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Bassists Are Their Own Worst Enemies

#81
wes stephenson said:
i think cats should just play what they want and not bicker when somebody else does it differently then they would.... thank you for your post jimmy...
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Exactly--play what sounds good--It can be simple or "busy" but it should make the overall piece sound good---Family Man and Victor both play some amazing bass and they are on polar ends of the bass spectrum.

As far as grooving, in the pocket, keeping time, etc. It's all kind of the same thing---keep the feel of the song ...don't fall out-- I also like what the poster koocy said--enjoy your day people
 
#82
Slightly off topic but still in the general area. One thing that always bugs me when watching a YouTube, video or on tv, is that they rarely show the bass player. Of course the singer and guitarist and are featured most. Then the drummer is next. Finally they show the bassist a few seconds. Maybe it is not really that big of a deal, but it always bugged me, lol!!!
 
#83
I have no desire to be a "servant" to the song or anything else.... That said I am rarely accused of overplaying, I play in a 3-piece band and am often covering space filled by other instruments in the original arrangements. Playing root / fifth doesn't always work....
The only valid reason I can see for limiting yourself is if you have a really sweet gig, and that's what is required of you. I will serve the paycheck, if that means reserved bass lines, so be it. My regular band on the other hand, I play what serves the energy, dynamics, and over all performance of the band, It might change gig to gig, depending on the other guys and what they are doing as well.
 
#84
BrandonBass said:
Its all about striking the balance. There is a difference between pushing the envelopes and potential and trying to proof a point because one is insecure. I have seen bassists on stage who thinks they are the ****. You know, those who during soundcheck likes to shred slap incoherent notes which may seem impressive to uneducated musicians but when it comes to the song, they're playing constantly outta time and cant keep the groove.

I have been guilty of being that for awhile. I mean, I tried to slap on my first day of playing bass because I thought 'it was cool'. And my bandmates at that time seemed impressed when I could bust out 'higher ground' albeit its outta time. I find out what a metronome does until a year later :eek:

Ultimately, remember that most of the biggest songs have relatively simple basslines. And I do not believe that the bassists(touring and recording artistes) on those song dont have the technical capability to play something more fanciful, but its due to the fact they know their role and dont let their ego get in their way they keep it simple.

I am writing in an original rock band right now, and even tho I try to be flea and geddy lee, I constantly ask myself if its the best thing for the song? Heck, even flea sticks to just root notes from time to time.

Well that's what I try to do, but I the mistake of overplaying sometimes:bassist:
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But you can do the mistake of underplaying too ... Bass player only think of overplaying but never think they can underplay ... maybe because guitar player are happy when they don,t have any competition
 
#85
Roy Vogt said:
I have noticed two distinct personalities in bassists after several decades of teaching, playing and observation:
Eeyore-a little introverted, pretty conservative in technique, bassists' role, etc. Usually standing in the back and grooving with the drums. Generally low key.
Tigger-extroverted, pushes the envelope a little, tries different things, generally carries themselves like a lead instrument in personality, stage presence, etc.
I've found this in both DB and BG world. After some serious self-examination I have to out myself as a Tigger....;)
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Hum ... I'm weird then ... I'm a introverted person but I like to play the melody or a melodic line. I also tried many things like chords, tapping, trying to make things interesting. Sometime I act like the second guitar. I also play classical guitar music on the bass or trying music written for other instrument on bass.
 
#86
Clef_de_fa said:
Hum ... I'm weird then ... I'm a introverted person but I like to play the melody or a melodic line. I also tried many things like chords, tapping, trying to make things interesting. Sometime I act like the second guitar. I also play classical guitar music on the bass or trying music written for other instrument on bass.
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Sorry, man! You may be an introvert, but give you a bass guitar and it's Tigger all the way....;)
Me too!
 
#87
Inserting snarky remark here...so is it a talent gap that causes one bass player to criticize another for not "keeping it simple". :smug:

Find your own sound...work on your own style and appreciate the styles of others...who knows...maybe you can learn something along the way.

As for me...i am not near talented enough to criticize another bass player. We all work hard at our craft and we all have something we can pick up from one another...
 
#88
Twenty four years ago I played in a weekend band and the singer/guitar player wrote a song for his wife so we played it. It was kind of corny, but hey it was for his wife right? Being young I wanted to show my ingenuity and give it an edge so I constructed a busy line.

We split about 22 years ago Fast forward to now, we are re-uniting. In rehearsal the other two guys and i couldn't remember the song and as we jammed through it to familiarize the structure. I just rooted along. After two passes We had fully recalled the song structure and we did it a third time. Now I threw out about half the notes I used to play, leaving space, sustained notes and staccato notes as accents; even when I kill a sustained note is important. I found that it is much more melodic and sounds much better, even though it's still corny.

I'm not saying young players should tone it down, do your thing. Just realize that you are part of a band and really put thought into why you are playing what you play. If there's room for it go for it. You'll find that in a trio you have lots of room. As more instruments are added you need to step back and fill that role; you can do that and still be a killer player.

Unless you're the singer too, for some reason bass players do tend to get shoved into a corner by the public/media. I don't get it either it just seems to be they way in a general sense. Weird. Maybe its because we seldom see bass players "speaking" our parts like lead guitarists :p. we are more likely to bob our heads to the beat doing our bit. If your band shoves you into that corner and don't appreciate you, leave.
 
#89
FretlessMainly said:
It's not "wrong." Your use of "wrong" is wrong.

While I agree in principle, trust me, there are certain things that some of us just cannot do. If your parents or your teachers told you that you can be anything you want to be, they are wrong. It's BS. There are limitations to many of us. To a select few, there are no limitations, at least in certain genres.

