Why Is Playing Bass So Damn Hard?!?

[capnsandwich]

OK, you call me a parrot because I am looking for a particular sound. So, let me get this straight. You are actually inventing new sounds unheard of by human ears when you play? Amazing.

Of course every single player wants and likes a certain sound and that comes from what they have heard. The sound I like is that clicky, trebly, yet at the same time slinky boomy sound that Paul employs on "Glass Onion." What is wrong with having that sound appeal to my ears and trying to get that sound for my own enjoyment?

First off, I don't think he was trying to attack you for trying to mimick Paul's sound on that song so it's better not to be so quick to attack back.

Secondly, if you like that trebly, clicking sound then I'd suggest the following; EMG pickups, medium to medium heavy picks, stainless steel strings, modern solid state head, boosting your treble either on your bass or preamp, and playing closer to the bridge.

 

[wallybill]

Homer's Odyssey was written in Greek.

Ya, it's all greek to me.

 

[sulu]

...but guitar is a much more forgiving instrument then the bass.

Bingo! That is the thing I first found out and it was fasten-my-seatbelt time; this sure ain't going to be the walk in the park that playing guitar was.

Bass is the foundation of a song. Not the chords, not the lead, not the vocal...but bass is. You are correct, one misstep and things fall apart. I just learned that eleven days ago. Who'd a thunk it? Being a guitar player I sure never thought of the bass as THE SONG. Now I know better. It IS the song.

 

[Calvan]

OK, you call me a parrot because I am looking for a particular sound. So, let me get this straight. You are actually inventing new sounds unheard of by human ears when you play? Amazing.

Of course every single player wants and likes a certain sound and that comes from what they have heard. The sound I like is that clicky, trebly, yet at the same time slinky boomy sound that Paul employs on "Glass Onion." What is wrong with having that sound appeal to my ears and trying to get that sound for my own enjoyment?

i like how you try to attack me here when i am one of the few offering valid help rather than flaming you for being ignorant. i'm not trying to dog you or call you out. but if you are intentionally trying to copy a sound, then yes you are a parrot. thats what parrots do, they spit back what they hear. i personally try to achieve my own, unique sound, yes. do i achieve it? i think so, at least i think i come close. does anyone else think so? i have no idea. why don't you listen to my band and tell me yourself? if you dont want to... i couldnt care less

again. there is nothing WRONG with copying a sound. but IMO every musician (no matter instrument) should strive to be unique in one sense or another. if all you're goin for is to get good enough to play covers and jam out, then this is totally fine. if you're looking to become a bassist, and not just someone who can play the bass, then you're gonna want a lot more. trying to copy is still a good place to start as a beginner. but over time you'll learn that it's nearly impossible to copy to an exact, and it's much more rewarding to find your own nitch.

 

[Calvan]

First off, I don't think he was trying to attack you for trying to mimick Paul's sound on that song so it's better not to be so quick to attack back.

Secondly, if you like that trebly, clicking sound then I'd suggest the following; EMG pickups, medium to medium heavy picks, modern solid state head, boosting your treble either on your bass or preamp, and playing closer to the bridge.

thank you, you seem to understand.

and to sulu... all of the info he gave you here is a good place to start. not everyone here is out to get you. some of us are trying to help. i've been playing bass since i was 8, i'm now 20. i still feel like i'm god aweful sometimes. i know where you're at.

 

[sulu]

Hey, man, I am not attacking anyone...only someone who called me a parrot. Them's harsh words. As I said, if you feel you are creating a brand new sound unheard by human ears, then you are kidding yourself. Somewhere along the line you are tring to parrot a sound. If that is not so, then why are you playing bass? Why not invent some new instrument? That guy Theremin did. Sorry, if you feel I was attacking you. My apologies. I just took the parrot comment as an insult.

...if you like that trebly, clicking sound then I'd suggest the following; EMG pickups, medium to medium heavy picks, modern solid state head, boosting your treble either on your bass or preamp, and playing closer to the bridge.

Thank you. Being new to bass I have little idea of what particular pickups, strings, etc, do. I will learn. Thanks for the help.

