Busy bass playing

[Guitalia]

So why some new acts like Dirty Loops, Domi and JD Beck (Domi's left hand is a bass player in itself right ?), Thundercat, Vulfpeck, Cory Wong, Knower/Louis cole with bassist Sam Wilkes, Nate Wood, Jacob Collier's bass guy Robin Mullarkey (or Jacob Collier even alone ?) are getting so much praise nowadays with rearranged covers or busy basslines in original songs ? simply because the OP cannot get what "evolution" means.

Anything has to evolve, or die. Period. You don't like it ? leave it.

True, music evolves---cyclically.

Statistical analyses of the evolution of Western music over the past centuries have revealed a recurring pattern: each dominant style/form of music has exhibited increasing complexity until virtuosity becomes the main element of interest, at which point it is supplanted in popularity by a new, less complex style/form, where the pattern then repeats.

Of course, there are always enthusiasts who still love the now-out-of-date style passionately. Dixieland jazz! Swing bands! Bebop! Classic rock! Punk! The Great American Songbook! In fact, it's likely that the one surefire indicator that a style is well and truly out of fashion is the fervor of its adherents.

 

[Nev375]

The thing about taste is that it tastes different to people with different taste.

 

[Bassman822]

Remember that the spaces between the notes is part of the music as well!!!

 

[Al Rivera]

The music/groove is in the silence between the notes! It has taken me a long time to learn this.

 

[Spidey2112]

strangled gato

 

[skyline_01]

I play bass primarily. However, I also play guitar and drums.

My experience playing bass basically went like this:

I had played trombone in middle school and high school band. I started bass at 15 and had no guitar experience. I took six months of lessons and started playing in a band. I'm 44 now. I am just a hobbyist who loves playing music.

I tried to get better and better, but I did not appreciate simplicity in bass playing. I never wanted to play the same note twice, I wanted to walk around and show my chops constantly.

After years of doing this, I felt I was hitting a plateau. I finally learned to appreciate simplicity, and it opened up the instrument so much to me.

I think if I started on guitar, I may have appreciated this sooner, but I wanted to be a dedicated bass player. My biggest regret in my playing is not learning the value of simple playing sooner. A friend came over to jam and was playing bass so busy that it reminded me. It crowds everyone out. When I am playing guitar, and the bass is busy, I feel relegated to pretty simple rhythm playing. Which is fine. BUT, it is best to serve the song, get playful when it is appropriate. Holding down the groove is the most important lane. Give the song room to breathe. Let the other players play too and only get busy when it best serves the song. Simplicity is a bass player's best friend.

JMHO

I have a similar story to yours. I played trombone from 6th grade all the way through college, and was even a music major. The trombone fell by the wayside soon after college and bass was most definitely my main interest. For frame of reference, this was ~25 years ago.

I suffered from a bit of the same thing in regard to simple playing. I could hold it down and keep things simple in the country/rock band I was in at the time, but when it came time to let loose a little with a jazz band solo I would often just play as many notes as I could instead of really "thinking it out".

I can still let loose a little when soloing with one of my current bands, but I think I have a much healthier approach to simplicity these days.

 

[HolmeBass]

IMO simple is the most effective way of playing a bass.

Listen to the likes of Chuck Rainey, Reggie McBride, Wilton Felder, Nathan East, Lee Sklar, Sean Hurley, Duck Dunn etc and the simplicity of their bass lines rules the songs.

Sure - simple like Felder’s line for The Jackson’s “I Want You Back”. Got it.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

15 or so years ago I saw a friend's band and their bassist was good chop-wise but he just completely overplayed everything. Think metal double bass drum through a ballad kind of overplaying. I ended up leaving part way through the second set, couldn't take it any longer. You don't have to sync up strictly with the bass drum, but remember that people are there primarily for the lyrics of a song, not 3 hours of slappa da bass.

 

[rtav]

###### WARNING! OLD MAN RANT AHEAD! #######


Meh.

Play what you want and what you can.

If you can't play it and want to, practice it.


Who, seriously is deciding what sounds good by the quantity of notes per measure?


What about Sir Paul's super busy bass line in a really lovely legato piece called "Something"? Most bass players (by that I'm excluding greats like Jamerson, etc.) would be worried to death about overplaying in a ballad - it's like putting ketchup on a hot dog. Sure you can do it, if you like suckage.

Play quarter notes at most!!! KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID! DON'T OVERPLAY!

Not so. Paul's complicated line works beautifully.

