how to impress on bass

[Pinball_Wizard]

Well as a guitar player turned bass player I've been trying out for groups but they're all still more interested in my guitar playing than bass playing. Flattering yes, but I want to play bass.
It's been hard to impress because each time it's been without a drummer.

a lot of people just go "Huzzat?" when i talk about arpeggiating progressions.

as a guitar player It's easy to just hit a I-IV-V-I and play a few lead licks and everyone is impressed.

So I'm curious for a bass player how do you impress when a drummer is not there? and you're talking to people who don't know music theory.

[psychetelec]

My 2 cents: as a pretty much life-long bass player I find "trying to impress on bass" to go against everything I try to do when playing. Just stay in the pocket, groove, stay out of the way of the vocals, lock in with the kick drum, and then throw a little fill in every once in a while when appropriate. Could be all that time spent playing guitar has messed you up. ;)
As I said, just my thoughts.

PS: When there's no drummer it's down to you to play somewhat more "basic" 'cause you ARE the rythym section.

[Little Ricky]

Generally, not being conspicuous is a good thing on bass, but if you don't have a drummer, you can 'click' the strings against the fretboard as you pluck (assuming you don't use a pick) - that simulates a snare drum.
Arpeggiated chords are a favorite of mine as well - when there's space for it.

[Frankjohnson]

You guys pretty much took what I was going to say - and did it better.

My impression of a bass player doing an impressive job is:
- Solid timekeeping
- runs are limited and tasteful to suit the music (not stifled, just maintaining a supporting role)
- staying in your range, and not stepping all over the top
- be the rails for the train to roll on brotha -

If they want flash - snap - pop
give it to them I guess......
but remember how it feels when you are playing guitar - as a good guitar player, and the bottom falls out. NOW .....is your time to Be "That Guy".......
make it solid for them.

Just becasue your not constantly playing arpeggios, and sympathetic comps, doesn't mean you can't. Its Kind of like a sniper using the most appropriate weapon for the shot. You dont' always need the .50 cal to reach out and touch someone. Why give up your position if you don't need to?

[Old Cane]

How to impress on bass? Know where the root is.

I'm kind of interested in the people going "Huzzat?" I'm not sure what that is but it sounds impressive.

Oh, and why are you playing without a drummer? I know the usual reasons but DWI and drug use laws have gotten a lot stricter I thought.

[pullchord]

Bass players that impress me are the ones that aren't trying to impress me.

[pullchord]

Interesting topic here...guitar players turning bass players. Done it myself. 25% of my gigs call me for bass. It's two different 'heads'. Friend of mine also doubles, and he's one of my favorite bass players. You watch him switch from guitar to bass on a gig, and it's like watching a metamorphosis. The guy's posture, his stance, even his FACE changes. And he plays bass nothing like "a guitar player trying to play bass". I love playing bass even though I'd never totally give up gigging on guitar. Playing bass, I stand as close to the drummer as I can without climbing up his arse, and just try to lock up with him. Let the guitar player do all the showing off. Can't stand ****ing bass players who think they're Jaco all night.

[FirstBassman]

Originally Posted by psychetelec

My 2 cents: as a pretty much life-long bass player I find "trying to impress on bass" to go against everything I try to do when playing. Just stay in the pocket, groove, stay out of the way of the vocals, lock in with the kick drum, and then throw a little fill in every once in a while when appropriate.

PS: When there's no drummer it's down to you to play somewhat more "basic" 'cause you ARE the rythym section.

Exactly what he said.

Dead spot-on.

[Tim Armstrong]

Yep, they've all said it above, but to summarize: K.I.S.S.

Keep
It
Simple,
Seymour!



Tim

[Ben Harmless]

I'm going to be the lone voice of dissent here, I know that going in.

Despite generations of bass players finding comfort in "playing their part well," I find it kind of sad that the bass is presumed to be an instrument that should not take an equal part in a band - ever. The idea that so many bass players are content to simply stay out of the way just depresses me.

There are a whole lot of great things that can be done on the bass that traditionalists frown on. The way I see it, if traditionalists are frowning on something, I want to do it.

The whole "stand back, and don't overplay" thing is just perpetuation of a massive inferiority complex. The attitude that there's nothing in between root-fifth and the wanker bass player who's ignoring the rest of the band is just absurd.

If you want to impress me on the bass, do something interesting. Play a bassline that I'm going to remember. Dare to participate.

[TxTeleMan]

Pinball Wizard, here's my $0.02 worth.

Play two or three bass patterns of the style of music they play. That's it.

Here are the ones I use:
Bob Dylan's Do Unto Others
The Band's Don't Do It
12-bar honky tonk pattern
Chuck Berry's Promised Land (8-bar)

It lets them know you can play, and know what you're doing.

