I like that spiral architect span the bridge between technical metal and jazz,... in that every time you listen to them theres a new harmony you didnt hear before or a new extra 'something' that stands out,... and the harmonics runs are NUTS lol...
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What is overplaying ?
- Thread starter cliffbass
- Start date
I like that spiral architect span the bridge between technical metal and jazz,... in that every time you listen to them theres a new harmony you didnt hear before or a new extra 'something' that stands out,... and the harmonics runs are NUTS lol...
The first thing I thought of when I saw your question and your forum name was Cliff Burton. haha.
I heard someone say once (can't remember who), "a good player knows when to play, a GREAT player knows when NOT to play" That completely changed my approach when I heard it.
Not to mention Dragonforce is an absolutely wretched band live. Maybe overplaying and sucking live go hand-in-hand?
+1
A band director of mine once told us that our role as musicians was simply to "serve the music".
If you're trying to impress your audience with your virtuosity then I believe you're serving yourself and the music will suffer for it.
One of the important things in bass playing is the use of space. Where to leave it, how much, whether a certain space should be filled or left open, etc. This allow the groove to manifest. Over playing is not leaving space. It can come from insecurity in your playing, ego issues, not listening to the rest of the band - many causes I think. Personal taste is a factor too.
Two things showed me where I was overplaying and how to combat it...
*Think like other players
If you play another instrument, listen to what you NEED the bass to be doing. When you play bass again, play that and only that. I often get compliments from other musos/singers on "how well I'm playing today" when I remember this.
*One finger -One string method
Play your usual bass lines with only one finger and on only one string - you can groove really nicely if you focus not on notes but on expression (dynamics, tone, attack), rhythm (ahead/behind/on the beat, syncopation, locking in with kick drum/guitar), or harmony (passing notes, root note substitutes, pedal notes, counterpoint/ harmony/ unison with melody).
*Think like other players
If you play another instrument, listen to what you NEED the bass to be doing. When you play bass again, play that and only that. I often get compliments from other musos/singers on "how well I'm playing today" when I remember this.
*One finger -One string method
Play your usual bass lines with only one finger and on only one string - you can groove really nicely if you focus not on notes but on expression (dynamics, tone, attack), rhythm (ahead/behind/on the beat, syncopation, locking in with kick drum/guitar), or harmony (passing notes, root note substitutes, pedal notes, counterpoint/ harmony/ unison with melody).
Playing lead bass instead of lead guitar.....Good Video eg...That's overplaying by everyone.....the opposite of overplaying is AC/DC.. at least in the bass Let the lead have all the glory and hold it together with the drums,.
This is overplaying:
Now, I do like death metal. Its not my favorite sub-genre of metal, but there are plenty of death metal bands that I like. However, when I can't listen to a song all the way through because the shear amount of notes you're playing hurts my brain, then you're overplaying.
Now, I do like death metal. Its not my favorite sub-genre of metal, but there are plenty of death metal bands that I like. However, when I can't listen to a song all the way through because the shear amount of notes you're playing hurts my brain, then you're overplaying.
I have to agree that overplaying lends itself to many meanings. What it comes down to is playing the song. While I like to throw in the occasional fill here and there, I essentially play what the song asks for. Some may argue that it is about ego, some may say it's insecurity, the fact is that experienced musicians lend their ear to the band, and not to being above the band.
"Overplaying" can be two things.
First, it can be unnecessary and gratuitous wanking off on the fretboard when a simpler part is required.
Or it can simply be what many TBers are themselves incapable of playing in terms of complexity and technical difficulty, and therefore must insult in order to make themselves feel better about their own musical skills.
First, it can be unnecessary and gratuitous wanking off on the fretboard when a simpler part is required.
Or it can simply be what many TBers are themselves incapable of playing in terms of complexity and technical difficulty, and therefore must insult in order to make themselves feel better about their own musical skills.
I love Mike Mill's bassline on R.E.M.'s "9-9:
The bass is very present, but in a good way, I feel. It's close to how I like to play personally (adding interesting grooves and melodies to the rest of the mix, creating a better whole), but I could see how it would be percieved as overplaying by some, especially if it becomes a habit.
It's all about stepping in and out when appropriate. I'm still learning when my bass is "adding" and when it's "taking over" the sound. I want to add, but I don't want to take over. Mostly I like to try to avoid playing root notes to the guitar if I can, because that just feels like working at a factory.
The bass is very present, but in a good way, I feel. It's close to how I like to play personally (adding interesting grooves and melodies to the rest of the mix, creating a better whole), but I could see how it would be percieved as overplaying by some, especially if it becomes a habit.
It's all about stepping in and out when appropriate. I'm still learning when my bass is "adding" and when it's "taking over" the sound. I want to add, but I don't want to take over. Mostly I like to try to avoid playing root notes to the guitar if I can, because that just feels like working at a factory.
I don't like playing a lot of roots either, but the band likes it, and in a way they depend on hearing it. So I play more of them than I want.
In my opinion, overplaying, or "wanking," is when you play to satisfy your own ego rather than to contribute to the musical energy around you.
You can overplay whole notes.
You can overplay whole notes.
I hate to generalise the term over playing cause it varys. If most drummers decided to play a fill the entire verse of a song It would sound like overplaying. Keith Moon however did that kind of thing pretty regularly and most of the time it sounded pretty good. To me what seperates a good musician from a great one is the ability to "over play" and still sound good.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
quick question. When do you know your overplaying? A lot of songs I know are full of bass, Hysteria from Muse, Carousel from Blink -182, A ton of Metallica songs, number of the beast and a bunch others. Those riffs call for quite a bit. Were they overplaying at the time or what?
^ Thats a good question and there's no simple answer. Sometimes it relies on your bandmates hearing what YOU are doing, recognizing it's integral to the song and learning to STFU. A concept not many guitards and keyboardists quite understand.
