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Playing metal?

Cryptic Anthony said:
you arent skilled at hearing metal
Diechris said:
+1 if you ever get a chance to hear a band play with a bass and without a bass for the same track.. there's a huge chunk missing.. bassist in metal bands sound HUGE.. its different from thinking "i need to cut through the mix" its more of "how can i fill it to make the over all sound bigger and huge"

Yep, I was referring to the "huge" aspect. Metal bassists in general are more "felt, not heard" type. Doubling the guitars and providing the backward rumble. I know, I do that myself in one band. And I agree that bass is important, but you could say that Metal is mostly guitar driven music, only seldom do BASS riffs stand out and make a stand so to speak. Of course there are exceptions, but I think in the past 10 years I've heard enough metal to make this generalization. :p

And I wasn't dissing this role, just pointing out that in metal, you don't need those Lindy Fralins, Aguilars and 10k$ Foderas to do that background rumble. ;)

Diechris said:
the subject of "metal band" is vast nowadays... some people think.. maiden, megadeth, anthrax when you say metal.. some think lamb of god, soilwork, entity awakened.. some think immortal, behemoth, and meyhem.. and then there's others that even think... random bands like tool, korn and primus even..

the bassist role in all those are very different... .

I agree, it's hard to draw genrelines nowadays.
 
That annoys the piss out of me. If I can't do it with a 5 string, I won't do it. Most guitards could care less how much effort it takes a bassist to get good action and sound changing to tunings for them to get a darker sound.

I love you.

My guitardist quit the band because I wouldnt tune lower than Drop D. before I set up my Ibanez in Drop C, I used my jazz bass. I had perfectly set up for slap, and playing punk with a pick and I wasnt going mess it up. It took me months of trial and error to get it were i want it.
 
To be honest, i can see the point in tuning down a five string. Five strings have a lot to offer metal, even dropping them down sometimes can be used for pedaling in more modern metal.

I tune my MTD Z5 to ACGCF. I find myself playing most on the C, G, and higher C strings, but also dig into the A on occasion. Rarely will i hit the high F
 
For playing in C, just keep your bass tuned standard! Learn your lines differently. Learn them by ear. Don't watch your guitarist play. Play what you feel sounds good. I think you're getting caught up in being able to play exactly what he plays. Otherwise, standard tuning gets you all the notes you need on a 5'er.
 
For playing in C, just keep your bass tuned standard! Learn your lines differently. Learn them by ear. Don't watch your guitarist play. Play what you feel sounds good. I think you're getting caught up in being able to play exactly what he plays. Otherwise, standard tuning gets you all the notes you need on a 5'er.
I didn't want to say anything, but you're right. I think things sound too muddy if everyone's playing real low anyways. Besides, if Cliff Burton was able to "get by" with a 4-string, that should go to show that it's really all you need.
 
To be honest, i can see the point in tuning down a five string. Five strings have a lot to offer metal, even dropping them down sometimes can be used for pedaling in more modern metal.

I tune my MTD Z5 to ACGCF. I find myself playing most on the C, G, and higher C strings, but also dig into the A on occasion. Rarely will i hit the high F

Couldn't agree more. I tune my 5ers down a 1/2 step & in turn tune my Bb down to Ab. I also tune my Eb down to Db & C on occasion when I want the open notes at my disposal. I'm so glad there's a few 35 inch scale 5ers available in the world today. Just need more string manufacturers to catch up. I haven't tuned to standard pitch for more than a decade and I just don't ever see myself going back to it. If I'm ever playing with someone tuned to g@y 440, I just transpose. I love the flexibilty. 5s forever :bassist:
 
You have what... atleast 20-22 frets on your fretboards over 5 strings?!? Get to know some of them! I play a 4-banger exclusively atm and never have any of these issues. After reading through this, I think it's more of an issue of technique and theory that is lacking.
 
You have what... atleast 20-22 frets on your fretboards over 5 strings?!? Get to know some of them! I play a 4-banger exclusively atm and never have any of these issues. After reading through this, I think it's more of an issue of technique and theory that is lacking.

:eyebrow: If you're talking about my post in particular (and my apologies if you aren't:D ): Read a little more carefully over what I wrote. In celebration of standard tuning, I was suggesting that some of those metal types that drop tune to C and such should just buy a 5 string, and was also making reference to the fact that they tend to also be the type to only play on the two lower strings.

And just for the record, I have been classically trained in music for half my life, and am very well aquainted with each and every fret and harmonic on my 24 fret 5 string!
 
Some basses are prone to being amazing for metal. I personally refuse to use my SR4 for metal. Not because i dont like that bass, but to be honest it just doesn't capture the tone I like. I use my MTD Z5 more as much as possible, as it sounds terrific when properly eq'd
 
Some basses are prone to being amazing for metal. I personally refuse to use my SR4 for metal. Not because i dont like that bass, but to be honest it just doesn't capture the tone I like.

Man, I couldn't imagine why! I absolutely adore the tone from my SR5 for metal. It's got such an aggressive bite and pumps up the entire sound of my band. I'd love to know what it is you don't like about it.
 
:eyebrow: If you're talking about my post in particular (and my apologies if you aren't:D ): Read a little more carefully over what I wrote. In celebration of standard tuning, I was suggesting that some of those metal types that drop tune to C and such should just buy a 5 string, and was also making reference to the fact that they tend to also be the type to only play on the two lower strings.

And just for the record, I have been classically trained in music for half my life, and am very well aquainted with each and every fret and harmonic on my 24 fret 5 string!

Nah, I wasn't talking about your post. Just ranting again. :D
And yes, I would reccommend a 5 string as well. I'm by no means a 4-banger "purist". I'd love to have a 5'er, but my Jazz 4 is all I got right now.
 
Bigger Strings, better setup. If you got more than one bass, have one setup for metal drop tunings and one standard.

I have my bass strung up .104-.45 and have no trouble tuning down to D standard, and can even pull of C standard for when i'm in a Kyuss mood.
I agree with 'jsbass', this seems to be more an issue of technique!
 
Man, I couldn't imagine why! I absolutely adore the tone from my SR5 for metal. It's got such an aggressive bite and pumps up the entire sound of my band. I'd love to know what it is you don't like about it.

To be honest, I'd play a SR5 for metal. I dont know exactly why, but my SR4 just does not get it. :crying:

But be open minded people, we all play differently. Just because I like to tune down more doesn't mean my technique is bad. I have just as many notes on the fretboard as you.