the way bass is played

 

[Wolfenstein666]

I wouldn't even have to say anything, the look I'd give that guy would be enough.

 

[bassliner50]

There are conventional bass lines and unconventional bass lines. It is OK to draw from both. The trick is, always be tasteful.

 

[basscapes]

Yup! I was once in told by The guitarist of a 3 pcs/w lead singer band I was in to play exactly the way the bass was played on the record , because it was screwing him up whenever he tried to solo (he had memorized about 30 songs/solos, and could parrot them flawlessly back at a moment's notice)!

I kid you not! BUT, the guy couldn't improvise his way out of a wet paper bag, didn't want me or the drummer to "embellish" parts in order to thicken things up, and could not grasp the concept of holding off or vamping if the vocalist missed a cue or tried to engage the crowd (which he did A LOT). Playing covers with some resemblance of the original I can understand. But cut some slack!

But the drummer was awesome, and that is the only reason I miss that particular band...

 

[codycon96]

Did you tell him to f*** himself? That would have been my response.

 

[LBS-bass]

There are conventional bass lines and unconventional bass lines. It is OK to draw from both. The trick is, always be tasteful.

Nailed it! The bass has a role. You can step outside the box sometimes, but you need to be supporting the rest of the music in a tasteful way. There's no one right way to do this but there might be a right or wrong way for any given song. Playing the bass like a lead guitar all night long usually isn't supportive to the music but there are always players who are the exception to any rule.

 

[Nev375]

I would have asked him how many years he's been playing bass and who taught him and influenced him?

 

[basses51]

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

What a DumbAsss....Funny thing Ive played with many singers who cant count to save theyre assss as well as no internal clock for feeling time either... There are a lot of them out there too and they are usually all superstars....NOT !!!!

 

[Maxfenderbass]

Remind him to not fiddle during soundcheck, that will shut him up.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Sounds like the guitarist is upset that you are better than he is. It's messing with his ego. That is one of the reasons I like 6 string, you can play the bass and guitar parts at the same time.

 

[Milo Spleen]

Every song has a signature, but after that it is GAME ON!

 

[RichardW]

"I'll stop playing up here as soon as you stop playing anything below middle C."