When I hear players play really aggressively for stuff like Motown for example, it sounds really poor to me. I feel like people focus on tone alot but don't focus on how hard they hit the strings. Is this a common thing?
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Does anyone else get annoyed by playing to hard or buzzy playing?
- Thread starter TristanFunky
- Start date
Are you saying you like certain things more than other things? Me too. I like waffles better than pancakes. It’s a texture thing.
Some songs need those pits, that’s for holding the syrup. Some need smoother texture for stacking.
Some songs need those pits, that’s for holding the syrup. Some need smoother texture for stacking.
The aggressive tone you can get by "digging in" can be great for some styles of music, such as punk or various versions of metal, but I wouldn't include Motown on that list. Since I don't play in those genres I'm a strong believer in playing with a soft touch and "letting the amp do the work" -- for both tonal and ergonomic reasons. But, as others have said, there's no one "right" way.
It really depends on the song, like you point out the Motown stuff not so much, but definitely some rock tunes where digging in is part of the tone.
Up to the band to say something. Nothing to say you can't do Motown in an edgier style if that's what you're looking to do. Whole history of rock is about diverse styles meeting in the middle.
Are you talking about people you know or something.... or do you have examples we could hear?
I'm one of the heavy right hand people but tame it based one the song and it's flow. Dynamics. ... but yeah, I don't play Motown either.
I'm just not able to think of anyone doing/that did that style with a hard attack. I can only think of fairly mellow toned players with flats on a P bass.
They might be poor players or they may prefer the energy of playing that way. You might be surprised how 'rough' the track went down but was tidied up a lot in the mix whilst retaining that energy.
I only go so far digging in..and prefer the facility to strike the string numerous ways.
That's the art, imv.
There is never one absolute 'correct' way...you bet on your horse and hope others hear it that way too.
I only go so far digging in..and prefer the facility to strike the string numerous ways.
That's the art, imv.
There is never one absolute 'correct' way...you bet on your horse and hope others hear it that way too.
I love an aggressive sound and I play pretty hard, but I set my action accordingly. When playing softer passages I do not want to hear fret rattle. When digging in, I get responsive overdrive and plenty of clank if I want it.
I can control it with my fingers which means I’m tweaking my bass set up to be perfect monthly or so.
I can control it with my fingers which means I’m tweaking my bass set up to be perfect monthly or so.
Take Scott Devine, when he plays a p bass "Jamerson esque" he plays super hard its very clacky. He admits to playing to hard in the Michael League interview. Michael League explains in that interview why it's good to play lightly.Are you talking about people you know or something.... or do you have examples we could hear?
I'm one of the heavy right hand people but tame it based one the song and it's flow. Dynamics. ... but yeah, I don't play Motown either.
I'm just not able to think of anyone doing/that did that style with a hard attack. I can only think of fairly mellow toned players with flats on a P bass.
Also, I like it in genres like punk in metal (when I listen to them, which isn't often anymore) but I mean when it comes to finger style funk or soul.
Examples. I'd like examples.
Show us those heavy handed Motown players that I've never ever heard before.
Show us those heavy handed Motown players that I've never ever heard before.
I mean with tabs or cover on yt. They always play very hard and it sounds clacky, while Jamerson always sounded forward and smooth.
It depends on the outcome.
The Stranglers' version of "Walk On By" is a million miles from the Dionne Warwick one, with that hyper-clanky bass tone from JJ Burnel. Totally works in the context of the band. That bass tone on the Warwick version though? Yeah but no.
The Stranglers' version of "Walk On By" is a million miles from the Dionne Warwick one, with that hyper-clanky bass tone from JJ Burnel. Totally works in the context of the band. That bass tone on the Warwick version though? Yeah but no.
The technique should match the song. I don't mind hard playing, but it has its time and place.
Jamerson did good at the thing he did. Some doofus on youtube is not a star.
It's just some doofus on youtube... as many on youtube are.
Social media presence is not relevance.
Ignore them.
Get the useful info from them and ignore the rest. Use your filter.
Yes, I find it annoying. A lot of video demos have that stuff happening.
Thats because too many instructional or cover videos are poorly played. Their only use being the short cut of getting the notes right...you save time and effort there, but its a free for all on quality...which is the standard on YT and SM in general anyway.
It is what it is...
