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The Truth About Being a "Good" Bass Player

theroan

theroan

Feb 15, 2006
339
2
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
#1
I've been playing bass now for 15 years. Though in my later years, I've been playing a lot more guitar. Recently, I've been picking it back up for this or that project. Maybe this isn't a new realization, but it is for me. After all my years practicing scales, watching videos on slapping, tapping, harmonics, developing speed etc, essentially trying to be like all my bass heroes.

In the end no one cares. Unless you're in a prog or funk band. Most people do not care about the bass. Keep time, with the root, toss in a fill here and there but most of the time, just stay out of the way. In fact, if you're paired with a prideful guitar player, they'll will actually resent your skill, taking the spotlight where it doesn't belong.

It kind of sucks because I feel like a wasted a lot of time. I can do a lot of cool stuff on the bass and it took me a long time to be able to do them. In the end, it doesn't really matter.
 
#2
Although I see what you're saying, you may be going over the edge a bit. It is true that in many situations, mainly straight-ahead rock, the bass is more of feeling rather than a sound. But that is certainly not a hard and fast rule. And in many other genres the bass takes a more up front role. And sure, the bass frequency may not be as easily heard as the upper register.

But the real point is, who cares? If what you're after is spotlight, go full time melodist. But ask yourself - would your favorite bands still be your favorite if they were bassless? He!! no they wouldn't. Bass is the gravity in the musical universe. We hold it all together. Using the same "candle power" measure that is used to grade guitarists is a mistake. It's a different instrument with a different purpose. It just looks kind of similar.
 
#3
In the whole spectrum of life, nothing really matters. We are all on a giant rock flying through space and being a bad ass on bass is fairly insignificant.... if you let it be. My point is, we have nothing but that which we put forth into the world. If you can play the hell out of the bass then do it. Join a prog or funk band. And if you're playing with a guitar player who is "resentful" of your spot-light stealing talent then he's an a##hole and what he thinks really doesn't matter. Play on brother.
 
#6
Wasted your time? Why, because it didn't bring you....what?? Maybe it doesn't matter to you, that's fine. Without qualification you're implying it doesn't matter for anyone, and it matters to me. All the stuff you learned and became good at, doesn't bring any joy?

I'm sorry you feel that way, I mean, if you do.
 
#7
I understand your frustration, but assume your choice of instrument was based on something more than it's appreciation by the people. Perhaps you loved bass, or it came naturally to you. It certainly wasn't because bassists get all the kudos.

99% of people listening to music don't pay attention to the the players, especially beyond the vocalist - by that i mean if you ask someone randomly on the street about a popular song, they won't likely know who the musicians are, if they even know who the band is.
 
#9
theroan said:
I've been playing bass now for 15 years. Though in my later years, I've been playing a lot more guitar. Recently, I've been picking it back up for this or that project. Maybe this isn't a new realization, but it is for me. After all my years practicing scales, watching videos on slapping, tapping, harmonics, developing speed etc, essentially trying to be like all my bass heroes.

In the end no one cares. Unless you're in a prog or funk band. Most people do not care about the bass. Keep time, with the root, toss in a fill here and there but most of the time, just stay out of the way. In fact, if you're paired with a prideful guitar player, they'll will actually resent your skill, taking the spotlight where it doesn't belong.

It kind of sucks because I feel like a wasted a lot of time. I can do a lot of cool stuff on the bass and it took me a long time to be able to do them. In the end, it doesn't really matter.
Click to expand...

Maybe as a means to your end, but thats a whole bucket of horse**** if you ask me. You have successfully succumbed to the will and way of others. If appeasing those you play with is your only goal then youre doing an A-1 job, though I'll be damned if thats ever my reasoning.
 
#10
The reality is that most people don't listen to the bass, but they notice when the bass isn't played well. They don't know what's wrong, they just notice the music doesn't feel right.

Bass in popular music (no matter the genre) is first and foremost about feel. A "good" bassist knows how to make the music feel right. If it doesn't feel good, it's probably cause the bassist isn't that good - no matter how many notes they can or can't play.

From the sound of your post, you've wasted a lot of time playing too many notes and not enough time learning how to make the band feel great.
 
#11
I think it depends on what you think a "good" bass player is. Individual technical skill has to be subsumed to other aspects of musicianship at some point, for a player to achieve real "good"-ness

think about the kind of guitarist you'd prefer to play with : is it a pyrotechnical genius or someone who plays with sensitivity to the music and the ensemble?

Same goes for a "good" bass player.
 
#12
Well isn't bass a lot similar to, let's say, well most careers. You go to college, study the most ridiculously intense minute details of your field, but you get a job and you're copying and pasting all day long.

Did I really need a 4 year degree for this?

But the point is... I'd much rather be copying and pasting, knowing at any given opportunity, I can also do much more complex jobs, but... it's a security blanket.Realistically, I know it gives me that slight edge.

So two guys competing to copy and paste for a job, who will get it? The guy who only knows how to copy and paste, or the guy who can write code to make facebook stop freezing up, but could also copy and paste too.

Well, if my job is to copy and paste, I try to copy and paste as awesome as I can. I'll write code to cheat my copying and pasting and do like 50,000 in a few minutes, while I watch the internet and funny videos.

So maybe with bass, you got to just, sort of do the same. Play straight roots and lock in, but get nasty on a little slide or pick out a few key notes that get emphasized.. Those parts where, in the video that would be the only place they show a quick glance at the bassist, lol.
 
