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Playing BASS on the bass

#21
I think limiting yourself is a dangerous thing to do and if you end up as just the bass player, then you devalue your role and become expendable. I say this from bitter experience where bands hire you because they like your sound, but then the lure of fame leads to the situation where the record company says - we don't need the band, we can hire session musicians as we need them.

I resolved to be involved in songwriting, sound mixing - all parts of music. The problem is if you limit yourself to the point where people don't notice your input, then it makes it easier for them to view you as a disposable band member!! :eek:
 
#22
Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
I think limiting yourself is a dangerous thing to do and if you end up as just the bass player, then you devalue your role and become expendable.
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I dunno....where I live, limiting yourself to "just playing bass" pretty much guarantees you all the work you can handle. Maybe it's not the most desirable or satisfying work at times, but if your goal is to pay the bills and feed the family......
 
#23
...I may limit myself on bass...

but I WRITE LYRICS, PLAY GUITAR, AND PLAY KEYBOARDS...besides the almighty bass!

Besides I don't really limit myself completely. I do like every now and then to see what other weird style I can create if I can... it's not the center of it all though.

Come playing time, though, any piece of music is limiting except some jazz styles... unless of course YOU compose the thing. Then you RULE THE WORLD!

By the way, bassists should try to compose or write lyrics or even sing...
 
#24
Originally posted by NewWaveBasser

By the way, bassists should try to compose or write lyrics or even sing...
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Fair enough, but give me one good reason why all bassists should write lyrics or sing? Honestly, give us some reasons.

As for 'limiting' yourself to the bass, I think of that mentality as underappreciation of the bass. If you think the bass isn't that good an instrument, then of course you're not going to want to limit yourself to it:rolleyes:

I act as soundman for my band...because I understand levels and I know how to get a good setup with our instruments(I was the one discussing beech tonal properties with our drummer's salesman)...but in no way do I feel that I want to get away from being limited to my bass. Dedicated bass players are always in need. Guitarists, vocalists and drummers are a dime a dozen. 'Limiting' yourself to playing bass will make you a much better bassist than any multi-instrumentalists, and therefore much more valuable to anybody.
 
#25
If you write lyrics you get more credit for a song...and mo' money :D Ask Sting! He has a castle for God's sakes!!! :)

I really said try man. I didn't say you must.

If time is too much a constraint for a bassist then he/she should concentrate on bass. If there is time though...

Besides the good thing about composing is you can create an asskicking bassline like you want and even make it the center of a song. If your guitarist composes he may control your playing. F+k that! Look how Noel Gallagher choked Paul McGuigan's bass...though Paul never looked interested in what he did anyway...he was drunk...so was Noel...so was that Liam idiot...

And oh by the way Lemmy sings...and the guy from Slayer...
 
#26
Originally posted by NewWaveBasser

Besides the good thing about composing is you can create an asskicking bassline like you want and even make it the center of a song. If your guitarist composes he may control your playing. F+k that! Look how Noel Gallagher choked Paul McGuigan's bass...though Paul never looked interested in what he did anyway...he was drunk...so was Noel...so was that Liam idiot...

And oh by the way Lemmy sings...and the guy from Slayer...
Click to expand...

Yeah, but then your guitarist will feel undervalued for not having the 'main riff' status. Or your drummer. It's much more important to be able to share songs between the members, rather than having the 'I'm the composer, this is what we do' mentality. That's when you start becoming a solo artist instead of a band.

Yeah, both those guys sing. At the sacrifice of realy good basslines. No offence to any Motorhead or Slayer fans, but most of their respective lines aren't very complex, due to the singing. Slayer is much more about the guitarists than anything, anyway.
 
#30
Yeah, both those guys sing. At the sacrifice of realy good basslines. No offence to any
Motorhead or Slayer fans, but most of their respective lines aren't very complex, due to
the singing.
Click to expand...

....(sigh).....I remember when I was young and inexperienced enough to believe that "complex" and "good" meant the same thing.
 
#33
somebody in this thread said or implied that being a dedicated bassist will make you better and/or more desirable than any multiple instrument person. I don't think that is the case. I think the more other instruments you familliarize yourself with, the better you will understand just how the one you choose to play at a given time fits into the peace of music. I'm not saying that the bass, or guitar, or whatever, sheuld have an established "roll" that can never be strayed from, i'm just saying that all your instruments should be on the same page to an extent. Do I make sense? I always know what i'm talking about until I proofread these things. Anywho... I think the thing that improved my bass playing the most was my decision to learn guitar. It forced me to relearn a lot about how I thought music worked.
 
#34
play wat u like! if it happens to be lower (which is my choice, thats what a bass was designed for!) then play it! i like riffs on the bass that sound like a guitar though too, its tougher and you have to be better player to play it, but i mean, dont read into this too much, its music! music is music! "one good thing about music, when it hits ya, ya feel nooooo pain- sublime"
 

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