To paraphrase an ooooooooooold Bass Player article, it's better to be simple and solid than to be flashy and dropping beats all over the place. That phrase stuck with me for all those years.
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Showing Off. Why Can't Bassists Do It??
- Thread starter zeppfan90
- Start date
Nikki Sixx and Gene Simmons seem to have no problem showing off (and people dig it).
Maybe you should try spitting fire or something non bass playing related to get the attention that you desire.
Maybe you should try spitting fire or something non bass playing related to get the attention that you desire.
Because bass is not as much a solo instrument. We call it alternations. Keep groovin' but groove a little more spectacular for a few bars. Makes your drummer smile and the ladies in the room shake their asses a little harder.
Ain't life sweet?
BTW any song/solo consisting of bass only sucks donkeyballs in hell. I always skip those on my cd player.
Ain't life sweet?
BTW any song/solo consisting of bass only sucks donkeyballs in hell. I always skip those on my cd player.
Who says you can't show off? Just don't play a bunch of crap that only serves to make you feel awesome but makes the band sound lame, and you can do whatever you want.
Perfect. I listen to bass players showing off all the time. They just do it with class. Jamerson on "What's Going On" is a good example.
Slapping doesn't always work, and most bassists can't solo. I haven't seen many young guitarists solo well anyways, so nobody's "showing off", but whose getting attention. Lol
I think the best way to show off is to effectively play your role in the genre. Although that being said I occasionally play with a couple different acoustic guitarists/singers for the odd gig and the usual format is to play a supportive role but I will take a little solo in one or two songs where the song will break down, nothing flashy, Im no Jaco or anything, but just a little solo based on the groove.
Yep, I remember Les Claypool, Stanley Clarke and Geddy Lee telling me the same thing. They said, "You'll never get anywhere in music if you show off on the bass."
Not really.
Not really.
Bass is generally a support instrument. You can show off. There are factors that define how appropriate showing off is.
The manner in which a bassist shows off successfully is a function of the instrument and the type of music one is playing. In some bands, one shows off by providing an amazingly solid support (Jamerson, Dunn), in others by having a signature tone (Geddy, Squire), in other situations by having speed (Entwistle), in others still by incorporating elements of melody and constructing unerringly beautiful bass lines (think McCartney).
In all cases, if one is a limited player, or is a good player showing off in a manner that does not suit the musical context, the effort will be unsuccessful.
Making the call comes with experience and good judgment.
The manner in which a bassist shows off successfully is a function of the instrument and the type of music one is playing. In some bands, one shows off by providing an amazingly solid support (Jamerson, Dunn), in others by having a signature tone (Geddy, Squire), in other situations by having speed (Entwistle), in others still by incorporating elements of melody and constructing unerringly beautiful bass lines (think McCartney).
In all cases, if one is a limited player, or is a good player showing off in a manner that does not suit the musical context, the effort will be unsuccessful.
Making the call comes with experience and good judgment.
Music is completely subjective. To some, wearing fancy jeans and jumping around is showing off...to others you have to be playing Bach backwards to even elicit a yawn. I think it's "harder" to show off with the bass because people don't even know what it is half the time.
As far as displaying your musical facility on the instrument, it's no harder to do than with pretty much any instrument nor is it any less legit, the way it is perceived will depend on the preconceptions and opinions of the listener.
For example, there is a link to an article above that discusses bass solos ruining jazz...an audience that holds that particular opinion might be better off with a bouncy ball, banana and Disney sing a long tape.
As far as displaying your musical facility on the instrument, it's no harder to do than with pretty much any instrument nor is it any less legit, the way it is perceived will depend on the preconceptions and opinions of the listener.
For example, there is a link to an article above that discusses bass solos ruining jazz...an audience that holds that particular opinion might be better off with a bouncy ball, banana and Disney sing a long tape.
I have a better question. Why is playing to your ability called showing off? Listen to old music like Humble Pie, Deep Purple, Faces. Then listen to ZZ Top, U2 and their ilk. Then try to tell me that bass playing hasn't been dumbed down.
Let the root/5th police descend.
Bass ... support role ... I think Rock music brainwashed you. Rockers are so caught up in the idea that bass support the rest of the band ... man no. well maybe in rock and all that crap but it isn't the case everywhere.
Bass like any instrument can be anything !!! Stop putting that instrument or any instrument into little boxes because your imagination can't bring you anywhere !!!
Also the names you've drop are all rockers !!! John Patitucci, Micheal Manring, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clark all pretty much played solo, or did some solo in a song.
To me bass is more of a 2nd, 3rd or 4th voice ( depending on how many musician you have ) than in the rock world where there is some kind of hierarchy among the muscian ... saying the bass is a support instrument sound like we are 3rd world citizen which shoudn't be the case.
??? Think I did say it was OK to show off if you don't suck. Sorry I didn't give a shout out to your heroes.
To your first 'point,' do you believe that bass was invented to be a lead instrument?
