Metal Bassists

[Zodion]

I haven't seen many metal threads here so I was just wondering where all the Metal bass players are? What are your views on bass in metal, what kinda band are you in, who are your influences, do you play with 4, 5, 6 etc string basses, how do you wield your Axe? All genres of metal are welcomed and I myself listen to a variety of genres within Metal so no bashing please Hopefully we can all join together here for our love of the music that only we could understand I switched to bass from the drums after no one my age needed a drummer and my friend suggested I get a bass due to my skills on....guitar hero which influenced me to become a musician actually along with obviously the music and players. I always thought bass was hard because everyone said the strings were huge and its bigger and you always have to play with your fingers. Once I got a bass I couldn't put it down and of course I play finger style due to Cliff Burton, Frank Bello etc but I also think pick players are great too. Peter Steele, Dave Ellefson, John Campbell, etc I got into Metal early on It started with light stuff but then I discovered Metallica and from then on I was addicted. I listen to all kinds of metal and play in a three piece band where I'm using my 4 and 5 string basses, looking where I can use my 6 string. Also my first bass came with the stop dreaming start playing kit from Squire and I still have the bass and I practice on it too I have An ibanez sr 1400, Jackson cbxv, and Schecter stiletto custom 6. Share your stories friends!

 

[JTSmitty]

I started on bass because "everyone plays guitar". I also always listened to the bass without realizing it at the time. My first was a Bently P bass, but as soon as I had the money saved I bought a fretless Fender standard J bass. I went fretless because I wanted to play jazz. While in a jazz improve class at the local junior college, I met some guys with a crappy pop rock band and started gigging. That was the beginning, and before I listened to metal. After about ten years without a bass, I've been listening to folk and melodic metal, as well as some doom/stoner stuff. My dad came into some money and offered to buy me a bass and amp. I went with an Ibanez SR405QM and a Fender Rumble 500. Never had a five string, but it fits with the stuff I've been listening to and I love the feel of the SR neck. Not in a band yet, but it's my goal for this year.

 

[Zodion]

Rock on man keep it up thing with metal is that it will never pass it will always be around. I actually always felt guitarists were a dime a dozen so I'd get tons of work as a Bassist and when I thought I was hearing awesome drums in a song it was actually the thunderous bass and the low tones, the ability to just shake your teeth is why I love it plus it's a beautiful instrument. I actually have a Fender Rumble 350 and when I first got a 5 string I sold it because I wasn't ready for it at all but then after getting my Ibanez I got the Jackson. I actually started drumming in the 14 yr old post hard core band that sucked and is long broken up. I always thought that bass was a bad ass instrument cause with one note change it effects the entire song. I almost got a free less but a lot goes into taking care of it so right now I'm not ready for one but it's definitely on my wish list. The Sr neck is a dream to play. Lately I've discovered a lot of bands won't accept anything less than fender but I'll take my Trusty SR any day. Where you from Smitty?

 

[JTSmitty]

I'm from around Fort Worth Texas. I know what you mean about not feeling ready for a five string. That's the great thing about the Ibanez. The string spacing is pretty close, so the neck isn't huge like some others. After playing some guitar, ukulele, and mandolin, I can play with tighter string spacing than when I started. I just always hated a big wide neck.

 

[Zodion]

I've always played thin necks as my Jazz bass had a thin neck. The neck of my 5 string Jackson is actually pretty thin too it feels great and I can say my 6 string neck is so much bigger I can play a little guitar but I've got big hands so bass was natural for me along with drums. My 6 string actually has tight spacing when I look at it. I've seen huge necks and my 6 string isn't that. Also knowing your fret radius is good cause 12" forms to your hand 16" is flat, good for fast playing, my Jackson goes from 12 gradually up to 16 which is compound radius, probably the best in my experience the biggest 4 string neck I've played had to be on my uncles old bassists spector

 

[stigbeve]

Play in a metal band in Sacramento. Steel Savior
I Play a 6 string '08 Warwick Corvette bubinga.

