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Thoughts on the bass "over-player"

#201
I play in a punk rock cover band, and we like playing stuff for the real punk fans out there, not only for people who accidently listened twice to The Offspring on the radio when "Pretty Fly For a White Guy" came out. :D

Because we aren't "another rock cover band", I do my best to play the songs as close to the originals as I can, so does everyone in the band. We also try to do the same with main vocals and harmonies. We are four singers in the band. That helps a lot.

oldrocker said:
On the other hand some original bass parts are mixed so low as to be virtually undistinguishable to the casual lightener so these same lines when played at band volume can be mistaken for overplaying.
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This is sooo true for a lot of punk records from the 80's and 90's. They also happen to be horribly muddy. :laugh:
 
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#204
oldrocker said:
On the other had some original bass parts are mixed so low as to be virtually undistinguishable to the casual lightener so these same lines when played at band volume can be mistaken for overplaying.
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I just ran into that in a tune I had to learn. A no doubt song. The bass player has this 2 or 3 bar phrase that's really low. After critically listening to it, I decided not to even bother learning. It just sounded like it had nothing to do with the song, And it's low mix level gave me the idea that the engineer felt the same way.
 
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#206
You mean the guy who slaps through Happy Birthday? ... There's two different types of over playing. ... One is knowing the changes and true to the melodic pulse of the tune. ... The other is just bad.
 
#207
buldog5151bass said:
It sucks being the voice of truth.

I play in one jazz band where the other players want to play a lot of songs that only hard core jazz fans would want to hear. I accept that it won't gig out much, no matter how high the level of musicianship.
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Not if it's only a personal truth... and not the general one you seem to think.
:D
 
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#208
I like learning classic basslines, and doing my own take on them. I like playing some parts differently every time, and some parts the same every time.
It's not about serving a song to me, it's about being present to the moment. Maybe that's the same thing people mean with "serve the song", but it sounds a bit boring and brainwashed to hear everyone drone that line. Screw the song. That song is dead. Play the bassline the way you know it needs to be played in this living moment, to the best of your ability. If its going to be 8 whole notes, make them living, breathing whole notes, like an upright player bows. Maybe it's just a few ghost notes in a classic line that makes it articulate magically for you.
Don't neglect yourself, either. You can stretch out if you want to, make mistakes, come back. Don't be an egotist, and don't be afraid either.
 
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#212
buldog5151bass said:
Maybe. But I don't understand those who are playing for others, yet think it's more important to entertain themself.
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That is not what you originally wrote, which I responded to:

"How about this? If you are playing in public, you are playing for the audience, not for your own ego".

There was no more or less. And I think that idea that there should be no ego when performing would lead to far less entertainment.

When you're performing live there can be several motivations, all important.
 
#213
KeithPas said:
Play with a solid groove, play parts that are respectful of the original bass parts and pick your spots carefully for runs and fills. A well placed fill can have a big musical impact if it is done tastefully and relatively sparingly.
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Agreed...except for the respect for the original bass line. Just think how many covers are better received than the original because of deviations.
 
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#215
More than once I have been accused of over playing for simply playing a line as recorded. So I'm like whatever, I'm the bass guy I'll handle the bass parts thank you very much. Overall I try to stick as close to the recorded lines as I can. I also try to stay away from the typical beat to death dad band songs so that help as well.
 
#216
Honestly I could care less how someone else chooses to express themselves on an instrument. What bothers me is when they try to tell me how to play, judges everything I do, but them themselves can’t play a single complete song and still lives with their parents (unemployed of course) in their 30s because they’re so lazy they don’t want a real job and thinks they’re gonna “make it”....
 
#217
As a guitarist and bassist, my rules are the same for me as they are for everyone: just play within reason. Now, what's "within reason"? I have no idea. I just know everyone will let you know when it's not. Now, if you're doing more "tribute" playing, yeah, probably get as close to original as possible and dont embellish much if at all.

Just doing covers? Feel free to embellish some so long as it doesn't take away from the feel of the version being covered. If you get outside of "within reason", they'll let you know.

Originals? Feel it out. Some lines are really moving. Some aren't. There's no rule. Just be open to new ideas and just as open to when those new ideas suck.

There are times I follow the guitar lines. Sometimes, I play the bare damn minimum. Sometimes, I'll take a reggae inspired rhythm and throw it over a punk tune. Sometimes, an entire song becomes a bass lead.

I'm doing something right. Never been fired on bass. Hell, never even gotten talked to about it. I don't worry about if there too few or too many notes. I feel it out and try to get that feel. What ever it takes, I'll do that. Even if it is cliche. Sometimes, cliches really, really work. Other times, they sound like I didnt try very hard or ran out of ideas.
 
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#218
Altitude said:
First responsibility is the job.
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full stop. My long winded post could have been better put this way. Dont get a job with a band that is serious about playing a certain way and then get mad when they expect the same of you. Also, don't go after someone that clearly doesnt fit your mold and then get bent when they don't fit the mold. You may be surprised who can fit where. You also may not be surprised. Lol
 
#220
QORC said:
thoughts?
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you bet.......but it depends on the M.O. of the band and the type of players. Most bands play as musicians.......others have moved on to the bigger concept of 'entertainers'. Of the latter, they have realized that some of what captivates a 2019 audience (raised on music video as well as audio) is being able to go places other bands don't both visually and musically.....People want to be entertained. Most bands do that by filling a dancefloor and creating a party-- Some musicians do that but also go the extra step with musician showmanship. In the past, it was always guitar......In 2019, its everybody,and the flashier the better......You never hear 80s style guitar soloing on records anymore but tapping EVH and dive bomb pinch harmonics go over super well. Audiences eat-up slap bass playing, even if the 2019 TB bass community tells you its uncool. They like tasty drum fills(and solos), keyboard shredding, and a complete bonus if you have sax or horns (especially sax soloing - many women find it very sexy). Its part of an entertainment show package....If done tastefully in punctuated spots, its exciting to watch, its different, and 'entertaining'
 
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