What makes a great Blues bass player.?

[MichelD]

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.

Actually, from what I hear in the music, (and of course there are exceptions) blues bass is really much more roots fifths and major thirds and sixths and possibly a flat seven in a walking context. Leave the blue notes to the guitar and blues harp players.

 

[LBS-bass]

Actually, from what I hear in the music, (and of course there are exceptions) blues bass is really much more roots fifths and major thirds and sixths and possibly a flat seven in a walking context. Leave the blue notes to the guitar and blues harp players.

There’s a variety of picking patterns that need to be known in order to play blues faithfully. You need to figure out the definitive version of the song you’re plAying and pay attention. It’s surprising the variations you will hear on the bass lines within the standard chord changes.

 

[jdh3000]

What qualities does a great Blues bass player have, in your opinion?

Question prompted by looking at a book on Eric Clapton's performance and recording work since 1985.

Wear a cool hat!

Listen to anything that is the blues... You need to be able to feel the music and convey it in your playing. I can alway tell when someone is just gigging but isn't really interested in the music they are playing.

One can learn technical aspects of a genre, and do well, but to really play something like the blues, it takes really loving what you are playing.
And as some others have stated, it's not all 3 chord 12 bar. Get Pandora or some other type of streaming radio. Go listen to some good bands live... listen with your ears, your heart and soul!

 

[Ryno1330]

Great post, and my thoughts exactly, regarding EC.




Nathan East (Clapton's guy) is one of the best in the biz, but I'm not sure even he would consider himself a blues player. He is a top notch hired gun, which involves so much more than just his playing.

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.

They epitomize the qualities in this quote here:

Well put. Nathan East will always be one of my favorite bass players. Incrrdibly dynamic, creative and well rounded.

 

[Mike Whitfield]

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.."

I laughed so hard at that, thanks!

 

[Chrisk-K]

Willingness to never ever overplay.

 

[Ric5]

What qualities does a great Blues bass player have, in your opinion?

Question prompted by looking at a book on Eric Clapton's performance and recording work since 1985.

you need a good feel … and the pentomic scale is your friend

 

[Lagado]

Actually, from what I hear in the music, (and of course there are exceptions) blues bass is really much more roots fifths and major thirds and sixths and possibly a flat seven in a walking context. Leave the blue notes to the guitar and blues harp players.

There's a time and a place for things. It depends on who you listen to, but the context I meant that in, meant the entirety of the blues and most popular music. Credit where credit is due. A whole new tonality, that those people paid for.

 

[bucephylus]

With no apologies, I will respectfully disagree with the majority of misinformation posted so far in this thread. Blues is the basis of nearly all of our music. Being unaware of that huge section of the art form is not a good basis for being a solid bass player.

Playing Blues well is a matter of knowing a lot of tunes, being fluent on your instrument, and gigging a lot (aka paying the dues).

BTW, Blues played correctly is anything but boring. Saying that reminds me of players who bad mouth Mustang Sally, and then proceed to play it completely and utterly incorrectly.

Here is just one example of how it gets done. There are many others, though few mentioned in this thread. (Shakes head).



BTW, the bass player here is Greg Rzab; a great player.

 

[MichelD]

With no apologies, I will respectfully disagree with the majority of misinformation posted so far in this thread. Blues is the basis of nearly all of our music. Being unaware of that huge section of the art form is not a good basis for being a solid bass player.

Playing Blues well is a matter of knowing a lot of tunes, being fluent on your instrument, and gigging a lot (aka paying the dues).

BTW, Blues played correctly is anything but boring. Saying that reminds me of players who bad mouth Mustang Sally, and then proceed to play it completely and utterly incorrectly.

Here is just one example of how it gets done. There are many others, though few mentioned in this thread. (Shakes head).

Nice to see and hear the JB played there. If I recall correctly I first saw a JB played in a blues band by the bass player in Albert Collins' band in 1969.

 

[cxcxcx]

The same things that make a great Blues bass player are the same things that make a great bass player in any style. Time, tone, taste, intent, authenticity, repertoire, compositional approach, musical ideas, feel, sensitive accompaniment skills and respect for the music. Nobody gets a pass on this. In a nutshell, a lot of work and informed listening.

 

[dkelley]

Stable - stable personality, stable tone, stable time,

and a big one from my experience: stable memory for the sometimes VERY subtle differences between bass parts in songs that differentiate them.... that last one is really challenging actually. Chords might be identical in half the set - but play the wrong damn bass riff in one of them and it's not longer "That" song, now it's "that other" song, and your singer/guitarist could get frustrated, and crowd of blues lovers who might know each song intimately well will be calling you out after the show.

Or... did that only happen to me? LoL

 

[nilorius]

It that happen only to you!

 

[primusfan1989]

Good timing, knowledge of the idiom, and lack of ego.

 

[mattj1stc]

I think it's a 12 step process that repeats itself

 

[dalkowski]

Well first thing is, he wakes up. This morning.

I'll see myself out.

 

[Whil57]

Define blues. Robert Johnson sounds way different than Chuck Berry, who sounds way different than Clapton, who sounds way different than Robert Cray,who sounds way different than Stevie Ray....Rockabilly, Bluegrass....
One of my favs- bass solo at 3:30

 

[robert_stuart]

Since you mention Eric Clapton, I have infinite respect for the bass in Cryin'. the chromatic walking line is perfect. Also, the changes between pumping the bass vs. laying back:



But I don't know the background of this song. It sounds like it's a blues variation that's enabling that chromatic line. If so, this could have been planned by the composer.

 

[Atshen]

The ability to stay awake through a whole 12-bar.

Or worse, through a whole blues jam.

 

[pbass2]

My fave blues electric bass players are the ones who think and play sort of "doghouse like" a la Willie Dixon. That use of space and minimalism and very deep pocket, and sort of upright-like phrasing. Like Joey Spampinato from NRBQ, and Bill Wyman (check out his playing on the London Howlin' Wolf sessions).