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Guitar player doing bass, is this recording that obvious?

#24
pbass2 said:
Sorry, a couple of us missed that. Anyhow......I'm merely suggesting it will benefit him to work on both techniques, and as other have emphasized, one isn't more "correct" than the other.
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Here is how No Treble describes that bass line:
Bass Players To Know: John McVie

McVie executes a bass line with the power of a moving train; it propels the song with a feeling of constant and unyielding motion that leads the band to a destination brought on by intrigue and mystery. While it sounds like a musical tongue twister, it makes absolute sense from a harmonic standpoint, clearly outlining the minor tonality of the verses and then brightening up the song by featuring the major tonality in the chorus.
 
#25
I'll echo everyone else and say it sounds pretty good! I think some of the "on top" of the beat stuff that you're experiencing is due to your lack of experience with the instrument. You've got the part, now lean back and feel it. But technically, you're sounding great and I don't think "beginner" hearing it.
 
#26
MJ Slaughter said:
I've been playing guitar for decades and just started with bass. I know my technique isn't there yet but hopefully someone can let me know what they hear from this track I made.

A few months ago I picked up my first bass guitar and unfortunately I've been too busy to mess with it much until recently. There are some songs in my acoustic duo I use a looper pedal on and some of them just don't sound great without spending time building the loops and not everyone wants to sit and wait through that. So I've pre-recorded some loops at home and saved as presets. Works fine but I want to incorporate a real bass into my loops/tracks. I hate the idea of using tracks but have justified in my mind that I'm playing on it so semi legit, maybe.

So, you're sitting in a venue and hear this track along with live guitar and two singers. Do you instantly recognize that it's a guitarist trying to play bass or does it just sound like a beginner who hasn't developed the technique? I'm not attuned to bass playing like guitar and I don't hear the nuances yet so feel free to give me your tips or suggestions. Drums are the isolated tracks from Mick Fleetwood's studio album performance. No way I could play drums. I can only use two limbs at once, and some days that's questionable.

Fleetwood Mac Rhiannon

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The bass aint bad. Change the drums
 
#28
MJ Slaughter said:
Not sure I understand. I'm using my fingers, are you saying it's originally played with a pick?
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The track sounds like you're playing with a pick. If you are playing with your fingers, whatever you're doing to get that tone is impressive (if that is the tone you are aiming for).

The track is fine. As others have said, your timing could be a little tighter, but that's it. Since they're backing tracks, I'd suggest recording the bass in a DAW and exporting to your looper pedal.

All that said, I wouldn't sweat it. Nobody in your audience is going to be wondering if your bass track was played by a guitarist. They're going to be focusing on your guitar work and the singers. You'll be fine, don't sweat it.
 
#30
mike buzzetti said:
Not bad you are playing your timing like a gtr player on TOP of the beat , bass typically ( not all the time ) is behind the beat, , you could use a fiber pick to make it sound more finger style. I play GTR+BASS fyi

check out this video for the lines

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Then I've been playing incorrectly for decades. :)
Troy has great videos.

To @MJ Slaughter good job ! Yes, Motown / Muscle Shoals sound (watch the Youtube video. I thought that was the Motown sound ! ) and you will "get it". It's all about the groove and stank face.
 
#31
I found this book to be invaluable re - how simple lines can really define a song. Of course, the previous posts re- Motown were spot-on also. Obviously, McVie didn't play a simple line on this song.

upload_2022-2-12_23-56-53.png
 
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#33
mike buzzetti said:
The drums he is using are missing the toms , or maybe they are real low-- YES THEY ARE ? turn up the toms it will drive better , that will change the way you play it
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I just meant cut out half the drums. It will groove better.

His drummer isn't playing the song right. It's annoying. If he can't learn the song, or play it with the right dynamics, simplify it.
 
