Why do bassists get so little love??
- Thread starter BloodRose
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Funkfingers
Guest
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: Why do bassists get so little love??
I am a guitar player but I believe the most important thing in the song is the song itself so every instrument should add something to the final result. I think if you see little love for bass in songs is because the compisition process (either the bass player or the rest of the band) did not allow room for the bass to participate more. Being that said, I still have not give the step to 7 strings because soemhow I still feel like I don't wanna step into the lowe notes terrytory I like the bass to be the king, maybe I don't know enough to make a 7 string guitar to work properly with a bass in a band situation
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Edit: After reading this theard I could not resist to go and listen John Paul Jones & Diamanda Galas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KwBEcWRBHY
I am a guitar player but I believe the most important thing in the song is the song itself so every instrument should add something to the final result. I think if you see little love for bass in songs is because the compisition process (either the bass player or the rest of the band) did not allow room for the bass to participate more. Being that said, I still have not give the step to 7 strings because soemhow I still feel like I don't wanna step into the lowe notes terrytory I like the bass to be the king, maybe I don't know enough to make a 7 string guitar to work properly with a bass in a band situation
.Edit: After reading this theard I could not resist to go and listen John Paul Jones & Diamanda Galas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KwBEcWRBHY
Last edited:
ginormous
Understatmentologist
Re: Why do bassists get so little love??
Understood, and agreed. He keeps company with some first-call people, and I'd be very interested in hearing his solo work.
Liko
New member
Re: Why do bassists get so little love??
Because the guitar has evolved into a "lead" instrument, while the bass guitar is and probably always will be solidly a "rhythm" instrument. The bass's job in an ensemble is to lay the tonal foundation, in concert with the drummer who provides the beat.
This has been the state of affairs for bass instruments since the days of the "basso continuo" in Renaissance and Baroque music; there was a time when composers didn't even care what instrument held down the low end, they just needed something. Instruments that perform this function, across all genres and eras of music, are often capable of a wide variety of musical expression, in range, tone and dynamics. Examples include the trombone and tuba, the bassoon and bass clarinet, tenor and bari sax, cello and double bass, and yes, the electric bass guitar. All of these can be played with heart-rending musicality as solo or ensemble instruments, but most composers still overlook the capabilities of these instruments in favor of the whole. There have been exceptions; Gustav Holst loved low brass, enough to give the first and last word in his Second Suite for Military Band to a piccolo/tuba duet, which is one of the highlights of the average school-age tuba player's career.
There are definitely people carving out a niche for bass guitar as a solo instrument; check out Victor Wooten, Jeff Schmidt, Michael Manring, Zander Zon, et alii.
Because the guitar has evolved into a "lead" instrument, while the bass guitar is and probably always will be solidly a "rhythm" instrument. The bass's job in an ensemble is to lay the tonal foundation, in concert with the drummer who provides the beat.
This has been the state of affairs for bass instruments since the days of the "basso continuo" in Renaissance and Baroque music; there was a time when composers didn't even care what instrument held down the low end, they just needed something. Instruments that perform this function, across all genres and eras of music, are often capable of a wide variety of musical expression, in range, tone and dynamics. Examples include the trombone and tuba, the bassoon and bass clarinet, tenor and bari sax, cello and double bass, and yes, the electric bass guitar. All of these can be played with heart-rending musicality as solo or ensemble instruments, but most composers still overlook the capabilities of these instruments in favor of the whole. There have been exceptions; Gustav Holst loved low brass, enough to give the first and last word in his Second Suite for Military Band to a piccolo/tuba duet, which is one of the highlights of the average school-age tuba player's career.
There are definitely people carving out a niche for bass guitar as a solo instrument; check out Victor Wooten, Jeff Schmidt, Michael Manring, Zander Zon, et alii.
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Jeffrec
New member
Re: Why do bassists get so little love??
I agree. The drums and bass are the foundation of any band. As a lead guitarist, I've learned to listen to basslines more over the years.
I agree. The drums and bass are the foundation of any band. As a lead guitarist, I've learned to listen to basslines more over the years.
BlueTalon
New member
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Why do bassists get so little love??
A lot of band automatically look down even on 5 strings.
A lot of band automatically look down even on 5 strings.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Why do bassists get so little love??
9 strings now. Drop the lowest string and you've got the same range as a 5 string bass and a guitar on one instrument.
9 strings now. Drop the lowest string and you've got the same range as a 5 string bass and a guitar on one instrument.
Bass_Medic_05
Purveyor of Low End
Re: Why do bassists get so little love??
We are the "Glue" that keeps everything together, no one appreciates glue, until you don't have it lol!
We are the "Glue" that keeps everything together, no one appreciates glue, until you don't have it lol!
