• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Joining a metal band, need some help

M

mpb13

Mar 1, 2009
31
0
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
#1
Hey dudes, I've been in a prog-psychedelic band for the past few years and before that was in a rock band. The band I'm in is heavy but more along the lines of Alice in Chains heavy.

I may be joining a band that is more of a death metal/metalcore type outfit and I was looking for some suggestions on songs to learn to work on metal technique. I'm not looking for anything too over the top right now, just some tight metal basslines. Think along the lines of Trivium or Darkest Hour.

I'll be playing mostly a full step down for this band.

I'll take any song suggestions.
 
#2
Rock standards apply, there are no "metal bass lines". If you're unsure about what to play, go for root notes. The ideas come by themselves if there's a part where something else works better than root notes or duplicating the riff. If there are some fast riffs you need really good finger technique or a pick. I use the latter, although I've lately been interested in developing my fingers because IMO it's cooler to play fast using fingers since it's a bit underrated in metal circles (the harder stuff, not Iron Maiden etc. – which is also great but not the point here). Thin picks are best for low tunings as they give more punch and less attack; heavy picks leave you with nothing but the attack and you'll end up sounding like Fieldy but without the bass frequencies ;)
 
#4
If you're looking for some metal bands to check out, I suggest 'Death'.

They had a real cool bassist for a while. Look up 'The Philosopher' and 'Spirit Crusher'. Both songs have nice bass riffs in it and may help you understand a bit about death metal.

Have fun.
:)
 
#7
I suggest you EQ alot of low mids(200Hz) and mid mids(800hz) into the mix and try to EQ your bass freq to your drummers bass drums until its sits nice and tight.
 
#8
XXL said:
I suggest you EQ alot of low mids(200Hz) and mid mids(800hz) into the mix and try to EQ your bass freq to your drummers bass drums until its sits nice and tight.
Click to expand...

This is great advice. Mids are your friend - if you've got a parametric EQ, dial it in for the low-mids that suit the band. Quickest way to do that is boost your mids a lot, sweep the freq and find where you start overwhelming the rest of the band in the mix. Dial back the boost until it's just enough to hear and away you go.

c-
 
#11
Try learning As I Lay Dying's stuff. Their bass lines are always nice and tight, and not too complicated.

Be prepared to start learning a lot of new arpeggios as well as alternate picking. Their are a lot of subtle techniques to metal and metalcore that people tend not to think about.

Time signatures will be your new best friend, as well as songs well above 150 BPMs.
 
#13
Ric5 said:
get a 5 string bass ... you will need the low notes.
Click to expand...
Low notes yes, but how about high? You can tune down a 4 string bass just as well, a lot cheaper that way. I've had a 4 string bass as low as ADAD tuning and had no problems with intonation etc. Just had to file the nut for larger strings.

But of course if one has excess money it's always good to buy new stuff and help fight the depression, gear by gear ;)
 
#16
earplugs, tone and technique. Speed is helpful, but I've actually been dialing back on my speed a bit recently. Playing live and recording have become 2 totally different things to me now. I play about half as many notes recording and really pound away on stage. Metal is the greatest type of music. It's all about intensity and energy and any way to that is acceptable within the genre of "metal". Dissonance is now your best friend.
 
#17
I've already done what you're about to do. I was in a let's say Hard Rock band for many years but then switched over to Speed/Death/Hardcore/Thrash/whatever it's called metal about a year ago. The hardest problem I had was speed. Learning new songs to get the know the genre will help but I found just practicing minor/diminished scales and then playing them faster and faster worked the best. Also, get to know the drummers kick habits. They don't just blast 32nd/64th notes all the time.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back