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How Do You Do This?

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danjl131

Jun 10, 2008
49
0
#1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0gWanJ8vOc&feature=related

After watching that video, I was completely amazed. This guy seemed to lay down the perfect bass part. How does he know when to make something melodic and interesting, when to do a fill, and when to keep it simple/just roots? It seems like each part worked so well in each section of the song. I want to be able to do that, complement a song knowing when to lay back and when to step slightly forward (as I'm guessing all or most of you would). Also I hope this isn't too broad/ridiculous of a question. Please any input would be great. Thanks. :)
 
#4
It is a very nice, tasteful, well recorded bass track.
In many cases, the bass (and other) parts are are written before the session. Other times, it's a collaborative effort with the musicians and producer. The producer and artist will have the final say as to how each part is played. Sometimes, multiple takes of a song are recorded with different ways of playing the parts. Again, the producer will choose which way he wants the final track to sound.

There's no substitute for experience in learning how to play great parts. Years of recording and listening to playback was invaluable to me. You learn how to analyze your playing and make adjustments as necessary.

BTW, one of the last major recording projects I did was an album that had Roger Davies (Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Tony Joe White) as executive producer. Being a bassist himself, Roger's input was very helpful.
 
#5
Very tasteful for sure. I like this one as well


I think as said above, listen well to what the other musicians are doing, listen to yourself recorded and always try to expand your musical vocabulary.
 
#6
Yes, very nice playing by everybody there. It's clearly a "composed" bass part, with very little spontaneous improvised content. You can hear that the bassist and drummer have worked out their lock very precisely, and I'm sure they play it the same way every time. Nothing wrong with that. But it's really not very hard to work something like that out, you just have to take a little time to think it through when first working out an arrangement.
 
#8
Thanks for sharing,danjl. That is a strong,solid and well-played bassline to be sure.Hope one day to do as well. :D

I think most bands making videos these days have lots of practice and experience behind them for one thing.Since I`m a newb I am curious as well how/when I would know to play simple root notes or embellish.
 

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