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Is a bass player really necessary?

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#101
And...Here's an article about 33 (and counting) rock bands that feel guitar players aren't really necessary.....

33 Rock Bands Without Guitars

  • Aardvark [progressive rock: electric organ + bass + drums + vocals]
  • Add N To (X) [electronic/rock: 3 analogue synths]
  • Alien Knife Fight [experimental rock: bass + drums + moog]
  • Almaailman Vasarat [avant-prog: woodwinds + strings + keyboards + drums]
  • Anima [krautrock: fox horn + percussion + piano]
  • Arphaxat [black metal: drums + bass]
  • Attila [1970's band feat. Billy Joel: organ + drums]
  • Aux Raus [dance punk/hardcore: 2 drum machines]
  • Bangladeafy [math rock: bass + drums]
  • Bass Extremes [2 bass guitars]
  • BBAATBIFFFS [experimental metal: drums + bass]
  • Bestial Mouths [synthpunk/post-punk: 2 synths + drums + vocals]
  • Big Business [stoner metal: bass + drums]
  • Black Pus [noise rock: drums + samples]
  • Black Tar Prophet [sludge metal: bass + drum]
  • Blue Motion [sympho prog: piano + organ + drums]
  • Bootcut [prog rock: synths + drums]
  • Bronze [electronic/post-rock: electronic + drums + vocals]
  • Bunkur [drone metal: 2 basses + drums + keys]
  • Cadaver Eyes [noisecore/grindcore: electronics + drums]
  • Cannabis India [prog rock: organ/vocals + bass + drums]
  • Caveman Shoestore [avant-prog: bass + drums + keys]
  • Circus [prog rock (except last album): bass + drums + keys + woodwinds]
  • Comparative Anatomy [drum'n'bass/grind/noisecore: 2 basses + electronics]
  • Cop Shoot Cop [industrial/noise rock (first two albums): bass + drums + keys]
  • Coppelius [sympho metal: drums + double bass + cello + clarinet]
  • Cowboys From Hell [Swiss jazz rock/jazzcore: sax + bass + drums]
  • Cuban Crimewave [garage rock/noise rock: 2 basses + drums + vocals]
  • Crash Kings [indie rock: keys + drums + bass]
  • Crimony [pop rock/post-punk: keys + bass]
  • Crowd Surfers Must Die [noisecore: bass + drums]
  • Cystgurgle [grindcore: bass + drums]
  • D&V [punk: drums + vocals]
  • Daimonji [avant-prog: keys + bass + drums]
  • Death Grips [experimental hip-hop: vocals + drums + electronic]
  • Death Organ [prog rock: organ + bass + drums + vocals]
  • Death Sentence: Panda! [noisecore: flute + clarinet + drums]
  • Deathless [industrial metal: 2 basses + electronic]
  • Defuntos [depressive black metal: drums + bass]
  • Deja-Vu [sympo prog: keys + bass + drums]
  • Destroy 2 [noise rock/noisecore: vocals + drums]
  • Diebold [noise rock: drums + bass]
  • Diga Rhythm Band [psychedelic rock/jam band feat. ethnic instruments]
  • Don't Stop or We'll Die [comedy rock: piano + bass + drums]
  • Double Dagger [noise rock/post-hardcore: bass + drums + vocals]
  • Dr. Z [prog rock: keys + drums + bass]
  • Drum Circus [krautrock/jazz fusion: 3 drums + bass + woodwinds + organ + vocals]
  • Duotang [indie rock: bass + drums]
  • East Wind Pot [jazz/prog rock: woodwinds + keys + bass + drums]
  • Egg [prog rock: organ + bass/vocals + drums]
  • ElectroChemical [prog rock/electronic: bass + electronic]
  • Enemymine [math rock/noise rock/sludge: 2 basses + drums]
  • Erode and Disappear [post-punk: bass + drums]
  • Eskju Divine [indie rock: piano + bass + drums]
  • Esmerine [post-rock: cello + drums]
  • Exhaust [post-rock/electronic: bass + drums + tapes]
  • Exit International [noise rock: 2 basses + drums]
  • Extinction Level Event [prog metal/djent: 3 basses + drums]
  • Eyehatelucy [sludge metal: bass + drums + vocals]
  • Fitz and The Tantrums [indie pop/neo soul: bass + drums + keys + vocals + sax]
  • FCS North [post-rock/jazz rock: bass + drums + keys + electronic]
  • Fossils [noise rock: bass + drums]
  • Geronimo [noise/noise rock/experimental: elctonics/vocals + drums]
  • Greber [sludge/grind: bass + drums]
  • Greenslade [prog rock: 2 keys + bass/double bass + drums]
  • Gröûp X [comedy rock/rap rock: bass + drums + keys + vocals]
  • Guapo [avant-prog (some albums): bass + drums + keys]
  • Hangedup [post-rock: viola + drums]
  • Herscher [sludge/drone metal: bass + drums + keys]
  • HighKicks [stoner rock: bass + drums]
  • Ho99o9 [hip-hop/punk: 2 vocalists + drums + samples]