 

[Mikeyd74]

OK, you call me a parrot because I am looking for a particular sound. So, let me get this straight. You are actually inventing new sounds unheard of by human ears when you play? Amazing.

Of course every single player wants and likes a certain sound and that comes from what they have heard. The sound I like is that clicky, trebly, yet at the same time slinky boomy sound that Paul employs on "Glass Onion." What is wrong with having that sound appeal to my ears and trying to get that sound for my own enjoyment?

If that's what you makes you want to pick up the bass then there is nothing wrong with that.
Although what you are trying to do can become very frustrating.
First off you have to figure out what technique he is using and emulate it. Is he using a pick or his fingers? Personally I would use a pick along with palm muting on the bridge. You will get that quick attack with a nice subtle bass thud following. So it's basically the best of both worlds. To get his sound exactly would be near to impossible. You might want to invest in a Line 6 Pod or Zoom where you can emulate different bass amps easily. I'm actually looking to get a Tech 21 VT Bass which is supposed to be amazing at emulating the sound of the Ampeg tube amps.

 

[sulu]

Although what you are trying to do can become very frustrating.
First off you have to figure out what technique he is using and emulate it.

Thanks for the tips.
Just from guitar playing I can figure out certain things -- muting, bridge pickup, pick vs. fingers, etc...

But you are so right about trying to get that particular sound that one wants. With guitar I see it is a hell of a lot easier than with bass.

 

[Calvan]

Hey, man, I am not attacking anyone...only someone who called me a parrot. Them's harsh words. As I said, if you feel you are creating a brand new sound unheard by human ears, then you are kidding yourself. Somewhere along the line you are tring to parrot a sound. If that is not so, then why are you playing bass? Why not invent some new instrument? That guy Theremin did. Sorry, if you feel I was attacking you. My apologies. I just took the parrot comment as an insult.


Thank you. Being new to bass I have little idea of what particular pickups, strings, etc, do. I will learn. Thanks for the help.

i would love to do this. in fact i plan on attempting it at one time in my life when i actually have the time.

you just said you arent attacking someone but are attacking someone, me. for calling you a parrot. when you yourself said you are trying to mimick. did i start like this too? yes, to an extent. but i've always tried to achieve something unique, which is exactly what i'm suggesting to you. and now i'm just repeating myself

not only do you contradict yourself, but you don't know how to recognize good advice. i was honestly trying to help. while most people are just cutting you down. you came here as a new bass player, looking for guidance. you've disregarded the best advice given in this thread. with this approach, you'll never be a bassists, but only someone who can play a little bass. go back to being a guitar god. i have nothing more to offer you.

 

[Jim Carr]

...And yes, after but two months playing I actually was asked by a salesman if I was interested in studio or live work...

Which did you decide on, the Strat or the Les Paul?

 

[spade2you]

Which did you decide on, the Strat or the Les Paul?

....excellent choice, sir!

 

[sulu]

I have nothing more to offer you.

This is what you have offered me:
1. I am a parrot.
2. You say you are creating brand new sounds on your bass never before heard by human ears.
You are right, you have nothing to offer.

I suggest if you wish to insult someone (calling one a parrot is an insult), then expect to get hammered back. A simple, "I'm sorry about the parrot remark" would have worked. But no, now you add, "You'll never be a bassist." Boy, do you have problems dealing with others.

 

[Calvan]

i'm not sorry. you said yourself you are trying to copy.


there's a lot more info that i've offered. you're incredibly dense.

 

[ausf]

Bingo! That is the thing I first found out and it was fasten-my-seatbelt time; this sure ain't going to be the walk in the park that playing guitar was.

Bass is the foundation of a song. Not the chords, not the lead, not the vocal...but bass is. You are correct, one misstep and things fall apart. I just learned that eleven days ago. Who'd a thunk it? Being a guitar player I sure never thought of the bass as THE SONG. Now I know better. It IS the song.

Exactly.

