3) is just a bit strange; first time I've heard of a singer who needs to sing in unison with the bass line. 
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Got fired today.
- Thread starter Itzayana
- Start date
I personally have never been told what to play, but if anybody ever did it would likely be a John McVee-Lindsey Buckingham exchange...
not familiar with any particular interaction between those two, curious to hear more, should actually shine a little light on the OP's situation.
Being a BL is basically about herding cats, at least at the weekend warrior level where many of us are at. Leadership is a delicate art when this is really a voluntary thing, obviously we're not doing this for the money or career.
That said, a little guidance and direction is necessary, the best approach I've seen is "first among equals". Theoretically you're working w/people who know their craft and bring their thing to the table.
Paid session? Different story, then you're hired to fulfill what the BL/producer is seeking. Offer input, but go w/their direction. Just my 0.02.
3) is just a bit strange; first time I've heard of a singer who needs to sing in unison with the bass line.
I didn't say that. It's not that he sings in unison with the bass line at all. He said that if the bass line "isn't what he hears it should be he can't sing along". And that is not to say that I would play something different every time and throw him off.
The real problem is that this is the first time that the BL has also included lead singing as part of his thing. He has always had rhythm guitar player/lead singers, or dedicated vocalists to do that in the past.
He is new to singing lead and is easily derailed.
The truth comes out. BL can't sing while he plays guitar, and it's "your fault" because your bass parts throw him off.
OP, can you please give us an example of a song in which BL wanted you to play something other than the bass line as recorded (I believe you stated he wanted you to play the bass lines as recorded, but then you seem to be saying he wanted you to deviate from the bass line as recorded and follow the guitar or vocal line instead? A bit confusing.)
A YouTube video or sound file and a little elaboration on your part would help some of understand the BL's demands a bit better.
A YouTube video or sound file and a little elaboration on your part would help some of understand the BL's demands a bit better.
No I did not say that I always play bass lines as recorded.
At the risk of sounding like I am just way too full of myself, a lot of the songs the BL wanted to do were pretty obscure. And in my humble opinion many of the bass players that played the original recording sessions of those songs weren't all that swingin'.
In many cases I feel that if I were the guy doing the session I could have played it better. Or if only different, definitely not worse. As I stated earlier, music for me has never been a matter of how much I can sound like someone other than me.
I think you misunderstood me.
If BL wanted you to "do them just like the record," it would help me (and maybe others) to hear a recording of one of the songs, and then you could tell us if you were being asked to duplicate the bass line of the original recording.
Can you name off a few artists/titles?
I have not read the entire thread, but, I got complaints that my rock bass lines were too jazzy, with too much swing. This was probably the beginning of the end of playing in rock and blues bands, and I ended up moving over to jazz and Latin with some funk. I just found my niche in these genres.
Do you like rock and blues, though? Surely it's good to be as versatile as possible.
I got "fired" (actually not invited back after after I subbed a couple times for a bassist who, it turned out, was quitting) from a classic rock cover band for not playing the bass lines exactly as recorded in the originals. It was generally agreed that I was faithful the to overall groove, but this band wanted note-for-note replication. I couldn't see much point in that (especially for $50 per gig) but, hey, that was the BL's "artistic vision" - sound exactly like a Tom Petty (or whomever) record. He was "right" and I was "wrong" within the parameters. Whatever...
+1, my sentiments exactly.
In a similar situation with a new guitarist who's locally well known and wants the bass waaaaayyyyyy backed off ("just play the roots, that's it!" is his quote). Ain't gonna happen, esp in an Allman Bros cover band
I had a guitarist ask me once, after hearing me play Ramblin Man, "what is that you're doing with the bass part?" I said, "playing it like the Allman Brothers." His reply; "the Allman Brothers played it wrong."
He obviously wanted me to dumb down the bass part so no one would be distracted from his awesomeness.
Some bandleaders know everything except music. Better to watch that stuff disappear in your rear-view mirror.
I once had a gig where the bandleader wanted me to play basic and spare lines. He then gave me a tape of someone to emulate, who played more notes than I could even think of at the time.
Confused and neurotic, to say the least.
So, OP, things could definitely be worse: you could still be in the band.
I once had a gig where the bandleader wanted me to play basic and spare lines. He then gave me a tape of someone to emulate, who played more notes than I could even think of at the time.
Confused and neurotic, to say the least.
So, OP, things could definitely be worse: you could still be in the band.
I worked in a similar situation. R&B band. Every tune had a chart & he wanted me to
play exactly what was written. I did. It sounded good with the 2 horns. Bass wise it was
boring as hell.
Fires me without telling me. I found out thru friends who went to see the band and said I was not there. That's ShowBiz.
play exactly what was written. I did. It sounded good with the 2 horns. Bass wise it was
boring as hell.
Fires me without telling me. I found out thru friends who went to see the band and said I was not there. That's ShowBiz.
I must chip in again, if the BL is such a blues expert he must realise that the vinyl version is just a record of one moment in the artists career.
Probably recorded in a hurry with a pick up band and more than likely unrepresentative of the way it was performed live, possibly even a number that was chosen by the label boss on the day of the recording.
Many Blues singers have recorded multiple versions of the same song over their career, each one differing greatly from the next.
Blues is not symphonic music played from written parts, it is a fluid, partly spontaneous form, one mans' opinion on the definitive version of a number is just that, an opinion.
I confess I was unsympathetic to the OP at first so I must apologise.
The BL has probably bitten off more than he can chew for the moment, so probably best to let him come to terms with the situation on his own.
Maybe he could play bass himself!
Probably recorded in a hurry with a pick up band and more than likely unrepresentative of the way it was performed live, possibly even a number that was chosen by the label boss on the day of the recording.
Many Blues singers have recorded multiple versions of the same song over their career, each one differing greatly from the next.
Blues is not symphonic music played from written parts, it is a fluid, partly spontaneous form, one mans' opinion on the definitive version of a number is just that, an opinion.
I confess I was unsympathetic to the OP at first so I must apologise.
The BL has probably bitten off more than he can chew for the moment, so probably best to let him come to terms with the situation on his own.
Maybe he could play bass himself!
DELEGATION 101..If you want it done..hire someone else to do it..
MY version..and if you want it done YOUR WAY..THEN DO IT YOURSELF...
MY version..and if you want it done YOUR WAY..THEN DO IT YOURSELF...
This is what this thread is about.
I know a drummer that plays this way in a soul band and its the most frustrating thing in the world. Lots of jazzy swing, but no groove. I understand that we all want to be heard for what we do and all of that. But for crying out loud if more players would JUST SERVE THE SONG and not overplay? If you're part leaves space, then LEAVE the SPACE. Don't try to fill every void, you're a commercial if you do that. If you show restraint? That's called maturity. Like bass 81800 said, if that kind of group isn't your thing? Then find something that is, but if you're in a band trying to play straight rock or RnB or soul or country? Don't bring your influences to that and then complain if the BL doesn't like it! Serve the song, not an insatiable ego. Be honest and think about that for a second. I was there/am there - and I know. I mean, I KNOW.
