metal

Hi and welcome to Talkbass!

Technique is not that much style-specific. If you browse through this forum you will find a wealth of valuable information that can be applied to any music you might want to play.

As for good metal bassists, one of my favorites is Sean Malone.
He used to play with Death and Cynic. His current projects are Gordian Knot and Aghora. He also has a solo album out called Cortland(sp?).

He's a player who can seamlessly switch from Death Metal to Jazz and has a very good technique coupled with great musical knowledge.

 

as far as metal goes, it's all in the playing itself. when you blast it high enough, the ability of the bass player doesn't matter...it's whether or not he's using a pick and what kind of amp he's running through. there is a band called 'the ravenous', and though the bassist isn't that good, you can really feel his parts and they're so thick it brings a tear to my eye.

 

We play a lot of metal in our band, but not to the extent and speed you're probably used to. The fastest for us is Pantera. You have to decide whether to use a pick or not. I can't remember who said it in Bass PLayer magazine, but when asked if he played with a pick or his fingers he replied "playing with a pick is like giving an elephant high heels to walk better."

Iggy

 

Aren't these two completely contradictory points of view in subsequent sentences!!

How can both these things be true :

"it's all in the playing itself" and "the ability of the bass player doesn't matter"

 

I think what he meant to say was "It's all in the playing itself" and "whether or not he uses pick or fingers doesen't matter". Well - I hope so atleast

/lovebown

 

Thats a completely ridiculous statement. Talent can be displayed in ANY style of music. If you suck at playing dont say thats good enough for everyone to suck just to justify your own bad playing.

I've been playing metal bass for 20 years and am damn f'n good. so please sapre me the ignaorance.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt; you must have have mis-spoke.

 

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Ok.

/lovebown

 

Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse is also pretty good, I reckon. Listen to "Tomb of the Mutilated", to get an idea of his playing

 

A lot of metal bassist use a pick to help them "stand out in the mix."

metalhed, check out some of David Ellefson's work with Megadeth. "Go To Hell" immediately comes to mind.

 

He is my master !!!He developped a great technique (nb:His tremolo finger technique is incredible !!!).Listen some of Cannibal Corpse album's and you'll understand.
Crazzzzzzzy but Verrrrrrrry hard !

 

That was our (ahem) good friend Dann Glenn. Read his forum (now locked) to understand why he's a total idiot.