Bass: Rhythm or solo instrument?

[progrmr]

I watch all the popular bass guys on YT like Scott Devine, MarloeDK, etc.

They all have MAD technique but they are always playing the bass like its a sólo instrument, not holding down the low end.

I love to watch those guys play, but I see them as the exception not the rule when it comes to bass playing.

 

[Bassdude15]

Whoever clicked the top answer is blasphemous and should have their bass clawed to bits by a cat, with the remains being set alight beneath their bed at night.
Seriously though: by "rhythm" instrument, do you mean root notes/quarter notes and the like? Because I don't think thats the job of a bass player at all. As a bass guitarist I tend to more support the melody than the chord progression, and I sort of 'dance' rhythmically with my drummer (he keeps the beat playing quarter notes with the kick drum and does all these crazy fills, roles, and cymbal crashes on top), I like to lock in with his kick drum during quieter parts of songs, do sort of a syncopated gallop rhythm during crescendos;when he hangs back I like to walk up and down the neck. During guitar solos I take the guitar riff and play it and octave lower. During my (rare)solos I tend to play a counter-melody type thing, throwing in a ghost note hear and there to keep my timing solid.
But I don't necessarily think bass has to be about slap triplets or 10-minute long strings of harmonics either(those get on my every last nerve). I think that bass should always have a place closer to melody than straight rhythm regardless of the musical style in question.
PLease excuse my tangent.

 

[stratovani]

All depends on your style. For me, the bass is strictly a rhythm instrument. I'm just too damn old to become the next Victor Wooten or Jaco, but i can be the next Carl Radle or Duck Dunn!

 

[newmusicmichael]

I think it depends. I assume that if I ever find a project I'll be part of the rhythm section. But in the meantime I've also been writing my own material akin to DFA1979, where there's only the bass guitar and drums. I find that a little more interesting at this point.

That's probably because, now that I reflect, I've gotten a little bored with the songs I practice with. Maybe it's time to pick more challenging tracks to play along with.

 

[Snarf]

If you're soloing without rhythm, you're doing it wrong.

 

[groooooove]

anyone not answering "both" is just plain ole' incorrect.

if your playing with tower of power, you're there to lock up with the drummer. if you're playing bottesini with the london symphony behind you i think its safe to call yourself a soloist.

 

[FretlessMainly]

I would argue that there's more beyond solo/melodic and strictly rhythm. It's what I do; it's whatever comes to mind in a group that's conducive to group improvisation. What I've done in this situation, at times, is neither solo nor melodic, nor strictly rhythm. Why impose boxes? What I do is play bass.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I would argue that there's more beyond solo/melodic and strictly rhythm. It's what I do; it's whatever comes to mind in a group that's conducive to group improvisation. What I've done in this situation, at times, is neither solo nor melodic, nor strictly rhythm. Why impose boxes? What I do is play bass.

Yeah a lot of people like to put boxes everywhere ... like rythm guitar ... we live in a sad world

 

[Precision101]

One name. One band. John entwhistle. The who. All lead instruments.