Why do bassists get so little love??

[blueman335]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

we operate as a power trio so there's more room for the bass.

In some ways, 3 piece bands allow a bass certain latitude, but there's also something to be said for bands with more instruments, that allow a bass player more freedom in straying away from the root notes. When someone else is playing a chord and defining that note, the bass doesn't have to follow lock-step; he can use 3rds and 5ths, and other notes, to really add a lot of color and feel to the sound. I prefer having a rhythm guitarist and/or keyboard in a band, so that I'm able to be more creative on bass, and part of the time play completely different things than they do. That's when it really gets fun for me. Bass is so much more interesting to play and listen to when you're not tied down to always reinforcing the same notes everyone else is playing.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

I think it's time to plug in and bounce the cars across the street. lol
PC

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

In some ways, 3 piece bands allow a bass certain latitude, but there's also something to be said for bands with more instruments, that allow a bass player more freedom in straying away from the root notes. When someone else is playing a chord and defining that note, the bass doesn't have to follow lock-step; he can use 3rds and 5ths, and other notes, to really add a lot of color and feel to the sound. I prefer having a rhythm guitarist and/or keyboard in a band, so that I'm able to be more creative on bass, and part of the time play completely different things than they do. That's when it really gets fun for me. Bass is so much more interesting to play and listen to when you're not tied down to always reinforcing the same notes everyone else is playing.

+1,000,000

Being a prog band allows for a lot of leeway with regards to bass playing as well. The keyboard player for us isn't so much of like a piano or something but more of an atmosphere that rounds out the sound. That said he can play very well and knows when to play that stuff. Same with a bassist. There's nothing wrong with the root and fifth stuff when needed, but it's knowing when it's needed. HAving three guitar players (two lead and me on rhythm) helps a lot as well.

 

[Dr.K]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

How Many More Times, Dazed And Confused, I Can't Quit You Baby, Since I Been Loving You, Custard Pie, Trampled Underfoot (though JPJ's keyboard adds just as much), Achilles Last Stand, Song Remains The Same, Ten Years Gone, In The Evening, Candy Store Rock, Ozone Baby, Houses Of The Holy, Wearing And Tearing (adds definition to what Page is doing), Nobody's Fault But Mine (once the bass kicks in), The Wanton Song, All My Love (adds just as much to the main melody as the opening synth), We're Gonna Groove, You Shook Me, Down By The Seaside, Hot Dog (though it could also be the bass keys of the piano), Carouselambra, South Bound Saurez, The Rover, The Crunge.

Thanks man! It was Ramble On that I was thinking of.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

I guess bass players aren't as cool as keyboardists? :laugh:

 

[kilphody]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

I think a lot of idiots think we are four string morons who never learned how to play a real guitar. LMAO
PC

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

I think a lot of idiots think we are four string morons who never learned how to play a real guitar. LMAO
PC

I would hope that someone who does know how to play something such as guitar would know that that is a very stupid idea. A good guitarist is nothing without a good rhythm section to back him up, unless he's a solo acoustic player.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

^^ Yup up to a point. I 've been noticing I pretty much play with the low E single string thing.
PC

 

[blueman335]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

A good guitarist is nothing without a good rhythm section to back him up

+1.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

^^ Yup up to a point. I 've been noticing I pretty much play with the low E single string thing.
PC

Well yes, but there's still a place for a bass player. For Whom the Bell Tolls? A bass player playing what was thought of as a lead guitar for a time. It was fairly ground breaking in metal. Anesthesia was also a ground breaking song.

 

[hydro]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

I have often said that I am a frustrated bass player who ended up having to play guitar instead, because I sucked at bass.

Bass is a totally different deal, and a great bass player is key to a great band. It takes a certain mindset and set of talents to do it well. Sadly, in most situations (though not all) - the least important and most easily replaceable dude in a band is...the guitar player.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

I have often said that I am a frustrated bass player who ended up having to play guitar instead, because I sucked at bass.

Bass is a totally different deal, and a great bass player is key to a great band. It takes a certain mindset and set of talents to do it well. Sadly, in most situations (though not all) - the least important and most easily replaceable dude in a band is...the guitar player.

