What makes a great Blues bass player.?

[Bruiser Stone]

I don’t know enough to comment why, but with my ears in the context of blues, I would love to sound something like Mars Cowling.

 

[ClassicJazz]

A good hat AND shoes!! This is me from the last years International Blues Challenge. We made it to the semi-finals!

 

[Lagado]

You have to have suffered some adversity in life, something to draw upon, take this for instance:

"The same study reported 40 percent of millennials consider cereal an undesirable breakfast choice because of the inconvenience of cleaning the bowls they used."

There you go, the Millennial Breakfast Bowl Blues:

"Ooooh I ain't had no breakfast, I didn't wanna clean the dish
I said I ain't not never had no breakfast, I didn't want to clean the dish
But all a that ain't a nothing, I'd rather starve than feed the fish.."

 

[BluesWalker]

Fedora (hat not bass), shades and bowling shirt

 

[jj.833]

I like OP's question. I'd say "desire ... burned".

 

[micguy]

A hat.

I think it's far more "blues" to have a bald head and display it than to cover it up with a hat. Blues is about life experience, and hanging it all out there for people to see, hear, and feel.

Then again, maybe if you're unfortunate enough to have a full head of hair, a hat is a good idea - make 'em think you're bald and hiding it - faux mojo - kind of like a relic'ed bass.

Musically, what you need for Blues is everything you need to play any kind of music decently, plus....a knowledge of how to push and pull the beat - to be able to stretch and compress time, without it looking like you just have bad timing. As far as pitch, you don't usually bend a note to get to another "correct" note in Blues - you usually bend it to get to somewhere in between correct notes. It's about conveying the pain that got you where you are, not about being pretty.

 

[rtslinger]

Agree with every one who said ability to hold the pocket and I will add and make it interesting while doing so.

 

[micguy]

Fedora (hat not bass), shades and bowling shirt

Yes, a Fodera is definitely NOT blues. Ain't no haaadship in a life where you can 'ford onna dose.

 

[devnulljp]

For me, when I decided to delve into the blues, I dove into the playing of two guys, who happened to back two of the best in the "modern era" in my opinion.

Keith Ferguson, backing Jimmy Vaughn in The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Tommy Shannon backing Jimmy's brother Stevie Ray.

Add Gerry MacAvoy from Rory Gallagher's band to that list and you're golden.

 

[oldrocker]

The ability to reach an almost zen-like state playing the same 3-4 chords for stretches of 10+ minutes while the guitar and keys get all the applause

And then do it again for the next song

 

[40Hz]

My favorite blues bassist was the late Jim Mouradian when he played with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters up until his untimely death a few years ago. In addition to being a master luthier, Jim was a bassist who could hang in the pocket with the best and tastefully lay it down. And also go with the flow and turn on a dime. Not the easiest thing to do with such a total “in the moment” and “all feel” bandmate like Ronnie Earl.

 

[mambo4]

Be conversant in the vocabulary of the blues...Know your history... what the tuba players were doing a hundred years ago. Know Willie Dixon. It’s all DNA.

Best answer so far. To master any style you have to dive deep.
Superficial knowledge will not convince the lovers of that style.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Pocket.
Repetition, repetition, repetition...and so on. More fills the less effective

.....and did I mention repetition...and repeat.....try pulling off some buddy guy by changing your bassline every chorus, you'll get fired on the spot.

 

[ClassicJazz]

Yes, a Fodera is definitely NOT blues. Ain't no haaadship in a life where you can 'ford onna dose.

I play in a real traditional blues band, use my Fodera all the time! And a Rickenbacker!

 

[mongo2]

IMO, same as in any other genre...skill and discretion.

 

[soulstew]

To paraphrase many others: Taste, restraint and humility.

 

[Lagado]

They should know that the blues scales were originated by the slaves that were not allowed to converse on the plantation. So they sang their wretched experinces to each other, thus the formation of the blues scales to convey this. That's the essence of it all.

 

[micguy]

I play in a real traditional blues band, use my Fodera all the time! And a Rickenbacker!

I will only accept a Fodera as a blues instrument if you ate ramen noodles for a year and sold a kidney to buy it second hand, and it was reduced in price because of the fire damage it incurred in the blaze that killed its original owner (who had a deal with the Devil that allowed him to buy it originally). And someone somewhere in the story has to be in prison.

 

[MTN.bass72]

Lots of whiskey of choice, and multiple broken hearts due to wretched Hussies in his life

 

[ClassicJazz]

I will only accept a Fodera as a blues instrument if you ate ramen noodles for a year and sold a kidney to buy it second hand, and it was reduced in price because of the fire damage it incurred in the blaze that killed its original owner (who had a deal with the Devil that allowed him to buy it originally). And someone somewhere in the story has to be in prison.

Paid full price! And ate ramen noodles when I was a road musician!