Double Bass What do great bass players have in common? (DB forum thread)

[Bass]

Extraordinary sense of timing?

Diligent practice?

Maybe they're all left-handed?

 

[tangentmusic]

They all play bass great

 

[elavate7]

do thier homework!!!!

 

[Disco Batman]

Whatever it is I'm not one of them.

 

[Southpaw5]

Maybe they're all left-handed?

That definitely it!

 

[St Drogo]

Balls. Balls and vulnerability.

With that, I mean willingness to put yourself into your playing.

Other than that, playing appropriately to the context is important. Someone here on TB said something along the lines of "Bela Fleck would suck with Cliff Williams on bass, but so would AC/DC with Wooten".

 

[J. Montgomery]

As Les Claypool said, the bassist is the member of the band with the largest genitalia.

 

[FritoBandito]

They're team players. Drummers are in their own little worlds, guitards all want to be rock stars, keyboard players would like the rest of the band to just go away, and singers are....well....singers (nuff said), but bassists are team players. They love a good groove and the way it fits in with the whole package. They love to be apart of a well oiled machine that has a deep thump. Bass solos? Sure it can be done, and I've seen some amazing ones, but for the most part a bassist is happiest when the spotlight is on the whole band and the applause is for everyone. And ya, a great bassist definitely has the biggest instrument and knows how to use it, and thats what makes him great!

 

[jumbosilverette]

I think a good bassist has an innate sense of time, a feel for groove, an ear for melody, and an ego to be a team player.

 

[capnsandwich]

They know their role and shut their hole. That and are great with the ladies.

 

[eerbrev]

Years of jedi training and experience? and technique.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Good timing, intonation, note choices, feel. All things I struggle with.

 

[dragon6]

It's a haunting that never leaves you alone. They love the low frequencies. It's a passion for them. Constant exploration and expansion of technique and musicality. Endless practice for those moments of flying on the edge. But it's always about the music, the song, the telling of a musical journey. The soul of a piece of music. That is one common thread among great bassist's.

 

[Paul Barsic]

And ya, a great bassist definitely has the biggest instrument...

I think that we have to give that one to the pianists.

 

[M Ramsey]

They know when and what NOT to play, according to what the musical piece needs/requires.

 

[BryanC]

I think that we have to give that one to the pianists.

No, no. The pipe organ is the biggest. And produces those low notes brilliantly.