Can a Bassist be a Troubadour?

[DBMcCully]

IMO: Yes!

I know I’m not even close to the only one whose thought about this, but I couldn’t find much in my own search so if there’s a pre-existing thread, I apologize. I’d just like to share my thoughts on it.

People who play guitar, piano, or uke get all the glory; always busting their ability to sing and play out as party tricks and solo performances. Bassists, conversely, are often left out since 99% of the time we’re just the accompaniment. Even Sir Paul and Sting still have full bands backing them. I don’t think the bass gets enough recognition as a troubadour’s potential main instrument (especially since it’s 1,000x more interesting and a lot less cliche).

So, I’ve started working on a way to compete with my chord-strumming friends around the campfire. The key, I’ve found, is to acquire a foot tambourine that I keep in my acoustic bass case. It helps “fill the air” where the percussive higher frequencies are missing. And this is my 12-Song set list that I plan to practice regularly so that I’m ready when the moment strikes:

(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay
Ain’t No Sunshine
Walk On The Wild Side (Edited )
All I Wanna Do
Blister In The Sun
Road Trippin’
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
Moondance
Money
Something
Smooth Operator

Are there any other great songs for this purpose? Does anybody else do this, or have any advice?

Happy singing and playing!

 

[Richland123]

Come Together
Seven Nation Army

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I used to take my u-bass to the park on sunny days & TBH I sold it mainly because I could barely hear myself even over the tiny stream there or if people passed by who were talking.
Bass is tough to do acoustically well, because the notes aren't perceived as loudly as guitar notes.
Granted, the folks in FRONT of the instrument would be able to hear it better than the player can hear it, but I'm not sure if it makes that large of a difference.

 

[Yango]

So nobody notices you when you play the bass, but your tambourine solos elevate you to trubadour status? Awesome! Lol.

 

[DBMcCully]

So nobody notices you when you play the bass, but your tambourine solos elevate you to trubadour status? Awesome! Lol.

lolololol yes.

Really though — strumming is a percussive action, and the piano is a percussion instrument entirely. If you aren’t a slap-player (which I’m not) you need a substitute for that element. The tambourine elevates the performance a bit.

 

[DBMcCully]

I used to take my u-bass to the park on sunny days & TBH I sold it mainly because I could barely hear myself even over the tiny stream there or if people passed by who were talking.
Bass is tough to do acoustically well, because the notes aren't perceived as loudly as guitar notes.
Granted, the folks in FRONT of the instrument would be able to hear it better than the player can hear it, but I'm not sure if it makes that large of a difference.

This is very true. I imagine a U-Bass would be near useless for this purpose, since it would be drowned out by your own voice even. It would certainly help to have a good size acoustic bass that projects well. I’ve found it works well for entertaining a small gathering (living room, porch, fire pit, etc.). That said, if you wanted to, you could use your electric and a microphone for larger, or more-formal settings.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I tried larger ones with the same results. I was complaining about the u-bass' low volume at the Kala dealer & he pointed me to Ibanez's Parlor bass, which is a fair bit bigger:

I sat there playing it for a bit & then a customer walked in & started asking questions, couldn't hear a thing from the instrument, so I put it back & haven't looked at acoustics since.

 

[PWRL]

I Saw Her Standing There, if you want to sing it solo.
Wave Of Mutilation (UK Surf version) by the Pixies
Bad Bad Leroy Brown
Ain't Got You (Jimmy Reed version, probably most accessible)

 

[PWRL]

The loudest ABG I ever played was a Tacoma Thunderchief, BTW. There are probably cheaper alternatives, though.

 

[Wanker_Joe]

Excellent! I do this all the time myself, but typically play songs where the bass is really front and center (i.e.: I do a lot of Primus covers). It works pretty damn well. Some good ones that always go over well for me (and sound great on my ABG around the campfire or at parties): Southbound Pachyderm, The Air Is Getting Slippery, Fisticuffs and American Life.

 

[DBMcCully]

I tried larger ones with the same results. I was complaining about the u-bass' low volume at the Kala dealer & he pointed me to Ibanez's Parlor bass, which is a fair bit bigger.
I sat there playing it for a bit & then a customer walked in & started asking questions, couldn't hear a thing from the instrument, so I put it back & haven't looked at acoustics since.

Yea. A lot of acoustic basses receive the same criticism. For full disclosure, I have a second-hand Emerald Balor acoustic bass. IMO, it projects well enough for this purpose. I’ve also been comfortable with it accompanying an acoustic guitar or two. I’ve also read good things about the Tacoma Thunderchief, and Warwick Alien. Though, there are a lot of differing opinions on this.

 

[burgerdj]

I saw Jeremy Toback (Brad) play solo strum bass and sing on the second stage of Lollapalooza back in the early 90s. It was mesmerizing. It was the first time I had heard “The Word Behind Words” and it’s still one of my favorites.

 

[tpaul]

Can a Bassist be a Troubadour?

Sure. Just learn to play guitar, and you're all set.

 

[micguy]

Sure, adding a tambourine elevates your act a bit, but back when I was young, they knew one additional thing:

Having a young attractive girl play the tambourine was even more effective in drawing a crowd to listen to the act. Of course, with here there, the bass player got ignored, but the act got more attention.

 

[aekisz]

I've been writing songs for ABG with this in mind. Simple chords and double stops high up the neck mixed with more traditional bass lines. I also use a lot of open string drones to fill things in. What really helps is a vocal melody that contrasts and/or harmonizes with what the bass is playing.

 

[higain617]

Consider throwing a few kazoo leads in there.

 

[DBMcCully]

Consider throwing a few kazoo leads in there.

Yes! I’ve been looking into rigging a Kazoo neck harness. It’s the next step for me. “Lady Madonna” would be dope with bass and kazoo.

 

[210superair]

IMO: Yes!

I know I’m not even close to the only one whose thought about this, but I couldn’t find much in my own search so if there’s a pre-existing thread, I apologize. I’d just like to share my thoughts on it.

People who play guitar, piano, or uke get all the glory; always busting their ability to sing and play out as party tricks and solo performances. Bassists, conversely, are often left out since 99% of the time we’re just the accompaniment. Even Sir Paul and Sting still have full bands backing them. I don’t think the bass gets enough recognition as a troubadour’s potential main instrument (especially since it’s 1,000x more interesting and a lot less cliche).

So, I’ve started working on a way to compete with my chord-strumming friends around the campfire. The key, I’ve found, is to acquire a foot tambourine that I keep in my acoustic bass case. It helps “fill the air” where the percussive higher frequencies are missing. And this is my 12-Song set list that I plan to practice regularly so that I’m ready when the moment strikes:

(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay
Ain’t No Sunshine
Walk On The Wild Side (Edited )
All I Wanna Do
Blister In The Sun
Road Trippin’
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
Moondance
Money
Something
Smooth Operator

Are there any other great songs for this purpose? Does anybody else do this, or have any advice?

Happy singing and playing!

I do a pretty mean Stand by Me on UB... But yeah guitar, piano, and uke are definitely easier to play a bunch of songs on.

 

[arbiterusa]

Yes! I too can be annoying and beg for money.

Truthfully, I used to run an upright/kazoo rig that got a lot of attention. Some of it positive. Sadly, the upright is now with someone who uses it a LOT more.

 

[MVE]

Any jazz standard with a walking bass line sounds great with just bass and vocals.