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Too "busy" on the bass?!?

#181
RiZzBot said:
I'm pretty thick skinned, let me have it. :D
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It doesn't exactly seem like it if the guitarist's comments are getting under your skin this much.

Look, there are 2 ways to handle this situation: 1) "He has no idea what he's talking about. I'm going to keep playing how I want to and screw everyone else." or 2) "Hey, maybe there's something to what he's saying and I should take a look at my playing style."

It's funny you posted this. I just auditioned for a fairly high profile national touring act and I didn't get the gig (though I'm told I'm next in line if the guy they went with doesn't work out... we'll see). Instead of just saying "thank you for the opportunity. See you later." I decided to reach out to the band leader and ask him if he could explain to me his reasoning for not hiring me. He said I was a little too busy of a player.
Of course I'm not going to completely change who I am on the bass and I'm not going to completely change my style. But it is worth going "perhaps that's something I can work on." And so now, I'm working on figuring out how to say the same things I want to say (on the bass) but using fewer words (or notes), if you will.

The common theme I see (at least on the first couple of pages that I read) is you taking a "why does it matter? we're just doing this for fun" approach. The guitar player could very well also be doing this just for fun, but might actually care about what the overall product sounds like. Especially since you're a self-proclaimed novice, why not try to improve and get better and sound better? Why not at least take a second to ask "might there actually be something I can learn from this?" or "can I use this situation to help me be a better bassist?" But, and I hope I'm wrong, your tone seems to be much more "Whatever, whatever, I'll do what I want!" Maybe the band isn't meant to be if the guitarist is taking it more seriously than you and wants the band to improve and you're just trying to hang out and noodle around when you can (which is also ok, even if it's a mindset I can't really wrap my head around).
 
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#183
Fxpmusic said:
He said "like adults" :)

You don't get paid but still care enough to bring it up on a forum and ask for advise in how to deal with it. Have you asked what the goals of the other members are? Perhaps it is to have a solid product and perhaps get paid for it!
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Originally I had asked a question about defining "too busy" on the bass.
 
#184
JimmyM said:
Didn't read many of the other comments, did listen to parts of each of your songs...

I like your songs, I like certain aspects of your band, and I like a lot of your ideas for bass very much. What I didn't like was that you go for executing your good ideas sometimes without being solid on the beat. When you simplify, you sound on it, but when you get busy, you play a little fast and loose with the beat, and unfortunately it's noticeable. You're giving up the feel for the sake of the notes. Your guitarist is also doing that at times, but honestly, I think he's getting a little thrown.

The thing about great busy reggae basslines isn't so much the lines themselves, but the way the bassist executes them near flawlessly and stays with the drummer. I am not saying you're not good, BTW. You've got a great ear for basslines, and even though they're busy, I think they could work. But for now, you're not tight enough to pull it off. I would definitely consider simplifying your lines, and really concentrate on being on the beat and tight with the drummer above everything else until you get it nailed every time. Then start working in more complex lines as you master the beat, always remembering that you need to be where they need you to be...on it. You show great promise and creativity as far as I'm concerned...you'll pop it.
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Thanks for the feedback JimmyM. Very much appreciated sir.
 
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#186
RiZzBot said:
So my band is in the process of recording a low budget demo. I'm laying down tracks on bass and the guitarist tells me that the bass sounds too busy. What the he**?!? I told him to define "too busy", and of course he couldn't. Not the first time I have heard this. My question to you guys is, what's the definition of "too busy" as it applies to the bass? Why is it too much sometimes and not other times? We're an original band that plays a little rock/reggae/blues. I think I do a decent job of locking in with the drummer. I play what I hear and feel in my soul. It's not like this is some huge production by some huge record label, paying all kinds of cash. We're in my shed recording off a $500 Sonus studio. I hate the term "too busy", and It makes me feel oppressed as a bass player in general. So the next couple track I purposely go way too busy, just to piss him off. My response to him; deal with it.
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We had a singer tell me the same thing, regarding our live performances, and even practice... Funny, I stayed and he left. MY 'busy' bass lines must have been better than his mediocre vocals...
 
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#188
Oops not a good way to stay in the band by "wanting" to piss off guitarist...If it we me since it is low budget, I would have recorded my parts the way I play them live AND asked to take the time to record the parts with a little more simplicity, then done an A/B comparision. You very well may have found that track A sounds good with one song but track B sounds good for the other musically.
This is something you NEED to learn to help you grow as a musician.
Anyway I hope everything turns out ok.
 
#189
RiZzBot said:
So my band is in the process of recording a low budget demo. I'm laying down tracks on bass and the guitarist tells me that the bass sounds too busy. What the he**?!? I told him to define "too busy", and of course he couldn't. Not the first time I have heard this. My question to you guys is, what's the definition of "too busy" as it applies to the bass? Why is it too much sometimes and not other times? We're an original band that plays a little rock/reggae/blues. I think I do a decent job of locking in with the drummer. I play what I hear and feel in my soul. It's not like this is some huge production by some huge record label, paying all kinds of cash. We're in my shed recording off a $500 Sonus studio. I hate the term "too busy", and It makes me feel oppressed as a bass player in general. So the next couple track I purposely go way too busy, just to piss him off. My response to him; deal with it.
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I'd re think this one.
 
#191
Build your bass line as if you had to find space in the line to take a toke every bar or every other bar.

Another idea is to play half of what you want to play.. see if it sounds good, then cut it in half again.. repeat until it sounds like crap then go back one step.
 
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#196
Band meeting time. Drummer must attend.

I sense you folks may need to determine 'your' sound. Distorted guitar solos & root/5 bass aren't 'reggae' to me but they might be what the bandMind wants.

After you define your direction, then look at how the band can achieve it. This might require membership changes, but really seems to reduce hijacking of the group by a single member.
 
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