Happy being a "Pocket or Groove"player?

[dalkowski]

I love my role as the pocket guy. It suits the kind of music my group plays, plus my drummer is my brother in rhythm from another mother in rhythm.

For my money, the highest compliment would be, "he's so deep in the pocket, you gotta look under the lint."

 

[SmokinJoe992]

I can solo if asked. But I don't seek them out. What kind if bass player would "request" a solo anyway?

Exactly. I play Classic Rock n Roll, Modern Rock n Roll, Country and Blues. For me a solo is when everyone else stops playing and I continue playing the same line I have been playing the whole song. I am very cool with that.

 

[Low Class]

Being a pocket player myself and understanding my position in every band that I have played in, how many members feel the same way or strive to be "soloist's" requesting a solo in every song? Sometimes I feel my lack of theory has stifled my advancement, but my ear training has allowed me to play almost anything I can sing or hear. I am at the end of my career, and nothing worst than sitting back in your recliner with regrets of things you could or should have done. Any comments?

I'd rather be a pocket player that get gigs than a non gigging bassist who wants a solo on every tune. Although I do feel your pain about the regrets of being a better soloist, listening to the bass groove as a youngster is what got me into playing bass and what I enjoy about playing bass.

 

[40Hz]

I don’t care to play or listen to bass solos for the most part. Same goes for drum solos. There are much better instruments to solo on if that’s your thing.

I do tend to enjoy playing more melodic baselines when and where it’s appropriate. I’m very into countermelodies, hocketing, chord reharmonization, and shifting voice leading games in prog, which is my home turf. But for everything else I’m also perfectly content to sit in the pocket keeping it clean and simple and holding it all together if that’s what’s needed.

About the only things I’m fairly insistent on are:

• Making melodic and rhythmic sense in the context of a given song.
• Showing respect for the styles and conventions of the musical genre in which the song is written.
• Just sounding good.

So if that means just playing the root on a steady 4/4 for several measures - or tearing it up all over the neck on a fiver - I’m perfectly ok with it either way.

I like to think I provide precisely what’s needed in a song. If I always wanted to stand in the spotlight I’d have chosen something very different for my main instrument. Or become a singer.

 

[G On Bass]

Bass is what the band runs on, and groove/foundation is more important than soloing chops 100% of the time. I could never be unhappy or bored being the foundation of the whole band. Never do I slap or pop or any of that stuff, and unless it's a kind of breakdown where bass and/or drums carry it or an occasional fill, I resist soloing at all times. But that doesn't mean I have to play root notes all night...During open jam-type parts of songs, I can totally change the vibe and sound of the song by switching up what notes I play while still staying in key. Who needs soloing when I control the band already?

 

[StyleOverShow]

3-4 years ago I worked for a studio, cranking out singer/songwriter tunes. It was deep, linty pocket work. The recordings I have are best described as background bass.

At the same time I was playing around with a trio, recording our jams which were far reaching in tempos and guitar centric keys. It was seminal work as i’ve developed several of these into originals. The bass lines were aggressive and out of the pocket, and yes included solos.

I don’t think the difference between pocket and non-pocket is so narrowly defined as the presence or absence of soloing. It’s a fundamental approach to interweaving bass lines into the context of the music.

 

[pedulla-2007]

It is my dream to be a groove/pocket player. I think I attain that every once in a while, depending on the tune.

I’ve been given chances to solo. I don’t care for it. I get lots of opportunities when I’m playing guitar/pedal steel.

If you can play pedal/steel, you definitely have a talent , but too humble to use it! You recognize your position in the band.

 

[pedulla-2007]

I wouldn't read too much into either Jaco's supposed ego or the circumstances of his death. He was mentally ill in his later years and appeared to lose his shy and humble character when he was suffering from mania. The circumstances around him being beaten to death are similarly murky because the circumstances of his death were never really properly reported on and I've never heard any first-hand account of what happened, never mind a detailed independent assessment of the facts. Please remember that Jaco's family remain active members of the music community and ill-informed and speculative nonsense like your post is quite disrespectful, both to them and to Jaco.

That is exactly why I said, "correct me if I am wrong" no disrespect intended , please don't try to manipulate anything to the contrary! Please take your negativity with you when you go! You are trying to divert away from the original context of this thread. Jaco will always be The King in my book!

 

[twinjet]

I can solo if asked. But I don't seek them out. What kind if bass player would "request" a solo anyway?

It's not uncommon for a bassist to ask within the context of a jazz combo.

