Diary of a Bassist #8: there goes the drummer

[Anjohl]

Hey folks, for those new to the diary, I am a middle aged musician enjoying a bit of a musical renaissance, including finally picking up the bass as a secondary instrument. I am learning *pretty* much on the fly, generally gigging in a duo, and am documenting my gigs with brief writeups. I have links to past entries (which started on Facebook) below!

Little bit of *drama* between early April's gig and tonight's. What started as a casual jam seems to have evolved into my collaborator looking to start an actual gigging band, which is more than I think I am ready for right now. Additionally, he apparently agrees, as has been "auditioning" other bassists all month long! Admittedly, I was a little hurt at first, but given that I don't feel I am the best fit for the project right now, I let it go.

Fast forward to tonight, somebody else cancelled, so I got the late call to come down. Good ol' reliable me, the guy who shows up, lol. I hadn't played in almost a month, so I went down, intending on playing for 45 mins or so. We ended up doing about two hours to a mostly empty bar at first, that filled up a bit around midnight, prompting us to play a bit later.

Some of the same problems popped up, namely that my partner takes for granted that I can't just play any song by ear/feel. In fairness, he *was* a lot better about telling me the chord progression (and Major/Minors) tonight. We felt a *lot* tighter than usual overall. This mirrors what I feel is a bit of a "levelling up" in my playing/singing as well. I got more experimental on working triads, and did a few octave transpositions for flavor during solos also.

I used a pick for a couple of songs, and must admit, I am a lot tighter with the pick. I think I would prefer to play with fingers most of the time, but for faster rock songs, the pick adds a nice attack. I also experimented with plucking in different places. I feel like I found a sweet spot right in from of the bridge J pickup (Precision Special bass) that gave a nice cutting *thump*.

Following the past trends, the reggae-ish songs seemed to work out the best. I am not sure why that is, as I don't listen to a ton of reggae! I do have a rather percussive picking attack when playing guitar, so maybe that's translating?

I still made a lot of mistakes, but felt more consistently comfortable than I have before. I found my pockets, and was coming up with some interesting note rhythm that I think made up for the lack of a drummer. I must say, the "bassists trance" that I observed in bass heroes of mine like Tim Cummerford or Ben Shepherd is starting to make a ton of sense now, lol. It's so fun getting to that otherwordly place where you are just lost in the music, completely cut off from space/time, lol. I imagine this is a taste of what astral projection would feel like!

I was listening to the recent videos of the Gene Simmons Band playing live, and I have to say, I really want to try playing bass and singing in a rock band at least once. I feel like with a tight set list that we could practice 4-5 times before a show, that I could get that done. I think I would have more fun playing electric bass and singing in a band than I would electric guitar and singing in a band *for sure*.

Anyway, that's it for now, hope to have another gig to report on soon!

1st entry: Bass Players | Played my first bass gig tonight | Facebook
2nd entry: Bass Players | First off, Merry Christmas | Facebook
3rd entry: Bass Players | Third bass gig tonight | Facebook
4th entry: Bass Players | Another gig tonight | Facebook
5th entry: Bass Players | Another entry in my running gig diary | Facebook
6th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-6.1645734/#post-28323213
7th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-7-or-along-came-a-drummer.1646312/

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I'm so used to playing bass while singing I really struggle to find a pitch when I'm strumming my guitar.

Good luck, we only get better as we do it. Theoretically anyway.

 

[richntiff]

Sounds like you are enjoying the journey - and that's what this is all about, in its purest form. I HIGHLY recommend learning to sing and play at the same time. It will do wonders for your ability to learn/digest new material quickly - I don't know why, but it does. For me, it seemed to activate my ability to learn a line and commit it to muscle memory more quickly. Plus - singing is really fun, and there's nothing quite like it.

Similar to Wi Short Scaler - I'm used to singing with a bass in my hands. Actually had a gig last weekend that I had a sub bassist play for me. I'm a few weeks post carpal tunnel surgery and can't play a full gig yet. So my sub played bass, and I was onstage to sing the songs I have lead on in our setlist. It was VERY strange singing without a bass in my hands. I didn't know what to do with my arms lol!!!

