Two Bassists in a band

[Roy Blockowitch]

I am just throwing this out there out of curiosity. Some bands have two drummers like the Grateful Dead all the way to Lawrence Welk and other groups in between. Does anyone know of bands that had two bassist? Would it work? Thanks

 

[Roy Blockowitch]

I should have googled it first because I now have an answer.

 

[bass12]

Dumpstaphunk. I’ve played a couple of shows where there have been two bassists. It can work - with the right bass players.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

The only one with which I'm familiar is Elf, but those two switched off. They played, when they weren't singing.

Of course, there's that one scene in This Is Spinal Tap.

​

 

[Hummergeist]

Hugo Largo is always the one I think of.

 

[klattman]

SMV (band) - Wikipedia



fun stuff

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Every time I see P-Funk play they seem to have more than one dude up there on 4 strings.
Typically a younger cat holds down the actual songs and plays from start to finish for the entire show, and an older guy - Bootsy when he's with them - takes the parts that might be called "lead" but is not really responsible for holding the groove measure by measure.

And then of course there's that Bass Extreme tour that features one of our very own TBers.

 

[jdaunt]

Ratdog toured with two bassist for a time, Rob Wasserman and Robin Sylvester. I remember reading an interview i believe from Wasserman where he said they would alternate songs where one would play a more typical bassline and the other would play up the neck and more melodic fills so they wouldn’t be overkill. Also i believe Wasserman mostly played upright during that time.

 

[HolmeBass]

Didn’t Yo La Tengo also do some songs with two basses?

But I’d say Dumpstaphunk is the template to follow.

 

[Cave Puppy]

I can’t stand two basses played at the same time if they are in the same register. Think: Anderton’s bass videos with the two guys on bass, at the same time, as a duo. I dislike that so much I unsubscribed from them. Granted - I haven’t seen it done well in a live setting. Just can’t abide by those Anderton’s vids.

 

[Cave Puppy]

Ratdog toured with two bassist for a time, Rob Wasserman and Robin Sylvester. I remember reading an interview i believe from Wasserman where he said they would alternate songs where one would play a more typical bassline and the other would play up the neck and more melodic fills so they wouldn’t be overkill. Also i believe Wasserman mostly played upright during that time.

RIP Rob. Saw him with Lou Reed and I was slack jawed the whole time.

 

[Sanshiro]

The Cure if you count the Fender Bass VI as a bass, they use it as melodic lead instrument mainly. The song Primary is just two basses and drums.


This is cheating as it's actually two bands playing together, but Casiopea and T-SQUARE made it work live with two bassists.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Double bassists Ray Brown and Nils Orsted Henning Pedersen accompanying Oscar Peterson - for those who enjoy jazz virtuosity.

 

[Grinderman]

Dos - Mike Watt and his then wife Kira Roessler

Currently: The CIA with Denée Segall, her husband Ty Segall on bass and other things and Emmett Kelly on bass and other things.

Guess which one is face down on the ground.

 

[Marc valero]

Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Grey Cell Green

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Grey Cell Green

Killer band. Brings me back.

 

[gln1955]

These guys do it well.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Mauro Pezzente/electric bass; Thierry Amar/double bass & electric bass.

 

[Matthew_84]

I once heard a live recording of Jaco playing the “The Days of Wine and Roses” with a drummer and another bassist. The bassist was walking and Jaco was playing more of a soloist role. May be worth a listen to see if you like it or not.

 

[neddyrow]

I did it in a rock band for awhile. It worked well for us because I was a competent but not fancy bass player. Our friend could play anything with strings and he would play essentially "lead bass" for us.