Too "busy" on the bass?!?

[Twocan]

In many cases, a recording will be "stripped down" to the fundamentals of the song, in order to allow the melody to stay in the forefront. Live, you'll have much more discretion. The idea here (depending on your genre) is to play the SONG. The guitar(s)/keys usually inject the melody, while the bass and drums lay the foundation. If your playing is making that foundation wobbly, the whole thing is bound to topple.

Consider some classic studio recordings, that bass accent (note, slap, pop, slide, etc) you loved probably didn't happen on every 8 or 16 count. In happened once and was memorable.

 

[the explode man]

Recorded an album at Audiohammer Studios in April and the producer was basically my idol. Most of the lines I wrote for bass got "toned down". It hurt, but I trust the guy's judgment!

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I think you are really driving the tune one I Smoke. Love that gritty tone.
Carolyn, on the other hand, I think is a bit busy. By that, I mean too many notes. For a reggae feel, I think you should stay off the 1 more. But, with that said, what you are doing is well done.

 

[Lee Moses]

That's exactly what he tells me. "dude stick to root and fifths". Thanks again buddy.

I didn't listen to the clip because in my opinion, whatever we think about your playing is irrelevant. A band has to function like a team -- especially an originals band -- and everyone should be open to hearing their bandmates' opinions. You're playing it the way you hear and feel it, but evidently that's inconsistent with the way he hears and feels it. You both need to be more open-minded, discuss it like adults, and try to find a way to play it that everyone is satisfied with.

I do mostly agree with what Lobster says. But having heard the basslines myself, dumbing them down seems like it would be a disservice to your need to fulfill your creativity and to the songs themselves. I would hope the guitarist could appreciate that good reggae basslines serve as a countermelody, not just providing half notes to indicate the harmonic structure.

I don't know. If you stick to your guns you may well lose the gig, but maybe you'd be more fulfilled in another situation that doesn't hold you back as much.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Don't get petty. Best to get a recording of a rehearsal, and have a sitdown with the BL over a beer or a coffee and discuss what would serve the song best.

 

[RiZzBot]

the bass and drums lay the foundation. If your playing is making that foundation wobbly, the whole thing is bound to topple.

This is a very grey area at best. If im being told my line is too busy, then i'm going to want an explanation on why and how. Dont just tell me "thats just the way a bass line is supposed to be; simple". You know what I mean? Thanks for the reply

 

[RiZzBot]

I think you are really driving the tune one I Smoke. Love that gritty tone.
Carolyn, on the other hand, I think is a bit busy. By that, I mean too many notes. For a reggae feel, I think you should stay off the 1 more. But, with that said, what you are doing is well done.

Thanks buddy

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Good ole boy bands are full of egos. Most bands have a way of weeding out the large egos. The people with large egos, sooner or later disappear. We are just trying to have a few hours of fun and if it is not fun someone has to go.

Everyone doing their thing steps on a lot of toes. Remember what we learned along with how to read, spell and add? How to get along with other people.

 

[Old Blastard]

It's a difficult thing. I play a lot of notes but when we went to prepare for an acoustic gig sans drummer I realized I wasn't holding the beat as tight and needed to cut back to half notes and quarters. Always listen to yourself. You want to move the music as well as move in it.

 

[eekamike]

I agree with Lee Moses, the guy probably just isn't used to playing reggae. I only got to listen to a quick clip, so I can't judge for sure, but I thought I'd share anyways: in reggae bass, bumping, busy lines push the song, however the rhythm still needs to breathe. Keep the busy, but stop every other measure or so to breathe. See Devon Bradshaw's lesson on "Kotch"

 

[Lobster11]

We've discussed this till we're both blue in the face. In the end, it always boils down to me reminding him that we dont get paid for this, and him him calling me an a****** and storming out. He always comes back though, so we must be doing something right.

This just convinces me even more that what I/we think about your playing is completely irrelevant. You and this guitarist clearly have very different opinions about what you want this band to sound like. I don't see how this can last very long or be very much fun for anybody with the two of you in the band together. You've either got to find a better way to address your differences, or one of you has to go.