 

[4001]

Bass solos are for bands where the bass players' dad owns the p.a. and the van.

Sure.

 

[LBS-bass]

It's not uncommon for a bassist to ask within the context of a jazz combo.

If I'm not mistaken, it's often assumed in a jazz context that each player will have a solo turn.

 

[HolmeBass]

I totally enjoy the pocket and for me that’s job #1. But even more I want different songs to be different, not just structurally but tonally as well. If the same person takes all of the solos on the same instrument (or even the same 2 people switch off all night) that doesn’t happen and can be boring unless they are virtuosos. Heck it can get boring even if they are virtuosos!

So I see it as something of a responsibility of the rhythm section to provide one solo each per set, definitely per night at the very least, just to break things up and provide some variety and some different textures. Same reason I have a pedal board. Same reason I lay out sometimes.

 

[boombloom]

It's all about the groove. I used to play a lot of notes and then I joined up with a bluegrass band. I had to start all over from the beginning when I realized it's harder to play solid and simple very well than it is to play lots and lots of notes. This has served me very well. It's the groove that keeps me coming back. The connection between players when the music is going well. Good musicians know that. There are flashier players around but I get plenty of gigs.

 

[JRA]

I am at the end of my career, and nothing worst than sitting back in your recliner with regrets of things you could or should have done. Any comments?

do i regret not improving skills in one area while i was demonstrating skills in another? yes! sounds like you do too. it also sounds like some posters are just rationalizing that what they already do is 'good enough'. also: having regrets at any time in your life, but especially in 'old age', is nothing new. if you resemble humanity in any way: you probably have some regrets and you probably would take a 'do-over' on a few things. big whup.

skills to be proud of which are being discussed:
- holding down a groove
- playing for the song/tune
- soloing
- being 'dependable' in some way, musically or otherwise
- yada yada

i think that if you can do any one of those things very, very well = you win! if you can do more than one of those things well = you just have more chances to win! ....... winning/winner = the satisfaction of knowing that you did the best you could at the time you did it!

for those of you who would just rationalize your own version of 'status quo': good luck!

 

[twinjet]

If I'm not mistaken, it's often assumed in a jazz context that each player will have a solo turn.

You're not.

If you have something to say, there shouldn't be anything holding you back. You can still serve the song with a great solo. I'm not of the mind that taking a solo means an instant trainwreck. It can be done with taste, without compromising the form or rhythm.

But, if what you plan to "say" compromises all that... just stay quiet.

 

[LuckyScott]

Im proud to be a pocket player and it it amazing how many guitar players really appreciate having a bass player that is rock solid.

 

[LuckyScott]

I always felt if you are a bass player that wants to play flashy and have a lot of solos, then just sell your bass and buy a regular little six string guitar.

 

[derlewine]

Being a pocket player myself and understanding my position in every band that I have played in, how many members feel the same way or strive to be "soloist's" requesting a solo in every song? Sometimes I feel my lack of theory has stifled my advancement, but my ear training has allowed me to play almost anything I can sing or hear. I am at the end of my career, and nothing worst than sitting back in your recliner with regrets of things you could or should have done. Any comments?

My dad's a bass player also, and his advice to me when I started was that the Bass' job is to make people dance. I love being in the groove, and most of the great songs the bass is not super flashy but it's super in the pocket and makes me want to move. I'll stretch out when I'm messing around, but when I'm playing with others, even with jazz, I want to play more like Jamerson or Bob Cranshaw on The Sidewinder. Not flashy, but in the groove.

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

I want to be a pocket player, and play fewer notes in better places every time out.

I've heard bass solos that sound like someone has practiced scales relentlessly in their bedroom and is determined to share that with the world. That doesn't say anything musical to me and I don't want to do that. But I do want to take a solo once or twice a night. When I do, I hope it still grooves; I read a bassist somewhere (maybe here) who said to watch the folks who are moving, or dancing when you start your solo. If they stop before your done you're doing it wrong.

So to answer the question directly: I want to be both, but always a pocket player.

 

[ole Jason]

I always felt if you are a bass player that wants to play flashy and have a lot of solos, then just sell your bass and buy a regular little six string guitar.

Or play genres where bass solos are expected and appreciated. Not everyone is playing rock music in bars.

Unpopular opinion: A lot of guys who wax on about being a "pocket player" are people who have never spent any time trying to develop chops. I've never met someone who could solo like crazy but couldn't play in the pocket when asked/needed. I'm mostly speaking from a jazz context. Maybe it's different in other genres.