Playing Bass....

Butch Snyder

Butch Snyder

ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Though I am a guitarist and truly love the instrument, I have been playing bass more and more in my worship team at church. Every time the bassist is out, I am asked to fill in for him. We have two guitarists, including me, so not a big deal. At first, I'm always disappointed and would rather play guitar. Then rehearsal night comes and I start laying down the lowend thump. I don't own a bass so I use the regular bassist's. It's a Carvin 5-string. That's another issue in and of itself.

I have never been a bassist. I'm a guitarist who can play bass and there is a difference. A true bassist can understand the bassline and what is needed. A true bassist works tightly with the drummer to create a pocket for all the other musicians. When a good bassist/drummer combo is in the house, it's a lot easier for everyone else to play and fit in.

Anyway, I'm finding myself liking the bass more and more. Maybe because it's new to me and a new adventure? I have my favorite bassists too - Mark King, Victor Wooten, Nathan East, Billy Sheehan just to name a few. I don't play like them; but striving to is cool. One of the things I love about the bass is that you are most always heard in the mix. Guitar tends to blend and can get lost in a big mix. Bass is like drums; it's always there.

I was rehearsing last Monday and I texted my wife and said that I am living the bass. She replied back, "Remember, you're a guitarist who plays bass...." Kinda took a little of the wind out of my sails but, oh well. I was talking to a couple of praise band members; along with our music/worship pastor that night. I get the feeling that he likes that I can slip in and play bass and even add a new dimension that's a bit groovier and funkier (without being over-the-top); but I think he likes me better on guitar....

Oh well, I thought I would just share a little about my new adventure as a sub bassist.
 
Re: Playing Bass....

Kind of the same deal here. Lots of guitar players around here, some pretty darned good, and few bass players. I started with bass just to fill in and now play pretty much all the time with two different bands. I love it. Get lot's of compliments on my style. I do have to remind myself from time to time to lay back a little. But it's a real natural high when I get locked in with a good drummer and the whole band is swinging. I'm more into the Duck Dunn, Johnny B. Gayden style. Another benefit is now I listen to all my old favorite tunes in a different way. I still work out chord progressions for new songs on guitar before picking up the bass.
 
Re: Playing Bass....

I play bass just when I'm recording stuff that I've written . . . it's a whole different experience with the bass. I'll come up with a cool line on the guitar that I think will sound perfect as a bassline, then I start trying to play it on bass and I have to practically relearn the part. I hate the right hand blisters that I get too . . . but improving a steady arpeggiated 8th note bassline over fast jazz changes . . . that's a hell of a lot of fun.
 
Re: Playing Bass....

Here's the bottom line:

Guitar is play. Bass is a job.

Simpler, but harder.

The rude awakening all guitarists get when they take up bass. Sure came as a shock to me!
 
Re: Playing Bass....

Butch Snyder said:
Though I am a guitarist and truly love the instrument, I have been playing bass more and more in my worship team at church. Every time the bassist is out, I am asked to fill in for him. We have two guitarists, including me, so not a big deal. At first, I'm always disappointed and would rather play guitar. Then rehearsal night comes and I start laying down the lowend thump. I don't own a bass so I use the regular bassist's. It's a Carvin 5-string. That's another issue in and of itself.

I have never been a bassist. I'm a guitarist who can play bass and there is a difference. A true bassist can understand the bassline and what is needed. A true bassist works tightly with the drummer to create a pocket for all the other musicians. When a good bassist/drummer combo is in the house, it's a lot easier for everyone else to play and fit in.

Anyway, I'm finding myself liking the bass more and more. Maybe because it's new to me and a new adventure? I have my favorite bassists too - Mark King, Victor Wooten, Nathan East, Billy Sheehan just to name a few. I don't play like them; but striving to is cool. One of the things I love about the bass is that you are most always heard in the mix. Guitar tends to blend and can get lost in a big mix. Bass is like drums; it's always there.

I was rehearsing last Monday and I texted my wife and said that I am living the bass. She replied back, "Remember, you're a guitarist who plays bass...." Kinda took a little of the wind out of my sails but, oh well. I was talking to a couple of praise band members; along with our music/worship pastor that night. I get the feeling that he likes that I can slip in and play bass and even add a new dimension that's a bit groovier and funkier (without being over-the-top); but I think he likes me better on guitar....

Oh well, I thought I would just share a little about my new adventure as a sub bassist.
Click to expand...

