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What makes a great Blues bass player.?
- Thread starter IamGroot
- Start date
Speaking as a long time blues player, in my opinion being forceful, confident and minimalistic. Realizing that the joy of locking in on simple lines with a tight drummer and driving the whole thing forward trumps any noodley slappy riffs and solos; and it does! In blues, all the sense of forward momentum comes from the bass, so there's where the forceful and confident thing comes in. Not talking about being too loud, talking about taking it and driving it, as that's your job.
Being willing and able to lock into the groove, as I see that as my role with the people I play with. We often play without a drummer, and therefore, I am the complete rhythm section behind a singer/harp player and guitarist. When we play this way, my biggest compliment is when someone in the crowd remarks to me, "I didn't even miss the drums." I hear that and I am all smiles.
I started playing the bass when I switched from guitar doing studio work and I didnt know verschnickert about bass. SRV was everywhere and my first bass lines were stolen from Tommy Shannon
Nathan used to be Claptons No.1 call but seemed to fall out of favor. Too many notes? Or too busy? Willie Weeks backing Clapton is my go to for blues bass. Willie can play a ton of notes, but he doesnt. Perfection.
Agreed with 99% of all above.
• Listen to Great ( non redundant ) blues ... too many to list; reference previous posts
• Think playing simply; then play even less.
• Blues Bass is foundational I like Prog ; difference being you will have an audience .
• Above all else... Enjoy !
• Listen to Great ( non redundant ) blues ... too many to list; reference previous posts
• Think playing simply; then play even less.
• Blues Bass is foundational I like Prog ; difference being you will have an audience .
• Above all else... Enjoy !
I saw Willie Weeks and Andy Newmark playing with Ronnie Wood, Keef et al at Kilburn State Theatre many many moons ago.....Ron and Keef were a little over medicated.....
Willie and Andy were sublime......
Was Willie that first turned my thoughts toward bass even though it took me over three decades to do something about it.....
Not to hijack this too much but many folks have mentioned Clapton as a worthy example of blues playing . I couldn't disagree more with that assumption . He is a great guitar player no doubt but as a blues player I find his work to be generic and lack the soul exhibited by players like Ronnie Earl and Sue Foley or the rawness and drive of Jr Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside"s work . Check out the albums made by Little Milton in the early to mid fifties to hear how swinging " Jump Blues " was if you think you'd be dying of boredom - trying to lay down a real "blues " groove . My particular favorite of those Milton tunes is " Love At First Sight " check it out and see what you think .... Kelly
Here is a little taste of us playing on a typical night on Beale
Rum Boogie's a fun gig! Tonight the IBC is on that stage and lots of others on Beale St. Lots of good blues bassists in Memphis this week!
Willie Weeks on the most recent Boz Scaggs "Out of the Blues" lp is stellar as well.
Masterful, tasteful, and compact.
Yeah a few years ago we got to host the winners announcement jam at BB Kings place, the place was full to the rafters with rabid blues fans ... that was a night!
Great thread. I dig me some Jerry Jemmott....his work with Freddie King and BB has some deep grooving and he can bring the funk.
Freddie:
My Feeling For The Blues
Freddie King Is A Blues Master
BB:
Live & Well
Completely Well
Indianola Mississippi Seeds
Freddie:
My Feeling For The Blues
Freddie King Is A Blues Master
BB:
Live & Well
Completely Well
Indianola Mississippi Seeds
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