• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

worst bass line ever

#41
The most horribly boring bass line I ever had to play must have been "Cold" by the Cure. Every time I went over all the coming days appointments, and what I had to shop, and "what was that with this girl?" in my head before that thing would STOP! *lol*
 
#42
KJFG 5 - YouTube

I love playing stuff like this. Aside from being easy, it's a great opportunity to be the center of attention.

Po

I replaced a didgeridoo player in that band. For the first few gigs all I really played (except for one song where they wanted me to play a walking line) was basically one note per song. That was fun. The more songs they wanted me to play more than one note on, the less fun it got.
 
#43
There's a couple of songs in our set that I dread coming to (in particular 'Love Shack), not because I think they're boring, but because I find them physically demanding. Not challenging mind you, just demanding in that they are so repetitive they uncomfortable to play for the duration of the song and my left hand seizes up.

I might add that I do hold my bass correctly, and improvise a little to ease the discomfort, but I did a little 'damage' to my wrist a number of years ago that I don't think ever healed up correctly.
 
#44
ga_edwards said:
There's a couple of songs in our set that I dread coming to (in particular 'Love Shack), not because I think they're boring, but because I find them physically demanding. Not challenging mind you, just demanding in that they are so repetitive they uncomfortable to play for the duration of the song and my left hand seizes up.

I might add that I do hold my bass correctly, and improvise a little to ease the discomfort, but I did a little 'damage' to my wrist a number of years ago that I don't think ever healed up correctly.
Click to expand...

If you want demanding, learn a mudvayne song. Some of the craziest stuff is over looked from that bass player. He's a true musical genius
 
#45
Floyd Eye said:
It could be worse, I could still be in a classic rock band and be forced to play "Tush" or "Simple Man". :eek:
Click to expand...

Hey! I got to play Tush just yesterday...:bassist::crying:

But that one is not as bad IMHO as our 8 minute version of Honky Tonk Woman. The first 2 minutes of the song is waiting for the guitars to retune, the next 90 seconds (including extended cowbell solo) is standing there with no bass part to play followed by 2 minutes of bore, followed by another 2.5 minutes for the guitars to retune. I guess they don't make tuners with a 'mute' function for guitars like they do for basses...

Although the one for me that is absolute death is 'Knockin' on Heavens Door'. It seems that vocalists want this to be a 9 minute epic. I just want to play it once into the looper then go to the bar till they're done.
 
#48
Ace Marconi said:
Simple bass lines are nothin but opportunities to learn to do vocals while you play.

:hiding:
Click to expand...
+1 - singing backups make one a more useful band member...

Bloodhammer said:
I totally agree with this. However, if a bass line is too boring, I get antsy and hope the next song will allow me to be a bit busier.
Click to expand...

but when you are being paid to play live, its not about you right? Its about entertaining...just like the cook gets bored making wings...does he have a right to half-ass it until someone orders something he enjoys cooking?

Zoa said:
Pretty much any waltz. Sooo boring, but also so easy to mess up if you stop paying attention.
Click to expand...

and, like above, its about the dancers not the bassist....

Metania said:
It's hard to "sound fun" if you're bored to death!
And not really honest to yourself as a musician, regardless if your doing covers or not. Just throwing in my penny.
Click to expand...

yeah but half-assing it due to not loving the song isn't being true to yourself, your bandmates or the venue as a professional....if you sign up to play covers, you are signing up to entertain, not serve you ego or musical vision....imho if you want the ease of booking and (typically) better pay that comes from better cover gigs, you need to suck it up and play Mustang Sally with just as much gusto as the tunes you love....
 
#51
fenderhutz said:
Jazz. All of it. :spit: :D
Click to expand...
Jazz is fair, at least. Everyone has to play lots of notes so they all have to work hard so the suffering is spread out. Traditional reggae is much more annoying because of the blatant injustice. Guitarists get to play 2-3 chords and they don't even have to play on the downbeats, while the bassist has to work hard, play a lot of notes and provide variety. UNFAIR!
 
#55
From my set lists over the years? Two Tickets To Paradise. Waiting so long...waiting so long...waiting so looooooonnnnnnggggggg.... <Bang> <Thud>

If you're going to hide the third chord in the never-arriving chorus, you might want to check for excessive repetition. (I haven't checked them, but what about "Salisbury Hill" or "Boys of Summer" on the repetition scale?)

Never had to play a "ride the E" song (the closest was "Black Velvet"...but that's in Eb ;) and has plenty of chord changes outside the verse), so I guess I should count myself lucky. I do remember seeing a "Running With The Devil" transcription years ago and thinking "maybe he broke three strings" (not knocking VH or Michael Anthony--the line works for the song). Our drummer did suggest "The Zoo" back in 1987...and it was rejected immediately as stadium rock overkill. My condolences to TB members subjected to that....
 
#57
WillyPop said:
Learn was not that bad but the "play" part... man, what a boring bass line. It's like playing open E for what seems to be a decade :rollno: and then the chorus... :crying: it sounds like the "cannon in D" :eyebrow:
My band owe my one on this, maybe YYZ or something...
What's your worst bass line ever?

Rock On!
Click to expand...

What's wrong with Cannon in D? It's heaven to my eyes, one of the very few pieces that fill my eyes with tears for some reason I do not understand.:eyebrow:

Try Heaven and Hell, that E triplet goes on and on,on and on,on and on... I lose focus at some point. Great song though.:bassist:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back