• 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.

New Band Red Flag

#61
It depends on your definition of the band. Is this a job, or is this for fun? Sometimes playing oldies and standards can feel like that definition falls in a gray area. In my opinion, if you are getting paid a decent amount for gigs, then the band leader is essentially your boss. You should do what he says or quit the job. If you are getting paid poorly and mostly doing this for fun, then I would suggest just having fun. If it is not fun, then tell him "no" or quit the band.
 
#62
SCS said:
He and I haven't seemed to mesh yet, he started out critical of my timing the first to practices, then moved on to the actual notes I was playing, now this,
Click to expand...

might be harsh, but if musicians significantly more seasoned than me had an issue with my timing, I’d listen.
He might be trying to get back to basics to establish a better coordination with you, or like many said above as the BL he might have string preferences on the arrangements.
Either way, stick with it for a while, start with the bass lines they prefer, lock-in with them, then gradually you can start deviating as you want. When you’re not enjoying it anymore move on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: One Way, newwavefrank and CassiusRegular
#63
SCS said:
Hope this is the right place for this question. I joined a new band, 8 weeks in (six practices) and the drummer (Band leader) has requested that I play only root notes on some songs, He and I haven't seemed to mesh yet, he started out critical of my timing the first to practices, then moved on to the actual notes I was playing, now this, All very seasoned musicians with incredible ear for music (keyboard and guitar and the sax player has a pretty good ear on his own), but the drummer seems to want to control what I play. FYI I'm out of a rock band, this band plays oldies and standards along the lines of Motown r&b and dance standards. How would you read this situation if it was you? Spare no feelings. TY
Click to expand...
Others have said it....imo this is an “it depends” type of answer. The BL does have the right to provide input and steer the group in one direction or another, as long as they are not being an a-hole about it:) Some tunes do call for very simplistic bass lines, and playing restrained, simple but spot on notes, with just the right amount of space and decay is more difficult than most people think. You have to be honest with yourself, given the context of the song and the group “am I over playing, or playing too busy”? One attitude I’ve adopted that really helps me keep things in perspective is that my job is to “make the group sound better”...even if that means a bit of self sacrifice. Especially true when your a supporting player. If you want a chance to stretch your wings a bit and try new things, technique, etc, open stage jams and/or your own thing on the side, are great ways to push yourself a bit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CassiusRegular and foolforthecity
#64
2112 said:
Hilarious how sensitive bassists in particular can be to a BL asking them to play different. If you can't put your band's best interests before your own selfish desires, then you have no business being in a band.

In my band I'm the BL, and I appointed someone else music director, (1) because he's really good at it, and (2) he has the project's best interests at-heart. When he asks me to play something different, I listen. And we are constantly complimented and sought out for our sound.
Click to expand...
While the abilities of the musicians definitely comes into play for each situation, I usually like to treat people the same as they treat me. I'm open to suggestions("hey, if you walked into that G from above instead of below the second time that would sound awesome", or even a correction "hey man you're coming in a hair early on that part", then cool, I'm all ears. Some dude telling me to play all root notes? Sure, as long as he listens to me when I tell him he needs to ditch most of his drum kit and play a super basic kit like Slim Jim from The Stray Cats. Or if they play guitar, have them lose the humbuckers and fizzy distortion and instead just crank up a Princeton reverb and a Strat. But those are things I like personally, so I usually refrain from telling them how/what to play unless they ask or if they just flat out play a part wrong AND it sounds bad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Koshchei
#65
FirewalZ said:
Others have said it....imo this is an “it depends” type of answer. The BL does have the right to provide input and steer the group in one direction or another, as long as they are not being an a-hole about it:) Some tunes do call for very simplistic bass lines, and playing restrained, simple but spot on notes, with just the right amount of space and decay is more difficult than most people think. You have to be honest with yourself, given the context of the song and the group “am I over playing, or playing too busy”? One attitude I’ve adopted that really helps me keep things in perspective is that my job is to “make the group sound better”...even if that means a bit of self sacrifice. Especially true when your a supporting player. If you want a chance to stretch your wings a bit and try new things, technique, etc, open stage jams and/or your own thing on the side, are great ways to push yourself a bit.
Click to expand...
There’s a lot of truth here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FirewalZ
#66
If they are oldies/covers then I would assume you would want to play them as close to the original recordings as you can get. If the originals is just roots then fine, if not then why only roots?
Main thing if you are not meshing with a drummer or band has issues with your timing is to play on drummers kick beats, whatever else you throw in will be fine just make sure you connect some notes with that kick and they will be happy.
 