#14
This is my personal opinion and experience, but there's a big difference between tasty bass playing and wanking. Usually, players that are realizing that they have chops are into the wank phase, and they want to show it off. Then they get bitter when the crap that they want to bust out on their bass pisses off the other musicians around them, but they really want more and more time in the spotlight.

The tasty players know what fits where and when to step up, or step off. They understand that its not "look at me" time all the time. Sometimes less is more, and dead space (or less fills) can be musical too. They contribute to the collective sound while still satisfying their own artistic needs. And yes, they actually can create a sweet line or groove in almost any genre that the average joe will appreciate.

No offense man, but it sounds like you might be struggling in that transition between the wank and tasty phases. I've been playing or 14 years solid, and I remember going through the same feelings as you, until I truly learned that I really can satisfy my own artistic ego, wow the crowd when I need to, and make the the overall band sound great.
 
#15
Depends what your definition of "good" is. You mention "keep time" and "toss in a fill" like you're ordering off a McDonald's menu. It might be the same on the surface, but as a music lover, I can hear the difference between a player who merely keeps time and one who actually plays with time. Same goes for those fills. I'd give up half my technical ability for better timing and melodic/harmonic sensibility.

Good to me is playing for the song, whether that happens to be laying back in the pocket with a few tasty improvised fills, driving eighth notes on top of the beat, or even developing a bassline that works so well with the chord progression that it becomes an inseparable part of the of the composition.

If I can hear the difference and appreciate the "good" players who don't appear to be doing anything technically challenging, I'm sure everyone else can.
 
#16
Deesack said:
Well isn't bass a lot similar to, let's say, well most careers. You go to college, study the most ridiculously intense minute details of your field, but you get a job and you're copying and pasting all day long.

Did I really need a 4 year degree for this?

But the point is... I'd much rather be copying and pasting, knowing at any given opportunity, I can also do much more complex jobs, but... it's a security blanket.Realistically, I know it gives me that slight edge.

So two guys competing to copy and paste for a job, who will get it? The guy who only knows how to copy and paste, or the guy who can write code to make facebook stop freezing up, but could also copy and paste too.

Well, if my job is to copy and paste, I try to copy and paste as awesome as I can. I'll write code to cheat my copying and pasting and do like 50,000 in a few minutes, while I watch the internet and funny videos.

So maybe with bass, you got to just, sort of do the same. Play straight roots and lock in, but get nasty on a little slide or pick out a few key notes that get emphasized.. Those parts where, in the video that would be the only place they show a quick glance at the bassist, lol.
Click to expand...

This is an extremely good analogy. All these responses give me a bit of pride that I chose to play bass over guitar. I worked at Guitar Center and realized there are a gazillion people who can sweep pick and play tricky hammer-ons and what-not. There are plenty of great guitar players and bass wankers out there but relatively few "good" bass players, the reliable, tasteful ones. This might be a bit of heresy, but give me John Mayer from the Trio album over Steve Vai any day of the week. And on the other end of the spectrum, give me JPJ over Les Claypool any day of the week.
 
#17
lowfreqgeek said:
<snip>
If it doesn't feel good, it's probably cause the bassist isn't that good - no matter how many notes they can or can't play.
.
Click to expand...

+1m

When I listen back to my band's rehearsals, the passages of my playing that give me the shudders aren't the wrong notes, missed breaks, or simplistic bass lines, it's if there's a lack of feel. It makes me physically nauseous. :atoz:
 
#18
theroan said:
I can do a lot of cool stuff on the bass and it took me a long time to be able to do them. In the end, it doesn't really matter.
Click to expand...
It's sad that you feel it's a waste, sure you may not always need those skills but when the chance comes you will be prepared. As a bass player it's our job to do what the gig needs and there has never been a gig where I get to use all my skills. I do a bit of session work and occasional band gigs and those players have no idea what I can do in other situations. It's always funny when some guys I play C&W with stumble into the power trio or jazz gigs and even funnier when it's visa versa.
 
#19
Yerf Dog said:
I play bass to please myself and I care. Link Removed
Click to expand...

+100 If I was looking for fame and fortune, I definitely wouldn't go the music route, regardless of what instrument you play. Bass is essential to any band and just because no one throws flowers at your feet or swoons at your bass prowess doesn't mean it isn't important to the product. Like Yerf said, I play bass to please myself and I definitely care. Even if I'm not the star of the show, I know that I'm a very important cog in the music machine and that is enough for my tender ego.
 
#20
My 2c:

If you are talking the role of the bass in popular music, then you need to understand the form. In that form, the bass and no other instrument owns the groove. Yes, the drum sets the back beat (on the snare or hi hat, not usually the kick unless you are Reggae). Yes the guitars can push the pocket with the correct rhythm shots. Yes the keys can contribute the same. Yes, it is a group effort. But, what I am saying is the bass owns that groove and to be a good player, you have to understand that role and take ownership of it.

And if you do so, the other instruments will not resent it or have problems with it. Listen carefully to Jamerson's lines, which are pure virtuosity, but inside of and defining the groove at the same time. Yes, you can cover the role of the bass and be a virtuoso at the same time.

Does the general public care? No. They don't even understand it. But, when people are dancing, you and the back beat from the drummer are putting them out there. No one else.

Want to play solos? Take up upright and go for the relatively robust library of solo bass and cello parts; I assure you, it will test your skills.

Don't get discouraged, bass is deep. You just have to keep inquiring.

As I said: My 2c.
 

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