Is having a "nice roll" underrated as a bassist?

[prowla]

It means you can't rock.

 

[conttador]

Never heard of this “roll” before…

I think in my circles it’s groove, pocket or pocket presence. It probably depends on the music being played. Usually when I play rock people usually could care less. If it’s jazz or blues it seems like people listen to then entire unit on stage and that’s where I may get a compliment or two from time to time.

 

[legalbass]

Why can't bass players just use normal people words to describe things?

Yes, we must all play authentically to the style of music we're engaged in, always. If you're playing some busy, staccato flurry of notes to a mellow, mid-tempo blues, it's going to feel out of place and people will wonder about you and you'll later feel appropriately guilty about it -- hopefully.

Then again, if you're playing amidst a jazz quartet and they're pedal-to-the-metal on some busy, high speed bebop number, and all you're doing is pumping out throbbing Cliff Williams eighth notes, again, may not musically appropriate.

Context is everything.

Forget the cute buzzwords and just play in a manner that's musically appropriate.

If someone cannot play authentically in a style, one or more of several possibilities may be true: (1) they don't actually enjoy that style, and it's hard to be good at something you don't like (2) they have not practiced it alone or played it with other musicians sufficiently enough to be any good at it, or (3) they're ignorant of the style altogether and their head is just elsewhere.

I once knew a guitar player who -- literally no matter what we were playing -- he tried to make it sound like Metallica. Blues, country, classic rock, didn't matter. Kirk Hammett showed up. And it eventually made me resent both this guitar player *and* Metallica.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I don't know. It certainly sounds like something that some people say, I guess, and I can confirm it is words.

 

[pbass2]

Anyway, I think what @Cadillac_Mike is saying is that it’s frustrating that laypeople believe bassists are the “understudy” to lead guitarists, yet in reality, guitarists for all their flash and technique on guitar, very often cannot get a good feel or groove (roll?) working when picking up a bass.

Case in point--listen to Stones tracks with Wyman vs. those with Keef or Mick Taylor.

 

[moon-bass]

Beertime

Am I too late for a bagel joke?



A bagel without a hole! Rolls were invented and brought to Murica by German immigrants.

=> Can't play hooompah, hooompah music without eating at least a dozen (buttered with pickle and

slices of meat sausage or cooked bacon, see below)



Or throw it?

Keep a roll in a dry place for a week and you can play hardball!



That's where bagels come in!

A true american product! Sell a roll with a hole and ask 50 cent more.

The hole has zero calories! Guaranteed!

may the rolls be with you

Wise(b)ass

A bagel without a hole is called a winker. They are worth less than regular bagels with a hole. I know that no one's asked, but now you know.

 

[Wisebass]

They are worth less than regular bagels with a hole.

Diet products (with the hole in the stomach) are always more expensive!

 

[MegaSwing]

It ain't just swing. That's one of many feels. Inappropriate swing is called lilt and it can drive people up the wall. The organ grinders monkey swings. And yet... I've heard people who cant stop to playing straight time when the tune requires it

Swing means fluidity. And you don’t find it everywhere. YMMV.

 

[g-dude]

Rollin', rollin', rollin'...

Play Rawhide!

 

[JimmyM]

There is definitely a vibe many guitarists don’t have for bass. And some don’t even have the vibe for a solid rhythm guitar part. But don’t be too complacent, because there’s a lot who do these days.

Nice roll, BTW.

 

[Jefenator]

"Nice roll" would be a good thing to hear during a drum lesson. I've never been told that about my bass playing yet and it sounds like I'm in good company.
Even if it's a unique way of praising your feel on bass, you might as well take the compliment!

 

[MrLenny1]

You have a nice roll because you think bass. My buddy doubles on bass sometimes and he sounds like a guitar player. Keep up the work of being a bass player and complements are always nice but rare as a bassist.

 

[JRA]

One night doing a live gig for my dad's band an audience member told me "you're a good bass player, you have a nice roll."

congratulations!

 

[SLO Surfer]

I’ve never heard the term “bass roll” either. After reading all these posts I still can’t tell if we’re talking about swing feel, groove/pocket, or something else.

 

[Flatsnashtrays]

I've never heard the term "roll" used to describe anything in music other than a banjo, but I understand what you're saying. A simple groove played well and dialed in can be much more satisfying than a flashy line played sloppily.

 

[BrassedOn]

Well, first I’ll say what’s really “overrated” is saying anything at all is “underrated”. If you have heard of it in a positive light, it’s clearly rated positively.

That being said, when I approach my bass role in an ensemble as either as a pitched bass drum or the low harmonics of the ride cymbal, I’m often overrated. When I add a sweet fill because there’s no piano, I’m underrated.

 

[2112]

As everybody knows, to achieve the dream of a "good roll" on bass, you must have the appropriate fingers:

 

[Smooth_bass88]

hi everyone, hope this helps

 

[Lesfunk]

This reminds me, I need to work on my “drip”

 

[AltGrendel]

Uh, what’s a roll?

I prefer a nice Apple turnover myself.