Would you consider this overplaying the bass line?

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I come from a world of 90's progressive metal. Tappa the bass, slappa the bass, show whatever chops you've got whenever you've got the chance.

Decades later, I'm playing out again, in a cover band, and have a different mindset. I am trying to serve the song, but I am still trying to drop some of those old overplaying instincts.

That said, the band I am in likes it when I add fills and the occasional slap bit. I ask them all the time if it's too much, and they usually encourage it. They say it adds a little spice.

On this song in particular, I'm really "feeling it" and so find myself adding fills and stuff that's not in the original, or even the cover versions. Has me wondering if I'm being a wanker.

I feel like I don't have a strong sense of if this is fine or too much. Would love some opinions. Thanks.

 

[Nashrakh]

A great rendition, and I was expecting a lot more frills, actually. I think you added some tasty fills, never stepped on the singer's toes, and since the guitarist was playing sparsely, that left enough room for you to fill, and you did it. I think without it, it would have sounded a bit empty, even. So I think you proved to have good taste!

The only point of criticism I would actually have is the slap sound at around the 1:07 mark. Your bass sound thins out dramatically, and I can't quite make out why. (I was listening to this on my home stereo setup)

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

A great rendition, and I was expecting a lot more frills, actually. I think you added some tasty fills, never stepped on the singer's toes, and since the guitarist was playing sparsely, that left enough room for you to fill, and you did it. I think without it, it would have sounded a bit empty, even. So I think you proved to have good taste!

The only point of criticism I would actually have is the slap sound at around the 1:07 mark. Your bass sound thins out dramatically, and I can't quite make out why. (I was listening to this on my home stereo setup)

Thank you for the feedback! Much appreciated. Yeah I agree the slap tone could be better indeed. I just changed strings to a slightly heavier gauge that has more tension. Hopefully that will help.

Thanks again for the feedback @Nashrakh ! It’s really helpful.

 

[G On Bass]

That is a cool jam of your own version of the tune. I'm listening through headphones and the only thing I notice is that when you slap, the solid bottom end of the song that is grooving up to that point totally goes away and it suddenly seems empty. Other than that, great groove and your singers has a great voice! The non-slap fills don't seem too much at all for that version.

 

[SlowpokeJoe]

I think it's fine, your playing is great and you do a great job taking over the role of the missing keyboards, especially on the first half of the song.

If I had to be super-super-super critical I'd say that your fill around 2:28 steps on the lyrics a little bit, but that's just a question of timing.

 

[LBS-bass]

That's not much different from how I play it, except I double the clavinet part with the guitarist on the verses because I find the bass part on Stevie's original version has less energy than I like.

Your fills are all tossed in at an appropriate time that doesn't interfere with anything, and it sounds good. I don't think there's anything overplayed here. You end it the same way we do, too

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

That is a cool jam of your own version of the tune. I'm listening through headphones and the only thing I notice is that when you slap, the solid bottom end of the song that is grooving up to that point totally goes away and it suddenly seems empty. Other than that, great groove and your singers has a great voice! The non-slap fills don't seem too much at all for that version.

Thanks for the feedback @G On Bass ! that’s two votes for “gotta work on my slap tone” This feedback is really helpful

 

[badinage]

Not overplayed at all. I like your bass line a lot.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

That's not much different from how I play it, except I double the clavinet part with the guitarist on the verses because I find the bass part on Stevie's original version has less energy than I like.

Your fills are all tossed in at an appropriate time that doesn't interfere with anything, and it sounds good. I don't think there's anything overplayed here. You end it the same way we do, too

Thanks, @LBS-bass ! Really appreciate the feedback, especially coming from your perspective of playing the song in a similar style. Very helpful to hear

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I think it's fine, your playing is great and you do a great job taking over the role of the missing keyboards, especially on the first half of the song.

If I had to be super-super-super critical I'd say that your fill around 2:28 steps on the lyrics a little bit, but that's just a question of timing.

Thanks for the feedback @SlowpokeJoe ! Good point about stepping on the vox. That’s something I really want to avoid doing. Thanks for the critique. Good one!

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Not overplayed at all. I like your bass line a lot.

Thank you @badinage! Much appreciated

 

[LBS-bass]

Just listening to our version of it and realize I misspoke. I'm not doubling with the guitar there, I'm the only one playing that clav part in the verses. We double the horn part once that comes in at the second part of the verse.

Neither here nor there, really. Your version sounds good and not overdone at all.

 

[JRA]

you bad! don't change a thing!

that's a fun rendition --- one of my bands takes 9 people to play that tune!

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

you bad! don't change a thing!

that's a fun rendition --- one of my bands takes 9 people to play that tune!

haha thanks @JRA

 

[prowla]

I like it, except for the slap bit (re. comments already made).

Here's some blokes doing a version.

 

[hrodbert696]

No, I don't think you're overplaying overall. I do think you can (and should) try to get the pocket deeper because it's such a pocket song - and I don't think that precludes your fills, which are quite good. Most of the time it's there. There's one thing I would change; A lot of what gives that song its groove is the push and pull between treble lines on or pushing ahead of the beat and bass lines hanging behind it. In the regular verse, you're doing that. But when it gets to the "13-month-old baby" bit, you jump into a very crisp unison, and it starts to feel jumpy rather than groovy. I'd suggest you keep hanging behind it there. Kind of slide into the first phrase of it - rather than "dat de dat, da da de da..." go "daahh, dahh, da da de da..." Just my 2 cents.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Just listening to our version of it and realize I misspoke. I'm not doubling with the guitar there, I'm the only one playing that clav part in the verses. We double the horn part once that comes in at the second part of the verse.

Neither here nor there, really. Your version sounds good and not overdone at all.

thanks @LBS-bass ! would love to hear your version if you have a link handy!

 

[LBS-bass]

Mine's a lot more sparse with the turnarounds.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

No, I don't think you're overplaying overall. I do think you can (and should) try to get the pocket deeper because it's such a pocket song - and I don't think that precludes your fills, which are quite good. Most of the time it's there. There's one thing I would change; A lot of what gives that song it's groove is the push and pull between treble lines on or pushing ahead of the beat and bass lines hanging behind it. In the regular verse, you're doing that. But when it gets to the "13-month-old baby" bit, you jump into a very crisp unison, and it starts to feel jumpy rather than groove. I'd suggest you keep hanging behind it there. Kind of slide into the first phrase of it - rather than "dat de dat, da da de da..." go "daahh, dahh, da da de da..." Just my 2 cents.

excellent feedback, @hrodbert696 ! I can totally see what you are saying. That’s a great refinement and I will work on that. Much obliged

 

[LBS-bass]

I like it, except for the slap bit (re. comments already made).

Here's some blokes doing a version.

My favorite version