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Not very good bassists.
- Thread starter mr-mungo
- Start date
Just because a bass line is "simple", it is not an indication that the player is "not good".
Playing the RIGHT bass line is an indication that a bass player is good, even if the RIGHT bass line is incredibly simple.
That is the plain and simple truth, period. The John Deacon example is a good one.
If I thought I was a better bass player than anyone out there touring, recording or playing sessions professionally, then I wouldn't be sitting here posting what bass players I think I'm better than! I'd be on tour or at a session or rehearsing for a national performance...
OR I'd be on the tour bus, airplane or the green room posting this before my show, session or performance!
At least these threads give us something to do during the summer! It is called TALKbass afterall. Nothing wrong with fantasizing about who we think we're better than!
OR I'd be on the tour bus, airplane or the green room posting this before my show, session or performance!
At least these threads give us something to do during the summer! It is called TALKbass afterall. Nothing wrong with fantasizing about who we think we're better than!
To the OP: Frankly, if you are concerned, you're probably not better than any pro bassists. Here ill break it down a little...
- Any pro bass player, Likely has more experience in a band setting. keeping a tight pocket (even if its Root notes)
-Just because they don't play like [insert "good" bass player here] doesn't mean they can't play anything but root notes.
Examples, Mark Hoppus, Pete wentz...etc. Bottom line is that they don't carry 9-5 jobs and therefore earn their living doing what you may only ever wish you could do. Basically, they have lots of time to dedicate to the instrument.
[Ps] Don't get my post wrong, I'm not standing up for these types of bass players, only pointing out some aspects of bass playing that are many times overlooked by such individuals as yourself.
- Any pro bass player, Likely has more experience in a band setting. keeping a tight pocket (even if its Root notes)
-Just because they don't play like [insert "good" bass player here] doesn't mean they can't play anything but root notes.
Examples, Mark Hoppus, Pete wentz...etc. Bottom line is that they don't carry 9-5 jobs and therefore earn their living doing what you may only ever wish you could do. Basically, they have lots of time to dedicate to the instrument.
[Ps] Don't get my post wrong, I'm not standing up for these types of bass players, only pointing out some aspects of bass playing that are many times overlooked by such individuals as yourself.
i agree completely with spedracer.
i also think hoppus is quite overlooked as a bassist. In my opinion he is much better than most people tend to see him as.
i also think hoppus is quite overlooked as a bassist. In my opinion he is much better than most people tend to see him as.
I don't buy this whole "If you were better than them, you'd be famous" line. Making it big involves a hell of a lot of luck and sometimes knowing the right people. Michael Anthony made it big purely because he knew Eddie Van Halen. Same with Cliff Williams knowing Angus Young. I completely disagree with the whole thing about it taking real skill to hold down the rhythm - that's a bass player's job! It's kind of a given, a very simple skill, a basis on which to build something more technical and interesting. Sure, some really simple bass lines are cool and really go with some songs, and set up the guitarist to lay down something cool, but Michael Anthony and Cliff Williams? 30 YEARS of playing straight 8s? Come on! Let's not stick up for these guys. These guys are the reason that lead guitarists take the **** out of us bass players. I've got nothing personal against them and I tip my cap to them for making it big, but really, these guys suck as bass players 
A great musician with almost no skill on his instrument....I totally agree. Minus the great musician part....
The only way the question is in any way meaningful to me, would be to try and judge what songs I could conceivably play along with, or a cover version of, at my present level of playing.
As for good, and "better than", that kind of question is so subjective it's pointless.
Technique should never be an end in itself, unless you're classical performer. And classical performers who are fantastic technicians, but cannot improvise or compose are essentially juke boxes for the classical set.
Technique without musicality is hollow. Empty. Bereft.
As for good, and "better than", that kind of question is so subjective it's pointless.
Technique should never be an end in itself, unless you're classical performer. And classical performers who are fantastic technicians, but cannot improvise or compose are essentially juke boxes for the classical set.
