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Best Metal for Bass

#41
I would recommend listening to - Sabbaths Mater of Reality. Check out Metallica's - Master of Puppets. Megadeth - Rust in Peace. Slayer's - Seasons in the Abyss.
suicidal Tendencies- The Art of Rebellion. Pantera-Vulgar display of Power. Mudvayne's- LD45. Corrosion of Conformity- Deliverance. Slipknot's - subliminal verses.
These are all pretty accessible and melodic, yet quintessential sounds of various metal types.
Obviously I'm biased toward the 90's, but it was a golden era.
 
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#42
Definitely need more info, but there are three general possibilities:

1. Twin-lead-guitar band, where both guitarists play, harmonize, duel, etc. You'll want to hang back for this kind of music. Listen to Iron Maiden to get an idea of how Steve Harris uses the bass like a rhythm guitar. Lock with the drums for verse parts, but don't be afraid to double with the guitar if that's what the song needs. Also listen to Judas Priest for good conservative playing that locks with the drums. August Burns Red is a good example of this in the metalcore vein. Megadeth has very tight pick playing that locks with the drums as well.

2. Two guitars, but one does lead and one does rhythm. This gives you a bit more freedom. Check out the three Metallica albums with Cliff Burton. He usually follows James Hetfield's guitar tracks, but does little fills when he can (Four Horsemen, Fade to Black, Creeping Death).

3. One guitar. Check out the hard rock power trios of your choice. I recommend Rush, Winery Dogs, Black Sabbath, Cream, and Budgie for a variety of approaches. You can cut loose (Rush) or hang back more (Budgie), but make sure to own whatever you choose to do.
 
#43
hmm, if its originals...got a copy of the songs to play to or are you just going to improv something? Id think you would rehearse the songs and play a set? If so, who cares what genre it is, just play em as they sound. Most of the time the definition of the bass is lost under the guitar(s) so it gives you some breathing room, also I havent met a whole lot of metal guitarists who are real keen on hearing the bassplayer articulate notes and tones. Pick just about any current metal song and try playing to it, its a real bear to try and even discern the bass from the guitar. I would say get through the gig as best as possible and just second the guitars. Happy BL, Happy metal guitarists, happy fans. Just fit in and enjoy the mud for an evening.
 
#44
Ok. I make absolutely no hesitation in claiming that I'm a metalhead, and here's my take on this whole thing. YOU'RE OVER-THINKING IT!

Don't be too concerned about what to play. Use your ears and follow the drummer to start with, as most bassists do. If, like you say, it's an all originals band, use what you know. I've known a bunch of guys who have gotten into musical situations where what they liked to listen to and what they played were completely different. Use your instincts. They probably won't let you down. Besides; bringing in OTHER influences to any musical situations, like say, a jazz player into a metal band, the chances are, there's going to be something nice and unique going on there. Your friend obviously had faith in your abilities, or he wouldn't have asked you to begin with.
 
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#45
raventepes said:
Ok. I make absolutely no hesitation in claiming that I'm a metalhead, and here's my take on this whole thing. YOU'RE OVER-THINKING IT!

Don't be too concerned about what to play. Use your ears and follow the drummer to start with, as most bassists do. If, like you say, it's an all originals band, use what you know. I've known a bunch of guys who have gotten into musical situations where what they liked to listen to and what they played were completely different. Use your instincts. They probably won't let you down. Besides; bringing in OTHER influences to any musical situations, like say, a jazz player into a metal band, the chances are, there's going to be something nice and unique going on there. Your friend obviously had faith in your abilities, or he wouldn't have asked you to begin with.
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I couldn't have said it better.
After all it is just music.
I'm also a metal player, but I like to play as many styles as possible.
I get invited from time to time, to play with bands that play all kinds, and I really enjoy not being limited to just metal.
 
#49
Remyd said:
I have to go sit-in with a metal group next week. I don't get metal. I've listened to hours and hours, and I just don't see what people see in that genre. I don't know how I can get inspired to give a good performance. I also don't know how to play that fast.

What should I be listening to as an intro-to-metal?
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I'm not sure if this was asked yet, but what kinda music do you like? I'll bet there's a metal offshoot of it.
 
#50
My advice, now that u realized that metal was something you couldn't play, I would suggest to learn a few songs from different styles of metal.
No matter what u like or play, I guarantee, it will improve your playing.
And I'm not saying this cause I like metal.
I'm saying it cause I believe, the more tools in your pocket, the better for ya.
 
#52
Remyd said:
I'm not sure exactly what kind of metal. This is supposed to be an originals band, so I'm not sure if it's even been decided.

It sounds like the bass just doubles the guitar lines 80% of the time, and it has to be more complex than that! I need something approachable to get a feel for what I'm supposed to be playing and when.
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DAN BRIGGS of Between The Buried And Me. Check his stuff out he tends to make a layered groove between the rhythm of the drums and the melodies of the guitars. He employs some nice tapping riffs as segues.
 
#54
judas priest is a very easy metal. iron maiden is a good start, but these two band are known as british/power/80's metal. black sabath is THE start of metal, so you could start their. metallica is good too.

most commonly learned metal songs on bass:
iron man - black sabbath
the trooper - iron maiden
paranoid - black sabbath
crazy train - ozzy osbourne
for whom the bell tolls - metallica
master of puppets - metallica
 
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#56
I just walked away from a metal band the main reason was the front man was asking me "To tone down the bass a little, it should probably follow the guitars more." I simply told him then find a poopy bassist, I packed my poopie and left. Metal doesn't have to be about how big a guitarist dick is. I hope you joined that band and made it better with your sweet bass skills.
 
#57
If you don't get Metal, don't play it. I can't think of any other genre of music where the bass is less important. Metal isn't about bass. It's about everything else on an extreme level, but not the bass.

You're there only for equalization in most cases.
 
#58
OldDirtyBassist said:
You're there only for equalization in most cases.
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...and not even that. When they start to chug those 8 string guitars, the frequency spectrum is pretty much filled. What's left is adding some percussive chunk to the drummers triple bassdrum hammering.

In this young millennium, it's like they're trying to redefine the meaning of the word "metal". I grew up in the 1980ies, and what we called "heavy metal" or just "metal" back then is often referred to as "hard rock" or even "classic rock" these days. If you include that classic meaning of the word, "metal" includes a really diverse group of music styles.
 
#59
OldDirtyBassist said:
If you don't get Metal, don't play it. I can't think of any other genre of music where the bass is less important. Metal isn't about bass. It's about everything else on an extreme level, but not the bass.

You're there only for equalization in most cases.
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If you take the bass out of it, metal sounds like a 1" pc speaker. The bass in Metal has a lot to do with what people feel and mosh to.
Granted a lot of the time you're following the guitars lead, but you're boosting it. When I stop playing in a practice with my band, they look around like "where's our oomph gone?!?". So i know that my sound blends in, but it definitely makes its own impact. Mixing bass in Metal is tough. It's easy to make it too forward in the mix and drain it out. And it's also easy to blend it in so far to the back that it doesn't seem like it's even there. Sometimes it's there to bring out the guitarists, and sometimes it's there to thicken up the kick drum.
 

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