Did the cover band thing as a drummer in my mid 20's (39 now) then started playing a lot of guitar at home. Got
a bass to record some tracks and that's when the bass obsession began.

Play with my fingers even though I think pick playing sounds more consistent, it's boring to watch. lol

I love getting up on stage and just letting it all out. Usually sweating like crazy at the end of the set
and my hands are done for.

 

[Dash Lashes]

...for a long time I thought there were ONLY metal bass players on TB.

I switched from rock to metal mainly to study advanced techniques (like speed and sweeping). I switched from a four string to a six for more metal (yes my headstock is pointy).

 

[Zodion]

For some reason my hands just don't sweat. My guitarist wears sweat bands on his arms but I don't need them at all. I actually played with a pick a couple times because my fingers had huge blisters when I was starting out on bass. It was only during practice I had wrecked my hand so I picked it out but fingers sound much more natural to me and if you want consistency try a compression pedal

 

[Zodion]

...for a long time I thought there were ONLY metal bass players on TB.

I switched from rock to metal mainly to study advanced techniques (like speed and sweeping). I switched from a four string to a six for more metal (yes my headstock is pointy).

I've got a pointy 5 string lol right now the most I need is the 5. I'd like to use my 6 but since it's a three piece I'm holding things down plus I go high on the G of my 5. I don't have a case for it yet either so for now not needing to use every bass is good since we are finally writing more after we devoted most of the time to practice for our gig last week which went beyond great. We had 2 encores even!

 

[stigbeve]

For some reason my hands just don't sweat. My guitarist wears sweat bands on his arms but I don't need them at all. I actually played with a pick a couple times because my fingers had huge blisters when I was starting out on bass. It was only during practice I had wrecked my hand so I picked it out but fingers sound much more natural to me and if you want consistency try a compression pedal

I meant my hands are fatiqued. They do get hot and sweaty but not enough to affect my playing.
I have a MarkBass Compressore. Works great in the mix with two guitars

 

[Zodion]

In my experience here its mostly classic rock, blues, country bassists

 

[Zodion]

I meant my hands are fatiqued. They do get hot and sweaty but not enough to affect my playing.
I have a Mark Bass Compressore. Works great in the mix with two guitars



I meant my hands are fatiqued. They do get hot and sweaty but not enough to affect my playing.
I have a MarkBass Compressore. Works great in the mix with two guitars

Oh okay. My hands used to get tired but now I'm pretty much fine. I just practice playing really hard and work on speeds so that anything less is a cake walk. I used to have to play the tough Metallica songs in my old high school band and I used fingers exclusively. But also I've got big hands so slamming the strings wasn't too hard but also I play hard on the low B so anything higher isn't a problem at all. The low E feels small to me since my 4 string has a 120 on it. I would practice really hard unplugged to build up strength and then try really fast two finger for endurance.

 

[stigbeve]

Oh okay. My hands used to get tired but now I'm pretty much fine. I just practice playing really hard and work on speeds so that anything less is a cake walk. I used to have to play the tough Metallica songs in my old high school band and I used fingers exclusively. But also I've got big hands so slamming the strings wasn't too hard but also I play hard on the low B so anything higher isn't a problem at all. The low E feels small to me since my 4 string has a 120 on it. I would practice really hard unplugged to build up strength and then try really fast two finger for endurance.

I practice a lot but there's just something about being on stage that makes me go all out. Lately I have learned to pace myself
so I don't run out of gas with 1 or two songs left. Try to remember to keep my breathing consistent too.

 

[Zodion]

Yeah keeping it calm is important you don't want to over exert yourself. I actually play on the pickup more which helps cause your finger isn't falling between the strings too much it's more bouncing off it. Even at my gig I found tell my plucking hand felt funny at first plus the only monitor was my own bass amp, the drums behind me and the guitar to my right. It's actually tough for me to go way crazy because I'm on back up vocals so I gotta go back to sing and pace my breathing

 

[Selios]

