Can a Bassist be a Troubadour?

[Bozendoka]

Cake's Short Skirt/Long Jacket? I find people pick up on that bassline pretty quick. Really needs a vibroslap, though

 

[Engle]

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:

View attachment 3594132

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.

The Uke basses with the rubber strings aren’t meant to be heard acoustically.

 

[Engle]

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!

Good on you!
I’ve thought about doing that, but like they say: Talk-action=zero

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The Uke basses with the rubber strings aren’t meant to be heard acoustically.

If that were they case they'd all be solid-bodies, but mine had a sound-hole:

ICYMI I also tried the Parlor bass with metal strings & I still couldn't hear myself.

 

[DBMcCully]

Cake's Short Skirt/Long Jacket? I find people pick up on that bassline pretty quick. Really needs a vibroslap, though

Yes. I love cake. I’ve been working on their cover of “I Will Survive”. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.

 

[pbassjbass]

Fever
King of the Road

 

[DBMcCully]

Fever
King of the Road

ooh...King of The Road is a winner for sure

 

[dalkowski]

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

Especially if you're Esperanza Spalding.

 

[matante]

The word 'troubadour' in my understanding, the way it's used in Spanish, just means a travelling musician. It doesn't mean you necessarily perform solo.

 

[DBMcCully]

The word 'troubadour' in my understanding, the way it's used in Spanish, just means a travelling musician. It doesn't mean you necessarily perform solo.

that may be true. And I think in French it’s a medieval poet according to google. I’ve always taken it to mean a wanderer who sings and plays a guitar. That’s just based on the context I’ve seen it used, so I’m not surprised if I used the term incorrectly. Lol

 

[diegom]

tl;dr

If you want to sing and play bass by the campfire, DO IT!, I say.

In its most pure meaning, a troubadour was a singing storyteller, who accompanied the singing with a musical instrument. Interestingly enough, in the Middle Ages, many troubadours played the fiddle! Within those parameters, any singer who plays an instrument can be a troubadour.

The Bassists' caveat: Most bass guitars cannot be heard unamplified. I'm sure a bassist with an Earthwood or an upright can easily sing of his tales of unrequited love or vulgar comments about current rulers, accenting the verses with a fat bass riff. OTOH, I have not seen any definition of "troubadour" that forbids the use of amplification. In fact, most modern-day buskers rely on battery-powered amps.

YMMV
IMHO

Diego

 

[buldog5151bass]

Day Tripper
If you have a looper, All Blues

 

[Richland123]

Add a kazoo.

 

[Honkey tonk]

Always thought a modern troubadour is someone who can pretty much cover and excel in many forms of entertainment ...
musician / comedian / actor
To name a few Steve Martin or Garth Brooks

 

[andruca]

First thing that came to my mind when reading OP question...



Yes, a bassist can be a troubadour

 

[MVE]

Especially if you're Esperanza Spalding.

Or Julie London...
Commercial jazz, but definitely a guilty pleasure of mine.

 

[dalkowski]

Or Julie London...
Commercial jazz, but definitely a guilty pleasure of mine.

Nothing at all to feel guilty about, m'man. (She played bass?)

 

[kevindahl]

First thing that came to my mind when reading OP question...



Yes, a bassist can be a troubadour

After watching this video I would say no...let me explain. Just over 6 thousand views in 10 years, that's not really good at all. The guy is extremely talented but if he was a guitar player I am sure the views would be way higher.
If you want sing around a "campfire" play "campfire" songs, you know, the songs all non-musicians know. Learn how to play an acoustic guitar and you will be pleasantly surprised at the results.

 

[MVE]

Nothing at all to feel guilty about, m'man. (She played bass?)

No, But she often did duets just her and a bass player.

 

[dalkowski]

No, But she often did duets just her and a bass player.

Ah...