Thoughts on the bass "over-player"

[dr doofie]

As Bruce and Dick were personal friends of mine back in the 80s, I can attest that they could/can all play really well, and in a multitude of styles beyond the punk...

Ahh, the 80’s..

 

[Stinsok]

Here's how I see it. I go to see bands all the time. Whenever there is an 'overplayer', it's fairly obvious because I keep getting distracted by all the extra stuff he's playing. I want to enjoy the song but I'm drawn to the bass player and at some point, I walk out. More power to those that play that way for whatever reasons. Non musicians probably don't even get it nor care how many notes you're playing. Being creative doesn't mean you have to fill every space of the song.

While on vacation I saw a local band with the busiest bassist I have ever seen/heard. He was extremely distracting! There was not an empty space that he did not fill. "Wonderful tonight" was a 3 minute bass solo.

 

[QORC]

While on vacation I saw a local band with the busiest bassist I have ever seen/heard. He was extremely distracting! There was not an empty space that he did not fill. "Wonderful tonight" was a 3 minute bass solo.

in total agreement. same sort of bassist is why I started this thread. He literally could not let even a simple, well-known ballad alone. He had to fill in every possible 1/4 and 1/8th note space he could find. It was exhausting and I thought deleterious to the music

 

[SteveCS]

in total agreement. same sort of bassist is why I started this thread. He literally could not let even a simple, well-known ballad alone. He had to fill in every possible 1/4 and 1/8th note space he could find. It was exhausting and I thought deleterious to the music

I have to agree here. Good taste can be taught, but unfortunately most of the popular contributors to the 21st century's most popular source of learning - YouTube - seem hellbent on not going there, leaving the place, and it's consumers, almost devoid of such...

...plus my imperical observation that people seem incapable of thinking for themselves. Seems to me these days that a 'thing' is not a 'thing' until this, that or the other YouTube guru says it is...

 

[AlexBassMP]

I guess that overplaying has something related with experience and personality. When I was younger I used to be flashy, playing slap, fills and so on...Now I'm 45 y.o. and my approach is way more simple than years ago. I am an introvert person too. I like to be noticed but not being a constant point of attention.

I like to play the covers as they are in the recordings..sometimes I add some fill or lick here and there, depending on the mood and the feeling. Usually I wait for a quiet moment...it's when the lick is noticed and not in the way of other bandmates playing...

IMO Being flashy and overplaying is like adding spices to a meal : in the right amount adds flavour, but if you add too much or the wrong spice you can ruin your food.

 

[StargazerMP]

I try to be the bassist that you don't know I'm there until I stop playing.

My philosophy exactly! You nailed it.

 

[TreySonagras]

Frets 1-7 represent rent, car payments, food, clothes, toys for kids, financial security.

Frets 8-24 represent artistic suffering, pain, misery, angst, alcoholism.

 

[Koshchei]

I have to agree here. Good taste can be taught, but unfortunately most of the popular contributors to the 21st century's most popular source of learning - YouTube - seem hellbent on not going there, leaving the place, and it's consumers, almost devoid of such...

...plus my imperical observation that people seem incapable of thinking for themselves. Seems to me these days that a 'thing' is not a 'thing' until this, that or the other YouTube guru says it is...

...or you read it on Talkbass.

Play what's musically appropriate within the context before you. If it's busy, then it's busy. If not, then it isn't. There isn't a one-size-fits-all musically -- technique is there to serve the music. Obviously, the better your technique, the more challenging your repertoire can be, but there's never an excuse to murder a ballad.

 

[SteveCS]

...or you read it on Talkbass.

...

Well there is that.

 

[turf3]

I avoid overplaying by the simple expedient of sucking.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

there's never an excuse to murder a ballad.

Sig-worthy.

 

[denhou1974]

I was an over player for my first 5 years. Now I can't stand it.