Tracking bass is tedious

[Powdered Toast Man]

That's it really. I just hate tracking bass guitar. With guitar you can make little flubs here and there and it adds to the character of the song. Bass mistakes are immediately audible and not enjoyable to hear. So yeah, take after take after take. Ugh.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I dig it. For full songs, I'll go into "bass mode," where I'll only play bass for a week or so, and keep running through the song, getting down various parts, focusing on the bass drum hits, etc. When it comes down to tracking, it should be just going through the motions. Unlike for guitar, I usually have to stop somewhere when doing bass, to rest. Just don't have the bass muscles down enough to push through a whole fast/technical tune sometimes.

I dunno about the flub thing - when I hear maiden or primus, I hear all sorts of flubby stuff - strings slamming against the pickups, some super loud notes jumping out. Sounds cool to me.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I hear that. I haven't played my basses in a few years now and I'm rusty as hell.

I even had what I thought would be a cool bassline worked out for the song and when I went to lay it down it actually didn't work that well. I ended up just thumping along on the G which, in the end was best for the song.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I play both guitar and bass (and that GRP monstrosity in my avatar pic). IMO, guitar and bass guitar require two different mind sets. In small does, guitar and bass lines doubling one another can be effective. Doing that all the time is unimaginative - as well as prone to cock ups.

Timing-wise, if the bass guitar is going to lock onto anything, it should be the kick drum. If you can do something that makes yer feet tap an' yo' ass wiggle, so much the better.

You could do a lot worse than checking out the much under-rated Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

Yep, agree with you. I hate bassists who play busy all the time just because they can. Sometimes the song calls for some chops, and other times it just needs a thumping groove locked in with the drummer.

But I still dislike playing bass in a studio environment. Trying to lock in with the drummer when he's on tape is harder for me than a live situation when he's right there.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

Add a bit of perfectionism with a need to have the bass recorded in a single take, and it can end up as a couple of hours playing the same parts over and over again. Factor in the fact that the bulk of my guitar playing is done with a pick and the bulk of my bass playing is done fingerstyle . . . I often get some pretty chewed up / blistered tips of my picking fingers when recording bass tracks.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I often get some pretty chewed up / blistered tips of my picking fingers when recording bass tracks.

Man card withdrawn! :nana:

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

Man card withdrawn! :nana:

What if I finished the sentence in this way:

I often get some pretty chewed up / blistered tips of my picking fingers when recording bass tracks, so I get a stripper to dance for me which brings my 6th finger into play. I then chug a bottle of JD, mixed with gasoline (since straight JD is for pussies) and finish the song by holding the bass lower and doing rhythmic hip thrusts in it's direction.

Do I get it back?

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I just do root notes with the ocasional full step fill and 3rd passing tones.

**** it, im not a bassists and its just a demo.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

What if I finished the sentence in this way:

I often get some pretty chewed up / blistered tips of my picking fingers when recording bass tracks, so I get a stripper to dance for me which brings my 6th finger into play. I then chug a bottle of JD, mixed with gasoline (since straight JD is for pussies) and finish the song by holding the bass lower and doing rhythmic hip thrusts in it's direction.

Do I get it back?

Only if your tipple includes a dollop of Dave's Gourmet Ghost Pepper chilli sauce.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

Man card withdrawn! :nana:

I saw an interview once with Rex from Pantera who said his fingers got so raw during the recording of one of their albums he eventually just put duct tape on his fingers to finish his parts.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

That's it really. I just hate tracking bass guitar. With guitar you can make little flubs here and there and it adds to the character of the song. Bass mistakes are immediately audible and not enjoyable to hear. So yeah, take after take after take. Ugh.

That's why you hire a specialist. They are called "bassists." Odd people, but helpful to have around.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

Good practice for locking the bass and not deviating from the beat - practice the bass line to You've Got Another Thing Comin'. Ian Hill pwns all.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I'm going to be in the minority here and this practice will probably be frowned upon as such, but I honestly pocket (by hand) every bass note to it's corresponding kick/snare beat. Graph-tune it a lot of times, too. Bass is one thing that can really make/break a mix, and having it off-beat and out of tune is the absolute worst thing for song, unless that's the intent.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I must be the odd man out. I usually nail my bass in one or two takes.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

That's a pretty solid idea if you don't have a bassist.
I agree that if the bass doesn't synch it just throws the whole rhythm of the song off.

Sorry, this is even with a bassist. Record the take as tight as possible, but then make sure it's locked in with drums. If the guy is good and is on for the most part but just has a few bits that push/pull, that's one thing - more often than not, the guy isn't very good and I edit every note into place.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I had to redo my old bassist's tracks once. He was a great guitarist but not too "up" on doing equally good bass lines. He could hit the beats, but had no groove.

Depending on the song, I don't feel every kick has to have a bass note on it, so long as the first one in a measure does.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

I remember one of slayer's albums had a bass track done by one of the guitarists - I thought that was kinda weak at the time. Maybe it was for the better.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

Sorry, this is even with a bassist. Record the take as tight as possible, but then make sure it's locked in with drums. If the guy is good and is on for the most part but just has a few bits that push/pull, that's one thing - more often than not, the guy isn't very good and I edit every note into place.

Good lord, who has time to do that?

 

[Corbic]

Re: Tracking bass is tedious

Good lord, who has time to do that?

A professional technician who's paid by the hour to do so!

I've been blessed with a great bassist/keyboard player for the last four years, and whenever we go to lay down tracks he does one or two takes and it's good. Generally we record the rhythm tracks (guitar, bass, and drums) live though, so I suppose it's a different method than what most of you are talking about.

I do agree with VK that the bass can absolutely make or break the song and going the extra step to make sure it fits perfectly with the kick/snare (in certain styles of music at least) can really make or break a tune. For the stuff I do, there is more of a weaving going on between all the instruments, so when my bassist doesn't hit the 3rd beat with the kick, but is instead doing something else, it to me adds another layer to it. But once again, different strokes!