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The corect way to play bass

Lowner

Lowner

May 14, 2005
430
4
Over Here
#1
I was at a party yesterday and there was a band playing. the bass player is a friend of mine and so before the band started playing I asked if I could play his bass. I sat on top of the amp amd plugged in. When i started playing the room got quiet and all eyes wwere on me. people could not believe that I could play the way I did. I played an original composition called "Jaco" which is in a nutshell my tribute to Jaco. Then my bass player friend comes up and says Ok we are palying now let me have my bass back. When he started playing he played a steady stream of nothing but eigth notes the entire time. then after his band played he said to me that Is how the bass is meant to be played. Dont ask to play me bass again if you are going to much up the bass lines with melody. Bass is not a melodic instrument. Shortly after I left the party.
Was this guy jealous that I stole his moment since he was the host of the party?
 
#11
After further thought, had you ever heard him and his band play before? Perhaps you knew that his bass lines were not complicated, and your solo would sound really snazzy compared to what he was going to do. That would be what you call "showboating."

As far as the corect [sic] way to play bass, complicated lines don't usually work in a band situation. Soloing is one thing, but some songs need eighth notes. It's appropriate to play for the song rather than for the glory.
 
#13
tplyons said:
Anything beyond eighth notes is above and beyond what he needs.
Click to expand...

Did you guys happen to read the Letters to the Editor in the August Bass Player?
Some reader, tired of the 'players' being featured in the mag, wrote in suggesting BP branch off with a sister publication called Eighth-Note Bass Player magazine.

'Fess up...which of youse was it?
(I ask "cause that comment is right up my alley).
;)
 
#14
Well, let's hope your friend never has to play solo bass in a room full of people he doesn't know. I'm sure he'll wow them with "correct" bass playing. :P

OTOH, what you played probably wouldn't jive with what your friend's band was playing. Not that you'd play the same way in an ensemble. Your friend may have even been reprimanded a time or two in various bands when he was coming up for playing "jazz". In order to keep his job, he learned to play "correctly".

Or maybe he's just one of many that prefer keeping things simple. I'm sure there have been many threads here on why the general public doesn't like prog rock. Too complex. That's fine; it comes down to a matter of personal taste.

But yeah, he threw a private party and had his band play, and you upstaged him. You rained on his parade. Of course he's not going to be happy with you, personal taste in music aside.

Maybe this wasn't an appropriate time and place for you to play?
 
#15
JimK said:
Did you guys happen to read the Letters to the Editor in the August Bass Player?
Some reader, tired of the 'players' being featured in the mag, wrote in suggesting BP branch off with a sister publication called Eighth-Note Bass Player magazine.

'Fess up...which of youse was it?
(I ask "cause that comment is right up my alley).
;)
Click to expand...
Nope, but I read my letter to the editor printed in Bass Guitar magazine :)
 
#16
Munjibunga said:
After further thought, had you ever heard him and his band play before? Perhaps you knew that his bass lines were not complicated, and your solo would sound really snazzy compared to what he was going to do. That would be what you call "showboating."

As far as the corect [sic] way to play bass, complicated lines don't usually work in a band situation. Soloing is one thing, but some songs need eighth notes. It's appropriate to play for the song rather than for the glory.
Click to expand...

"Showboating" is probably the correct word.

There is nothing wrong with 8th notes in the right context. Maybe his style fit the songs the band was playing and he saves the wanking for other venues.

Maybe he honestly didn't like how you were playing and you have sour grapes that he wasn't feeling it.
 
#19
morf said:
I'm starting to wonder what the point is of replying to threads where the OP never actually replies...
Click to expand...


I think the point of the post is to boost OP's morale after by having random people agree with OP and stroke their ego. Once that is established why bother coming back?
 
#20
Munjibunga said:
After further thought, had you ever heard him and his band play before? Perhaps you knew that his bass lines were not complicated, and your solo would sound really snazzy compared to what he was going to do. That would be what you call "showboating."

As far as the corect [sic] way to play bass, complicated lines don't usually work in a band situation. Soloing is one thing, but some songs need eighth notes. It's appropriate to play for the song rather than for the glory.
Click to expand...

I have heard him play before but his bass got lost in the mix. The guitar players played this party with acoustic guitars and he does not have an acoustic bass so he plugged in. I was not showboating by any means. I just played what was the freshest in my head since I was working on my song before going to the party.

I have never heard him play more than eight notes even when we were noodling around in the basement. And yet he always bragged about how good of a bass player he is. Just wanted to show him what I could realy do since I am a woman. I think that is really what ticked him off a woman played better than he did.
 

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