• 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.

Overplaying vs Underplaying?

#61
The good news for people who play bass is that there are a whole lot of acceptable ways to do it. The thing that matters is knowing where you're at. If you are good enough to play busy bass lines that melt into the song then no one will ever tell you that you play too many notes. If what you do is play the root and very select harmonic notes and they melt into the song, but when you add a few more notes the song sounds all gangly, then step back and play the simple thing and people will think it's great.

The talent lies in knowing how far you personally can go and still make it seem like it's a good strong bass part. If it sounds like wankery, it is wankery.

Here's an example... My band plays an original song called Jane. When I joined I got a recording of the original bass player who played the root locked in with the kick. It sounded good and I tried for 2 weeks to make it work. Eventually, I just did what felt right which was to come up with an actual bass line that was quite a bit more involved than the original. The other 2 guys immediately thought it sounded better than ever. I was trying to play like somebody else and it didn't work. I'm not a locked in the pocket on the root kind of player. I hear things differently. I play counter melodies and riff type stuff and I've gotten very good at it. Even when I play the root because I'm singing lead and I make it dance around the kick.

It's about who you are as a player, not about how many notes you play...
 
#62
Your playing is quite good.

No offense, but there is a reason Oasis was one of the biggest rock band of the last 20 years and you play in a cover band. I am really not saying this to insult you.

Oasis songs work because the band knows when things should be simple and when they should be more complex. If you play just to have a good time well more power to you play whatever you want. If you play as a career then it isn't about what you WANT it is about what the song NEEDS. That is a lesson that the greats seem to take to heart.

Some people might say that if the audience is into it then it doesn't matter, but I think this logic is somewhat flawed. People go to see live music as a diversion so often they are going to be into whatever the band is doing (within reason). However, do you want the audience to remember the band who absolutely killed or do you want them to remember the band that was just a little off (and the vast majority of listeners may not even be able to identify what is off but they can feel it).
 
#63
Tractorr said:
Your playing is quite good.

No offense, but there is a reason Oasis was one of the biggest rock band of the last 20 years and you play in a cover band. I am really not saying this to insult you.
Click to expand...
"I'm going to insult you, but I'm not saying it to insult you."

:D

So explain why there are just as many popular bands with busy bassists as bands with bassists who just stick to the root like Oasis' bass player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Watchootognbout
#64
JimmyM said:
So explain why there are just as many popular bands with busy bassists as bands with bassists who just stick to the root like Oasis' bass player.
Click to expand...

Those songs call for it.

RHCP have a percussive sound. That is what they are that is why people listen to it. The songs are constructed to show off busy bass.

Oasis is relatively simple song writing that seems to feature the vocals.
 
#69
pedro said:
Are you suggesting that you can't have a busy bassline if the vocals are featured?
Click to expand...

Of course not, but Oasis songs are not generally written in such a way that a busy bass line seems to be inappropriate.

Motown has far more groove that Oasis so busier bass works.

Of course these are general ideas and as we all know there are no set in stone rules. However, why reinvent the wheel a hit song has already proven its viability.
 
#71
Tractorr said:
Of course not, but Oasis songs are not generally written in such a way that a busy bass line seems to be inappropriate.

Motown has far more groove that Oasis so busier bass works.

Of course these are general ideas and as we all know there are no set in stone rules. However, why reinvent the wheel a hit song has already proven its viability.
Click to expand...

Just checking.

If it was me and I was playing in a cover band I would generally try to approximate what occurred on the record unless the band was trying to do a different arrangement of the song.
 
#75
TigerInATrance said:
The good news for people who play bass is that there are a whole lot of acceptable ways to do it. The thing that matters is knowing where you're at. If you are good enough to play busy bass lines that melt into the song then no one will ever tell you that you play too many notes. If what you do is play the root and very select harmonic notes and they melt into the song, but when you add a few more notes the song sounds all gangly, then step back and play the simple thing and people will think it's great.

The talent lies in knowing how far you personally can go and still make it seem like it's a good strong bass part. If it sounds like wankery, it is wankery.

Here's an example... My band plays an original song called Jane. When I joined I got a recording of the original bass player who played the root locked in with the kick. It sounded good and I tried for 2 weeks to make it work. Eventually, I just did what felt right which was to come up with an actual bass line that was quite a bit more involved than the original. The other 2 guys immediately thought it sounded better than ever. I was trying to play like somebody else and it didn't work. I'm not a locked in the pocket on the root kind of player. I hear things differently. I play counter melodies and riff type stuff and I've gotten very good at it. Even when I play the root because I'm singing lead and I make it dance around the kick.

It's about who you are as a player, not about how many notes you play...
Click to expand...

Very wise. I feel exactly the same way. Maybe because I tend to play the same way... :bassist:

One of the coolest thing about playing the bass is the extraordinary range of approaches - and thus the extraordinary number of potential parts - that can be made to work within a given piece of music...each one being musically viable - as long as 1) it's tasteful, and 2) it adds genuine value to the music. The rest is up to your personal style and your creative imagination. :cool:

My philosophy is that bass lives at the lowest common denominator among the three main pillars of music: rhythm, harmony & melody. So for me, the "perfect" bass part is usually the one that adds the most to each of those three elements.

Since it is most common for bassists to focus mostly on rhythm, my way of distinguishing myself (and pushing the envelope) is to compose a part that will simultaneously say something interesting & inspiring in the realms of harmony & melody as well. For all practical purposes, that often means experimenting with sub-melodies, counterpoint and the like - a la Paul McCartney & Chris Squire...

MM
 
#77
pedro said:
Are you suggesting that you can't have a busy bassline if the vocals are featured?
Click to expand...
There are rhythm oriented bands (RHCP, anything funk) and melodic oriented bands (Oases, most pop music). Rhythmic bands leave space for busy basslines because the guitarist and vocalist lay back. Melodic bands are more saturated.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back