  • Holy shag [post-rock/electronic: electronics+ keyboards + bass + drums]
  • I Don't Know How But They Found Me [alterrnative rock: bass/vocals + drums]
  • Island [prog rock: woodwinds + drums + keys]
  • KAOS Protokoll [avant-jazz/rock: sax + bass + drums]
  • Kroveled (Кровелёд) [black metal/noise rock: bass + drums]
  • La Comune [experimental rock: woodwinds + minimoog/sax + bass + drums + vocals]
  • Mates of State [indie pop: organ + drums]
  • Megachurch [stoner metal: 2 basses + drums]
  • Methadrone [drone/sludge metal: bass]
  • Milkilo [experimental/noise rock/krautrock: bass + drums]
  • Molten Lava [experimental metal: drums + bass]
  • Mombu [jazzcore/avant-garde jazz: baritone saxophone + drums]
  • Moon Hooch [jazz/rock/electronic: 2 saxophones + drums]
  • mouse on the keys [post-rock/jazz rock: 2 keyboards + drums]
  • Mr Marcaille [one man cello punk band: cello + drums]
  • My Own Private Alaska [screamo/experimental: piano + drums + vocals]
  • Necromantia [black metal (some albums): 2 basses + drums]
  • Neoandertals [experimental metal (some albums): drums + bass]
  • Nervous Gender [synth punk: synths + drums]
  • No Anchor [sludge/drone metal: 2 basses + drums + electronic]
  • Oceakyl [prog/jazz rock: 2 basses + drums + electronic]
  • One Day as a Lion [rap rock/hip-hop feat Zack de la Rocha: vocals + drums + keys]
  • Planet B [noise rock: bass/vocals (by Justin Pearson (The Locust, Retox, etc)) + synths + drums]
  • Pochakaite Malko [avant-prog: keys + drums + bass + violin]
  • PoiL [experimental/math rock: bass + keys + drums]
  • Profanum [black metal: guitars replaced with symphonic instruments]
  • Professor Murder [dance-punk: bass + keyboards + drums]
  • Puerto Rico Flowers [post-punk/synthpop: bass + drums + synth + vocals]
  • Quatermass [prog rock: bass + keys + drums]
  • Rasputina [cello rock: cellos + drums]
  • Refugee [sympho prog: keys + bass + drums]
  • Ride for Revenge [black/death metal (first two albums): bass + drums]
  • Rudess Morgenstein Project [prog rock: keys + drums]
  • Sabot [math/noise rock: bass + drums]
  • Sleaford Mods [electro-punk/post-punk: vocals + electronic]
  • Smoosh [indie pop: keys + drums + bass]
  • Soil & "Pimp" Sessions ["death jazz": keyboards + woodwinds + double bass + drums]
  • Sousvourtre [black metal: bass + drums]
  • Space Blood [math rock: bass + drums]
  • Street Eaters [punk rock: bass + drums]
  • Supersister [prog rock: keys + flute + drums + bass]
  • Talbot [sludge metal: bass + drums]
  • Tempel [sludge metal: bass + drums]
  • The Crazy World of Arthur Brown [psychedelic rock (most of albums): keys + drums + bass]
  • The Dresden Dolls [dark cabaret/alt rock: piano + drums]
  • The Halls of Music [pop/funk: organ + bass + drums]
  • The Inbreds [indie rock: drums + bass]
  • The Inchtabokatables [folk rock/punk rock/industrial: violins + cello + bass + drums]
  • The Screamers [synth punk: synths + drums]
  • The Thing [avant-jazz/jazzcore: sax + double bass + drums]
  • The Tiger Lillies [dark cabaret: accordion/piano + drums + double bass]
  • The United States of America [psychedelic rock: keys + organ + violin + bass + drums]
  • Thrones [drone doom: bass]
  • Tizzy Bac [indie rock: keys + bass + drums]
  • Toast Machine [funk rock/metal: bass + drums]
  • Trace [sympho prog: keys + bass + drums]
  • Trencher [powerviolence/noisecore: bass + drums + keys]
  • Trio Pussit [experimental/funk metal: 2 basses + drums]
  • Unstoppable Death Machines [stoner/noise rock: drums + bass]
  • Vir' (ВИРЬ) [sludge/drone metal: bass + drums]
  • Warren Schoenbright [noise rock/experimental: bass + drums + electronics]
  • Wartime [experimental thrash metal feat. Henry Rollins: bass + vocals]
  • Weather Report [jazz fusion/rock: keys + sax + bass + drums]
  • White Noise [psychedelic rock: electronics + drums + double bass + vocals]
  • Whitey Houston [indie rock: bass + drums + ukulele + cello/rain stick]
  • Wolff and Tuba [drums + tuba]
  • Woodhands [electropop/rock: synth + drums]
  • Zaum [psychedelic doom metal: bass/synth + drums]
  • Zeus! [noise rock/math rock: bass + drums]
  • Zwei [pop rock/j-pop/alternative dance: bass + vocals]
  • zZz [dark electro rock: organ + drums]
 
