I don't think anyone said "less is always more". What is implied is MOST times, more is too much. If a player can't make that distinction, they're probably not going to be very successful. The great Nashville session bassists come to mind--most of whom are well versed in all styles.
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Why Cliff Williams = Genius
- Thread starter Toadsmacker
- Start date
It's probably just because it's a cold, grim Monday, but what gets my goat is sometimes I get the impression people praise Cliff & others like him because he keeps it simple (although not as simple as some people think), and then extend that logic indiscriminately to bass across all songs in all genres.
I'm gonna use a Marvin Gaye song as an example: The studio version of 'I Want You' has very simple bass. Sharay Reed does a cover of it on youtube and absolutely blazes across the fretboard, but always keeps it tasteful. To me, in that case, more is more. If the 'Nashville session greats' had played on everything, I doubt I'd have got into bass at all. YMMV!
Back to Cliff though, he's a dude, no doubt. The above mentioned 'Who Phoned the Law' has some cool bass.
And that would have been just fine, because there was also a guitar in the store you bought your bass from.
What matters here is Cliff's feel making the music right.
P.S. Sharay Reed is an exception.
And that would have been just fine, because there was also a guitar in the store you bought your bass from.
What matters here is Cliff's feel making the music right.
P.S. Sharay Reed is an exception.
I guess I deserved that..what can I say, I like busy bass! We can agree to disagree, it's cool. And you're right, Cliff's feel makes the music what it is. I certainly can't replicate it exactly, and I don't think I've ever heard anyone who can!
My love of Cliff's playing in AC/DC does not necessarily extend to other bands, and I certainly wouldn't tell anyone else that their style isn't right for making music, especially if it involves hot-shot playing, as I'm a fan of that as much as I am Cliff's style. I'm just into how freaking good Cliff is at that style.
And this news of AC/DC not having a rhythm guitarist will come as news to this guy, who is better known as the leader and rhythm guitarist of AC/DC:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
And this news of AC/DC not having a rhythm guitarist will come as news to this guy, who is better known as the leader and rhythm guitarist of AC/DC:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
There's a place for everyone.I guess I deserved that..what can I say, I like busy bass! We can agree to disagree, it's cool. And you're right, Cliff's feel makes the music what it is. I certainly can't replicate it exactly, and I don't think I've ever heard anyone who can!
I appreciate both simple an busy styles. The feel is the important thing. If you 'blaze' just for the sake of playing fast, it becomes like nonstop talking as fast as you can. After a while, what you're saying means less and less.
Malcom Young and Phil Rudd are two big reasons why Cliff plays the way he does
I think Cliff is an excellent Bass Player because he does the right work for the ACDC music and show
I also think that bass players who judge Cliff from the perspective of thinking that Cliff is or should be laying down a groove and the others are following need to have their heads read.
The Young's control everything that goes down in ACDC and Cliff does his job and has done so for a long time now, that's why he is classed by many as a great Bass Player
Rossa
I think Cliff is an excellent Bass Player because he does the right work for the ACDC music and show
I also think that bass players who judge Cliff from the perspective of thinking that Cliff is or should be laying down a groove and the others are following need to have their heads read.
The Young's control everything that goes down in ACDC and Cliff does his job and has done so for a long time now, that's why he is classed by many as a great Bass Player
Rossa
I am doing a deep dive on cliff
I think him, malcom, rudd are the tightest rhythm section I have ever heard..........
I think him, malcom, rudd are the tightest rhythm section I have ever heard..........
Genius in his own right. You don’t need to read music to be an outstanding musician. Honestly,who has time for that.i personally can red music but never once have I needed to read music.some basic theory,knowing your timing Nd stying in key.less is more.its like all those pointless math classes in high school. Who needs pre cal,algebra and all that, when in life all you need is the basics. No one can do what cliff does for AC/DC except cliff.listen to cliffs basslines and actually learn to play them correctly.i promise you that 9/10 people are playing his bass lines wrong.learn back in black the correct way and you’ll know exactly what I mean. The way he’ll use the 3rd instead of the root notes to compliment the chord progression alone. Subtle little things make the difference.yeah Wooten is gifted and a phenomenal musician and bassist. However I’d rather play like Duff Mckagan or Tommy Stinson or Dee Dee Ramone.
I feel like a lot of his bass lines should syncopate more with the guitar riffs. “Highway To Hell” is an example that bugs me every time I hear it.
Geez, where were you when they needed you? If you could have told him that, it could have been a hit.
I understand what you’re saying but at the same time less is more in AcDc. Less is more period. When it comes to AcDc, that’s what makes their music so great. When I pay tribute to playing their songs I’ll go Duff and slash style and follow the riff and then break off to the root. An example would be in riff raff. I play along with that main riff on certain measures in the song. However, Cliff does improvise playing the songs live. He doesn’t stray far but I don’t see anything more then what Cliff is playing, working for AcDc. He plays for the song.what makes AcDc work is angus young’s blues riffs, Brian Johnson’s amazing vocals, Malcoms rhythm guitar playing actually being the lead. Malcoms leads through his rhythm playing. Phil Rudd( my all time favorite drummer) and his power and timing.his drumming is some of the best drumming I’ve ever witnessed. You don’t need 5 different guys playing 5 crazy things. AcDc is a less is more and it’s made them one of it not the greatest band ever
A few days ago I was listening to some of the songs from the 1991 Donington performance which are on YouTube with the parts isolated, and that really brought home to me how much the energy and articulation is dictated by Malcolm's playing. The other two in the rhythm section are keeping as tight as humanly possible to what he's giving, and Angus' lead playing too grows out of Malcolm's line.
When I was a teenager, I was listening to this music, and I was also playing guitar, and I'm so ashamed now to look back on my complete ignorance of how the musical direction was flowing.
[Sorry, don't want to distract from this fine thread, but Cliff Williams gets a lot of praise in this related thread about the most successful "minimalists". He was probably the 1st or 2nd most frequently named.]
I spent a lot of time playing ACDC and Judas Priest. It's tough to hold a "simple" line lockstep with the rest of the rhythm section and not add in fills. I watched a tape of a couple of shows we did, and the better set was the one I didn't add anything. IMO, you have to be damn good to know when to stay on the root.
100% truth. Malcolm was the engine that drove ACDC, and anyone who ever knew them will tell you that.
Might want to read this paragraph at Wikipedia about his style. It says everything we already said, above, but with quotes from him.
I agreee that it would be a bad idea to try to shove them together, but I posit that if, by some twist of science fiction, Victor Wooten and Cliff were to suddenly change places, Victor would be smart enough to figure out the situation pretty quickly, and play something very appropriate. I think he might even enjoy it for a set or two - he likes "just playing bass", and loves when he gets called to a session where he's not asked to show off.
