The Humble Bass Guitar

[averagejoe53]

I have been playing bass, on and off, for over five decades. A lot has changed.

The technical revolution in digital electronics has effected all musical genres and instruments. This includes the bass. I contend the electric bass guitar is unique. Strip away all the digital effects and electronic aides. Revert back to pure analog. Connect a bass to an amp with a 1/4 inch cable.

The way you physically manipulate an electric bass, using your bare hands, has undergone the most radical evolution of any instrument in the last five decades.

A lot of people have contributed. Jaco Pastorious, Larry Graham, Stanley Clark, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool stand out. But it has been thousands of inventive bassists making incremental contributions that have gotten us to where we are today.

Rejoice! We are living in the golden age of the electric bass.

For any talkbass.com members that are just beginning your journey, the best single reference I can provide is Charles Berthoud. Drop his name into your favorite Internet search engine and watch some videos. You will see the astonishing range of things that can be done on this humble, unassuming instrument.

 

[Jogobass]

Agree. I'm 47 and still learning from all the new talent. Hadrien Feraud taught me not to be afraid of playing chords under a full band. Well, actually I stick to simple root and tenth voicings but it works wonders with two guitar players

 

[Dlew919]

As a beginner playing by yourself can seem
Miserable. But then the magic happens. Slowly, almost imperceptibly patterns and phrases start to appear. Notes start to mix. Harmony starts to make sense.

It’s perhaps an instrument that starts easy goes hard then becomes a full harmonic, rhythmic and melodic tool for musical expression.

And some people do it with just one pickup.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I go with Sean Hurley. The way he grooves, solos, and his tone actually make you feel a certain way. The youtube solo bassists with their endless chops are fun to watch and all, but players like Sean, Pino and Willie Weeks make you feel things on a different level

 

[pyrat56host]

I have been playing bass, on and off, for over five decades. A lot has changed.

The technical revolution in digital electronics has effected all musical genres and instruments. This includes the bass. I contend the electric bass guitar is unique. Strip away all the digital effects and electronic aides. Revert back to pure analog. Connect a bass to an amp with a 1/4 inch cable.

The way you physically manipulate an electric bass, using your bare hands, has undergone the most radical evolution of any instrument in the last five decades.

A lot of people have contributed. Jaco Pastorious, Larry Graham, Stanley Clark, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool stand out. But it has been thousands of inventive bassists making incremental contributions that have gotten us to where we are today.

Rejoice! We are living in the golden age of the electric bass.

For any talkbass.com members that are just beginning your journey, the best single reference I can provide is Charles Berthoud. Drop his name into your favorite Internet search engine and watch some videos. You will see the astonishing range of things that can be done on this humble, unassuming instrument.

What a wonderful take on our beloved choice of instrument. I would also add...the sheer JOY of picking up the bass...plugging it into the amp and playing...solo or with a group...alone or for an audience...the unabashed and unfettered J O Y of playing the bass is unchanged...even after almost 50 years of playing. We're a very fortunate group of folks~

 

[averagejoe53]

"The youtube solo bassists with their endless chops are fun to watch and all..."

I agree with you. My recommendation to check out Charles Berthoud was not about style. It was the single best reference on technique I could think of to open up the eyes of a beginner/intermediate player to the dazzling potential of the instrument.

I saw an interview once where the guest said something like "the bass guitar is the easiest instrument to get started on, but the most difficult to fully master". Unfortunately, I cannot remember who it was.

 

[bucephylus]

With all the tech and gear, the player is still the difference maker.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Bass...
The instrument nobody pays attention to until it isn't there.
Simple? Maybe. Essential? Positively.

 

[PJorBoth]

I go with Sean Hurley. The way he grooves, solos, and his tone actually make you feel a certain way. The youtube solo bassists with their endless chops are fun to watch and all, but players like Sean, Pino and Willie Weeks make you feel things on a different level

Yeah, I've been playing this instrument among others for around the same time as the OP.
While I am entertained by many of the Youtube players many of them are reaching a point where they need a Bass Player behind them IMO.

 

[Aussie Player]

I go with Sean Hurley. The way he grooves, solos, and his tone actually make you feel a certain way. The youtube solo bassists with their endless chops are fun to watch and all, but players like Sean, Pino and Willie Weeks make you feel things on a different level

Sean is a funny one. He is as boring a bass player as you could ever find and his tutorials and interviews are a cure for insomnia, but put him with John Mayer live and listen through a set of head phones and magic happens. He's very, very good.

I believe a bass player really shines at his best, when he plays with a decent guitarist. The weaving around and through the melody is the genious if bass playing.

 

[J Wilson]

I always felt if they couldn't sit still, but didn't know I was there, I was doing my job. Gotta make them move.

 

[Ritter667]

Check out Michael Manring too.

He takes bass to somewhere completely different, but awesomely amazing.

 

[Ritter667]

I always felt if they couldn't sit still, but didn't know I was there, I was doing my job.

Or they might suffer from ADHD.

 

[averagejoe53]

Check out Michael Manring too.

He takes bass to somewhere completely different, but awesomely amazing.

I agree. Anyone that is not already familiar with Michael Manring should check him out. He does go somewhere completely different. Another prime example of an innovator expanding the realm of what can be done with an electric bass. We all benefit.

Thank you.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Sean is a funny one. He is as boring a bass player as you could ever find and his tutorials and interviews are a cure for insomnia, but put him with John Mayer live and listen through a set of head phones and magic happens. He's very, very good.

I believe a bass player really shines at his best, when he plays with a decent guitarist. The weaving around and through the melody is the genious if bass playing.

Sean is actually a very brilliant musician, and most on this forum don’t truly understand the depth of his playing. He can play jazz as good as anyone, he can play melodies on upright with a bow, and he’s even co-written a number one song (“lost without you”). You ever hear the Edgar Winter record Brother Johnny? He plays rocking blues like it’s nobody’s business. Did I mention he’s great at transcribing??

 

[enricogaletta]

I totally agree. We’re living in an era full of inspiration, and the evolution of the electric bass over the last few decades has been incredible.
It’s amazing to think how the bass used to be one of the most overlooked and “hidden” instruments, and yet it keeps evolving in how it’s played and perceived.
It’s when we take inspiration from all these greats — and many other players — and blend it with our own way of expressing emotion on the instrument, that we start shaping our personal voice.
So yes, I’m 100% with you.
Let’s Groove.