How long should a bass FILL be?

[Thebiggestjerk]

We were having discussion the other day at band practice, and as the bassist I’m really trying to groove more and play less lead style bass embellishments (since I play lead guitar in another band). I’m trying to limit them to no more than a bar… usually just two beats. What’s your line of thought?

 

[mambo4]

I don't know how long a fill should be, but it should definitely end before, or exactly on, the 1.
The crime of overplaying is usually in the failure to support the groove, usually by noodling past the downbeat.

 

[Naigewron]

No hard or fast rule to it, but anything longer than a bar is pretty long for a bass fill and probably kept to only very special parts of the song.

 

[brianrost]

One bar unless there are extenuating circumstances

 

[Diplock]

One bar unless there are extenuating circumstances

I use this one bar fill all the time. Everybody seems to like it.

 

[knumbskull]

Personally i love the tension when a bassist holds a really simple groove for what feels like ages, and then goes hog wild for 2 bars!

then back to the grindstone. It’s like, oh, you really needed that huh.

 

[Eric Wolfe]

I don't know how long a fill should be, but it should definitely end before, or exactly on, the 1.
The crime of overplaying is usually in the failure to support the groove, usually by noodling past the downbeat.

Couldn't respectfully disagree more - check out the fill in the third verse of Sausalito Summer Nights...way over the barline, but really adds to the groove..

 

[dreamadream99]

First rule of FILL club: don’t step on the vocals.

So how long should a fill be? No longer than the vocal break.

 

[markjazzbassist]

if you are coming from lead guitar world i would recommend focusing just on the groove and not doing fills for a while. work on your time and your rhythmic skills and lastly locking with the drummer. this is a support instrument (in most cases) and making the rhythm section a cohesive unit is more important than cool sounding fills.

this might take a while, that's ok. once you have the foundation, then you can start adding some fills back, just one every 4 measures max to start, and go from there. you will find that with interesting enough basslines fills aren't need, for instance Marvin Gaye's What's Going On has so much going on that you don't need to fill, the line themselves are so fun with lots of movement. most good basslines will be like that, just fun to play (come together by beatles another one that's simple but just fun, no fills needed).

 

[mambo4]

check out the fill in the third verse of Sausalito Summer Nights...way over the barline, but really adds to the groove..

Of course I'm oversimplifying

this fill at 2:24 ?


It's a cool fill, but to my ears I think it does loose the groove for a bit.
It's not too bad because it's mid verse, and not a transition to a chorus or such
And of course its well played, and the rest of the band is holding it down.

I guess a less over simplified way to make my point is:
If your going to get creative with your fills,
use taste and ears to make sure you aren't killing the groove

I have witnessed too many who've lost their place by noodling too much. Done it myself at times.

 

[Pings Bass]

First rule of FILL club: don’t step on the vocals.

So how long should a fill be? No longer than the vocal break.

Exactly this.

It should be no longer than the space available, e.g. it should never step on the vocals or somebody else's fill or solo. Groove is job one.

 

[80jazz]

First rule of FILL club: don’t step on the vocals.

So how long should a fill be? No longer than the vocal break.

I agree with this and would also add to treat them like a drum fill.

 

[gln1955]

First rule of FILL club: don’t step on the vocals.

So how long should a fill be? No longer than the vocal break.

Yes, play until the space is full. That's why it's called a fill.

 

[BarfanyShart]

Whowever long the fill in "You Can Call Me Al" is ... that is the MAXIMUM amount of time permissible for a bass fill.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

We were having discussion the other day at band practice, and as the bassist I’m really trying to groove more and play less lead style bass embellishments (since I play lead guitar in another band). I’m trying to limit them to no more than a bar… usually just two beats. What’s your line of thought?

Follow the drummer.

 

[climber]

it should be as long as is necessary for the song (and your mental health)

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

We were having discussion the other day at band practice, and as the bassist I’m really trying to groove more and play less lead style bass embellishments (since I play lead guitar in another band). I’m trying to limit them to no more than a bar… usually just two beats. What’s your line of thought?

There will always be exceptions, but I think until the end of the current measure.

 

[Auspuff]

We were having discussion the other day at band practice, and as the bassist I’m really trying to groove more and play less lead style bass embellishments (since I play lead guitar in another band). I’m trying to limit them to no more than a bar… usually just two beats. What’s your line of thought?

As long as necessary, and no longer.

Bass is a Rhythm instrument.

 

[LBS-bass]

One or two bars is about right for a fill. Anything longer is more of a run, and it should be coordinated well with what the other instrumentation is doing.

I play a bunch of fills during "Hard to Handle" that run half a measure and I don't think something shorter would work as well. But I don't think most fills need to be any longer than that.

 

[Jazzdogg]

We were having discussion the other day at band practice, and as the bassist I’m really trying to groove more and play less lead style bass embellishments (since I play lead guitar in another band). I’m trying to limit them to no more than a bar… usually just two beats. What’s your line of thought?

I tend to subdivide songs into linked phrases, and dislike "licks" and fills unless they integrate well with the song's phrasing, don't screw up the rhythm, and blend well with what band mates are playing; under-playing IS over-delivering; over-playing is falling short of the mark.

If you're familiar with the rule of halves, my approach to playing a fill is to think about how I can distill the fill down to its essence; understated elegance, if you will. I try to think more like an arranger who also plays bass, instead of an instrumentalist who lack self-control; play the music, not the instrument.

Have fun, and good luck!