I’m a big fan of playing what serves the song but also of copping the original bass line. I usually spend quite a bit of effort to figure out what’s there when I’m first learning something.
I’ve been criticized by BLs before of overplaying when in fact I was just playing what was on the original record.
Oddly enough, the stronger the criticism, the more the BL wanted to “play it just like the original recording”.
A common example that most will know, is “Somebody to Love” which is a regrettably popular tune with female singers around here. Cassidy’s bass line is active, highly amusing, non-repetitive, and in my mind the most interesting part of the song. There’s also a measure of 6/4 that’s likely due to an edit that no one else seems to hear. I play it note for note as per the original recording even though I know Cassidy hasn’t always played it the same way. One drummer I played it with was beside himself and asked me why I was playing “jazz”. I think Cassidy would have been amused.
I hear covers where the bass player obviously simplified the original line. I guess it sounds better to them, but to me it sounds like they missed the point. We live in an age where popular music has gotten much simpler. I just think there are a lot of folks who like what goes down easy. Sometimes fading into the background and playing with the kick is what the song needs. Other times not so much. In my mind a great bassist is one who knows when to do each. I’m not talking about showing off just to displays one’s technical prowess, but getting active and propelling the song. Groove is the goal but there is more than one way to get there, otherwise everything would sound the same.
I think people overthink these kind of “rules” to avoid thinking. Music is a team sport and if you’re monopolizing the ball that’s bad. But if it’s your turn to lead, and you sit back, well you’re not doing your job either.
I’ve been criticized by BLs before of overplaying when in fact I was just playing what was on the original record.
Oddly enough, the stronger the criticism, the more the BL wanted to “play it just like the original recording”.
A common example that most will know, is “Somebody to Love” which is a regrettably popular tune with female singers around here. Cassidy’s bass line is active, highly amusing, non-repetitive, and in my mind the most interesting part of the song. There’s also a measure of 6/4 that’s likely due to an edit that no one else seems to hear. I play it note for note as per the original recording even though I know Cassidy hasn’t always played it the same way. One drummer I played it with was beside himself and asked me why I was playing “jazz”. I think Cassidy would have been amused.
I hear covers where the bass player obviously simplified the original line. I guess it sounds better to them, but to me it sounds like they missed the point. We live in an age where popular music has gotten much simpler. I just think there are a lot of folks who like what goes down easy. Sometimes fading into the background and playing with the kick is what the song needs. Other times not so much. In my mind a great bassist is one who knows when to do each. I’m not talking about showing off just to displays one’s technical prowess, but getting active and propelling the song. Groove is the goal but there is more than one way to get there, otherwise everything would sound the same.
I think people overthink these kind of “rules” to avoid thinking. Music is a team sport and if you’re monopolizing the ball that’s bad. But if it’s your turn to lead, and you sit back, well you’re not doing your job either.
