i have just been invited into a band with a rhythm guitarist and i dont feel much freedom to experiment with basslines how have you guys shaken off being crushed b rythm guitar
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Ryhthm guitar srtealing my thunder
- Thread starter reubmister
- Start date
Have you even played with the band yet? I've never had too many problems playing with two guitarists. In fact, I find playing with a keys player to be more challenging. But regardless, mids are your friend, don't be afraid of adding a little treble, and politely suggest the guitarist turn their bass knob down on their amps to give you some 'breathing room'.
i have and i feel as though i am being "swallowed up" by the guitarist i think i may suggest he turn the bass knob down thanks for the idea
sometimes you just got crank up and do damage to the guitards, 800watts via a couple of cabs does the job quite well 
As far as eq is concerned I can see where you're coming from, that's an easy fix though.
You just need to put yourself in a separate sonic space via the eq.
Also as suggested you can always turn up the volume but be for warned that it can also be a good way to piss off the rest of your band if it gets too loud.
Now as far as the not feeling enough room to experiment with your lines,
I've found that having more people in the rhythm section and particularly the ones in my own sonic space only help me to experiment with my lines and find new ways of doing things.
How well versed are you as far in chord theory, intervals and such.
Knowing how those guitar chords work and how they relate to your bass line can be priceless in this sort of situation IMO.
You just need to put yourself in a separate sonic space via the eq.
Also as suggested you can always turn up the volume but be for warned that it can also be a good way to piss off the rest of your band if it gets too loud.
Now as far as the not feeling enough room to experiment with your lines,
I've found that having more people in the rhythm section and particularly the ones in my own sonic space only help me to experiment with my lines and find new ways of doing things.
How well versed are you as far in chord theory, intervals and such.
Knowing how those guitar chords work and how they relate to your bass line can be priceless in this sort of situation IMO.
im in a band with only one and feel alot more comfortable and feel free to use effects and muck around with fills i prefer it to be hones
i know my theory as me and my teacher go through walking lines regularly and this requires good knowledge of chord structure
Also, OP if you could give us some incite as to the material you are playing we may be able to be of a little more help here.
Ah I see so I'm guessing this is original material???
Rock/ prog rock is a big genera, so outside of the eq issue and knowing your theory there really isn't much I personally can tell you other then to keep at it.
If you can or have some of their stuff recorded that would probably help the most as you can work on it at home, on the bus, at work, wherever.
Captain obvious, right?
Another thing I thought of that has worked for me to get myself in a good sonic space is to use a wah.
Use one without the the spring so that as you are playing you can adjust that mid sweep until it's just right, then leave it there.
Think of it more as a mid control you can adjust on the fly rather then a,
baw chika baw wow wah sort of thang.
Rock/ prog rock is a big genera, so outside of the eq issue and knowing your theory there really isn't much I personally can tell you other then to keep at it.
If you can or have some of their stuff recorded that would probably help the most as you can work on it at home, on the bus, at work, wherever.
Captain obvious, right?
Another thing I thought of that has worked for me to get myself in a good sonic space is to use a wah.
Use one without the the spring so that as you are playing you can adjust that mid sweep until it's just right, then leave it there.
Think of it more as a mid control you can adjust on the fly rather then a,
baw chika baw wow wah sort of thang.
thanks all the ideas.
As well as the encouragement!
ive actually got a wah so ill bring to my next practice and maybe get myself an eq pedal opefully ill be able to "punch through" better now
As well as the encouragement!
ive actually got a wah so ill bring to my next practice and maybe get myself an eq pedal opefully ill be able to "punch through" better now
Record a rehearsal and get everyone to listen to it.
If you cannot hear everyone reasonably well then one or more members are too loud. You may find it is not just the rhythm guitarist.
If they won't turn down (or even accept that they are too loud) then find another band as you have progressed past the 'volume wars' stage and they haven't.
If you cannot hear everyone reasonably well then one or more members are too loud. You may find it is not just the rhythm guitarist.
If they won't turn down (or even accept that they are too loud) then find another band as you have progressed past the 'volume wars' stage and they haven't.
I play in a band with a rhythm guitarist and lead guitarist. Thing is, I'm always being told to turn up the volume because Mr. rhythm wants to hear more bass! 
Another option to carve out a sonic space is to play your lines an octive up/down from the rhythm to differentiate yourself.
Another option to carve out a sonic space is to play your lines an octive up/down from the rhythm to differentiate yourself.
I play in a band with a rhythm guitarist and lead guitarist. Thing is, I'm always being told to turn up the volume because Mr. rhythm wants to hear more bass!
Everyone in my band tells me to turn it up all the time. But I play through a borrowed amp and I find it plenty loud as is, thank you very much. Still, weird bunch
Oh, we have two guitarists who play both lead and rhythm.
You shouldn't fight the rhythm guitar, you should be playing off of each other. If he's playing a lot of the root on 1 and 3, maybe you should forgo playing the root on 1 and three in favor of doing a scale run from 1 to 3.
You guys are both rhythm players. Maybe it's irreconcilable differences, but IME rhythm guys are the easy ones to get along with.
You guys are both rhythm players. Maybe it's irreconcilable differences, but IME rhythm guys are the easy ones to get along with.
i read this as 'Rhythm guitarist stealing my lunch' 
which is a problem.
if anything, i find playing with a rhythm guitarist means you have more freedom to play around the song - after all he/she is mostly playing the root chord. score!
which is a problem.
if anything, i find playing with a rhythm guitarist means you have more freedom to play around the song - after all he/she is mostly playing the root chord. score!
Keep in mind the fact that skynyrd's bassist played with about a zillion guitars and although he doesn't get a lot of love in the mix, his lines are killer (especially those little all-the-way-up-the-neck fills, IMHO)
