Nothing wrong with a "fill" if your drummer or a guitar player negates to take the opportunity. My current music really has no real solo's but, I ve played in a band or two where they are prevalent. Either way, I'm good!
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Busy bass playing
- Thread starter Mantis Tobaggan
- Start date
In my experience bass players who come from guitar are often the busiest, with more of an emphasis on licks and fills than groove. Bassists who come to bass as a foundational rhythm section voice, and not just "third guitar," also tend to have a better sense of rhythm and counterpoint. In my experience.
All the best players on any instrument know how to listen and leave space for the rest of the band. The notes you don't play are just as important as the notes you do play. Silence is the cup that holds the wine which is music, yada yada yada. It sounds trite but, it's true!
All the best players on any instrument know how to listen and leave space for the rest of the band. The notes you don't play are just as important as the notes you do play. Silence is the cup that holds the wine which is music, yada yada yada. It sounds trite but, it's true!
I got some chops. Some. My band plays a lot of classic rock and MoTown, but as a practical matter, think of me as Dusty Hill playing with Billy Gibbons and Larry Carlton. Drummer is a beast, too. Nobody has to tell me to keep it rock-solid. Heh. I do a lot of counting.
Or, how about Zydeco? There's ample opportunity to go crazy with pentatonics and melody-driven bass lines.
Playing simple is a skill. For a real challenge, play a simple line in a super slow song and make it swing without being obtrusive or losing interest. A slow, grinding blues can encourage dancing or sleeping . . .
I think we bassists sometimes forget that we're the glue between rhythm and melody, so sometimes we need to play more like a percussion instrument, sometimes we're in unison with the trumpet.
And, as many have said here, serve the song.
It's good to realize that sometimes players can be too busy, but as has been stated above, there's a place for keeping it simple as well as a place for busy lines. Knowing the difference will be the trick.
For me, generally speaking, if everyone else is busy, I tend to stay simple (supportive). If everyone else is keeping it simple, I tend to busy up a little (adding movement). But, there are times when everyone is busy or everyone is simple.
For me, generally speaking, if everyone else is busy, I tend to stay simple (supportive). If everyone else is keeping it simple, I tend to busy up a little (adding movement). But, there are times when everyone is busy or everyone is simple.
Listen to Stevie wonder and tower of power bass lines. Busy at it's best.
If you play a “lead bass” in a group, please change to lead guitar. Leave bass to the roots!
I have my own band, but prior to this I played in a variety of classic rock/funk bands. I’ve always been a busy player, tho less so in the other bands. My band plays my originals and arrangements and frankly they feature the busy style that I have. I have a gig next month with a good friends classic rock band. Of course I’ll play that totally straight because that’s what is called for. Here’s one of my tunes so u get the idea:
uh, welcome to the fold
i straight up faced similar issues to you re: busy ness.
My first true instrument i was graded in was clarinet (alto, Bb). It influenced my musicality when i moved into bass, it was tolerated until i started playing for pub rock sort of bands. I got cut to size, anchored to earth.
That being said, creativity and bass having a “speaking part” in the scene is important for Bass identity.
Knowing when to take the role is key.
Being honest with myself, the basslines that make me happy are sometimes the simplest but accurately played- the elation is in hearing the tonal character of the instrument as it moves air.
Sometimes i get happy from the technical aspects or the contortions the player seems to be making- but I feel it in a different way.
If you understand what playing others are waiting on to make them “feel things” you’ll go far.
Would you wear a swimsuit to a 21st? A tuxedo to work as a brickayer?
If performing a song is likened to a written test question, ask yourself if the appropriate answer is true/false or a two page essay. There are clues.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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If you want to play a lot of gigs and make a lot of money, keep it simple. 9 times out of 10 the 'meat-and-potatoes' approach works best. Otherwise, they're gonna call someone else, and we don't want that.
Great article. "Busy" implies playing gratuitous, unnecessary stuff. Rocco was not doing that on those famous TOP tracks. He played what the music called for.
Usually takes a bassist a few years to learn HOW to play bass, a few more years to learn WHEN to play what you learned, and a few more years to learn WHAT & WHEN not to play.
We all eventually reach a point where we realize we can play rests
with the same complexity as we can play notes.
with the same complexity as we can play notes.
Problem is that many bass players don't really like playing BASS. More like, they are resigned to it. No appreciation or love for BASS.
They want to be the center of attention. At it's core, it's narcissm. "Look at me, not the other guys!" So they play fills where ever they can wedge them in. They make parts more busy. They think that makes it more funky. It doesn't.
It less offensive if the player throws down a heavy quarter note pulse and locks deep with the drummer. This is rare though. Too busy most often coincides with weak pulse; weak bass playing. They think they are nailing it but they are not. They focus on learning licks and fills rather than grooves.
They think simple, repetitive bass lines that leave lots of space for the other musicians are "boring". They think Flabba Holt or Robbie Shakespeare are overrated. Of course, these lines are not boring when you can play them deep, but this is something they'll never know. Not easy either, not even close; timing can always be deeper, more precise, more intentional in how it sits with the drums. Just to play some simple 8th notes that sit just right with the kick and hi hat is way beyond their ability level. They are completely unaware of this however.
Then there is the tone issue. Not only do these players like to crap all over every piece of space they find, they play with a modern trebly tone, way too loud, and leave no sonic space for the other musicians to be heard. Once again, it's narcissim, "what about me? Notice Me! These other guys are getting in my way"
Basically, just immaturity. It's a natural progression to get that out of your system when you are young, and gradually learn that less is more, simple is hard, and leaving space for others is the essence of BASS playing.
They want to be the center of attention. At it's core, it's narcissm. "Look at me, not the other guys!" So they play fills where ever they can wedge them in. They make parts more busy. They think that makes it more funky. It doesn't.
It less offensive if the player throws down a heavy quarter note pulse and locks deep with the drummer. This is rare though. Too busy most often coincides with weak pulse; weak bass playing. They think they are nailing it but they are not. They focus on learning licks and fills rather than grooves.
They think simple, repetitive bass lines that leave lots of space for the other musicians are "boring". They think Flabba Holt or Robbie Shakespeare are overrated. Of course, these lines are not boring when you can play them deep, but this is something they'll never know. Not easy either, not even close; timing can always be deeper, more precise, more intentional in how it sits with the drums. Just to play some simple 8th notes that sit just right with the kick and hi hat is way beyond their ability level. They are completely unaware of this however.
Then there is the tone issue. Not only do these players like to crap all over every piece of space they find, they play with a modern trebly tone, way too loud, and leave no sonic space for the other musicians to be heard. Once again, it's narcissim, "what about me? Notice Me! These other guys are getting in my way"
Basically, just immaturity. It's a natural progression to get that out of your system when you are young, and gradually learn that less is more, simple is hard, and leaving space for others is the essence of BASS playing.
If they didn't say nothing is better than a little, then they thought more was better.
It is an expression I understand but can't comprehend. Everyone strives to get better and I can imagine these veterans bass players wanted to show their chops as young guns and realized they didn't have to or that it wasn't appropriate as they became more mature and successful. I can imagine it applies to certain styles more than others. Just like "serve the song" means don't play inappropriate stuff, it doesn't actually tell you what to play. Just my 2 centavos.