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#104
At the end of the day, music remains a subjective thing.

For sure no one is necessary in a band, the music just have to take that into account.

A bassist is a plus in certain genres, maybe not so much in others... Saying that should not offend anyone because it applies to every kind of musicians.

It's not about having one people for each big range of frequencies not matter what the instrument they're playing is, it's about having one good musician for each role the music is requiering.
 
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#105
juancaminos said:
I saw a band a few months ago that had two guitar players and a drummer. One of the two guitar players would switch off between bass and acoustic guitar while the other guitar player played acoustic guitar all night. Both guitarists sang. They were one of the loudest bar bands I've ever seen. I would say that about half of their songs had no bass. I thought they were pretty darn good as did everyone in our party.
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I get bored pretty quickly if there are no low frequencies represented. I don’t really care what instrument plays the deep notes but if they’re not there, after a few tunes I’m gone.
 
#107
et0518 said:
I feel like you don't really need one. A guitar is only an octave higher and it can still cover a lot of the notes that a bass guitar does. Also, you could just use an eight-string guitar and tune the lowest string down to a low E. I know that some bands have eight string guitarists as well as bassists and the bassists play the same notes as the the eight string guitar players, but the bass will make the low end sound "fuller" because of how thick the strings are. But I don't think that really makes any much of a difference. I know this question might make me appear ignorant, but this is my own judgement.
Click to expand...

Tell that to some djenting metalheads and you will get people nodding in agreement. I've recently seen Pro Pain live and the bassplayer is lucky that he's also the singer. He took his hands off the bass quite frequently and gestured for the audience. Both guitars were 7 strings, I suppose in some kind of drop tuning.
That usual feeling you get when the bass stops playing was totally not there. There was no big audible difference.

No go and tell that to a reggae band. You'll most likely get confused stares.
 
#108
Element Zero said:
I present to you... Exhibit A:

Click to expand...
Nice work. But pretty elementary bass support and the guitarist seemed tied down solo wise. I would tire of that stuff fairly quickly.

Classical guitar has been around for at least 300 years.
Chet Atkins introduced advanced fingerstyle guitar with independent thumb bass lines in the late 40s. George Van Eps was doing solo 7 string chord style in the 60s.

All of the above takea lot of hard work to gain even elementary proficiency. Someone who is interested in accompanying himself would be wise to seriously look at keyboard which is fairly easy and gives you 2 hands access. Or organ and add two feet for additional bass.options ( and double the difficulty).
 
