I've had some "success" with showing up on time with the gear required for the situation.
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What makes a good bassist?
- Thread starter RedHatter
- Start date
You know what makes a good... TIMING! bassist?
dammit.
dammit.
Knowing when to add a fill, when to be quiet, and of course the ability to create a marvellous bassline. That's for rock.
Copy the rhythm guitar player. That's for metal.
Be crazy and complex. That's for jazz.
But one thing that's common — having a sense of timing, and practice. Loads of it.
Copy the rhythm guitar player. That's for metal.
Be crazy and complex. That's for jazz.
But one thing that's common — having a sense of timing, and practice. Loads of it.
Playing the right notes, adding just enough to give the song an interesting layer without distracting from the other parts. Playing a part that adds to the song.
Absolutely agree.
Remember: There are no muscles in the fingers. The forearm muscles move the fingers. The fingers move the strings.
The job is to do whatever it takes to make the singer sound good. To make the band sound good. When I can get to a place where the drums and the bass sound like one instrument, that's when I feel like I'm being a good bassist. When I'm fully present, in the moment, being here now, whatever the hell that means. Most important: To always be aware that the job is to support everyone else, not to be the star.
Edit: Unless, of course, you're Bootsy.
Edit: Unless, of course, you're Bootsy.
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I'll go with the tort thing. I don't have it on any of my basses and that explains a lot.
when your emotions are channeled through the instrument. Any one can play a bass line, but to bring it to life with the tone coming from you is when the magic happens. and at times in his written all over their face ha-ha-ha all the same song
Without peeking at any other posts to be influenced, I have a very firm opinion on bassists, as both a bassist and playing other instruments in bands. A good bassist is locked in with the drummer, tight and steady. A good bassist keeps things simple as often as possible, and supports the well-being of the SONG. This goes for 90% of music, if not more. A good bassist remembers he is part of an ensemble, not the lead actor in a bad play. Thats my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Has TB been hacked? I never read so many great responses in a page and a half. 
What it takes to be a good bassist is the ability to blend into any musical situation and give it the correct foundation. That covers a huge territory. Here are two examples of perfect bass parts: Jim Croce's "I Got A Name" and Rare Earth's "Hey, Big Brother". They'd each be a disaster if you switched them. Being a good bassist depends on your being able to play like the examples listed and having the wisdom to know when to do either. If you add in a few more examples: Patrice Rushen's "Forget Me Nots" and Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" the bar is raised significantly. Now factor in such unrelated things as punctuality, cleanliness, class, dependability, and a lifetime supply of tort. Suddenly wielding a bass doesn't look so easy after all, does it?
What it takes to be a good bassist is the ability to blend into any musical situation and give it the correct foundation. That covers a huge territory. Here are two examples of perfect bass parts: Jim Croce's "I Got A Name" and Rare Earth's "Hey, Big Brother". They'd each be a disaster if you switched them. Being a good bassist depends on your being able to play like the examples listed and having the wisdom to know when to do either. If you add in a few more examples: Patrice Rushen's "Forget Me Nots" and Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" the bar is raised significantly. Now factor in such unrelated things as punctuality, cleanliness, class, dependability, and a lifetime supply of tort. Suddenly wielding a bass doesn't look so easy after all, does it?
The magic truly happens when the strings are invisible.
^this!
musicians who play bass are an exceptional group: always 'bridging', steadying, steering, evaluating, and doing it all between notes!
The irony of this often said statement is how much TB loves bass players with forward tones and who are a little busy in comparison to their contemporaries.
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A good bass player unifies the rhythm, drive, and emotional expression of a piece. Sometimes it’s out front, sometimes it isn’t.
Outside of the solo, a good bass player expresses themselves in a way that fortifies and supports the other musicians’ expression of the song’s emotion.
I have read in more than one interview with pro bass players (Chuck Rainey, Nathan East) who have said what is important is what they don’t play.
Listeners may understand or recognize a piece of music just fine without any bass involved. That said, a good bass player invites (and causes) listener engagement and emotion beyond (and below) the surface.
Thank you very much. Now back to my regularly scheduled day job.
Outside of the solo, a good bass player expresses themselves in a way that fortifies and supports the other musicians’ expression of the song’s emotion.
I have read in more than one interview with pro bass players (Chuck Rainey, Nathan East) who have said what is important is what they don’t play.
Listeners may understand or recognize a piece of music just fine without any bass involved. That said, a good bass player invites (and causes) listener engagement and emotion beyond (and below) the surface.
Thank you very much. Now back to my regularly scheduled day job.
A good musician will work to make the band shine. After all, it's a band, an ensemble of musicians. The end result will always be more important than any musician involved.
I don't care how talented you are, but if you can't listen and connect with other musicians in the band, you need to go. A band is never a one man operation.
When joining a new band, my first question is always "what can I do to help". I want the band to sound good, easy bass line or complicated bass line, it doesn't matter to me: my aim is to help the ensemble sound good.
I don't care how talented you are, but if you can't listen and connect with other musicians in the band, you need to go. A band is never a one man operation.
When joining a new band, my first question is always "what can I do to help". I want the band to sound good, easy bass line or complicated bass line, it doesn't matter to me: my aim is to help the ensemble sound good.
I only know it when I hear it. That's the moment when I look at my friends and I'll point to the bass player and say "they're a good bass player".
