I hate when people talk about overplaying, and sticking to the written bassline.Here is oasis dont look back in anger. Is this overplaying? Why would I play the written bassline here? Does this ruin the song? I dont think it does. Why not go all the way with it? Opinions? This was recorded with a video camera on the bass side of the stage, so its not as loud as you think.Guitar is on other side, thats why it sounds like im hogging it all.
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Overplaying vs Underplaying?
- Thread starter Birdland11
- Start date
If whatever you play steps on the vocal - it's too much. Otherwise, play as much as you all agree sounds best IMO
- Jan 27, 2010
- 4,141
- 471
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Genz Benz Amplification
Nice tone. I'm not familiar with the original version of the song, but it doesn't sound like you're over doing it. I find it's a lot easier to get away with being a little notey if you're locked in dead tight with the drummer.
If you and your band are happy with your playing it's nobody else's business what you play. Don't listen to the Talkbass root/5th police! It's all about making it work within your band's musical context. Listen to Ronnie Lane, Geezer Butler, Mel Schacher; they were all pretty busy but made it work.
If you are a hired gun, play what you are told (if you want to keep working); if you want to be part of a band, find a band that appreciates your style.
If you are a hired gun, play what you are told (if you want to keep working); if you want to be part of a band, find a band that appreciates your style.
I love this take on the bassline compared to the original (which seemed kinda bland), but it seems a little too much with all the fills stuck into every nook and crevice you could find. If you had done fills at half the frequency you did, I think you'd come across as being more sophisticated.
This is one of those yes and no things that kinda depend on the context.
Nice playing BTW, I enjoyed it... but then you and I are bass players and we tend to like active basslines. A lot of people don't though and that kind of sound can get old quick when It's on every song.
There's a few unwritten rules I think have already been mentioned. Don't play quick moving melodies over a vocal or another lead instrument... unless the two of you are harmonizing or are in unison.
Basslines that are more rhythmic or (repetitively melodic) in nature are fine, of course it all comes down to genre what is appropriate.
Also leave space for other instruments to get their fills in and don't be afraid to lay back and just let the music exist without anyone doing a solo for a little while. A rest, or a calm section in the music allows for the audience to get ready to be blown away by the next blistering part. (most metal bands never grasp this concept)
But yeah, music is art and there's room for all kinds so don't let me or anyone else tell you what to do. If It's cool with your band and you can find an audience for it, that's all that matters.
Nice playing BTW, I enjoyed it... but then you and I are bass players and we tend to like active basslines. A lot of people don't though and that kind of sound can get old quick when It's on every song.
There's a few unwritten rules I think have already been mentioned. Don't play quick moving melodies over a vocal or another lead instrument... unless the two of you are harmonizing or are in unison.
Basslines that are more rhythmic or (repetitively melodic) in nature are fine, of course it all comes down to genre what is appropriate.
Also leave space for other instruments to get their fills in and don't be afraid to lay back and just let the music exist without anyone doing a solo for a little while. A rest, or a calm section in the music allows for the audience to get ready to be blown away by the next blistering part. (most metal bands never grasp this concept)
But yeah, music is art and there's room for all kinds so don't let me or anyone else tell you what to do. If It's cool with your band and you can find an audience for it, that's all that matters.
I like the tone, it stuck out, of course I hear bass through anything so it was more pronounced since I'm a bassist. The guitarist should have been a bit louder though. I think a few parts are overdone for the song, a few licks here and there might have been more ideal. There were certain parts where it fit well, like when the audience chanted "so sally can wait". The bassline with the drums, if the drums matched you would have been perfect since it you were pretty bouncy. The guitar solo was weak in my opinion but then again I don't play guitar so I'm not one to judge, it was lost in the music, with as musical and bouncy as the drums and bass.
Overall I think that since this is a song that is more of a vocal piece and "anthem" like, keeping it simple would have less likely drowned out the vocals. I say keep it simple, add a touch here and there but too much will ruin it.
Overall I think that since this is a song that is more of a vocal piece and "anthem" like, keeping it simple would have less likely drowned out the vocals. I say keep it simple, add a touch here and there but too much will ruin it.
The problem is that no band member is an island and the point is how you all work together. The danger is that every individual overplays 'just a little bit' and then it sounds god awful.
In my band we had all worked out really nice 'personalised' parts for Heard it Through the Grapevine. We couldn't figure out why it didn't work until we rolled back all the twiddles, trills and fills and suddenly it grooved like it is supposed to.
You can't whistle a symphony and you can't make a bass part work in isolation either.
In my band we had all worked out really nice 'personalised' parts for Heard it Through the Grapevine. We couldn't figure out why it didn't work until we rolled back all the twiddles, trills and fills and suddenly it grooved like it is supposed to.
You can't whistle a symphony and you can't make a bass part work in isolation either.
Agreed. Given the mix on that recording, I would say, yes, you are overplaying, because the bass is stealing the focus from the song. You're locked in with your drummer, so what you are playing might work with a better mix, but I'm listening to this and thinking, "hey, there's an Oasis song playing behind that bass solo."
My father used to play in a swing band back when swing was king.
He once made a statement along the lines of: "I don't get the music today. Everyone is off playing what they want to play. In my day if you weren't playing a solo, you had better stick to the sheet music or you'd get fired."
Now, with avante garde stuff, lots of improvisation is called for, but in most band settings the band is best served by hanging out with the drummer way back in the pocket and letting the lead instruments and vocals wow the audience.
IMHO, YMMV, etc etc
He once made a statement along the lines of: "I don't get the music today. Everyone is off playing what they want to play. In my day if you weren't playing a solo, you had better stick to the sheet music or you'd get fired."
Now, with avante garde stuff, lots of improvisation is called for, but in most band settings the band is best served by hanging out with the drummer way back in the pocket and letting the lead instruments and vocals wow the audience.
IMHO, YMMV, etc etc
Can`t check the video at the moment...but here is my 5c anyway 
Sure there are songs focused on bass...like Marcus Miller songs
But thats different...
I remember David SinRocks doing some cover and adding fills in nearly every free space...it gets annoying...personally I stop appreciate his musical skills after a while...and think about him as a show off.
Imagine that you are a millonaire and you have diamonds everywhere...I mean everywhere...door handles, toilet seat sink....everywhere...would you appreciate them the same, as a guy who has a collection of really nice 40 diamonds?
No...i don`t say root/5th or nothing...I say throw in fills less often but with taste...It`s hard to explain really...
Sure there are songs focused on bass...like Marcus Miller songs
But thats different...
I remember David SinRocks doing some cover and adding fills in nearly every free space...it gets annoying...personally I stop appreciate his musical skills after a while...and think about him as a show off.
Imagine that you are a millonaire and you have diamonds everywhere...I mean everywhere...door handles, toilet seat
sink....everywhere...would you appreciate them the same, as a guy who has a collection of really nice 40 diamonds?No...i don`t say root/5th or nothing...I say throw in fills less often but with taste...It`s hard to explain really...
See this is what im talking about. Keeping the bass in the dark, in the back. God forbid anyone can hear it!
Some people think that if anyone notices there is a bass player, you are showing off.
I thought it was good, and the fills were excellent, but you sorta detract from the guitarish parts (I know, bass is superior to guitar). There's a guitar solo-ish bit in there that sounds pretty cool, but I can't hear it over the bass.
I think if you it back a few of the bits in the solo, this would be fantastic
I think if you it back a few of the bits in the solo, this would be fantastic