Now, of course all bets are off when we are comparing Paul to pretty much anyone about anything musically, but the principle stands.


Play what sounds good, experiment, play too many notes, play not enough notes, play with a butter knife against the strings, be creative - and keep the calculators out of music.



######## NOW GET OFF MY LAWN, YOU PUNKS! #########

 

[OptimalOptimus]

Context is everything ...

 

[richntiff]

I'm far from supporting the idea of overplaying, but I do find that most people on TB that complain about it are typically bar band guys with a broad selection of ZZ Top at their fingertips and a strong opinion on what 'good music' is.

 

[getbent]

one of the best things ever for my bass playing was getting into home recording with GarageBand and starting to think more like a producer. Being able to hear/see the whole picture and think: What does this song need? vs. What's fun to play on bass? Bass isn't the only arrow in my quiver to add excitement or complexity when I'm singing or contributing other instruments as well.

 

[chris_b]

Sure - simple like Felder’s line for The Jackson’s “I Want You Back”. Got it.

I thought this and ABC might get a mention.

The speed may cause issues, and the syncopation, but slow it down and it's a very simple line.

 

[HeadWind]

I thought this and ABC might get a mention.

The speed may cause issues, and the syncopation, but slow it down and it's a very simple line.

I think the bridge in "I want you back" qualifies as busy. Sure it is just a series of arpeggios, but the speed and syncopation you mention make it "busy" in my book.

Note, not commenting on whether this adds or subtracts from the song.

 

[getbent]

Some people can’t deal with repetition. I am quite happy to just motor along on a simple line as long as necessary if that works for the song. It turns into a Zen thing.

I always thought this cover quote from Muzz Skillings was a bit sus...
Link Removed

 

[bassdude51]

Bunch of generalized statement I'll make.

The bass line depends on the song. Playing too many notes is great for some songs and terrible for others. Perhaps "the Goldilocks" rule might fit best. Not too many, not too little.

I love listening to Reggae bass lines! Big spaces between notes. Notes going off on down beats. WOW! The simplicity is actually complicated.

John Entwistle of The Who was two different animals. Studio bassist, many times conservative but the exact same song live on stage....WHOA!.......notes flying off like crazy. And, he had too. The Who were a 3 piece band with a singer. A lot of space had to be filled!

I was listening to this song yesterday and the simplicity of the bass line is completely wonderful. This song could have been played on bass with many, many busy notes but instead, the bassist chose to keep it really simple and intelligent. Simple yes but actually smart simple.

 

[GreyBeard]

As a rule of thumb, the more players the simpler I keep things. The most fun I've had playing was in a trio. We all played as much as we wanted. The worst kb player I've worked with had been doing a singles act for a while. He was constantly stepping on me with his left hand and everyone else with his right. It didn't end well.

 

[HolmeBass]

I thought this and ABC might get a mention.

The speed may cause issues, and the syncopation, but slow it down and it's a very simple line.

It has space in it, but it’s not simple.

 

[JRA]

per the OP: can you play both ways (busy and simple) and deliver, coherently? if you can, you're the player everyone wants...you have enough experience, chops, and sensitivity... and you're in control. i think everyone wants to be considered, "tasteful."



nice tune, @climber!

 

[Wisebass]

hi Manti

My experience playing bass basically went like this:

My musical life started when i was a toddler, playing drums on my grandpa's piano.

Grandpa was a pro! (piano and violin teacher)

He didn't force me to play the piano.

But he somehow managed that the crazy whirlwind stayed on his lap.

I could sight read by the age of four.

I don't remember our conversations. My grandpa died when I was six.

But...

I had played trombone in middle school and high school band.

When I started bass in middle school, our neighbor's kid started the trombone.

The kid was horrible (neither ear, no rhythm in combination with a big lung )

But he was busy and got to play busy stuff.

One day I heared my father (talking to himself) say:

"Doesn't that kid understand that music is not playing two *)è&ff notes..."

I finished the sentence: "Music is the time between them"


This is what dad and I both learned from grandpa.

If you want to be a good musician:

Listen to the music! If you need to add something (because nobody else does) => Add something!

If not? Just don't!

If you want to be a good bassplayer: See above and have a good drummer!


Busy is cool! Tell your story!



keep your drummer on stage while the others are having a beer.


Or:



you stick to the basics (hard to work less than the singer )

View attachment 5034063

hi Spidey

Ohio bassplayers sight reading progressive metall?

My bucks are on the cat!


greetins all

Wise