Creating Bass Parts

[chrisdrums]

Hi Justin, I'm a big fan.

I hope you can comment on your approach to creating bass lines, especially in the studio. I recently read a quote from bassist/producer Larry Klein where he stated that when coming up with a part, the last thing on his mind was doing anything impressive or innovative from a bass perspective.

Certainly some of the artists you've worked with must require creativity from a bassist, but what is your general approach? Can you comment on how you approach playing simple and obvious things, yet still creating energy and making it musical?

I've noticed many bassists who "try too hard" to be creative with their parts often miss the point. Instead of listening, they're thinking, and sacrificing musicality.

Thanks for being here

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Hello,

Thank you, Chris.

I think I've commented on this in various ways several times within this forum.

My approach is that I always tend to overplay to start (when rehearsing, or while the engineer is tweaking), then "prune" things back. It helps me find ideal things by being just a bit too busy. Mind you, I have to do this quickly. I don't want to bum everybody out. It's like a farmer planting too many seeds, but there's bound to be a certain number of viable plants that come out of it.

Larry Klein is ultra-correct. And the place I come from isn't impressive or innovative as a matter of principle. I just try to fit things in, and sometimes, one gets lucky and stumbles upon those adjectives.

JMJ