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female bass players

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,319
120,607
Metro St. Louis
#1
I have really noticed that most of the new players I really enjoy lately are women. Going back to the early 1990's with MeShell Ne'DegeOcello, I have found myself really enjoying music female bassist/songwriters. Debra Killings, Rhonda Smith, and now L-dia (from Myspace & Youtube) seem to be bringing freshness to funky bass that I can't quite put a finger on. It's not like they are pioneering new techniques, I guess it must be a "female touch" that gives their music a different feel.

On second thought, maybe it's the fact these players strike me as song driven instead of chops driven (although I guess I need to hear more from L-dia before I can be sure if she really fits what I'm talking about.) I say this, because I have become a fan of Fred Hammond, and he is definitely song (message) driven, not bass driven too.

I guess that maybe instead of gender, what I really am picking up on is that I love bass in a really musical context, not a clinical, "show-me-your-chops" kind of situation that so many great younger players seem to find themselves in.:cool:
 
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#3
Yeah, it seems the women are really tuned in when it comes to funk! We shouldn't be suprised about women having skills though. Have you heard some of them playing orchestral instruments, piano, guitar and percussion? Virtuosos to be sure! It does seem more and more women are gravitating more towards pop & jazz music related instruments and getting real good at playing them in the process!

I dig!
 
#8
evilgingergoat said:
I seem to find that most people I know think its weird for me, a girl, to play bass which really annoys me. They end up saying something about bass being easier because it has less strings.
Click to expand...
Hah! With all the ERB's with 5 strings on up to 11+, make that statement invalid! It also means they don't know what they're talking about! I can't stand uneducated or non researched opinions!
 
#11
Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass
Hah! With all the ERB's with 5 strings on up to 11+, make that statement invalid! It also means they don't know what they're talking about! I can't stand uneducated or non researched opinions!

exactly, i play guitar and bass, so they can hardly use the less strings crap with me. some people just see bass players as religated guitarists
 
#12
Dr. Cheese said:
I have really noticed that most of the new players I really enjoy lately are women. Going back to the early 1990's with MeShell Ne'DegeOcello, I have found myself really enjoying music female bassist/songwriters. Debra Killings, Rhonda Smith, and now L-dia (from Myspace & Youtube) seem to be bringing freshness to funky bass that I can't quite put a finger on. It's not like they are pioneering new techniques, I guess it must be a "female touch" that gives their music a different feel.

On second thought, maybe it's the fact these players strike me as song driven instead of chops driven (although I guess I need to hear more from L-dia before I can be sure if she really fits what I'm talking about.) I say this, because I have become a fan of Fred Hammond, and he is definitely song (message) driven, not bad driven too.

I guess that maybe instead of gender, what I really am picking up on is that I love bass in a really musical context, not a clinical, "show-me-your-chops" kind of situation that so many great younger players seem to find themselves in.:cool:
Click to expand...

IMO there are several factor contributing to your apreciation of women bass players. First in this man dominated business and fan base for a woman to stand out and be recognized she has to be a great player.

Also from my years of playing and listening to women play music I hate to generalize, but the tend to play with a laid back feel. It works great for bass, drums, and some other instruments and music. But not a lot of woman guitar players or up front Jazz soloists. I see it as they are not musically aggressive players. Hope that makes sense and not meant as a negative, but comment on style.

Last I think you hit on a lot when you talked about liking bass players who are more about the music and not a lot of pryotechnics when they play. I am a big fan of all the bass players you named especially Meshell she is the true definition of an artist. Not just a bass player she is a singer, writer, arranger, producer, and has a lot to say in her lyrics. I too a big fan of Fred Hammond in fact I saw him play on New Years Eve at a Praise Party. I wish he would play more bass himself but he's so busy now writing and fronting the band he doesn't have the time. But he always has good bass players in his band like Mo' Fitzgerald and Alan Evans. A bass player I think that does a good job of balancing the music and amazing chops is Alain Caron. I went to a clinic of his the other day. It is scary how much of a thinking player he is, he knows every note he's playing and why he wants to that note.

I think you are on track with your thoughts.
 
#18
I hope I don't sound like a suckup, but I should have mentioned Shelly in my original post. She is a great player. I love how she gets such a nice tone out of her Stingray played that slapped/plucked melody on one song on her Myspace site.:)
 
#19
Dr. Cheese said:
I have really noticed that most of the new players I really enjoy lately are women. Going back to the early 1990's with MeShell Ne'DegeOcello, I have found myself really enjoying music female bassist/songwriters. Debra Killings, Rhonda Smith, and now L-dia (from Myspace & Youtube) seem to be bringing freshness to funky bass that I can't quite put a finger on. It's not like they are pioneering new techniques, I guess it must be a "female touch" that gives their music a different feel.

On second thought, maybe it's the fact these players strike me as song driven instead of chops driven (although I guess I need to hear more from L-dia before I can be sure if she really fits what I'm talking about.) I say this, because I have become a fan of Fred Hammond, and he is definitely song (message) driven, not bass driven too.

I guess that maybe instead of gender, what I really am picking up on is that I love bass in a really musical context, not a clinical, "show-me-your-chops" kind of situation that so many great younger players seem to find themselves in.:cool:
Click to expand...

I agree. I've been listening to Rhonda allot and I recently dug out my Me'shell CDs. Prince's One Nite Alone...Live is a must have if you want to hear what Rhonda can do.
 

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