Bass Players who don't groove

You got it man!

 

If he's working, somebody digs his playing!

 

Or his look/vibe/reliability. It amazes me how many band leaders (often the singer) seemingly can't tell the difference between a good bassist and a not-so-good bassist.

 

Some genres aren't intended to be groovy.
I've got next to no groove, unless I'm playing Super Freak.

 

Some bassists are frustrated guitarists and have never totally grasped the concept of role of a bass in most musical genre. I say most because there are some exception but they're not normally found in a typical club band playing dance tunes.

The bassist IS the dancemeister. It's up to him and the drummer to create the groove (pocket) and hold it together for the rest of the rhythm section and the vocalist. Do it well and everyone on dance and in the band is happy most of all the vocalist who needs a consistent pocket to phrase over. Do it poorly and no one bothers to dance and you get the skinny eye from everyone else in the band all night.

I have a great friend and band mate actually whose a superb guitarist. He can play tasty fills and solo over anything but hand him a bass and groove goes on break because he doesn't "get it", tries to do too much, and the one count completely disappears in a mess of scales 1/8th and 1/16th notes runs that are like shredding bass style. "Notey" is OK sometimes for some tunes but ya' still gotta know where the one count is and hold the pocket together.

 

I am a bit new to the bass game, but for me the reason why I picked up the bass after playing guitar for the last 20-plus years is the ability to play the groove ride the rhythm. For me if you can't rock the groove or push the rhythm what's the point?

 

This lack of Groove-ability is not just a Bass thing.
I've worked with guitarists, keyboardists, horn players and drummers that were groove challenged.
The worst case scenario is having a groove-less drummer....for obvious reasons.

Person with no groove whatsoever


Person with awesome groove

 

I can't play with groove with a bad drummer, it feels like they are trying to throw me off of a bridge. I haven't played with drummers in this video but I do <<TRY>> to play with bad drummers...Painful!
This young lady tap dancing is delightful - in a number of ways .
For me, groove is what bass is all about. But get me out on the dance floor and all bets (and I mean ALL BETS) are off! To call it painful is being generous. Think of Elaine on Seinfeld doing her dance and degrade that by 90%. A couple of years ago my wife and I went to see a buddy's band. Neither she or I dance (good thing) but another woman walked over and grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out on the dance floor. Poor thing, she had no idea what she was getting into. My buddy came over after the set and said "Do you know why I'm a musician?".....no...."So I don't have to dance". True dat.

 

The title of this thread reminded me of this:



C/S,
Rev J

 

If I could clog like that lady and play bass at the same time, my phone would be ringing off the hook. Having nice cleavage woudnt hurt either.

50 plus years ago, we felt so sorry for the irish kids in the neighborhood that had to go to irish dance lessons..and then perform at our school. Worse than accordion lessons.

 

I've neither groove nor many notes. I aspire to this style:

 

How is making sexist, chauvinist comments still a thing?

 

Barracuda has a solid pocket.

 

Easy with a pick, tough with fingers

 

Never heard the bass line to Barracuda and it's definitely a pick and the tone is exceptional

 

Funny thing is I had to learn Irish dance in grade school for some play and I'm not even Irish.
It was no where near anything Emma is doing.
I also agree Emma is talented and good looking and fun to watch.