Technique without musicality is hollow. Empty. Bereft.
+2. He balances playing and singing quite well, i like his bass lines. I warm up to carousel every time i play. He also plays guitar not to bad, not to mention the guy is hella nice. Tom delonge is alot less talented i can play all of his guitar riffs , but i like them.
I can only assume you were referring to my post, but never did i say they are better bass players for the sole fact that they are famous. And i completely disagree that holding down rhythm/keeping time is easy. I believe it's a skill that takes lots and lots of time to develop and then some. The difference between sounding good and sounding great(as a band) lies primarily in the rhythm section IMO. I live by the words "You can't hold a groove if you don't have a pocket". Who said that again?
I don't buy this whole "If you were better than them, you'd be famous" line. Making it big involves a hell of a lot of luck and sometimes knowing the right people. Michael Anthony made it big purely because he knew Eddie Van Halen. Same with Cliff Williams knowing Angus Young. I completely disagree with the whole thing about it taking real skill to hold down the rhythm - that's a bass player's job! It's kind of a given, a very simple skill, a basis on which to build something more technical and interesting. Sure, some really simple bass lines are cool and really go with some songs, and set up the guitarist to lay down something cool, but Michael Anthony and Cliff Williams? 30 YEARS of playing straight 8s? Come on! Let's not stick up for these guys. These guys are the reason that lead guitarists take the **** out of us bass players. I've got nothing personal against them and I tip my cap to them for making it big, but really, these guys suck as bass players
"but really, these guys suck as bass players" I am not into AC/DC or Van Halen,but I think Cliff Williams can groove and really doubt he's not able to ad more complex bass parts into the songs. Those 8th notes are part of the AC/DC sound. I don't believe Cliff Williams got the job just because he knew Angus Young. I don't think Michael Anthony a bad bass player, and the guy can sure sing. Look who Van Halen has playing bass now..is he any better ? I think Mike Anthony must have had a very hard job just dealing with those two brothers. I think to say things like "these guys suck as bass players" shows people like me how immature some players are, and don't realize you play what makes the band sound good as a unit.
I really don't care if I'm EVER better than P. Wentz. At the end of the day, when I earn my living, I'm sure as hell NOT wearing eyeliner!
I don't actually know who Pete Wentz and Mark Hoppus are or how bad they suck. I don't think I want to find out, either.
But I think the real reason some of you guys are saving up an extra portion of hatred for them is because they have sweet signature basses with their names on it, and you don't.
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I also can't believe how any thread can have people dissin' on Dee Dee Ramone while respectfully keeping silent about this fella:
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Come on! Everyone knows he wished he was half as good as Dee Dee. He even got the same bass!
But I think the real reason some of you guys are saving up an extra portion of hatred for them is because they have sweet signature basses with their names on it, and you don't.
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I also can't believe how any thread can have people dissin' on Dee Dee Ramone while respectfully keeping silent about this fella:
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Come on! Everyone knows he wished he was half as good as Dee Dee. He even got the same bass!
I dont think sid really cared how bad he played, i still like him that guy had attitude.I know lemmy says said asked him if he could teach him to play , but i dont really believe lemmy.
I owned the hoppus sig, great bass but i sold it for the same price i bught it and built my own signature bass.
I owned the hoppus sig, great bass but i sold it for the same price i bught it and built my own signature bass.
hahaha I was about to post that I may be better than Sid Vicious
but I still love Sid, he was the man
But what's wrong with Cone? He's actually a good bass player.
Hoppus is underrated, also.
but I still love Sid, he was the man
But what's wrong with Cone? He's actually a good bass player.
Hoppus is underrated, also.
hoppus is alright!
he's definately not the worst i've heard.
in fact the only thing i can think to criticise him for is choosing to put
a single pbass pickup in that J body.
he's definately not the worst i've heard.
in fact the only thing i can think to criticise him for is choosing to put
a single pbass pickup in that J body.