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Sounds like you are enjoying the journey - and that's what this is all about, in its purest form. I HIGHLY recommend learning to sing and play at the same time. It will do wonders for your ability to learn/digest new material quickly - I don't know why, but it does. For me, it seemed to activate my ability to learn a line and commit it to muscle memory more quickly. Plus - singing is really fun, and there's nothing quite like it.

Similar to Wi Short Scaler - I'm used to singing with a bass in my hands. Actually had a gig last weekend that I had a sub bassist play for me. I'm a few weeks post carpal tunnel surgery and can't play a full gig yet. So my sub played bass, and I was onstage to sing the songs I have lead on in our setlist. It was VERY strange singing without a bass in my hands. I didn't know what to do with my arms lol!!!

That would be weird. Good luck on the recovery sir!

 

[richntiff]

That would be weird. Good luck on the recovery sir! [/QUOTE

thank you sir!

 

[2tonic]

Wait.....what?
I came for drummer drama.
I mean, good luck and best wishes with your playing and plans, but you clickbaited me in here. I was expecting to read a fiery recounting of the latest drummer dismissal, full of overreaction, heated dialogue, maybe even fisticuffs! All played out in the finest Talkbass tradition.
Instead, I get.................nothing.
I feel gypped.

 

[Anjohl]

Wait.....what?
I came for drummer drama.
I mean, good luck and best wishes with your playing and plans, but you clickbaited me in here. I was expecting to read a fiery recounting of the latest drummer dismissal, full of overreaction, heated dialogue, maybe even fisticuffs! All played out in the finest Talkbass tradition.
Instead, I get.................nothing.
I feel gypped.

Hehe, you have to read the previous entries in the series! The last one was subtitled "along came a drummer"!

I'm so used to playing bass while singing I really struggle to find a pitch when I'm strumming my guitar.

Sounds like you are enjoying the journey - and that's what this is all about, in its purest form. I HIGHLY recommend learning to sing and play at the same time. It will do wonders for your ability to learn/digest new material quickly - I don't know why, but it does. Plus - singing is really fun, and there's nothing quite like it.

I would call myself a singer first and foremost, then an acoustic guitarist, then a bassist, in that order. I really want to get to the level of being able to do a few songs on lead vocals and bass. I have always been a big fan of Glenn Hughes and Gene Simmons, and would totally get off on getting to play "rockstar" sometime, lol.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I would call myself a singer first and foremost, then an acoustic guitarist, then a bassist, in that order. I really want to get to the level of being able to do a few songs on lead vocals and bass. I have always been a big fan of Glenn Hughes and Gene Simmons, and would totally get off on getting to play "rockstar" sometime, lol.

It's totally doable, just takes practice. I guess I've always been singing through my whole life. Singing along to commercials and theme songs on TV, to music playing around the house, or my dad's band. So when I started on drums it was adding the new skill to singing. My first years of gigging were as a singing drummer, bass came later. And I still believe that being a drummer made the transition to bass easier, staying in the rhythm section. You're coming from the other way and trying to add singing now if I understood it correctly.

Practice is the way. Find an easy song, where the bass line is more in line with the vocals. The first song I ever learned to play on bass was "Just What I Needed/The Cars." Not a great song but I liked it at the time. The bass line is pretty straightforward. Just a suggestion from my experience, hope it helps.

 

[Anjohl]

It's totally doable, just takes practice. You're coming from the other way ana great song but I liked it at the time. The bass line is pretty straightforward. Just a suggestion from my experience, hope it helps.

No, I am a singer first and foremost, and only a recent bassist. I regularly sing while accompanying myself on acoustic guitar.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Sounds like you are enjoying the journey - and that's what this is all about, in its purest form. I HIGHLY recommend learning to sing and play at the same time. It will do wonders for your ability to learn/digest new material quickly - I don't know why, but it does. For me, it seemed to activate my ability to learn a line and commit it to muscle memory more quickly. Plus - singing is really fun, and there's nothing quite like it.

Similar to Wi Short Scaler - I'm used to singing with a bass in my hands. Actually had a gig last weekend that I had a sub bassist play for me. I'm a few weeks post carpal tunnel surgery and can't play a full gig yet. So my sub played bass, and I was onstage to sing the songs I have lead on in our setlist. It was VERY strange singing without a bass in my hands. I didn't know what to do with my arms lol!!!