See, though I'm not sure that there's is that much different between the two. If you are playing a traditional stand up bass, yes I would concede that it's a different beast, so therefore, it's a different set of skills. Bass guitar is weird in that traditional bass guitarists (from whom we derive most of our modern day ideas of how bass guitars work in music) played them like a stand up bass, so when we think of a bass player, we think of that guy who holds the low end. Yet modern day, we have many different techniques that are available to us that weren't present in the original bass players. Two hand tapping, wah pedals, fuzzes, and choruses have allowed the bassist to expand from their traditional role to one that is more about adding flavor to the music. Yes keeping the bass presence there is important, but you can do both and do both well.

I repeat what I said, playing bass as a guitar is not wrong, and allows you to be more creative with your musical input than is usually accepted among the average player.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

Sadly, in most situations (though not all) - the least important and most easily replaceable dude in a band is...the guitar player.

I believe that may be due to the sheer number of guitar players rather than the role of the instrument itself.

 

[hydro]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

I believe that may be due to the sheer number of guitar players rather than the role of the instrument itself.

Agreed. Though I think that in some cases, a band with good vocals, drums and bass can drive a party and get booties shaking even if they have a duff guitarist.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

Agreed. Though I think that in some cases, a band with good vocals, drums and bass can drive a party and get booties shaking even if they have a duff guitarist.

Morphine, baby. Slide bass, jazz drums and a double-neck saxophone.

 

[hydro]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

See, though I'm not sure that there's is that much different between the two. If you are playing a traditional stand up bass, yes I would concede that it's a different beast, so therefore, it's a different set of skills. Bass guitar is weird in that traditional bass guitarists (from whom we derive most of our modern day ideas of how bass guitars work in music) played them like a stand up bass, so when we think of a bass player, we think of that guy who holds the low end. Yet modern day, we have many different techniques that are available to us that weren't present in the original bass players. Two hand tapping, wah pedals, fuzzes, and choruses have allowed the bassist to expand from their traditional role to one that is more about adding flavor to the music. Yes keeping the bass presence there is important, but you can do both and do both well.

I repeat what I said, playing bass as a guitar is not wrong, and allows you to be more creative with your musical input than is usually accepted among the average player.

I think it depends on the musical style. 70s Prog was the first rock genre I knew about that really showed off bass playing; think King Crimson, Rush, Yes. And Iron Maiden, like Steve Harris is really riffing. But if you are playing stuff oriented towards more groove and soul, I think the bass diverges more from the guitar. Which is understandable because it's more old school like the stand-up bass approach you mentioned.

I think I always had a tendency to overplay and play with too much attack when I tried to play bass. So i appreciate the bass player who can be more of a foundation and move under the chords, being almost percussive at times. I think it's hard to do. And I also think bass players have more patience, musically.

 

[hydro]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

I should add, though, that I always loved the way Noel Redding played bass and he was a guitar player who converted to bass. As was Geezer Butler - another of my favorites.

Maybe with time and practice I could become a passable bass player, if I could avoid getting fired from a band long enough.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

Guys like Anthony Jackson ("For The Love Of Money", Philly soul, contemporary jazz, sessions) have no problem defining their role. He also started as a guitarist... after getting blown away by Larry Coryell, he picked up a 4-string and started his journey. Larry is one for the history books -- he played fusion before it had a name.

He called his first Fodera sig 6-string a "contrabass guitar" (from the Italian, "contrabasso" = one octave lower than bass), because the low B was lower than anything else available at the time, and the extra string on top allowed him to reach into the guitar's low and middle range.

His technique derives from standup bass and classical guitar; he's not a slapper, but he's got some crazy upper-harmonic articulation on his finger attack.

He grooves, keeps the tightest pockets, and is expressive and harmonically audacious. He's as well-educated as any music professor I've ever heard.

Why he's never been a conductor or bandleader is a mystery to me. He could make world-class music happen with a few tweets & text messages.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

Anthony Jackson is highly specialised. He is very demanding of himself. It is highly probable that he would be equally demanding of musicians in his employment.

 

[macki]

Re: Why do bassists get so little love??

For me, bass and drums are the most important foundation for a band. If they aren't "on" then there is nothing that you can put over top to make things sound good. Also what I realize now that I have played with loops from "name" drummers is that the rhythm section is a source of inspiration for me to be creative and to drive to play interesting parts.

I hate when guys end up playing bass cause they could not play guitar - i.e, they just play single notes but have no feel for the pocket or how play over certain style. When I record I play bass, as I just record in my basement, but I don't feel as if I am a good bass player.