Nope that's when I whip out the tap shoes and dance around the guitar player though.
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Do you change your playing when you have no drummer ?
- Thread starter CaribooBass
- Start date
As others have said, without a drummer I'll play some of the missing percussive parts. I'll add dead notes, dead thumps, and left hand pats--mostly where there would be a kick or back beat. I do that kind of stuff even with a drummer (hopefully, tastefully...), but I'll emphasize it when there's no drummer.
I'll go a little more percussive when playing in a duo with a guitarist....the amount of percussiveness depends largely on the song/style as well as how percussive the guitar part is: if the guitar is syncopated and/or percussive, I generally won't be and viseversa
yes, back off on the lows some. Not competing with the drummer kick. Plus I only play my 4 string. Also, I play more 1/4 notes, establishing a steady beat.
My playing changes depending on who else is playing, so yeah, it changes if there is no drummer at all. But I am not formulaic about it. I just continue to try and lay it down in a way that makes the music feel good.
So depending on the songs and the other instruments and their approach I may play more, or I might play a lot less. It really depends on the original arrangement, if we have one, and what everyone else is playing.
So depending on the songs and the other instruments and their approach I may play more, or I might play a lot less. It really depends on the original arrangement, if we have one, and what everyone else is playing.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Without a drummer, melody is less on my mind. Someone has to show everyone where "1" is.
Yes. There is a certain amount of rhythmic tension created between bass and drums. The is commonly called the "pocket". Depending upon the style of music you may played slightly behind, slightly ahead, or right on the beat.
This tension between the bass and drums is the primary pocket in a group. The other musicians form secondary pockets with the rhythm section that can vary somewhat with phrasing.
Normally I sort of hang my hat on the drummer's time (especially if the drummer is good). From my perspective, the drums is the center of the beat and I adjust my beat placement to create the desired feel. Keep in mind that the drummer may not necessarily place all beats symmetrically. For example, sometimes the drummer will lay back on 2. Normally if the drummer is distorting the rhythmic symmetry, it's continual within sections of the song. My point is the drummer should not be varying rhythmic symmetry randomly from bar to bar. But it is common that different parts of a song, verse, chorus, bridge, etc, can have a different feel.
If there is no drummer, then the primary role of timekeeper typically falls to bass...and in my humble opinion bass is not a great reference because it's difficult for others to properly interpret where you are actually placing the beat. This typically leads to a feeling that the other players are continuously dragging the time in different directions. To some extent this could also be intentional and due to back-phasing.
One would think that not having a drummer would open op the space, so you can and should play more busily. But often I find that I have to really simplify what I am doing and concentrate hard on just keeping the time solid.
At the very least, IMHO playing without a drummer tends to have a fairly significant impact on feel...because feel is generated by the shape of the pocket and whatever symmetry the drummer is applying to beat placement.
This tension between the bass and drums is the primary pocket in a group. The other musicians form secondary pockets with the rhythm section that can vary somewhat with phrasing.
Normally I sort of hang my hat on the drummer's time (especially if the drummer is good). From my perspective, the drums is the center of the beat and I adjust my beat placement to create the desired feel. Keep in mind that the drummer may not necessarily place all beats symmetrically. For example, sometimes the drummer will lay back on 2. Normally if the drummer is distorting the rhythmic symmetry, it's continual within sections of the song. My point is the drummer should not be varying rhythmic symmetry randomly from bar to bar. But it is common that different parts of a song, verse, chorus, bridge, etc, can have a different feel.
If there is no drummer, then the primary role of timekeeper typically falls to bass...and in my humble opinion bass is not a great reference because it's difficult for others to properly interpret where you are actually placing the beat. This typically leads to a feeling that the other players are continuously dragging the time in different directions. To some extent this could also be intentional and due to back-phasing.
One would think that not having a drummer would open op the space, so you can and should play more busily. But often I find that I have to really simplify what I am doing and concentrate hard on just keeping the time solid.
At the very least, IMHO playing without a drummer tends to have a fairly significant impact on feel...because feel is generated by the shape of the pocket and whatever symmetry the drummer is applying to beat placement.
I just had a jam session without a drummer. In such a scenario, I play much more predictably and try to outline chords and rhythm even more than I normally would in a less is more approach.
Happy to hear you are doing well, Clayton. My best bass days were those where I could lock in with a good drummer. Now, with no drummer, I play in my home studio. Fortunately, I can remove the bass from my favorite tunes and play along with the best drummers, musicians and singers.
It is great! The only personality and playing conflicts I have are with myself
.
It is great! The only personality and playing conflicts I have are with myself
.
Yes and probably not for the best as I tend to sort of play more and try to fill up that missing sound and beat.
I change my playing for no drummer, no keyboard, whatever. Every situation calls for slight adaptations.
Same for me. I'm more focused on keeping it simple without a drummer. With a drummer, I can take more risks.
Came here to second this. I thin out the tone and make my sound as 'acoustic' as possible.
Yes my playing will adapt depending on the instrumentation and style of music, when there is no drummer I am very aware of the need to create the right feel or groove for the music of the moment.
"Do you change your playing when you have no drummer?"
You had better do so.
On the other hand Chet Baker wisely said:
"It takes a pretty good drummer to be better than no drummer at all."
You had better do so.
On the other hand Chet Baker wisely said:
"It takes a pretty good drummer to be better than no drummer at all."
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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