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#35
P-Belly Evans said:
I have never understood this non issue. I've been playing bass since 1986 and picked up a guitar about five years later. Nobody ever accused me of playing guitar like a bass player??? Your playing is super cool. Also forget this pick vs fingers garbage. I started with a pick, then became a finger snob for years (not cool) until the 2020 lockdown. I bloody love using a pick now and am truly sorry for my pointless snobbery. Just play, enjoy and get loads of bass (and guitar) GAS for ever...... Oh and remember Bobby Vega, Cody Wright, Rob Wright, Macca and all the other pick bass pioneers if you need a hug.
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It is a bass guitar, after all. :) I think folks have summed it up pretty well in saying that a bass part will often largely tend to about being a rhythm part ... as opposed to a single line guitar solo in a lower register. ;) But if you're a guitarist accustomed to playing rhythm parts and rhythmic figures (Keith Richards comes to mind), then it's somewhat familiar, imo. I do agree that it is a different mindset. Laying back just a bit is good advice generally.
 
#36
MJ Slaughter said:
I've been playing guitar for decades and just started with bass. I know my technique isn't there yet but hopefully someone can let me know what they hear from this track I made.

A few months ago I picked up my first bass guitar and unfortunately I've been too busy to mess with it much until recently. There are some songs in my acoustic duo I use a looper pedal on and some of them just don't sound great without spending time building the loops and not everyone wants to sit and wait through that. So I've pre-recorded some loops at home and saved as presets. Works fine but I want to incorporate a real bass into my loops/tracks. I hate the idea of using tracks but have justified in my mind that I'm playing on it so semi legit, maybe.

So, you're sitting in a venue and hear this track along with live guitar and two singers. Do you instantly recognize that it's a guitarist trying to play bass or does it just sound like a beginner who hasn't developed the technique? I'm not attuned to bass playing like guitar and I don't hear the nuances yet so feel free to give me your tips or suggestions. Drums are the isolated tracks from Mick Fleetwood's studio album performance. No way I could play drums. I can only use two limbs at once, and some days that's questionable.

Fleetwood Mac Rhiannon

Click to expand...


you play fine ... my only criticism is you might not want to copy it note for note ... I used to play that song and I played a simpler more grindy edgy bass line.
 
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#38
Sounds good to me! I can understand peoples minor criticisms but as has been mentioned, it's really unforgiving hearing the bass without the other instruments.

I've had occasions in the studio where I'm pulling my hair out at how 'bad' I think it sounds when I'm scrutinising every little noise, but as soon as you hear it in context it sounds great.

From my experience guitarists as bassists tend to be found out more when writing a bass line for a song. I've heard quite a few examples over the years of guitarist playing pretty little tunes on the bass, and almost forgetting the rhythm entirely. I mean I overplay for sure, but at least I lock in to the groove!

hmmmm, you've now got me wondering if this works the other way round… I'm primarily a bassist or drummer, but I also play guitar… I wonder if it's obvious that I'm not a guitarist?!
 
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#39
MJ Slaughter said:
I've been playing guitar for decades and just started with bass. I know my technique isn't there yet but hopefully someone can let me know what they hear from this track I made.

A few months ago I picked up my first bass guitar and unfortunately I've been too busy to mess with it much until recently. There are some songs in my acoustic duo I use a looper pedal on and some of them just don't sound great without spending time building the loops and not everyone wants to sit and wait through that. So I've pre-recorded some loops at home and saved as presets. Works fine but I want to incorporate a real bass into my loops/tracks. I hate the idea of using tracks but have justified in my mind that I'm playing on it so semi legit, maybe.

So, you're sitting in a venue and hear this track along with live guitar and two singers. Do you instantly recognize that it's a guitarist trying to play bass or does it just sound like a beginner who hasn't developed the technique? I'm not attuned to bass playing like guitar and I don't hear the nuances yet so feel free to give me your tips or suggestions. Drums are the isolated tracks from Mick Fleetwood's studio album performance. No way I could play drums. I can only use two limbs at once, and some days that's questionable.

Fleetwood Mac Rhiannon

Click to expand...

You played it well. I would have thought anything that you seem shy about. The notes were clear and in time.
 
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