• 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.

Not very good bassists.

#24
mr-mungo said:
This may not go down very well, but here goes...

Can anyone think of a bassist that I can say I'm about as good as? I can keep to quarter/eighth notes, and some very basic melodies. The most complex bassline that I can play? 'ANother One Bites the Dust' by Queen, or 'Sunday Morning' by the Velvets.

I'd like to think I was better, technically, than Dee Dee Ramone, but I can't think of any other professional bassists that I'm better than.

Any ideas anyone? Thanks.

MB
Click to expand...


Just because a bass line is "simple", it is not an indication that the player is "not good".

Imagine "Another One Bites The Dust" played with a complex slap funk line. Doesn't work. John Deacon shows that he is indeed a great bassist because he wrote the perfect bass line for that, and tons of other songs.

Playing the RIGHT bass line is an indication that a bass player is good, even if the RIGHT bass line is incredibly simple.

;)
 
#25
Febs said:
345x366.aspx
Click to expand...




Classic!:p
 
#31
Haysoochreesto said:
I used to think I was better than certain famous bass players when I was in highschool. A couple of names that come to mind are Niki Sixx of Motley Crue and Ian Hill of Judas Priest. I was way into Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan so anyone that simply just plucked bass notes sucked as far as I was concerned.
Click to expand...

Have you ever listened to Judas Priest's early stuff from when they were some sort of psychedelic rock band? I've seen a couple of videos and Ian was all over the fretboard in them. I guess when they became a metal band, Ian decided to simplify his style so it would fit in better with the chugging guitars.
 
#32
Haysoochreesto said:
I used to think I was better than certain famous bass players when I was in highschool. A couple of names that come to mind are Niki Sixx of Motley Crue and Ian Hill of Judas Priest. I was way into Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan so anyone that simply just plucked bass notes sucked as far as I was concerned.

But as I've grown up I've learned that certain songs and styles of music are best served by riding the open E for most of the song(s). So really, "better" is relative. The fact is, the two bassists I mentioned above are pros who have gotten paid millions to do what they do and if nothing else deserve some respect for riding the E train all the way to the bank.

And I really don't think they give a damn about my skills (not that I have any worth mentioning). Also, it's hard to say what they're really capable of doing with the instrument when you can't see them just playing by themselves. Who knows? The guy playing for Miley Cyrus might actually be a demon on bass. You just don't know.
Click to expand...

I think the people playing for these HUGE pop people are probably great bassists to be chosen (ironically, they play the simplest music :rollno:)
 
#33
Switching over to drums for a moment, JD Blair sounded stilted backing up Shania Twain some ten years ago (hell the whole band sounded lame, really). But the man is a grooving monster on the kit in other situations. I'm sure some badass bass players have done pop gigs for money and stifled their playing for "their part".

I'd say you can't judge the bassist by the bassline he's playing at any given time. He could be possible of a lot more but never had a chance to show it.
 
#35
Dark Horse said:
Just because a bass line is "simple", it is not an indication that the player is "not good".

Imagine "Another One Bites The Dust" played with a complex slap funk line. Doesn't work. John Deacon shows that he is indeed a great bassist because he wrote the perfect bass line for that, and tons of other songs.

Playing the RIGHT bass line is an indication that a bass player is good, even if the RIGHT bass line is incredibly simple.

;)
Click to expand...

+ lots

constant bass masturbation is all fine
but often doesnt help the song

a lot of legendary bassists music
sounds like elevator music to me
(with some guy getting overexcited)


rgds

4
 
#38
if all you can play is another one bites the dust and that other song, then I would say, no. As was already mentioned, for all we know Pete Wentz is a bass wizard (although I doubt it, Im sure he stinks) and is just playing simply to serve the song. Naked Bros band? Huh? You mean the girl that isnt really playing bass anyway? (I only know this because my 5 year old watches it) And any of the others are probably studio musicians that are great but playing to serve the song.
 
#39
jgroh said:
if all you can play is another one bites the dust and that other song, then I would say, no. As was already mentioned, for all we know Pete Wentz is a bass wizard (although I doubt it, Im sure he stinks) and is just playing simply to serve the song. Naked Bros band? Huh? You mean the girl that isnt really playing bass anyway? (I only know this because my 5 year old watches it) And any of the others are probably studio musicians that are great but playing to serve the song.
Click to expand...


No, thats not ALL I can play! Thay're just the pieces I play to other people because they're recognisable, and seem to look and sound impressive.
 
#40
Haysoochreesto said:
I used to think I was better than certain famous bass players when I was in highschool. A couple of names that come to mind are Niki Sixx of Motley Crue and Ian Hill of Judas Priest.
Click to expand...

I've grown to appreciate Ian Hill a lot. That old Judas Priest stuff is just so tight. Those guys were just a machine back in the day and Ian Hill had a lot to do with that. Plus he used to play that early 70s Jazz Bass with the block inlays that I thought was about the coolest looking bass ever.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back