Help! Keyboardist is playing over me!

[Egg250]

That’s exactly the problem though. If two musicians are playing notes in the bass register that are not the same or at least very deliberately harmonic, the result is muddy crap.

I’d go the other direction, tell the keyboardist that if you and he are both playing bass notes, they need to be meticulously planned, written, and rehearsed to ensure you’re doing that well.

But it’s probably an unbreakable habit at this point.

The dude is 80, yeah, he's set in his ways. As for mudd in the mix, isn't that really more frequency dependent? But if the keys are playing low, I think I would head up to the middle frets or up around the 12th fret and have fun.

 

[51PRI]

Do we know if the OP's band are playing covers or all originals?

 

[ChrisB2]

Do we know if the OP's band are playing covers or all originals?

Well... I think so:

Band leader came in to help me. Told Fred that he could play bass during his songs, but not during our originals.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

"The bass frequencies are clashing. We need to decide who is going to play the bass parts because it cannot be both the bass and keyboard unless we are super-tight playing the same thing. I would suggest the keyboard keep in the mid to high register and let me handle the bass."

 

[BassBrass]

Alternatively :

That's a case where the piano player is the bass player and composer and vocalist, had years to work on the recording at home, finally mastered by a genius, and being Morphine, nobody ever did 2 lows together better. A rather high bar.

 

[Sam Evans]

Buy him a keytar.

 

[Wood and Wire]

A rather high bar.

Aim for the stars, and you might make it to the moon.

 

[Aceman]

Have we discussed getting some Synth pedals and stepping all over HIS playing????

 

[Aceman]

Aim for the stars, and you might make it to the moon.

I think Billy Sheehan said that...

 

[themickster]

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

He's willing to find something that you are both happy with. Take it. See if you get something better than only one of you playing.

 

[basseux]

This is super anoying to have bass doubled, this create often an horrible frequency wobbling.

But I would use that situation as an opportunity to play lead bass like Peter Hook in New Order, or how Robert Smith uses bass and bass VI in The Cure.

You could even double the singing on his tunes and try to piss him off.

 

[51PRI]

...You could even double the singing on his tunes and try to piss him off.

That's a good one. Double him on "his" songs and when he gets mad and tells you to stop you can tell him to stop doubling you on bass parts.

 

[Jjacks651]

Ask him if he wats to keep his left hand.

JJ

 

[ChrisB2]

You could even double the singing on his tunes and try to piss him off.

As long as you sing the same melody in the same octave. If you harmonize, he might like it. Oops!

 

[Wood and Wire]

I think Billy Sheehan said that...

I think that phrase predates the Apollo program.

 

[kevindahl]

There are lots of examples where there is doubling on the bass and a keyboard. It sounds like this is not working. If the cover song does not have this then a simple please come up with a different part should suffice.

 

[Rootzilla]

There are lots of examples where there is doubling on the bass and a keyboard.

Teen Town!

 

[Hasty]

I think that phrase predates the Apollo program.

I've seen the tablet it was chiseled on!

 

[LBS-bass]

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.

You should try it before you decide it isn't going to work. Keys fit well in blues and I've never had a competent keys player in that genre step all over my parts the way some people here are describing. They generally know how to comp through the changes without trying to play a bass line. And it's one of the best sounding vibes there is when it works.

 

[pepj]

The band must know there is a problem to sort out.
Bass plays bass and keys play up the register.
If the keys can't or won't do that..he is failing the gig.
Have collective words and there really isnt much debate about who is in the wrong...if the bass is playing the correct part...
But if the guy is 80 and doesn't know by now, then I suspect the band doesn't know either.

Just stop playing everytime he does it if you don't feel confident to raise it with the keys. If the band still don't notice, you'll need to leave. Whether you'll do that is another thing.