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#109
Fenflex said:
At the end of the day, music remains a subjective thing.

For sure no one is necessary in a band, the music just have to take that into account.

A bassist is a plus in certain genres, maybe not so much in others... Saying that should not offend anyone because it applies to every kind of musicians.

It's not about having one people for each big range of frequencies not matter what the instrument they're playing is, it's about having one good musician for each role the music is requiering.
Click to expand...
Well said, but lets not confuse subjectivity with naivety.
 
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#111
et0518 said:
I feel like you don't really need one. A guitar is only an octave higher and it can still cover a lot of the notes that a bass guitar does. Also, you could just use an eight-string guitar and tune the lowest string down to a low E. I know that some bands have eight string guitarists as well as bassists and the bassists play the same notes as the the eight string guitar players, but the bass will make the low end sound "fuller" because of how thick the strings are. But I don't think that really makes any much of a difference. I know this question might make me appear ignorant, but this is my own judgement.
Click to expand...
I wonder just the opposite- is the GUITAR PLAYER really needed?

Add eight string bass or pitch change...

Just sayin'...

Now about that drummer vs. drum machine.
 
#112
et0518 said:
I feel like you don't really need one. A guitar is only an octave higher and it can still cover a lot of the notes that a bass guitar does. Also, you could just use an eight-string guitar and tune the lowest string down to a low E. I know that some bands have eight string guitarists as well as bassists and the bassists play the same notes as the the eight string guitar players, but the bass will make the low end sound "fuller" because of how thick the strings are. But I don't think that really makes any much of a difference. I know this question might make me appear ignorant, but this is my own judgement.
Click to expand...
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST REDICULOUS POST I HAVE EVER READ ON TALKBASS
 
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#113
et0518 said:
I feel like you don't really need one. A guitar is only an octave higher and it can still cover a lot of the notes that a bass guitar does. Also, you could just use an eight-string guitar and tune the lowest string down to a low E. I know that some bands have eight string guitarists as well as bassists and the bassists play the same notes as the the eight string guitar players, but the bass will make the low end sound "fuller" because of how thick the strings are. But I don't think that really makes any much of a difference. I know this question might make me appear ignorant, but this is my own judgement.
Click to expand...

It depends what the bass is doing. With some bands they just follow the root notes and fatten up the sound. With others the bass lines are the core of the music and everything else is icing on the cake. If you took Chris Squire out of Yes or John Entwhistle out of The Who you'd sure notice the difference...
 
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#116
Smooth_bass88 said:
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST REDICULOUS POST I HAVE EVER READ ON TALKBASS
Click to expand...
Yes, but thought provoking, if you take a step back.

Why are we here? Why do I play bass? How does the bass fit into the musical universe.

Now I gotta head off to music school. And when I look at the trombone, oboe and bassoon players ( all are really tough to play and not exactly at the top of everbodies list) I know they have a special calling to their instrument as well.
 
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#117
et0518 said:
I feel like you don't really need one. A guitar is only an octave higher and it can still cover a lot of the notes that a bass guitar does. Also, you could just use an eight-string guitar and tune the lowest string down to a low E. I know that some bands have eight string guitarists as well as bassists and the bassists play the same notes as the the eight string guitar players, but the bass will make the low end sound "fuller" because of how thick the strings are. But I don't think that really makes any much of a difference. I know this question might make me appear ignorant, but this is my own judgement.
Click to expand...

Usually those "8 string" guitar players play in modern low tunning metal bands... but there's a lot of music out there..
 
#119
Music needs rhythm and melody and bass is an excellent instrument to play rhythm and, at times, melody.
Is it neccessary? Maybe not. Is it frequently the best tool for the job? Yes.
 
#120
Don't think of your question in terms of rock and guitars only. I play jazz mostly. The bass serves as an extension of the piano. Keep in mind the piano has a range (compass) that far exceeds the bass or guitar or almost any other instrument. Extrapolating your question and logic to instruments other than bass , we could state "all the music ever played and all musicians on the planet need only the instrument known as piano, all others (instruments) are non essential and cause waste and duplication"...............Ludicrous of course.
 
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