Hey man, That cool that you are digging the bass, and those bass players you mentioned are all awesome, especially Victor. Try a jazz bass with flat wounds, it's very versatile and as a guitar player it will be easier for your hands to move up and down the neck freely. Bass playing can be as easy or as complicated as you make it. Good luck I hope you stay with it.
 
Re: Playing Bass....

I sort of got into playing bass myself a few years ago. Like guitars, there's always the search for the perfect bass. Now, I own a Warwick Corvette and Squier Jazz with EMG JX pickups and a Squier Precision with a Duncan Quarter Pounder. I agree the Jazz is a good place to start. It's easy to customize for passive, active or both. Don't fret lots of guitarists are also bassists. Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Mike Rutherford are all great bassists. Some bass players started as guitarists like Paul McCartney and Sting. I say go for it and enjoy.
 
Re: Playing Bass....

I recently got a gig at the Pioneer Inn in Nederland playing bass for a blues/open mic deal each week. I get food, a few beers, and $40 at the end, so even though I've played guitar for 26 years, and the bass for about 2 years, the bass is paying me more at the moment.

I dig it. My best playing comes when I just listen to the durmmer's bass foot and lock down tight with that. I think if you do that, and then make interesting ways to either come up to a chord change, or move away from it...looping certain notes, and so on sounds good and doesn't get too busy like some guitarists playing bass.

The fundamental thing is to stay with that drummer's bass foot, and never miss a change. Sonically, I try to get a bit of John Entwistle in there...he had such a harmonically rich tone...roundwound strings being played with vigor and conviction.

I'm playing a Jazz knock-off by Johnson (killer neck) with USA EMG pickups in it, through my Music Man HD-150 (150w 6L6 tube beast) into a Peavey speaker cab. It thumps.
 
Last edited:
Re: Playing Bass....

This needs to go in the bass forum! Oh that's right,there currently isn't one,but there could be! LOL...
 
Re: Playing Bass....

STRATDELUXER97 said:
2 totally different animals.
Click to expand...

IMO, two different parts of the brain. Failing that, two different areas of the body.

The bass is the element of the music to which one gyrates one's booty. Try it. Swing the bassline the same way that you would swing your hips when you dance. Put on a Motown compilation CD. Listen to Jamerson. Feel the groove via yo' gluteus maximus.

The other thing that a "true" bassist should get is the effect that note choices have on the stuff going on over the top. This point was made by Mr. Sting in his autobiography.
 
Re: Playing Bass....

Funkfingers said:
IMO, two different parts of the brain. Failing that, two different areas of the body.

The bass is the element of the music to which one gyrates one's booty. Try it. Swing the bassline the same way that you would swing your hips when you dance. Put on a Motown compilation CD. Listen to Jamerson. Feel the groove via yo' gluteus maximus.

The other thing that a "true" bassist should get is the effect that note choices have on the stuff going on over the top. This point was made by Mr. Sting in his autobiography.
Click to expand...

Yeh, I really tend to move more to the music when I play bass.

Although I usually describe myself as a guitarist, I'm probably as good, possibly better on the old four strings, I just managed to find a bass player I could work with after years of guitarists who just did my nut in ;)

When I first started playing (back in the eighties) bass playing was cool. Every popular band worth it's salt had a great bass player, the Police (Sting) Level 42 (Mark King), even cheesy posters like Wham had a great bass player in Deon Estus.
On the heavier side there was Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Billy Sheehan and, of course, Flea.
These guys didn't just play, they were also great performers, and some of wrote some of the great songs of the decade.
It was a good time for bass.

Bass is hard work next to guitar, and your responsibilities are greater. I don't like playing bass while singing as I hate to lose the groove.
 
Re: Playing Bass....

I think there are two ways of playing bass, and it all depends on the song.

Here's a prime example of playing bass with the guitar to keep it tight with a hint of jammin on the bass during fills.



Here's another example of totally soloing on bass while the guitar player is soloing.




They all compliment each other. I love bass.
 
Last edited:
Re: Playing Bass....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suaH-NJm12U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3OwLV4s6PY

Here are my two examples, victor solos and Allen locks in


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXE1fTpjidQ

enough said......
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
The practice squad
Replies
3
Views
111
Chistopher
C
idsnowdog
Introducing the Garbagecaster
Replies
6
Views
225
JamesPaul
JamesPaul
NotDemanic
An unusual occurance.
Replies
0
Views
69
NotDemanic
NotDemanic
O
Renovation of an Orpheo B!ch
Replies
15
Views
258
Sam SG
S
80's_Metal
New Goth Guitar day!
2 3
Replies
59
Views
861
ehdwuld
ehdwuld
Back
Top