• 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.

The corect way to play bass

#23
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...

:bassist: +1 applies to every instrument!

(BTW, in 11 years of forum useage that's my first ever +1)
 
#24
Of course we are only getting one side of the story here but if it all went down the way you describe then it seems to me that you might have intimidated your "friend" with your style of playing.

All I have to say is that if you are going to allow somebody to play your instrument at one of your gigs, then you better be willing to deal with it if that person surprises you with a higher level of talent than expected. I don't care if you were "showboating" or not - what were you supposed to do, play like crap to make him feel better about himself? If this person was a good friend he would have complimented you on your playing style instead of trying to make you feel like you don't know what you are doing.

In my opinion, to say the "bass is not a melodic instrument" is just rediculous and says quite a bit about his level of maturity. Hopefully he had ZERO influence on you with that statement.

I let a guy I never met before sit in for two songs at one of my gigs last weekend. After a brief conversation he seemed like a nice person and convinced me he could handle it. To be honest, reflecting on that gig, I'm still not sure how that guy compared to me in terms of skill, maybe better, maybe not. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter to me because I feel pretty secure with my skills. When I got my bass back we shook hands and I told him he did a great job.
 
#25
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...


True dat, but absolutes about the bass not being a melodic instrument cause me to believe the guy deserved to be shown up regardless of our young friend's motivation.

If it was meant to be played that way and ONLY that way, all you would really need is an E string on a stick.
 
#26
Lowner said:
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.
Click to expand...
Not to be an arse but it sounds like you intentionally showboated (IMO) to knock his ego down a notch. You took it that your a woman that had something to prove (and he thinks he is sooooo good) you just had to show him up in front of everyone.

Sorry, sounds intentional and disrespectful to me. Are you sure you are really his friend? :eyebrow:
 
#27
Not to be an arse but it sounds like you intentionally showboated (IMO) to knock his ego down a notch. You took it that your a woman that had something to prove (and he thinks he is sooooo good) you just had to show him up in front of everyone.

Sorry, sounds intentional and disrespectful to me. Are you sure you are really his friend?

As I am totally unencumbered by a fear of being an "arse" I'll again ask: WHO CARES if it was intentional or not? Anyone who comes back with the statement of a bass not being a melodic instrument is a fool who deserves humiliation.

Someone higher in this thread said it well... what was she supposed to do - play like crap to spare his root noting feelings?
 
#29
B-NoteCowboy said:
As I am totally unencumbered by a fear of being an "arse" I'll again ask: WHO CARES if it was intentional or not? Anyone who comes back with the statement of a bass not being a melodic instrument is a fool who deserves humiliation.

Someone higher in this thread said it well... what was she supposed to do - play like crap to spare his root noting feelings?
Click to expand...
Yea, we know the bass can and is used as a melodic instrument. Who cares what the guys thinks about the instrument he plays. He is entitled to his opinion even if she (or us at TB) don't like.

My point was that supposedly this was her friend. You don't show up a friend at their own gig, in front of a lot of people, and expect things to be cool. IMO, it was wrong. You just don't do that to friends. :scowl: She already said she "wanted to show him what I could realy do since I am a woman". I think that statement speaks volumes.
 
#32
Lowner said:
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.
Click to expand...
Bass is a melodic instrument. I've never heard a bassline that wasn't a melody. Of course a lot of basslines aren't THE melody, but I'm thinking that making basslines as melodies is the way to go.... even if it is a string of eight notes on the same pitch. Musicians think melodically.
 
#33
Lowner said:
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?
Click to expand...
Reminds me of the famous quote, "There is no money past the fifth fret." I can't remember who said that. Guess that is whay I make no money playing bass...
 
#35
Kelly Lee said:
My point was that supposedly this was her friend. You don't show up a friend at their own gig, in front of a lot of people, and expect things to be cool. IMO, it was wrong. You just don't do that to friends. :scowl: She already said she "wanted to show him what I could realy do since I am a woman". I think that statement speaks volumes.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but with all due respect I couldn't disagree with you more. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with wanting to show somebody what you can do. To me it's part of the satisfaction of being a musician. If someone allows you to play their instrument, it seems self-defeating to 'dumb it down' and play at what you percieve to be their level or expectation.

If you can't handle it when you feel someone plays better than you - or with a style you don't approve of, then the solution is simple...don't lend out your instrument. I'm no Billy Sheehan by any stretch and trust me, I have been outplayed at parties on more than one occasion. The difference is instead of getting mad about it I would applaud them. It just seemed like the right thing to do.
 
#36
Dirty Dave said:
All I have to say is that if you are going to allow somebody to play your instrument at one of your gigs, then you better be willing to deal with it if that person surprises you with a higher level of talent than expected. I don't care if you were "showboating" or not - what were you supposed to do, play like crap to make him feel better about himself? If this person was a good friend he would have complimented you on your playing style instead of trying to make you feel like you don't know what you are doing.

In my opinion, to say the "bass is not a melodic instrument" is just rediculous and says quite a bit about his level of maturity. Hopefully he had ZERO influence on you with that statement.
Click to expand...

What if he didn't really like Lowner's playing?

The point is not everyone wants to hear a bass solo at a party. Especially at a party where the main band that is playing obviously is not playing that style of music.

It is like if you go to a Opeth concert and they play the Backstreet Boys between sets. Or going to see a Beethoven symphony and having Yngwie Malmsteem bust in and wank a solo or two. I would be annoyed, that's for sure.

I know it is a stretch, but the point is there is a time and place and audience for wanking, obviously not that time/place at the party.
 
#37
Lol i doubt the audience would be impressed by ur jaco playin anyways, my bro asked me to turned that noisy sound off when i played portrait of tracy. the first time i listened to that i tink it sounds awful too

it would b cooler to do some billy sheehan
 
#38
Dirty Dave said:
I'm sorry, but with all due respect I couldn't disagree with you more. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with wanting to show somebody what you can do. To me it's part of the satisfaction of being a musician. If someone allows you to play their instrument, it seems self-defeating to 'dumb it down' and play at what you percieve to be their level or expectation.

If you can't handle it when you feel someone plays better than you - or with a style you don't approve of, then the solution is simple...don't lend out your instrument. I'm no Billy Sheehan by any stretch and trust me, I have been outplayed at parties on more than one occasion. The difference is instead of getting mad about it I would applaud them. It just seemed like the right thing to do.
Click to expand...

Right, but who goes and asks to play at someone else's gig? It is one thing if the band invites you up, but to invite yourself up and play music that doesn't fit in with the rest of the evening's music is kind of obnoxious.
 
#39
i'd say jsut don't worry about it. your friend wouldn't have been a guitarist turned bassist would he? that's how i'd explain the attitude

Poop-Loops said:
Your friend was right. The bass just plays 8th notes the whole time while the guitarist(s) just wank for the whole song, the singer growls into the mic, and the drummer plays randomly.

I done learned that in collage.
Click to expand...


i'm assuming your school has alot of people in "hardcore" bands as well? this is a common thing in my area.
 
#40
Cliff Williams has made an entire career out of playing only eighth notes. Michael Anthony has made an entire career out of playing eighth notes. I always say the most badass bass line in the history of recorded music is McCartney's bass line from "Jet." Why is that eight note, pick playin,' riding the root line so badass? Because he's Paul Frickin' McCartney and doesn't need to prove how badass he is.

Think about it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back