Most people go to a show that has a great singer or guitarist and walk away saying, "Wow, what a great singer (or guitarist)". When they go see a band with a great bass player they walk away saying, "Wow, what a great band".

 

[crimson_basser]

dude, my best advice for you is to just read around on this site
youll learn SO MUCH just by reading some of the forums and threads

its going to take a while, but believe me, in the month or so ive been a member here ive learned quite a bit

ive been playing bass for 5 years and im no where close to being a "bassist"
i still refer to myself as someone who plays bass

there is a lot to learn, general music theory (it all applies and is always good to know), all the specific bass playing techniques

and then there is the whole other world of equipment, basses, amps, cabs, effects, and all the other acessories.

Just read through these forums, you'll hear lots of opinions on lots of stuff
it will take a long time (i keep saying it, but its true)

bass can be as easy or as hard as you make it
you can sit around and play simple root notes all day long
and leave it at that
or you can go to the other extreme
im glad youre learning to appreciate the bass, a lot of ppl dont

but my best advice for now, is read through as many threads as you can in all the areas
there is a world of good information here
and you wont even have to ask a single question most of the time (not saying you shouldnt though )

but like most ppl here have told you, practice practice practice
everything comes in time
try not to worry about tones and all of that
just work on getting your playing techiques down

equipment wont make you sound good, you will
equipment should accent your skills
and you wont know what you want or need until you have those skills

if you have questions on how to find some of this information, feel free to ask, ill be happy to link you to some of the good information ive found on here
it can be difficult to navigate this place at first

good luck sir

 

[tinder]

The sound I like is that clicky, trebly, yet at the same time slinky boomy sound that Paul employs on "Glass Onion." What is wrong with having that sound appeal to my ears and trying to get that sound for my own enjoyment?

.... are you sure that it wasn't a Ric played on this track? your description of the sound certainly sounds like my 4003 to a great extent.

 

[capnsandwich]

.... are you sure that it wasn't a Ric played on this track? your description of the sound certainly sounds like my 4003 to a great extent.

If you listen to some older Yes tunes then you'll hear that same tone and Chris Squire plays a Ric with a pick, but I'm not sure what Ric he plays.

 

[sulu]

dude, my best advice for you is to....

Great post. Thanks for the input.

.... are you sure that it wasn't a Ric played on this track? your description of the sound certainly sounds like my 4003 to a great extent.

No way of knowing exactly, but I have a ton of Beatle books regarding studio and recording and gear and when "Glass Onion" is mentioned, the Fender Jazz is the one they speak of. The song features some clicky trebly sounds and late in the song Paul goes way low on the E string and gets this very thick, meaty sound. Fender Jazz? Ric? All say Fender Jazz. Certainly not the Hofner.

 

[Parabolic Box]

So, you are playing with flatwounds, yes?

 

[marwady]

I have gone through this entire thread, lots of rhetoric here, and I rarely weigh in on these. However, there are a couple of things here that seem quite obvious to me.

Some things are not quite as they appear to be on the surface and some things are harder to grasp than others depending on who you are and where your talent lies.

I have been playing bass since the late '60s and I consider myself to be a fair to pretty good player. My talent does not allow me be to be as good as some other players I have heard (as a recording engineer in NYC in the 80s, I was fortunate enough to hear some of the best), and better than others.

I know one thing for sure, it takes time to perfect your craft and it may take more than 11 days to feel like you are making progress on understanding bass if your talents do not allow that.

I know many excellent musicians that play multiple instruments. One guitarist I know tells me that bass is one of the instruments he struggles with most to obtain the proper feel and sound and he plays his a** off on most of the stringed instruments as well as piano. He is a Beatles fanatic as well and Sir Paul has always come up with some "not so ordinary" bass lines to say the least.

Bass, like all other musical instruments, requires you to train your ear as well as developing your technique. If you listen and practice long enough, you will start to understand the instrument and be able to use your hands to express what you hear in your head.

11 days have gone by and you now are starting to understand that you may have a ways to go before you feel good about what you are playing. That's a good start!! Keep exploring and practicing and you will eventually get closer to your goals.

As always, just my .02