I haven't seen many metal threads here so I was just wondering where all the Metal bass players are? What are your views on bass in metal, what kinda band are you in, who are your influences, do you play with 4, 5, 6 etc string basses, how do you wield your Axe? All genres of metal are welcomed and I myself listen to a variety of genres within Metal so no bashing please Hopefully we can all join together here for our love of the music that only we could understand I switched to bass from the drums after no one my age needed a drummer and my friend suggested I get a bass due to my skills on....guitar hero which influenced me to become a musician actually along with obviously the music and players. I always thought bass was hard because everyone said the strings were huge and its bigger and you always have to play with your fingers. Once I got a bass I couldn't put it down and of course I play finger style due to Cliff Burton, Frank Bello etc but I also think pick players are great too. Peter Steele, Dave Ellefson, John Campbell, etc I got into Metal early on It started with light stuff but then I discovered Metallica and from then on I was addicted. I listen to all kinds of metal and play in a three piece band where I'm using my 4 and 5 string basses, looking where I can use my 6 string. Also my first bass came with the stop dreaming start playing kit from Squire and I still have the bass and I practice on it too I have An ibanez sr 1400, Jackson cbxv, and Schecter stiletto custom 6. Share your stories friends!

I started playing bass first, and I started playing metal pretty much right away. The first song I learned was Sabbath's Children of the Sea. I currently play in a "classic" metal band with lots of melody, think Iron Maiden, Sabbath, Judas Priest-influenced stuff. I own both 4 and 5 string basses but 95% of the time you'll see me using my US Fender Precision strung BEAD for metal tunes. I enjoy many styles of metal; my influences are guys like Geezer, Steve Harris, Cliff Williams, and a whole bunch of others. One of my biggest influences is my friend Par Sundstrom from the band Sabaton, if you've heard of them. Because I like and play all sorts of different kinds of metal, I play with both picks and with my fingers, depending on the kind of tone I want to hear.

 

[Zodion]

I started playing bass first, and I started playing metal pretty much right away. The first song I learned was Sabbath's Children of the Sea. I currently play in a "classic" metal band with lots of melody, think Iron Maiden, Sabbath, Judas Priest-influenced stuff. I own both 4 and 5 string basses but 95% of the time you'll see me using my US Fender Precision strung BEAD for metal tunes. I enjoy many styles of metal; my influences are guys like Geezer, Steve Harris, Cliff Williams, and a whole bunch of others. One of my biggest influences is my friend Par Sundstrom from the band Sabaton, if you've heard of them. Because I like and play all sorts of different kinds of metal, I play with both picks and with my fingers, depending on the kind of tone I want to hear.

Sweet deal man its all about the tone and how you're comfortable playing. Looks like I'm the only one here who switched from drums keep rockin man I've heard of Sabaton I'll have to look let hem up

 

[ltaggy123]

If you love bass and you love metal then you should honesty check out Tool! The bassist is insane and I would say he plays a bigger role than the guitarist. The basslines are unreal dude. Also the basslines are playing separate melodies to the guitar and are not mixed down and hidden, you can actually hear them. Listen to Tool - The Pot

 

[HeavyAxe]

I play in a totally trve kvlt black metal band from Greenland. We suck.

 

[jeff ward]

I started playing bass because my brother and cousin got guitars and my parents said @#$& no to drums lol.

Now I play all types of music from classical to death metal and everything between.
I do studio work for anyone needing bass tracks but my passion is neoclassical metal.

I don't have a lot of bass heros. The ones I do love are : billy sheehan. Stu ham, Randy Coven and yngwie malmsteen when he is playing bass on his albums.
There are a lot of other bass players that I like but these guys are where my style kinda comes from.
I love more advanced tech like "sweeps" all though that sometimes becomes a fale safe if I get lost lol just sweep my way to something else.
I like more strange paterns though like Marty friedman style riffs on bass and Necropgagest solo runs transposed to bass.

 

[jeff ward]

Oops left out.
I play 4 string basses the majority of the time but will use others if I just have to.
I'm a Spector Bass artist. Go spector!!!
I use both euro and USA spector basses.
And I love a good all tube amp for my tone.
I also do lead vocals for the Power Metal band Crimson Thirst where I also play bass on the recordings.