Too "busy" on the bass?!?

[RichardT2112]

I'm thinking there's an issue here with the guitar. Like others have stated during the first track your guitarist is pushing the beat pretty hard and as a result anything you do will sound too busy.

Rather, he should be dragging, or pulling the beat ever so slightly. That way it won't sound like everyone is in a race to get to the end of the song where nobody wins. That alone will dramatically change the way both guitar and bass will sound.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I like your post/comment with just one question.
What if the OP (or I, or ANYBODY else) is trying to play more like 311?
Why do you recommend The Aggrolites?

311 - Flowing.



Hey, you.

The OP is way more active and playing with various rythm to be thinking of 311, man the bass is almost non-existant in that band.

 

[fretter]

1. Shouldn't this issue have been settled during rehearsals?
2. Your recording studio? I think you have some leverage there.
3. The number of notes depends on the band. Jeff Beck seems to like a lot of bass notes.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Jeff Beck seems to like a lot of bass notes.

Unless you are talking about "Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop" that won the award for Invalid Link Removed at the 1990 Grammys.
Please name the BASS PLAYER in that album.

P.S. Terry Bozio is SO good! drool

The OP is way more active and playing with various rythm to be thinking of 311

What do you think about Flea's bass-line in Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know"?

(Bass Only/Isolated bass track.)

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Unless you are talking about "Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop" that won the award for Invalid Link Removed at the 1990 Grammys.
Please name the BASS PLAYER in that album.

P.S. Terry Bozio is SO good! drool






What do you think about Flea's bass-line in Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know"?

(Bass Only/Isolated bass track.)

I don't get the link between 311, the OP and Flea's bass line in "You Oughta Know" but it is interesting during the verse

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I don't get the link between 311, the OP and Flea's bass line in "You Oughta Know" but it is interesting during the verse

The OP Never said anything about reggae, but our forum assumed it.
One TB member recommended LA version of reggae; therefore, I asked about 311.
The thread is about "busy" bass-lines; therefore, I've asked a question about that specific Flea's bass-line.

 

[RiZzBot]

The OP Never said anything about reggae, but our forum assumed it.
One TB member recommended LA version of reggae; therefore, I asked about 311.
The thread is about "busy" bass-lines; therefore, I've asked a question about that specific Flea's bass-line.

Although I appreciate all the feedback from our awesome community, you are 100% correct. This was supposed to be a post about busy baselines.

 

[fretter]

Unless you are talking about "Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop" that won the award for Invalid Link Removed at the 1990 Grammys.
Please name the BASS PLAYER in that album.

P.S. Terry Bozio is SO good! drool






What do you think about Flea's bass-line in Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know"?

(Bass Only/Isolated bass track.)

The Guitar Shop audio sounds like it's missing something. The synth doesn't compensate for the lack of bass here, in my opinion. Flea's bass definitely works for that song, unless 33 million people who bought the album are wrong.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Flea's bass definitely works for that song, unless 33 million people who bought the album are wrong.

Did I say "33 million people who bought the album are wrong?"

The Guitar Shop audio sounds like it's missing something.

100% agree.

The OP is way more active and playing with various rythm to be thinking of 311

Maybe the OP likes Rush.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

The Guitar Shop audio sounds like it's missing something. The synth doesn't compensate for the lack of bass here, in my opinion. Flea's bass definitely works for that song, unless 33 million people who bought the album are wrong.

Buying doesn't mean you liked it, especially in 1999, the web wasn't what it is today. Most people bought the album after hearing the first single and end up not liking the rest.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Although I appreciate all the feedback from our awesome community, you are 100% correct. This was supposed to be a post about busy baselines.

I get that but at the same time, the music you made is pretty much reggae and so ... buzy in the context of reggea is different than busy in a rock song or a prog song or whatever.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

The OP Never said anything about reggae, but our forum assumed it.
One TB member recommended LA version of reggae; therefore, I asked about 311.
The thread is about "busy" bass-lines; therefore, I've asked a question about that specific Flea's bass-line.

Well the music the OP posted is reggea-ish ... so of course we are like : is it busy for a reggae style music ? Of course everyone will say something different because our taste are different but it is all in the context of that reggae-ish music.

I still don't get the link with 311 ... is 311 reggae ish ? if so I don't understand reggae at all.

And Flea's bass line in an Alanis's song is an exemple of ... busy ???

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Buying doesn't mean you liked it, especially in 1999, the web wasn't what it is today. Most people bought the album after hearing the first single and end up not liking the rest.

I completely agree with you that "buying does not mean too much". Rap and hip hop music is a very good "comodity" but I don't buy it.
Anyway, the musicianship does not always equals commercial success.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I get that but at the same time, the music you made is pretty much reggae and so ... buzy in the context of reggea is different than busy in a rock song or a prog song or whatever.

Yes, you are correct saying, that "buzy in the context of reggea is different than busy in a rock song or a prog song."

I've already expressed my opinion about STYLES earlier. They have their own rules, regulations, expectations(!), etc...
I don't want to get back to analyzing too much of the OP's music while knowing so little(!) about the OP's situation/environment/etc...
(I can bring so many examples about it but not here, not today.)