Personally, I would have left after the first or second blue-in-the-face/someone-storming-out episode. If this gig is for fun rather than for profit.... well, this just doesn't sound like any fun at all.

 

[RiZzBot]

I agree with Lee Moses, the guy probably just isn't used to playing reggae. I only got to listen to a quick clip, so I can't judge for sure, but I thought I'd share anyways: in reggae bass, bumping, busy lines push the song, however the rhythm still needs to breathe. Keep the busy, but stop every other measure or so to breathe. See Devon Bradshaw's lesson on "Kotch"

I love this guys vids

 

[gregmon79]

if it's not the first time you've heard then maybe it's you.

This was exactly what I was thinking. But without hearing you play, it's hard to tell......

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Thanks buddy

You're welcome, but now, with that said, I will have to go with some other on the subject. Song writing with a band is a collaborative effort that does require some give and take.
I have the same issue sometimes with my originals band. The lead singer who usually writes the lyrics and sometimes the melody and progressions as well sends me a recording with just him and his acoustic. I love that, because I can experiment with it until I get just what I want. The most recent, which we are still working on, I particularly like. I wrote an intro for it that transitions into the first verse. Later in the tune, there is a bridge that has the same progression as the intro. I was originally just doing the intro over that again, but two members of the band wanted me to drop it an octave and simplify it. I still like my version better, but it fits with what the lead guitar and drummer are doing at that time. We also had to get the drummer to lighten up a bit because we wanted more air in the song. It is very contemplative and needs to feel open.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Please bare in mind that I am a novice at best. Keep the harsh criticism to a minimum. jkjk I'm pretty thick skinned, let me have it.

Carolyn | the Skunk Brothers
i smoke | the Skunk Brothers

Nothing wrong with that bass playing at all in my most humble opinion

 

[RiZzBot]

This just convinces me even more that what I/we think about your playing is completely irrelevant. You and this guitarist clearly have very different opinions about what you want this band to sound like. I don't see how this can last very long or be very much fun for anybody with the two of you in the band together. You've either got to find a better way to address your differences, or one of you has to go.

Personally, I would have left after the first or second blue-in-the-face/someone-storming-out episode. If this gig is for fun rather than for profit.... well, this just doesn't sound like any fun at all.

My original post wasnt supposed to be about my bassline (I guess in a way it was). Someone wanted to hear a sample. So I reluctantly posted it. My op was a simple question about what constitutes as "too busy". Thanks for you feedback friend.

 

[eKay]

Try switching instruments with the guitar player.

 

[RiZzBot]

This was exactly what I was thinking. But without hearing you play, it's hard to tell......

Dang, that cut deep friend. jkjk. I guess I'm just tired of other musicians (guitar player especially) thinking that the bass needs to be in the background; simple and drowned out by the other instruments. I want to find a way of pushing it up front but still within the confines of whats good for the band as a whole.

 

[RiZzBot]

Nothing wrong with that bass playing at all in my most humble opinion

Thanks brother, I really appreciate that.

 

[jamro217]

When I first started playing fretless I was tentative to play a busy style because I lacked confidence in my intonation. To deal with this I developed a sort of glissando into the note. Sort of like a trombone sound. It simplified the lines and yet brought them to life. When I went back and listened to the old tapes (yes, tapes) it made sense that the lines were good not because of the annoying t bone routine, but because they were simple and worked. I played them on a fretted bass and they still worked. If the songs had been written on the fretted bass from the outset, I cringe to think of what the bass would have been doing. That's when the whole "less is more" thing began to make sense. This may seem unrelated, but if you imagine that you're picking up the bass for the first time and concentrate on how you finger each note, your playing may slow down (fewer notes, not tempo) to a point where the idea comes across without all of the clutter. By perfecting the art of playing the first beat of every measure correctly (on time and in tune) you can open up a little space at the end of the measure without seeming out of place. I hope this helps. By the way, I started in a rock trio and developed a busy style out of necessity. It's taken years of hard work to try to simplify it to the point of not being told either "Just play the damn chart!" or "Your not paid by the note!".