What makes a good bassist?

[RedHatter]

Title says it all. Was talking to some friends that I play with last night and this question came up from a guitar player. When he first asked I started to giggle a little bit, but then I actually thought about it and couldn't really come up with an answer - it's just something that I've never thought about. So.. what makes a "good" bass player?

Timing? Ability to lock with the drummer? Having a tort pick guard on their bass?

 

[Gorn]

A useful bass player has timing. A good bass player brings the funk.

 

[SteveCS]

I would expand the question back with 'what makes a good musician?' Because goodness with any instrument depends on the music and it's context, but there are common factors that transcend the instrument. Ability to communicate with and involve the audience being one. As bassists we use pulse, time and pitches that are as much felt as heard to connect the music with fundamentals of human emotion. In any genre, these things do not change (IMHO).

 

[jd56hawk]

The ability to become the bass.

 

[SteveCS]

The ability to become the bass.

Nice! I think this is ultimately what I was getting at above.

Edit - I preferred it before your last edit, but still good

Edit 2 - you've put it back!

 

[RedHatter]

A useful bass player has timing. A good bass player brings the funk.

I expected something a bit more snarky from you, sir. I am disappointed. Shouldn't you be chasing Kirk up a mountain or something, anyway..?

 

[RedHatter]

I would expand the question back with 'what makes a good musician?' Because goodness with any instrument depends on the music and it's context, but there are common factors that transcend the instrument. Ability to communicate with and involve the audience being one. As bassists we use pulse, time and pitches that are as much felt as heard to connect the music with fundamentals of human emotion. In any genre, these things do not change (IMHO).

Didn't your mother ever tell you that it's impolite to answer a question with another question?

Seriously though, good answer. I need to remember your response for the next time this comes up.

 

[Wolfenstein666]

I'd say a good bassist has discretion. It's easy to overplay, it's hard to know when to support the song and fulfill your roll in the band.

 

[socialleper]

For me:
1. Does more than the minimum. They drive the song or provide a layer that would make the song less interesting if it wasn't there.
2. Has a tone I can actually hear. I suspect that bassist with boring, buried tones are hiding mediocre abilities or unimaginative playing.

 

[jd56hawk]

Nice! I think this is ultimately what I was getting at above.

Edit - I preferred it before your last edit, but still good

Edit 2 - you've put it back!

I've been up since 4:30...a bit foggy.

 

[Nev375]

Muscles, bones, ligaments, nerves, tendons, at least one good ear and tastebuds.

Those last two are quite important. A bass player MUST have a good ear and taste.

<----- Brain not required, obviously.

 

[Whippet]

Keeps time, gets heard, gets along with the drummer, and doesn't have a fit when the guitarist gets all the opposite gender fans.

 

[bassbully]

Having the money to buy decent gear? No really IMO its having big ears and timing.

 

[Panther]

Title says it all. Was talking to some friends that I play with last night and this question came up from a guitar player. When he first asked I started to giggle a little bit, but then I actually thought about it and couldn't really come up with an answer - it's just something that I've never thought about. So.. what makes a "good" bass player?

Timing? Ability to lock with the drummer? Having a tort pick guard on their bass?

You CAN'T be serious

 

[primusfan1989]

Timing
Know what it means and knows how to play in the pocket
Having taste (don't slap and pop in a country song etc...)
Good Tone

 

[Spidey2112]

"I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days."...

... or something like that.

 

[jlepre]

For me:
1. Does more than the minimum. They drive the song or provide a layer that would make the song less interesting if it wasn't there.
2. Has a tone I can actually hear. I suspect that bassist with boring, buried tones are hiding mediocre abilities or unimaginative playing.

I agree with point #1, but have to disagree to some extent with #2. Some songs are best suited with the less is more concept.

 

[SteveCS]

I'd say a good bassist has discretion. It's easy to overplay, it's hard to know when to support the song and fulfill your roll in the band.

Bang on. I guess the meaning of discretion to individuals will vary, but here's a couple of examples from my understanding...





and inspired by another active thread...

 

[two fingers]

A useful bass player has timing. A good bass player brings the funk.

Well stated. You have to find that balance. Yes, you want to "lock in" with the band. But you also want to (in both subtle and no-so-subtle ways) contribute to its sound. A drum machine has timing, but it ain't funky.

It's the ability to adjust from one role to the other. In one song, it may be your "job" to fade into the background and simply provide a foundation on which the melodic aspects of the band (vocals, soloists, etc) can build. In the next song, it may be your "job" to grab that song by the hair and drag it across the stage not allowing the rest of the band to stop you no matter how hard they try. The ability to do both, and knowing when to do which one, makes you a "good bassist".

Victor Wooten can play three parts at once playing the whole song by himself. But he is equally adept at standing in the back of the stage by his drummer and just laying down a solid, simple, funky bass line and letting others shine. That is an extreme example of what I am talking about.

That and P bass tort flats foam burst tubes ......stuff.

 

[gregmon79]

To me, it's all about good time, staying in the pocket and melody. knowing how to write songs is way up there too.

IMO, you don't need to be Wooten or Jaco or know how to slap like Flea to be a good bassist.

We all bring something different to the table whether that’s technique, songwriting style, tone or dexterity. It took me years to realize that it wasn’t all about how fast you could slap or pop or how many different scales you could play. Those things help for sure. But they aren’t NEEDED to be a good bassist/musician. As long as you have the drive, good timing, can play in key and get along with others, you can be a great bassist. I look at some of the “greats”, the guys who are remembered, and a lot of them didn’t know scales or chord progressions, some didn’t even know an E from an A. They may have learned those things over time but it’s not what made them great. See, to me, what sets everyone apart, tone and song writing. You could be a mediocre player and get largely recognized and praised. I guess my point is, you don’t have to be Marcus or Stanley to be “great”. You just need the passion, drive an confidence. Timing is a must at some point but these are things that come after you’ve made a decision to throw yourself into the bassists role.