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Geddy Lee, best bass player.

#121
TyBo said:
Hmm ... I seem to remember a Brit who had a band with three other lads, played bass and sang lead (and harmony!). Rather an influential guy on bass, and sang ... well, better. There was also a fella who played bass and sang with some fella named Clapton, I seem to remember him being kinda influential ...

So, no, there is no "best". :bassist:
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I like this, and it reminds me of something:
I can personally say, I've been the studio with Jack (I was playing bass for it) and saw many people being sycophantic and saying "great take", "fantastic", etc. I personally thought the vocal was "Okay." Jack, stood there for a moment, thoughtful... Grinned and said "I'll do another.." THAT was a good take. He knew better, even when everyone else was saying the first take was the best. Point being that, what matters is what YOU/WHO you think the best is to you or for you. Everyone else's best isn't necessarily going to be yours, nor should it be.. ;)
 
#122
hrodbert696 said:
Speaking strictly in terms of skills, yes. But we all know that musicality is not just about chops. It's about making music that impacts people. The thing that's true about Geddy's playing and not so much about, say, John Myung, is that people CARE about his playing. I'm sure Myung could play a circle around Geddy, but no one would care. I agree with everyone that's said it's subjective and there's no way to say who the "best" bassist is. That would be like asking who the better composer is, Bach, Mozart or Beethoven? But just because a modern composer could write a piece that's more complicated than Bach doesn't make them a "better" composer than Bach.
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When talking about making modern music it might be true that Rush's is open-hearted.
 
#123
obimark said:
He is great. Best Lead-Singer Bass player- for sure.
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Sting? Phil Lynott? John Wetton? Greg Lake? There are many even in that sub genre. And some play simple lines, but it's about serving the song and the genre that Rush are in is suited by busier lines than those of The Police. So it's hard to judge who is best based on recorded output. Wetton certainly gives Lee a run for his money in terms of technical complexity of some of the Red-era incarnation of King Crimson. For the record both Wetton and Lee are heroes and influences on me.
 
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#124
NoiseNinja said:
Hey, I use that technique, don't be a hater :p

If it works, it works. ;)

Personally I used to be a pick player, but found that classical guitar style fingering to give me a lot more freedom of expression and in the end to fit my prefered style of making up bass lines better.

(I have to admit the kind of music Rush make doesn't seem to have anything to say to me either. I can appreciate their musicmanship and their talent, but their songs doesn't resonate in me as something profound and worth listening to for extended periods of time)
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I thought his left hand technique was more singular than his right.
 
#127
rico bass said:
A great bass player indeed love his technique ,wish he would go back to the Rickebacher ,not a big fan of his voice, seen him on a tv interview he seems like a really good guy no ego, there is no best bass player only your favorite .
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I read a story (may have been here) that someone played bass in a band at a wedding at which Geddy was present, and he went up and commended the band and the bassist after the show. He is famous. He doesn't have to do such things, but apparently (if I am remembering the story correctly) he did.
 
#132
-Asdfgh- said:
His left hand technique seems more unusual in bass playing in terms of how he places his hands relative to the notes of the chord he is playing notes from than his right hand technique or at least as far as I can tell from videos.
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The word you were looking for was unique.

Anyway, you are right.

Using classical guitar left hand fingering technique on bass is definitely unusual, in fact I thought I came up with it my self until I read that I am apparently not the only one using it.

Actually quite a few use that technique, however it is still not exactly common, as most will use either pick or 2 or 3 finger technique to strike the notes.
 
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#137
NoiseNinja said:
The word you were looking for was unique.
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Singular, in that context, is a synonym for unique.

[qutote]Using classical guitar left hand fingering technique on bass is definitely unusual, in fact I thought I came up with it my self until I read that I am apparently not the only one using it.[/quote]

I am glad I am not alone in thinking that is the fingering he's using, which is a relief. But it sounds it's not as unique as I thought, but I hadn't noticed anyone else using it but maybe I didn't look hard enough!
 
#138
What I love about these threads are the people who disagree with the OP with a response that says, "no he is not the best." As if their opinion is worth anymore than than the OP's who says he is the best. It's like people who have their music lumped into neat little categories like, "death metal" or they won't know what they are supposed to like.
 
#139
Speaking of Singer/Bassist- Sting- this guy sounded so freaking good on vocals when I saw him. Absolutely nailed all his material.

Bass-playing as said, was solid, and he stepped out and got a little funky on some instrumental sections of a few tunes.
 

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