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Showing Off. Why Can't Bassists Do It??

#102
Lowbrow said:
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.
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Well put.
 
#103
PWRL said:
Well after listening to "What's Going On" over and over again, I guess I would. But to each his own.
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The best performance on a 1,6,2,5 progression of all time IMO. If u think he was showing off...and not doing what is best for the song...listen to how he approached the exact same progression on Mercy Mercy Me...also in E Major. Dude was the highest paid player in the Motown stable for a reason
 
#106
So what exactly are we talking about, then, showing off, or Jamerson's ability to play the bass? And what kind of showing off are we talking about? Are we talking about Geddy Lee's ability to show off? Chris Squire? Victor Wooten or any other big name? Are we talking about up-front Entwistle-type showing off? Straight up blow-your-head-off solos? That's only one dimension, and if that's the dimension you prefer, then great. More power to you. But that's not the only dimension. In my opinion, Jamerson's ability to improvise great bass lines with a minimal amount of equipment and practice time does constitute a type of showing off. Subtlety is an art in itself, and seems to be lost in this day and age, which is why I mentioned class in my first post. Jamerson, in my estimation, never forgot where he was supposed to be, and through his ability breathed some very unique life into a lot of Motown songs. Some were more mundane than others. But last I checked, we were talking about showing off, not soloing, and in my estimation, soloing and showing off are two separate things.
If you don't agree, that's great. If nobody agrees, that's great, and if one thing is true, here on Talkbass nobody agrees on a damn thing other than that only flats belong on a P bass.
I can solo, too. But that doesn't give me the ability to do with a bass some of the things a guy like Jamerson could, and I reckon that goes for most of the people on here, too. If we could, we'd be out there recording, not in a chat forum at 12:30 AM.
 
#108
PWRL said:
Well after listening to "What's Going On" over and over again, I guess I would. But to each his own.
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PWRL said:
So what exactly are we talking about, then, showing off, or Jamerson's ability to play the bass? And what kind of showing off are we talking about? Are we talking about Geddy Lee's ability to show off? Chris Squire? Victor Wooten or any other big name? Are we talking about up-front Entwistle-type showing off? Straight up blow-your-head-off solos? That's only one dimension, and if that's the dimension you prefer, then great. More power to you. But that's not the only dimension. In my opinion, Jamerson's ability to improvise great bass lines with a minimal amount of equipment and practice time does constitute a type of showing off. Subtlety is an art in itself, and seems to be lost in this day and age, which is why I mentioned class in my first post. Jamerson, in my estimation, never forgot where he was supposed to be, and through his ability breathed some very unique life into a lot of Motown songs. Some were more mundane than others. But last I checked, we were talking about showing off, not soloing, and in my estimation, soloing and showing off are two separate things.
If you don't agree, that's great. If nobody agrees, that's great, and if one thing is true, here on Talkbass nobody agrees on a damn thing other than that only flats belong on a P bass.
I can solo, too. But that doesn't give me the ability to do with a bass some of the things a guy like Jamerson could, and I reckon that goes for most of the people on here, too. If we could, we'd be out there recording, not in a chat forum at 12:30 AM.
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Sounds like I totally mis-interpreted your post. I thought u were saying that Jamerson's playing on What's Going On was 'showing off'... So my bad if that is not at all what u were saying. If that is what u were saying, then fine, agree to disagree.
 
#109
Lowbrow said:
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.
Click to expand...

Yes. Bass players show off in bass player ways, not guitar player ways. And slap/pop interludes- even Stanley Carke kept them to a few seconds.
 
#111
YOu can show off on bass- I think the Key is moderation.

Matter of fact if my band reforms, since we play mostly simple songs, without much bass riff greatness- that I want an all bass break in at least 4 songs now. Not a solo, just a one or two bar break to throw some cool stuff in.
 
#112
#118
Here is a story about showing off that paid off for me. I played a house/garage/pool party gig last weekend with my 3 piece pop/punk band, and at the end of our 14 song set the crowd of 60 or so chanted "Bass Solo!" I was so thrilled! I grabbed my P and hit the overdrive pedal and just improvised how I felt. I played small 5 second hints of popular song riffs (Turn Me Loose, Money, Play That Funky Music, Superstition) in amongst my own on the spot riffs. I then stepped on my loop pedal and their jaws dropped. I owned that garage for a good 10 minutes of strong playing. Halfway through I stopped and looked around to see my guitarist/lead singer glaring at me looking quite jealous. I got all the female attention the rest of the night. ;)
 

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