Playing Successfully In Different Styles...

[Cheez]

Yea, I don’t really agree that proficiency at “jazz” makes one a master of all genres. Study...immerse yourself in the styles you want to know. For instance, If you want to learn cumbia (or polka, or reggae, or country swing...or whatever) listen to a lot of it. A LOT of it! THEN go play it with folks who know it well.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

What are good resources, both online and offline, that teach how to successfully play the bass in all types of musical styles?

Here is a bulleted list of the most common musical styles in Western music:

• '50 Rock
• Hard Rock
• Alternative Rock
• Rap Metal
• Pop Rock
• (Pop) Ballad
• R&B
• Reggae
• Funk
• Jazz
• Country
• Bossa 2

Thanks!

If you're looking for online sources, you should check out Scott's Bass Lessons (SBL Academy). He's that You Tube fellow who wears a thin glove on his fretting hand due to a medical condition. He offers a huge amount of courses, many of which are taught by him but most of the ones that deal with specific styles of playing are taught by someone who is extremely proficient in that style or well known for performing that style, and in some cases coming up with a particular style or technique. Here's a link to it:
Online Bass Guitar Lessons | Scott's Bass Lessons

Yes this is a pay site, but you can get a 14-day free trial. That wasn't even close to long enough for me and a couple of years ago when he offered a single payment, special low price on his lifetime membership, I was able to finagle enough money out of my limited budget to sign up. Honestly, I've only taken a few of their lessons so far but they are step-by step and quite good. I'd recommend taking a look, at least at their 14-day free trial. It's a great resource.

 

[bassdude51]

The ability to distinguish what makes a style unique is probably necessary to convincingly perform that style. Dismissing them as 'pretty much the same' will likely lead to inauthentic results.

From what I have learned, it is the patterns of the rhythm section as a whole that distinguishes the style of most 20th century genres. It is worth learning the drum, rhythm guitar, keyboard, percussion parts to really 'get' a style.

It is the differences, not the similarities that create the unique flavor of a style.

I agree with you to an extent.

50s Rock
Hard Rock
Alt Rock
Pop Rock
Rap Rock
R&B
Country
and some Funk
.......................................are not all that different from each other, IMHO. And there is not much of a challenge playing one or the other. Three chords, 4/4 time. (Generalizing) Not much mystery with that!

Now Reggae and Jazz and maybe whatever Bossa 2 is..............there is some challenge and difference with these. The others.......ummm, not that much. A bassist should easily be able handle all of them.

 

[mambo4]

Three chords, 4/4 time. (Generalizing) Not much mystery with that!

Acknowledging the generalization, I think there is more 'mystery' than may at first be apparent. My experience has been that every time I approached a new "simple" style of music, the simplicity always turned out to be more characteristic of my understanding and effort than the style. It is wise to beware oversimplifying.

There was a time when I would have "except for blues" or "except for country" etc... But I've stumbled into the deeper waters of enough 'simple' styles that I'd bet this is universal.

 

[crios]

I forgot to add...

• Latin

_

 

[Groove Master]

Get a P-Bass lol

 

[MrLenny1]

I freelance rock, pop, soul, r&b, new country and blues.
Gotta do your homework and listen,study and play all styles.

 

[tinyd]

Acknowledging the generalization, I think there is more 'mystery' than may at first be apparent. My experience has been that every time I approached a new "simple" style of music, the simplicity always turned out to be more characteristic of my understanding and effort than the style. It is wise to beware oversimplifying.

Great point. Most genres have a lot of subtle elements that you might not notice until you start trying to play them. You might be happy playing music that sounds a bit like the genre (e.g. many "reggae" and "latin" tunes recorded by pop/rock artists) but if you want to sound more authentic you'll need to go a bit deeper IMHO

 

[IamGroot]

Oscar Stagnaro's Latin Bass Book is a must have for Latin bass