Here is my(!) short vision of a bass-line for any "easy-listening" music besides in addition to that
"SUPPORTING the HARMONY" function.

(Let's not talk about JAZZ/free Jazz, or any other INSTRUMENTALLY-PROGRESSIVE proprietary music this time.)

The bass-line for any grooving music should have a more or less clearly described, steady 1, or 2, or 4 - bar pattern, that is repeating itself.
"Groove as Repetition."

Depending on the song's form, sections, that bass pattern/groove/riff/etc... can and should be developed/varied, plus all those fills, runs, that don't "clash" with the established bass pattern/template, unless otherwise advised(!).

The bass-line Must(!) be "organically and integrally" linked to the drum part!

I will try to succinctly describe my(!) vision of "busy" bass-line -

(a) busy as a pitch-wise/rhythmically saturated but repetitive(!) and closely-linked(!) to the song's/composition's form or section bass pattern/groove,

and

(b) busy as a NOT repetitive (or loosely repetitive) bass-line, kind of "chaotic", uncoupled from the drums and/or the rhythm group - something of this, something of that, etc..., without paying any attention to the song's sections.

In case (a), we can argue about the need or beauty of this or that bass-line's pitch-wise or rhythmic texture.
In case (b) - that's what I call a "busy" bass-line.
Sorry, I'm trying to be short and express the gist of my(!) vision of a comping bass-line; therefore, it's quite possible that I've forgot to mention a lot of "stuff".

Let's check the following bass-line,
Duran Duran - Rio


More,



OF COURSE, the one and only

And Flea's bass line in an Alanis's song is an exemple of ... busy ???

I would say, Flea was HIRED to record it because of his STYLE, his "unique" note "unpolished" articulation, etc...

I still don't get the link with 311 ... is 311 reggae ish ? if so I don't understand reggae at all.

It was one of my main pet peeve about pushing somebody into some traditional "cemented" template of Style.

 

[descendent22]

Too busy is a term I've herd a couple times. I've learned that for some cases that less is more. At times doing a fill at the end of every verse is to much, it's like throw it in their randomly once in a while so it doesn't get boring or played out. Keep things fresh and unique. Throwing the higher octave in all the time, or going off into your own thing without noticing it. It's cool that your doing what you feel, and what is in your soul, but sometimes we was bassist want to do a lot more when things are simple and it could end up sounding like there's to much going on, rather then just keeping it simple with the " Les is more " factor

 

[bearfoot]

I tend to think it's more about rhythmic phrasing than number or speed of notes.

The article linked in this thread might be refreshing to some :

Tony Visconti on Rethinking Rock Bass...

 

[RiZzBot]

At times doing a fill at the end of every verse is to much,

This depends heavily on how deep I am into my drink

 

[Whousedtoplay]

this thread might be refreshing to some

Uh....
It's Sunday - I'm tired but the following paragraph could be really misinterpreted.
(or at least would get my scrupulous attention)

"This is why rock is slowly dying. It’s stagnant.
Rock has its roots in rhythm and blues and country, and those are improvisational styles.
People didn’t read music; they made up their parts and went along.
If you don’t allow yourself to evolve, then you’re being robotic.
If there’s no real and organic spontaneity, then what you are doing is not rock & roll."

 

[fretter]

Buying doesn't mean you liked it, especially in 1999, the web wasn't what it is today. Most people bought the album after hearing the first single and end up not liking the rest.

Isn't it ironic?

 

[BaileyMan]

I'm thinking there's an issue here with the guitar. Like others have stated during the first track your guitarist is pushing the beat pretty hard and as a result anything you do will sound too busy.

Rather, he should be dragging, or pulling the beat ever so slightly. That way it won't sound like everyone is in a race to get to the end of the song where nobody wins. That alone will dramatically change the way both guitar and bass will sound.

@RiZzBot
I agree with this comment. I listened to the first half or so of Carolyn. It's a great tune, and your bass line is great. It's mos def not too busy. It keeps my interest, it's appropriate for Reggae, it fits in great! The guitarist is definitely rushing the beat, which makes you rush the beat in a few places too. It creates a tension that makes me feel I need to hurry up and get to the next thing. It doesn't have that super chill, relaxed, behind the beat pocket that makes you want to just sit back, chill out, groove' on the riddim. I've been listening to / studying Family Man Barrett's bass line in a few live versions of "No Woman, No Cry". He is deep in the pocket, behind the beat in that Reggae defining style. Focusing on that would make that tune come alive! Y'all either need to smoke more weed, less weed, or different weed to get a more relaxed vibe. Maybe you and the guitar player need to just get off each others backs, be grateful that you all make great music together and work together as team. The tension between y'all is interfering with the music.

Another thought...I think you and the guitar player could work together on giving and taking space. There are times when he could step back (also he could be a little softer in the mix), maybe go with a clean sound so that your groove can shine and other times when you could simplify your groove so that the guitar can shine. What's the goal of the music, is it a template for your egos or are you coming together as one to make great music that expresses who you are in songs that sound great?