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Coldplay's Guy Berryman

MAJOR METAL said:
He seems to work well with what they do, he reminds me a littel of U2's Adam Clayton.

In my eyes, that's a bad thing.

All Clayton does is root. Something any of us can do. Now, I know someone going to say well he might just be playing what is needed and might be really good. Well that's just like saying that I have great potential to be a soccer player. However if I don't do it, who gives a ****? Don't get me wrong, I really don't like it when musicians, and especially bassists, overplay, but come on, root notes?
 
Kruton said:
In my eyes, that's a bad thing.

All Clayton does is root. Something any of us can do. Now, I know someone going to say well he might just be playing what is needed and might be really good. Well that's just like saying that I have great potential to be a soccer player. However if I don't do it, who gives a ****? Don't get me wrong, I really don't like it when musicians, and especially bassists, overplay, but come on, root notes?


That's just not true. Most of Clayton's and Berryman's lines are root based, but go well beyond "just roots". "New Years Day"? Come on, that's a great line. You need to consider the rythmic aspect of what they do, as well.

As far as "all of us" being able to do what they do, then how come I haven't run into "all of you" on tour, or heard "all of you" on the radio, etc... No disrespect, and I don't know you, but you're probably not as good as the two guys you're disrespecting.

It's not easy for a bassist to be one of the real ingredients that makes a pop band great. Both of these guys do that. Their lines are very creative, and make the songs greater by their presence.

I really think they are both excellent players.
 
Eric Grossman said:
That's just not true. Most of Clayton's and Berryman's lines are root based, but go well beyond "just roots". "New Years Day"? Come on, that's a great line. You need to consider the rythmic aspect of what they do, as well.

As far as "all of us" being able to do what they do, then how come I haven't run into "all of you" on tour, or heard "all of you" on the radio, etc... No disrespect, and I don't know you, but you're probably not as good as the two guys you're disrespecting.

It's not easy for a bassist to be one of the real ingredients that makes a pop band great. Both of these guys do that. Their lines are very creative, and make the songs greater by their presence.

I really think they are both excellent players.

But come on. How many players do you know that can't do that? The reason why you see Coldplay on tour, and not "all of us" is pretty simple. Coldplay is easy to market. Period. I listen to Coldplay and like some of their songs, but a little more bass creativity couldn't hurt.
 
Kruton said:
In my eyes, that's a bad thing.

All Clayton does is root. Something any of us can do. Now, I know someone going to say well he might just be playing what is needed and might be really good. Well that's just like saying that I have great potential to be a soccer player. However if I don't do it, who gives a ****? Don't get me wrong, I really don't like it when musicians, and especially bassists, overplay, but come on, root notes?


Guy Berryman does, as well as Coldplay as a whole, remind me of U2 - a darker, moodier U2

Yeah....."root notes" - it's funny how I always see good bassists praise guys like Adam Clayton and Guy Berryman, and hack players cut them down(my experience, not the internet)....

I'd rather see someone play a couple notes with feel rather than a technical display of prowess...oh well
 
FaithNoMan said:
Guy Berryman does, as well as Coldplay as a whole, remind me of U2 - a darker, moodier U2

Yeah....."root notes" - it's funny how I always see good bassists praise guys like Adam Clayton and Guy Berryman, and hack players cut them down(my experience, not the internet)....

I'd rather see someone play a couple notes with feel rather than a technical display of prowess...oh well

Me too. As I said earlier, overplaying probably is a bigger problem then underplaying. But the reason these 2 fellows are famous is not because they excel on bass.
 
Kruton said:
But the reason these 2 fellows are famous is not because they excel on bass.

That may or may not be true, but they do in fact excel on bass.

Given the type of music they play, what exactly is it that you want? I don't think I'd approach their music any differently if I were in those bands.

When you say any of us could play the way they do, it reminds me of a line from a movie. I don't remember the film, but the line is funny. "Jimmy Page wrote "Stairway to Heaven", when he was 18. I could play it when I was 16. What does that tell you?"
 
It's not their individual talents on bass which makes them real famous, but the collective effort their bands make to create a marketable and successful image that would in turn cause them to be famous. You guys get what I'm saying? It's the whole band , rather than JUST them that makes their bands so successful.
 
Sneakyfella said:
Look at dave mathews band, they appeal to anyone between the ages of 20-50... they own their own island now and charter people there to preform live shows... they are doing pretty well.

this sounds a bit sinister- is there a volcano on said island, and various aircraft, submarines, satellites have mysteriously gone missing since they bought it?
 
Just a note for all the Coldplay haters or everyone who says they're commercial: listen to the first album (Parachutes).
This is one of the best albulms I've heard, also thanks to the bass on it. It's not fair to judge the whole band/repertoire on just the two latest albums (wich are indeed commercial, and far less good with it).
 
Kruton said:
In my eyes, that's a bad thing.

All Clayton does is root...Don't get me wrong, I really don't like it when musicians, and especially bassists, overplay, but come on, root notes?

Let's put it this way...he's made it, Jeff Berlin's still probably finding it hard to make a living doing what he does.
 
What's really funny is that some of the guys who work down the street from me at Bass Central like Adam Clayton...and they can probably "outplay" him or Guy Berryman...

There must be something else to it.... I think it's called appreciation for creativity - while some people are thinking "I gotta make a cool bassline", some people are simply trying to make a great song....like it or not, this is where these two excel - heck, maybe the lack of virtuoso chops even makes it easier...they have no choice but to "feel" the bassline...
 
FaithNoMan said:
What's really funny is that some of the guys who work down the street from me at Bass Central like Adam Clayton...and they can probably "outplay" him or Guy Berryman...

There must be something else to it.... I think it's called appreciation for creativity - while some people are thinking "I gotta make a cool bassline", some people are simply trying to make a great song....like it or not, this is where these two excel - heck, maybe the lack of virtuoso chops even makes it easier...they have no choice but to "feel" the bassline...

exactly. just cause someone can play a million notes per minute doesn't make them good in my eyes. its about feel and rhythm. guy's basslines fit great in the mix, he doesn't overplay, everything sounds just right.
 
I admire a minimalistic approach to bass playing, and also admire those who master the art of leaving space.

But I have all Coldplay recording, and I have to say that while the bass players does not get in the way, he doesn't add much to the music either. He could still spice it up a little and make it more unique/interesting while still serving the song.

All I know is that I would love to have his job. Get a pick, a P-Bass, an SVT, and play nothing but 8th notes - travel the world and get paid millions! The "guy" [no pun intended] is a genius!
 
But I have all Coldplay recording, and I have to say that while the bass players does not get in the way, he doesn't add much to the music either.

What, apart from all the melodies and keyboard parts he recorded and also plays live?

He's not an Adam Clayton clone, it's unfair to rate him that way. I don't recall hearing solid 8th notes all the way throughout 'Sqaure One', 'What If', 'Shiver', 'Yellow', 'Trouble'...

I think it's this thing with some Bass Players that the Bassline has to be 'spiced up' to be in anyway credited, which doesn't make the least bit of sense to me. The Bass Player is practically one of the few musicians that can get by on minimalism, which is a choice that player makes. The reason I respect Berryman is for his ability to hold back and play what's right.
 
Well, Rolling Stones bass player right now, is just a sessional who plays with them,and record with them, but he aint in the band.
And he`s really really good: Darryl Jones has recorded with sting and been miles davids sideman.
Mean, he`s really rerspected in the jazz and rock world.
But i mean,he doesnt play super extrem victor wooten lines in the bands newest songs.
Just look at "rough justice" its really stupid simple root line.
But he plays what sounds good for the song.
 

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