Play air bass! Mimic Flea.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hey folks, for those new to the diary, I am a middle aged musician enjoying a bit of a musical renaissance, including finally picking up the bass as a secondary instrument. I am learning *pretty* much on the fly, generally gigging in a duo, and am documenting my gigs with brief writeups. I have links to past entries (which started on Facebook) below!

Little bit of *drama* between early April's gig and tonight's. What started as a casual jam seems to have evolved into my collaborator looking to start an actual gigging band, which is more than I think I am ready for right now. Additionally, he apparently agrees, as has been "auditioning" other bassists all month long! Admittedly, I was a little hurt at first, but given that I don't feel I am the best fit for the project right now, I let it go.

Fast forward to tonight, somebody else cancelled, so I got the late call to come down. Good ol' reliable me, the guy who shows up, lol. I hadn't played in almost a month, so I went down, intending on playing for 45 mins or so. We ended up doing about two hours to a mostly empty bar at first, that filled up a bit around midnight, prompting us to play a bit later.

Some of the same problems popped up, namely that my partner takes for granted that I can't just play any song by ear/feel. In fairness, he *was* a lot better about telling me the chord progression (and Major/Minors) tonight. We felt a *lot* tighter than usual overall. This mirrors what I feel is a bit of a "levelling up" in my playing/singing as well. I got more experimental on working triads, and did a few octave transpositions for flavor during solos also.

I used a pick for a couple of songs, and must admit, I am a lot tighter with the pick. I think I would prefer to play with fingers most of the time, but for faster rock songs, the pick adds a nice attack. I also experimented with plucking in different places. I feel like I found a sweet spot right in from of the bridge J pickup (Precision Special bass) that gave a nice cutting *thump*.

Following the past trends, the reggae-ish songs seemed to work out the best. I am not sure why that is, as I don't listen to a ton of reggae! I do have a rather percussive picking attack when playing guitar, so maybe that's translating?

I still made a lot of mistakes, but felt more consistently comfortable than I have before. I found my pockets, and was coming up with some interesting note rhythm that I think made up for the lack of a drummer. I must say, the "bassists trance" that I observed in bass heroes of mine like Tim Cummerford or Ben Shepherd is starting to make a ton of sense now, lol. It's so fun getting to that otherwordly place where you are just lost in the music, completely cut off from space/time, lol. I imagine this is a taste of what astral projection would feel like!

I was listening to the recent videos of the Gene Simmons Band playing live, and I have to say, I really want to try playing bass and singing in a rock band at least once. I feel like with a tight set list that we could practice 4-5 times before a show, that I could get that done. I think I would have more fun playing electric bass and singing in a band than I would electric guitar and singing in a band *for sure*.

Anyway, that's it for now, hope to have another gig to report on soon!

1st entry: Bass Players | Played my first bass gig tonight | Facebook
2nd entry: Bass Players | First off, Merry Christmas | Facebook
3rd entry: Bass Players | Third bass gig tonight | Facebook
4th entry: Bass Players | Another gig tonight | Facebook
5th entry: Bass Players | Another entry in my running gig diary | Facebook
6th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-6.1645734/#post-28323213
7th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-7-or-along-came-a-drummer.1646312/

I’m glad you’re going through this part of your musical journey. I been a part of one band for almost a quarter of a century at this point. The older I get, the more anal get about my work. At this point I record and review all rehearsals (with new material) and performances.

It’s not like I play every note the same way, but the song form must be intact at costs and all transitions must be logical played in the proper modes and solid. This allows me to play with confidence and play like I actually mean it.

One tool that I use that is an app called Chordy. 500,000+song library to play along with. This app provides chord chord charts, the ability to significantly slow down the playback while holding the original key in tact. This is great for deciphering difficult passages.

Over the years I’ve found that my growth as a musician has happened by playing with other musicians. I can assure you this app will make progress faster playing the songs you like than by plunking notes by yourself. I highly recommend it.

As for bands, they come and go. Musicians come and go, so my advice is to hang on loosely and build your network and your abilities.

Best wishes.

 

[Anjohl]

Thank you for the tips and kind words! The real magic bass playing has been for me is the idea that you can just play anything if you know the key/scales. That's been super fun, and led me down the road of really focusing on theory the past 6 months or so on guitar, which has in turn dramatically improved my bass playing!