#69
FirewalZ said:
...Some tunes do call for very simplistic bass lines, and playing restrained, simple but spot on notes, with just the right amount of space and decay is more difficult than most people think.....
Click to expand...

It's not just "some tunes". It can be part of a band's signature sound to play very spare, sparse arrangements. If you go back and actually listen to original source recordings of many of these tunes we've all played and heard a million times, you will often hear that they were recorded a lot slower than today's performance practice, and they were often recorded with very minimal instrumentation.

The OP's band leader may well want a non-busy, open sound to the band.

OP, it's not your place to decide how the band should sound. Not all bands need to sound like the Grateful Dead at full cry with two guitarists two drummers a percussionist a bass player a keyboardist with each hand doing something different and a couple guest musicians all wailing away.

This deal of "I have little to no experience and I can hardly tune my instrument, I'm playing with a bunch of seasoned professionals, but I'M GONNA PLAY MY!!! BASS LINES AND NO OTHERS, OR ELSE I'M GONNA TAKE MY BALL AND GO HOME!" is something I can't really quite wrap my head around. OP, maybe you should play it the way the BL wants it, and record it, and actually listen to it. It may sound better done the way he wants it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: barrenelly, Polish Thunder, newwavefrank and 1 other person
#71
Robscott said:
If you are playing Motown a lot of those songs have quite specific and prominent basslines which are important to the song. You don't need to be note for note all the way through, but you definitely need to nail the main licks and get the groove of those songs down. I can tell you they ain't just root notes, and they ain't all on the one neither. Check out James Jamerson. My advice would be listen very carefully to those songs, be confident that you are playing fairly close to the original, then see if the drummer still has something to say about root notes. If he does, he's wrong. How you deal with that depends on the dynamics between you, that's hard for someone else to advise on. This is just about the music part. Hope it all comes out ok
Click to expand...
I've listened to a bunch of Motown, and my impression is that if you played bass that way today, you'd be accused of being a "busy" bassist, and "not serving the song."
 
  • Like
Reactions: Haroldo, Bringindafunk, Max Bogosity and 1 other person
#72
A common purpose is desirable for a band to function to it’s potential but it’s not always possible. If you can cope with his requests and see the value of working that way then accept and adjust. If it’s unbearable then it may not be a good fit for you. No-one can make the decision but you. I wouldn’t work in a band that dictated what I play to the point that I was not enjoying gigs. I can take suggestions on board if I feel that they work.
 
#76
As my sig line says: "I'm not an artist, I'm in the service business." Put your ego in your pocket and do what you're asked to do. Especially if you're being paid. Then again, if you feel you're being mistreated, leave.
 
#77
SCS said:
FYI I'm out of a rock band, this band plays oldies and standards along the lines of Motown r&b and dance standards. How would you read this situation if it was you? Spare no feelings. TY
Click to expand...
As most people said, it depends.

First, are you playing the bass lines like the original, or like Jack Bruce? Second, have you recorded yourself and then recorded yourself with the band? If not you don't really know what it sounds like. IF, and it's a big if, you are playing the lines like the original and it sounds good in the recording, I'd play him the recording and ask what he doesn't like about it. He needs to articulate the problem and give you a chance to fix it.

It doesn't sound like you're paying music that lends itself to all root notes. Don't forget, he's a drummer, not a musician. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Huw Phillips, Polish Thunder and SCS
#78
I would stick with it for a while if I were you. If the musicianship level is truly high, and the repertoire sounds interesting, with the benefit of keyboard instead of wall to wall rock guitarists, you will learn a lot more than the run of the mill, everything over the top wanna be's. As far a drummer and BL, suggesting roots only, that is limiting and clearly a source of frustration. Yes and it doesn't lend itself to the genre if I got it right. Certainly Motown can be demanding in terms of bass lines. Just forget lines that are too busy. Play right in the groove pocket liberally sprinkled with syncopations. Make it irresistable!! Maybe you will find some overlap and mutual respect with the hard ass BL after some time. Get out of this all you can. Take the time to get a good balance. You don't really wanna go back to a scene like previous associations do you?
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassinflorida

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back