Do you change your playing when you have no drummer ?

[CaribooBass]

In the Summer our Worship Teams often do not have some one around to fill in for them. As a result we do not as I mentioned have a drummer this Sunday.

Have any of you been in this position before and what did you change or add to your playing or your Bass?

Thanks
Clayton

 

[mongo2]

I play in a duo with a jazzy guitarist/singer so we usually don't have a drummer. Sometimes we do have a drummer and when we do I don't notice that I change my playing much other than to pay attention to what the drummer is doing.

 

[CaribooBass]

I just spoke to the B.L and he wants to turn the team into an acoustic-ess type of situation.
I am not sure at this time what he means by that. Rehearsal is tomorrow night I guess he will show us what his idea is.

 

[pepj]

Of course.

 

[5StringBlues]

Not really, but I do thin my tone out some, using only the bridge pickup on my Jazz bass.

 

[Microbass]

Depends which drummer… sometimes the timing is better without one..

 

[el murdoque]

Yes. I usually try and lock in with the drummer. In one project, the drummer usually plays what he feels that particular day and my bass lines change accordingly.
When playing with no drummer, there is a rich choice of how one can play. You can lock in with the strumming pattern of the guitar, you can provide the rhythm on your own, you can keep busy in the background, providing a full bottom end . . .

 

[Dave W]

Yes I do. Nothing wild, but I will play a more percussive style of the same general bass line that I'd normally play. I may add in some hits on the strings to simulate the snare or bass drum in songs that have those hits as a signature.

 

[Polfuste]

Yes I do. Nothing wild, but I will play a more percussive style of the same general bass line that I'd normally play. I may add in some hits on the strings to simulate the snare or bass drum in songs that have those hits as a signature.

That.

 

[CallMeAl]

For sure. Less syncopation and more steady quarters. Think walking jazz or bluegrass bass. I feel it’s important in those situations for bass to keep the pulse, and percussive noise and upbeats can be the role of high of higher strings (mando, guitars, etc.)

 

[12BitSlab]

“It takes a great drummer to be better than no drummer at all.”

Chet Baker

 

[Scarysharkface]

In the Summer our Worship Teams often do not have some one around to fill in for them. As a result we do not as I mentioned have a drummer this Sunday.

Have any of you been in this position before and what did you change or add to your playing or your Bass?

Thanks
Clayton

With no drummer, I keep the rhythmic stuff clear and obvious. With a drummer, I'm a lot more fluid.
John

 

[Wanker_Joe]

It kind of depends what I'm playing, but generally yes. I'll be more percussive and take up more room on that end of the spectrum when there's no drums. I usually take an out front/lead bassist kind of role, except when there's no drummer, then I'll sit in the back far more so I can provide a better rhythmic foundation.

 

[TheSeagoats]

Been in the same boat with a worship team without a drummer. I find I tend to play simpler without a drummer, focusing more on hitting important parts of the rhythm than adding anything extra.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

For sure... no drummer will make me feel like the onus was on me to provide the rhythmic element to the songs.
The doghouse guys in the 50s were masters at this.
No drummer would have me playing more...."percussive ".

 

[NOVAX]

I become the drummer - or at least use his space.

 

[two fingers]

In the Summer our Worship Teams often do not have some one around to fill in for them. As a result we do not as I mentioned have a drummer this Sunday.

Have any of you been in this position before and what did you change or add to your playing or your Bass?

Thanks
Clayton

Absolutely. Think Larry Graham. According to legend, he developed slap bass while playing in church. They didn't have a drummer, so he became "drums" on the bass.

No, I don't slap if I'm playing in a duo or trio without drums. But I do play with more percussive attack and utilizespace evem moreso than my usual technique.

 

[JRA]

Do you change your playing when you have no drummer ?
depends on the tune, the genre, the setting/context, etc., but yeah: with no drummer for rhythmic support = i assume more of that function if it's appropriate or helpful.

do my parts actually change? probably, again: depends on the tune, the genre......

 

[InhumanResource]

In the Summer our Worship Teams often do not have some one around to fill in for them. As a result we do not as I mentioned have a drummer this Sunday.

Have any of you been in this position before and what did you change or add to your playing or your Bass?

Thanks
Clayton

Yes and frankly, I prefer not to play without a drummer. Other than carefully arranged performances (string quartets etc) or jazz duets on upright with VERY good players (and I’m rotten upright player) I find the end product to be, well, weird and lacking unless the music is just designed to not have a full rhythm section.

If it is the same material one would normally play with a full band, personally I would rather hear it (both as listener and player) without bass and drums if one of those is not available.

 

[mikezimmerman]

With no drummer--or even in sections where the drummer is not playing--I try to be more deliberate about giving the singers a beat or a pulse to work with. Of course, it also depends on what the guitar or piano is doing, but as others have said, I don't do as much syncopation and make sure the singers can tell always where "1" is.