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FLEA-Best bass player ever???

#83
I feel bad for anyone who suggested as the best bass player ever, or best anything for that matter. Thoroughly absurd question that's sure to bring unwarranted jabs at their playing. Flea's a great bass player, he creates distinct bass lines and is very influential in his respected genre. He also seems to care quiet a lot about bass playing and furthering the cause for playing bass. I'm sure he'd cringe at being called the best ever.
 
#84
"Best" I'd be voting for an urban black gospel choir dude with an understudy.. there are thousands out there who can lap circles around Flea and are doing a better job of passing the torch.

Europeans would say it's Mark King... he sings while doing this stuff.

I have my favorites but "best" is a taste ... few of us have good taste.
 
#87
chaunceytoben said:
Ill give a Flea shoutout here...

Although I believe there are 'better' bassists out there (Jaco, Vic, Marcus...you know, the legends), Ive never heard anyone come up with better basslines in a band situation. I listen to his stuff and i really feel like his basslines are perfect for the song he is playing in. It seems like he really cares about the music and the soundof the song as a whole. Although I enjoy earlier RHCP more, I feel my point is exemplified in their newer stuff, when he favors fingerstlye to the hyper-kinetic slap. And though much of his stuff is busy, I still feel that it is very tasteful.

Like him or hate him, I think anyone needs to appreciate what he has done for the bass world. Being a bassist whose contributions to a song can actually be recognized by the non-musical public has done much to garner respect for bassists everywhere. Not to mention that a ridiculous amount of people have picked up the bass because of listening to Flea and the RHCP. No doubt more than any other bassist, and in the end, isn't that the most important thing?
Click to expand...

Ever heard of James Jamerson?
 
#91
Best? well hes my favorite.. Cant stand these botique bassists he actually sounds good.

Its one of them things he is great thats why so many people think he is, so the stuck up bassist have to disagree because they can't agree with the majority that would be the un bassist thing to do..
 
#92
FLEA is one of the best at serving the music and raising it to a level of musicianship and purity that makes the Red Hot Chili Peppers what they are.

Not unlike Jamerson in Motown or Ashton with the Wailers.

Who wants to spank their bass the "BEST" when you can make love with the music and take it to another level.

That's my goal at least. and my opinion.

Peace
 
#93
It's fun to debate who the best this, or best that is, but it can never be quantified. Every musician has developed a style that is unique to them. After all, music isn't a competition...it's not about who can play the most bpm on a drum kit...or who can slap/pop the fastest on a bass...all that matters is the music, and how it makes us feel.
 
#98
fender_funk_man said:
Flea isn't even in the ball park. Check out Higher Ground by RCHP and compare it to the version of Higher Ground by Marcus Miller. Flea makes time and rhythm mistakes left right and center.

Now go practice...
Click to expand...
When you say "time and rhythm", do you mean compared to the Marcus Miller version or the original Stevie Wonder version? Both are good takes on the original, Mr. Miller just does it a different way than the RHCP.

As for if Flea is the best, He definitely ranks up there for me. Reading one of his interviews, he said something along the lines of
Flea said:
[paraphrased] The silence inbetween the notes is almost, if not just as, important as the notes themselves.
Click to expand...
I think countless bassists (and musicians in general) fail to realize that simple cornerstone of music philosophy.
 
#99
jarrhead said:
EDIT: and there is a "best" computer because they really dont have personal "tastes" just better performance. and something has to top it off on performance.
Click to expand...

Not so. If best = 'favourite', then performance isn't the benchmark (even in computers - 18 years as a developer I can tell you it's also about usability, compatibility, suitability for the job in hand etc...).

If best = technically the best then we'd all be listening to techno :eek: :help: because a computer can technically out perform any physical player (ever heard a bass player hit 800 notes in a minute with perfect accuracy?).

For me the 'best' is about passion, feel, connection to the music, understanding and serving the song, musical 'integrity' etc... - I'd say Flea ranks very high on that scale.
 

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