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

[MegaSwing]

Sorry, I hear the words but not buying your definition. It's virtually always a put down for anything not jazz.

FWIW, I play practically no jazz. Although I am up to doing it.

 

[Pauly 4001]

OP rolled away

Time to roll the credits I guess.

 

[foolforthecity]

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.

A “winker”… LOL

 

[FunkHead]

"Roll" is not e very common word to describe bass playing. If I had to guess, I would think the audience member said "Groove" with some sort of southern accent.

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

I would get to the doctor and quick.

 

[Topkat13]

Was he talking about your waist size?

 

[evil dewars]

Caused regional confusion as Southerners tried to figure out why Foghat had a "Rock and Biscuit" as cover art:

View attachment 4845205

That's no biscuit.

 

[badinage]

That's no biscuit.

Artistic license.

 

[iiipopes]

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." That always stuck with me because I'm definitely not that flashy as a bass player. My dad who's a guitarist and I jam with a lot often picks up the bass and even though he's basically taught me everything I know about music theory and a way better guitarist than me; he can't even hold down a nice simple do do do blues bass roll like I can it sounds too choppy.

It just kinda baffles me how that works. Everyone thinks thumping on one note for the rhythm is like falling off a log and takes no skill but my dad who can play "Skuttle Buttin" note for note on guitar, can play a lot of surf and rockabilly stuff can't capture the organic roll I can get on one note.

THIS^ The OP is describing what we do 99% of the time that makes us good bass players. It is another way of saying we lock in and provide the proper support for the rest of the band. I have been fortunate enough to receive similar compliments. Some of it is just internal feel - either a player has it or the player doesn't, as described. But it can be developed with years of hard work. When asked how I play, I tell them that my job is so that someone will come up and compliment the band. Then I know I did my job. If someone, not a bass player or similar, would come up and say they like my bass playing, then I wonder where I stuck out of the mix improperly.

 

[Bass-ball]

Not sure about that, but once my dad commented about my brother, who also plays bass: "you hear how he [read: my brother] just lays it in there?"

I was like "you mean, when he starts playing after the guitar intro?"

"..."

 

[ToneMonkey]

I’m on a roll… but so is toilet paper.

 

[TNCreature]

It would be nice if @Cadillac_Mike would come back to clarify.

Nope. More fun this way.

 

[TNCreature]

I clicked on this thread because I knew it would be a bunch of TBers trolling the OP.

Yep.

You.mean "rolling" the OP

 

[tb-player]

You.mean "rolling" the OP

I meant trolling but I was waiting for that.

 

[DJ Bebop]

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

Yes

 

[mikewalker]

 

[Mastermold]

I’ve absolutely experienced this too - and it is what it is. When I hear these comments from audience members, I just think of Lee Sklar, Bob Babbitt, Pino Palladino, James Jamerson and just smile.

Exactly what I was thinking. I just act humble and smile, with a thank you to the person commenting.
And... this whole thread makes me smile. Nice start to my day! I wondered if I was the only person who didn't catch the meaning of 'nice roll'.[/QUOTE]

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." That always stuck with me because I'm definitely not that flashy as a bass player. My dad who's a guitarist and I jam with a lot often picks up the bass and even though he's basically taught me everything I know about music theory and a way better guitarist than me; he can't even hold down a nice simple do do do blues bass roll like I can it sounds too choppy.

It just kinda baffles me how that works. Everyone thinks thumping on one note for the rhythm is like falling off a log and takes no skill but my dad who can play "Skuttle Buttin" note for note on guitar, can play a lot of surf and rockabilly stuff can't capture the organic roll I can get on one note.

Every good musician knows the rhythm section is controlled by the drummer and bassist and if they're good the rhythm section will kill and if they are not, it won't. Some guitarists don't "get" that and think their instrument is the only one that matters, but the good guitarists I know understand each instrument's role in the song and appreciate what they do. It all starts with the drummer, they will either make or break your set.

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[retslock]

Only read the first page. I can only imagine ‘roll’ means having a groove that has a sort of circular groove that rolls along. I’ve always used the analogy that some players sound like they’re rolling like a wheel and some sound like they’re trying to roll a box or cube. Smooth versus clunky.

 

[Nev375]

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

For the love of god we better be talking about spring reverb here.

Some words just aren't well suited for slang. This is one.

 

[Lesfunk]

For the love of god we better be talking about spring reverb here.

Some words just aren't well suited for slang. This is one.

From the slang dictionary…


Style
“Drip” used as slang means style, particularly fashionable and sexy style. It can especially refer to things like “ice,” which is expensive jewelry, often jewelry with diamonds. Basically, if someone has a drip, then they have a confident, sexy, stylish look