Help! Keyboardist is playing over me!

[turf3]

I've tried to make that point, but old piano players have spent their entire lives practicing alone and playing all the bass stuff, and they've spent vast amounts of time playing gigs and doing all that bass stuff, and they're just NOT going to change because you say something to them. It's ingrained. I just gave up. I don't have so many playing opportunties that I can afford to be an ass about it, which is what I'd have to be to get through to these guys. By the time I made my point in a way that would stick, they'd be finding someone else.

 

[Marko 1]

I'm new to playing bass in a band, both.

Could it be you're there because they couldn't find a bass player who would endure this keyboardist?

My thoughts:

He's 80 and set in his ways- you won't/can't change him.

You can't talk an inconsiderate person into being considerate.

A HPF or anything that removes the sound from those keys will only cause the fingers on his left hand to become sore from pushing harder to get those notes to sound.

“It's him or me” won't work, you'll lose.

Your choices are to live with it (and collect your pay if any), or leave if you can't endure it.

If you can endure it, at least it's a good learning experience playing with others until you can find a better situation.

 

[bassfreakah]

Slip a velum or two in his drink, in an hour you will look over at him and he will be vamp’ n jazz cords and saying Dude!!!

 

[2thAche]

These types of posts blow me away. C’mon man…ask the dude to turn down.

Agreed. "If you want me to play bass we don't need the KB to double it" and outline exactly the songs where it's a problem, and why. Sounds like the main prob is that you're a little late to say something, but it's time. If there is still a problem, then you gotta say it's not worth your time if it's not fixed.

 

[crguti]

the only arrangement that's going to work is for him to stop playing his poopy, monotonous, uncreative, squelching, boring-a$$ bass lines

he's playing your bass lines

 

[JRA]

And maybe it was ok before...gave me added confidence to have our keyboardist play a bass line at the same time. But it's gotten f'ing annoying.

Then Fred called me to ask to talk to find an arrangment that works "for both of us". As far as I'm concerned, the only arrangement that's going to work is for him to stop playing his poopy, monotonous, uncreative, squelching, boring-a$$ bass lines or play them an octave higher so I can even hear myself think.

 

[51PRI]

I'm new to playing bass in a band, both. And maybe it was ok before...gave me added confidence to have our keyboardist play a bass line at the same time. But it's gotten f'ing annoying. Band leader came in to help me. Told Fred that he could play bass during his songs, but not during our originals. Then Fred called me to ask to talk to find an arrangment that works "for both of us". As far as I'm concerned, the only arrangement that's going to work is for him to stop playing his poopy, monotonous, uncreative, squelching, boring-a$$ bass lines or play them an octave higher so I can even hear myself think. I'm sorry. I'm so frustrated. He's 80 years old and has been playing forever! How does he not know this is rude and how come little ol' me has to explain it to him?! Waaahhh! Thanks, I needed to whine. Anyhoo, please give me 3 or 5 bullet points I can tell him, and cc band leader on. Imma tell him my bros on this forum explained it to me so I don't come across as a B****. Even though I am definitely feeling like one. God I'm pissed! I never get pissed LOL

You have received a lot of suggestions in this thread but as far as I known none that have addressed why you refuse to work with him on an arrangement that works for both of you. Why not at least try that?

 

[Jeff Hughes]

He won't change. Here are a few bullet points for you though:

-Just play whatever bassline he is playing and enhance the low end. Use it as a learning opportunity.
-Play in a higher register than he is.
-Just quit or leave.
-Remember what it is like when you are a seasoned musician playing with people new to the group.

 

[Polfuste]

Next reharsal, when he starts his bass thing, just stop playing, put your bass down and go to have a beer listening them. Perhaps they will hear and understand ? If not, look for another band.

 

[40Hz]

I worked with a band and had to leave because it just became to laborious to (believe it or not) play with heavy synth bass tracks because the leader liked it “fat”

I hear you!

That wasn’t an uncommon occurrence back in the 80s. I left one project when it wound up with two keyboard players, both of whom were rocking Korg Trident synths as their main instrument. That took the sound well beyond just “fat.” Obese would have been a more accurate description.

The project leader asked why I was leaving. I told him that between the guitarist’s downtuned LesPaul and the two synths there wasn’t any space left in the mix for me to play anything.

The drummer also quit about a week later for the same reason. Even the drums were getting buried under the keyboard onslaught.

 

[mrjim123]

 

[mambo4]

People keep saying "He's 80, been playing for decades, he's not going to change"

I say "He's 80, been playing for decades, he can play a written part"

Plan together exactly how each song goes
stop leaving things to chance and winging it

 

[bdplaid]

What I'd do depends on if I wanted to stay with the band or not.

The first option, get with a better band.

Second option, talk to him. We (I) know that doesn't work. I used to work with an elderly pianist who played a lot with his left hand, but made no attempt to double what I was doing. It was like having two bass players. There was nothing but low end rumble and mud. Plus he was ever so slightly out of tune, making the low end pulsate. I spoke to him about it. There was no solution.

The third option, and I like this one. At full rehearsal, bring it to the attention of the entire band, and have him play the songs with you not playing. Have them make the choice. Shame can be a great motivator.

Best of luck, I doubt this will end well no matter what.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I’d just stop playing when he’s doing it. If nobody notices, try to pack up and sneak out before the song ends. Disappear. Never go back.

 

[coy garcia]

My 3pc blues band wants to add one...not only do I not want to share the money or simplify my parts....I fear this. I've been there it sucks.

 

[Pocket Dave]

One of these for his keyboard

B E S T P E D A L E V E R

 

[LuckyScott]

Gee, step up and just tell him. “Hey, stop playing over my bass lines”
Give that a try.

 

[Doug4321]

I’ve got a couple things to add…..

What if there were two bass players? Yes, almost never a thing. Totally overkill muddy.

You could take it as an opportunity to try bass playing very differently. Usually we take it for granted we have to nail down a strong, full line that carries the song. But that’s too much here. So, you can sit back and act like a guitar player, playing intermittently. Check out some of Phil Lesh in Grateful Dead live, he isn’t always carrying the song, often just adding to it. Or, try something like reggae where they play staccato with gaps. There’s actually a Jamaican name for the gaps, silent periods, I think “koch.” It helps there because the reggae bass tone is so deep. Have fun, be free.

 

[thmsjordan]

Not an uncommon problem. A skilled keyboardist knows how to handle this situation correctly. Sometimes a keyboardist is unskilled or hasn't learned this skill yet, other times he/she doesn't care. My suggestion would be a polite but very direct conversation explaining that with a bassist there he needs to NOT play bass as well. If he cannot, or will not comply, you have a decision to make. Either quit, or decide to put up with it.

 

[lermgalieu]

This whole string of responses about finding a way to work together in that range is wrong, IMO. You are the bassist. He shouldn't be playing bass. Tie his left hand behind his back, or put a drink in it or something. Sorry, been there, and all my triggers are triggered....