Greatness may crap and breathe like we do, but there is a line in many cases. There's a good reason why if I state that I want to be the fastest man on Earth in the 100-yard dash, you can state: you ain't gonna do that. No amount of practice will make the me fastest man on Earth. And that translates to all facets of life.

Sorry.

As a people, we need to come to terms with this. We can all be important, if this makes us feel a bit better, but we cannot all be all that we dreamed we could be. That's just plain silly. With all due respect to 99% of people on the planet, if you have become everything you dreamed you could be, then your dreams were a bit short-sighted, no?
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It sound like you fear the extra work and dedictation you will have to do to be what you dreamed of. The thing is in life you dream many stuff but Life likes to put obstacle in your way.

So only few person have a strong enough desire at a very young age and work toward that goal and let nothing get in the way. Most people outgrow their childhood dreams or their life get so much in the way that they have to put them on hold, got bitter and give up.

Then something wonderful happen, maybe a new girlfriend, a new job, bigger income etc and it brings new dreams, a new stronger desire ... or since they are older, they have new hobbies, learn many things and then new dreams arise.

Me ? I have dreams, I don't have the same dreams as when I wa kid, nor the same as 10 years ago. I had to put them on hold etc. But when the things start to settle down, I will resume my dream on hold and work toward those goal until I acheive them, once that done, I will think of something else.

Don't let bitterness kills your from inside.
 
#91
JimmyM said:
http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2012/0...14069_1430029_298776280229458#f364db5ce92f3f8

You never see a group of musicians more interested in oppressing themselves than bassists. How many times do you see bassists on here pontificating on how awesome they are because they play simply? How many times do you see bassists on here pontificating on how you shouldn't use effects? How many times do you see bassists on here pontificating on how you shouldn't use more than 4 strings? And God forbid you do anything except play straight fingerstyle!
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ok........we are up to 5 pages of "groove/in the pocket".........yawn........NEXT?

Effects? 4/5/6 strings? fingers? picks? tubes? ss? flats?
rounds? ford? chevy?
 
#92
I haven't been on here very long, a few months or so but 2 things stand out.
1. Lots of recommendations for inexpensive gear
2. Opinions on who is best better or king.

After playing 41 years, I am me. I play what I like the way I like. Not a pompous statement at all, in fact it is the realization that most bands that got somwhere did the same thing. Most were not at pro level when they broke. Most were technically inferior to studio musicians who commonly lacked "feel" in their playing and above all, no sound was really generic.

You fellas often point out that a good player can get a reasonable sound from cheap gear and you are right. A seasoned player has evolved both jn playing abd taste in gear. What you see is never representative of what he can actually do, but rather representative of how he wants to play "that" song.

I hope one day you start to enjoy you, for what and where yiu are, because I can assure you, you will start to grow asa musician a lot faster.
 
#93
I think it's more a statement of the culture of the moment, rather than something specific to bass players. Right now, for whatever reason, its fashionable to be uneducated, untalented and frankly, stupid. There is an ongoing assault against so called Elites. A lot of sectors are their own worst enemy right now, not just us.

For me, I applaud the bassists who proudly declares, "I don't get paid above the 5th fret" or "4 strings were good enough for so and so". In this competitive environment, it does give me a certain advantage. Which I guess is why so many people actually want us to be dumb in the first place...
 
#94
I like your post Mr. Jimmy. I think most people in this thread agree. Too bad a few didn't get it butt oh well. His posts & others were quite clear on the matter. Nothing at all "wrong" with playing simply & blending in the background. To those who don't get it...is it because they don't want to get it? :confused:
 
#96
Roy Vogt said:
I have noticed two distinct personalities in bassists after several decades of teaching, playing and observation:
Eeyore-a little introverted, pretty conservative in technique, bassists' role, etc. Usually standing in the back and grooving with the drums. Generally low key.
Tigger-extroverted, pushes the envelope a little, tries different things, generally carries themselves like a lead instrument in personality, stage presence, etc.
I've found this in both DB and BG world. After some serious self-examination I have to out myself as a Tigger....;)
Click to expand...
LOL! You go, Tigger!
 
#97
JimmyM said:
http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2012/0...14069_1430029_298776280229458#f364db5ce92f3f8



These are usually the same noodniks who, when asked who their favorite bassists are, they'll name off any number of bassists who stand out in their bands and play flashy...Jaco, Jack (both Bruce and Casady), Jamerson, Vic, Marcus, Rocco,

blah blah blah

. And as for those bass players who would like to define your role as they see fit, their role in my world is shutting the hell up ;)
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ummm you lost me at noodnik ;)
 
#100
Roy Vogt said:
I have noticed two distinct personalities in bassists after several decades of teaching, playing and observation:
Eeyore-a little introverted, pretty conservative in technique, bassists' role, etc. Usually standing in the back and grooving with the drums. Generally low key.
Tigger-extroverted, pushes the envelope a little, tries different things, generally carries themselves like a lead instrument in personality, stage presence, etc.
I've found this in both DB and BG world. After some serious self-examination I have to out myself as a Tigger....;)
Click to expand...

This being the case, I'm a full-blown Tigger. I play many different genres, but prog & metal are the styles I love most. I've spent years analyzing, breaking down & learning basslines from Rush, Talas, Yes, Dream Theater & the likes, as well as working on my own style, and I'll be damned if I'll take a back-seat to any other band member. Yes, I lay back & support when needed, but I live for playing live & those moments when I can cut loose & show what I can do. :bassist:
 

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