Feel vs Chops..which do you prefer or think is more important?

[Mannyinnewyork]

I think "feel" is something that's in your genetic code (or not). Chops can be developed with practice and in some cases a good teacher.

 

[mantaraya]

Well, when I hire a musician for shows or studio I pay them. When you're paid you do as you're told, play the part, or you get excused. It's that simple, and the people who are in that business know this.

You are completely 100% right about what you say. But no about what OP is asking and deliberating

 

[dreamadream99]

I believe both are components of a well-rounded player.
Chops is like the brain. The intellect.
Groove is like the heart. The emotional.

 

[bassstation]

I realize there isn't an easy way to answer this, but give the choice between a chops player and a guy without amazing chops but great feel, I'll take the feel player any day.

I had a chance to play with a drummer recently who is touring with a national act, and it was really one of the more interesting experiences I've had recently.

Biggest thing I noticed about the guy is that his playing style was not technical at all, it seemed very simple and rudimentary to me but he did enough stuff to keep it interesting.

The groove we had going on was really something else as well, it's rare that I lock into a drummer the way he and I locked into each other. Lots of other guys I play with are more technical in their playing, which I think sometimes makes for a lesser groove.

Balance of both

 

[pcake]

What is feel? What do you consider to be feel? It's a very vague word. Can you determine feel simply by listening to the bass playing and not seeing the bassist?

i also feel is vague and open to interpretation.

years ago, a close friend and i disagreed on feel. he felt you could hear and see it when a player had it. he used b.b. king as an example of a player who really felt his playing. a few months later, b.b. king published his autobiography. he said often when he was playing live, he found a hot chick in the audience and imagined her in her underwear. i don't think that's the feel my friend was referring to during our disagreement

 

[MegaSwing]

If you can’t deliver the feel, chops are pretty much a sideshow. Having both is ideal.

 

[Bassbeater]

he said often when he was playing live, he found a hot chick in the audience and imagined her in her underwear.

I do this whenever I ride the bus.

 

[bkbirge]

I like to cop a feel as much as the next guy but it's also hard to turn down a nice set of chops.

 

[smtp4me]

Depends on the song or genre. Both are important, and I've always considered music to be another language. Like any language, you can express yourself more eloquently (feel) when you have an excellent vocabulary (chops). I appreciate any musician with great timing and feel, and a bass line will lose my interest quickly if it's nothing but 1/4 or 1/8 notes on the root for the entire song, no matter how good the feel is.

 

[CoffeeLove]

Feel. A feel player with minimal chops may be "boring" but in a mix he's fine. A chops player with no feel may be "exciting" but he ruins the listening experience.

This, because the average listener will not care about chops, but will notice if the feel/groove is not there (kills the song). Of course, having both is best.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Can someone post a vid or audio clip of someone without feel and someone with feel ? So I can understand

Thanks

 

[Epitaph04]

Feel Feel Feel Feel Feel. Chops don't matter without it.

 

[5StringBlues]

I like to cop a feel as much as the next guy but it's also hard to turn down a nice set of chops.
View attachment 3104597

What about veal chops?

 

[Chrisk-K]

Someone without the feel? Check out slapping videos on Youtube.

 

[Polk Salad]

Feel.

 

[fdeck]

There's no difference. "Feel" means playing the right notes at the right time, meaning your hands are in the right place at the right time. That's technique. There's no magical route to becoming a bassist, that doesn't involve learning your way around your instrument.

Likewise, playing a lot of notes, but playing them awkwardly with poor timing and dynamics, is not feel, and it is also not technique.

 

[SAlcott]

Feel is paramount where groove is the most important thing; megachops are important where technical prowess is the point of the music.

 

[chuck1073]

Feel. Period. That's what makes the booty move. We all like to make the booty move

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

It depends on what you mean with "feel". If you mean playing the notes on time with the right intensity, then of course that's the most important thing. I assume you associate "chops" with technical flourishes. That's the just icing on the cake. It's good, but doesn't make sense without good foundation.

 

[MJ_Sotti]

After enduring about 7 seconds of that Luke Brian video...I have come to the conclusion I hate modern country more than any style of music, well maybe not as much as "bro country"