What makes a great Blues bass player.?

[Paulabass]

Intuitively knowing when you and the drummer are going to accent a beat.
Dynamics- A whisper to a roar, sometimes even within the same bar.
Know 1000 turnarounds- you have a couple bars to show your stuff when everyone else isn't trying to show theirs.
Give the music room to breathe.
Live with (in wallow in) the knowledge that nobody is listening to you, but the music would fall apart if you weren't there.
Bathe regularly.

 

[jerry]

Of course he gets it.... he’s a master but not blues.... of course it’s all perspective..... and yes I know his influence in blues roots.... but the blues is the black man’s music...Clapton tried his hand at everything.... but he is rock.... I shot the sheriff??? Bob Marley.... reggae.....the thrill is gone? Bb King.... mostly all of Clapton’s “blues” songs that you know him for are not his own.... you can’t borrow the blues... either you have it or you don’t.... even Clapton’s “bell bottom blues” was awesome yes but not his.... all I’m saying is don’t base you’re blues studies on Clapton...blues is heartache... you’re either will to tell the world about your pain or you rip off someone else’s pain and redo it to make no it you’re own... Bc the original composers made you feel it... hence Eric Clapton Bc he was born to rock n roll

Clapton wrote Bell Bottom Blues. The Layla album was one of the most passionate albums about heartache ever recorded. IMHO. Clapton can play the blues!!!!!

 

[Ekulati]

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.

I love Willie Weeks but how do you know Nathan "fell out of favor?"

 

[jerry]

I love Willie Weeks but how do you know Nathan "fell out of favor?"

Nathan was back with Clapton recently, I don't think Nathan was out of "favor" just booked with other things.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

A good blues bassist knows all three relevant chords.

Yes of course, the left, center and right ones in either minor or major. You cannot show a monkey how to grimace as you can see...

 

[Ekulati]

Nathan was back with Clapton recently, I don't think Nathan was out of "favor" just booked with other things.

Exactly my point. At that level, there can be virtually dozens of reasons why someone does or doesn't continue to play with someone else. Playing style ("too busy") very likely not one of them. You don't play literally hundreds and hundreds of shows with an EC then all of a sudden get bumped down the call list because of your playing style. Not at that level.

 

[bassbully]

Feel not only the music but to get deep into the feel of the groove.... that’s the magic.

 

[Lagado]

“Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand.”

Aldous Huxley - Brave New World.

You've got to go there to come back.

 

[Playbyear]

Just supply your own bass accompaniment...

 

[BluBasPlr]

Keith might be on to something.

Blues is bass is all about feel, sitting, in the pocket, and playing what the song requires. It’s the subtleties that make the difference. If you watch a crowd, they might be listening to the guitar or harp but they are internalizing the bass. Their whole body is moving and grooving with the bass.

 

[dkelley]

It that happen only to you!

Lmao

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[onamission]

Patience and pocket.

 

[TJL]

Keep time and stay outta the way! You can bounce off what the other musicians are doing to compliment the song, but it has to be minimal and extremely well placed. There are also so many versions of the blues that you may need to be more specific, but I am taking it here that you mean modern Clapton style blues.

 

[Bengal1]

Hoodoo Man Blues - Wikipedia
This is the very first Blues album I listened to in the late 60's. I would say start here and venture through some of the other artist references in this Wiki of Junior wells and other blues guys that have played with him and others like him early on. You will hear the many influences that shaped the younger players who played with the likes of Clapton, Vaughn and others. Not to mention Buddy Guy Juniors sidekick.
Lay back and listen. The blues is a feelin that changes with the mood.

 

[Ancientangler]

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.

My friends tell me I'm a great blues/swing bassist, so I guess I'm qualified to comment. About ten years ago, one of our town's swing dance cognoscenti said "Watch your dancers and don't play what their bodies can't do. Maybe focus on one or two of the better ones and respond to them with your instrument." I thought that was interesting advice, and it seems to work. Two of my favorite drummers have added these ideas to their playing, and together, we make inescapable pockets.

 

[Dave Orban]

Ability and willingness to lay back in the pocket and swing. Locking in like a pit bull. Lack of desire to overplay.

I'm pretty much in agreement, though I wouldn't be at all upset to have a guy like Jamerson playing behind me...

 

[Edward Galm]

Feel, timing & a good hat

 

[Dennis Pence]

A good musician, bassmen included, must have a large degree of technical mastery. A great musician, bassmen especially, must be able to move the emotion of the song from the heart to the fingers. It is the ability to emote in the bottom end that separates the blues wizard from the blues god. A great blues guitar player, i.e. Eric Clapton, gives the song its thrills and moans (its emotional highs and lows) a great blues bass player, i.e. Jack Bruce, carries the emotional consonance through the manic and depressive episodes of the song. Apologies, I got lost in the intelect for a few minutes.

 

[BassDuck51]

Lock in with the bass drum, keep your ears open.
When you're doing it correctly, you'll only be noticed if you lay out a bar or two.
The drummer is the engine, the bass player is the harmonic, melodic "Steering Wheel"
You can play roots to follow the chords, or you can play notes that are harmonically correct to build tension to provide the "release" at the next chord change to embellish the song's dynamics and make a Blues tune stand out and not be just another I - IV - V.
(How's THAT for a run-on sentence??)