Or have them play a standard guitar chord progression, and you provide the root, a pattern, and some fills.

[fidopunk]

Three words and some numbers:
Death From Above 1979.

Please feel free to disregard the rest of this:

But seriously, playing and supporting the song is great and all, but if that's all you do, you might as well be the bassist for the Deftones.
I like the Deftones, but in terms of bass playing, he's awful. He pretty much hangs out on his low string and stays there. (Have you read his interviews in Bass Player? Wow... I'll just say he supports my outlook.)
Now granted, his style suits the music well, but it's just so boring. I don't know how to play a single Deftones song on bass-- where's the fun in playing the root?

Additionally, this is why I don't like country music... even if it's well done, it just doesn't move me. I know tons of people love it (I'm even from a country area), but I just don't feel intrigued. This is all opinion, of course.

This is why I always point to Fat Mike in NoFX.
There's countless examples of him playing in a low-key supporting role, but there's also examples of him going nuts up and down the neck and chording like crazy.
I'd say 80 % of the time he's playing in a traditional role and supporting the rhythm. But that other 20 % is an explosion-- but it never feels self-indulgent.

Listen to the Decline, it might change the way you perceive the bass. The bass isn't used as a lead instrument and it's not used to just support some buzz-saw guitars-- I won't go as far to say he re-invented the instrument, but he re-invented the way I looked at how bass should be played.

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by Ben Harmless

I'm going to be the lone voice of dissent here, I know that going in.

Despite generations of bass players finding comfort in "playing their part well," I find it kind of sad that the bass is presumed to be an instrument that should not take an equal part in a band - ever. The idea that so many bass players are content to simply stay out of the way just depresses me.

There are a whole lot of great things that can be done on the bass that traditionalists frown on. The way I see it, if traditionalists are frowning on something, I want to do it.

The whole "stand back, and don't overplay" thing is just perpetuation of a massive inferiority complex. The attitude that there's nothing in between root-fifth and the wanker bass player who's ignoring the rest of the band is just absurd.

If you want to impress me on the bass, do something interesting. Play a bassline that I'm going to remember. Dare to participate.

I don't think you're the lone voice of dissent. I said "know where the root is". I didn't say just lay down and stay there. But a lot of you guys have never played "for somebody". They ARE the show, not you, and they will be happy to point that out at every opportunity just in case you ever doubt it.

That said, I don't do that kind of work anymore. If staying on 1 for four bars and then wandering into another zipcode for the rest of the song makes me happy that's what I do and I don't play with anyone that doesn't want me to do it. But I don't walk on others and try never to leave anyone hanging. And I do play with guys that just never leave me any room at all so if I do go out there it becomes a train wreck and people do get hurt. But I only play with them once......once.

It comes down to this; why do you need to impress anybody? Is that why you play, so people will tell you how great you are? And who are you playing with? That's a big one. Some are all ego and don't want anyone to notice the bass player. Some want to lean on you, some want to be able to count on you and some need to be helped along. It just all depends.

What I've always done is show up on time.....in the right place, know the stuff well enough and know what you're doing. I've had to turn work down so it must work. If that doesn't impress them then find somebody with a drummer.

[Pinball_Wizard]

I think I'm trying out for groups who don't know what too look for in bass.

I like all the posts this thread got, it's letting me know I'm on track.

In this situation I guess all I can do is get an collection of standards in case this happens again.

like that jet song "be my girl"

I always work on keeping the groove, I was just curious if there was something more I could be doing to be a standout player.

[bignote]

Play in time, in tune, listen to the drummer(when there is one) Play bass parts vs guitar parts. Think James Jamerson and Duck Dunn.

[jefrs]

Pinball Wizard, assume the position stationary as a rock on stage left, then make noises like a VC10 taking off. My Generation and Summertime Blues usually works. :-)

[broadcaster]

For myself it is all about timing, feel - the groove in a band mix. Lead bass and fancy pants wankin' may be ok at say - solo time, but keep it tasteful and clean during the songs.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

I don't think you're the lone voice of dissent. I said "know where the root is". I didn't say just lay down and stay there. But a lot of you guys have never played "for somebody". They ARE the show, not you, and they will be happy to point that out at every opportunity just in case you ever doubt it.

That said, I don't do that kind of work anymore. If staying on 1 for four bars and then wandering into another zipcode for the rest of the song makes me happy that's what I do and I don't play with anyone that doesn't want me to do it. But I don't walk on others and try never to leave anyone hanging. And I do play with guys that just never leave me any room at all so if I do go out there it becomes a train wreck and people do get hurt. But I only play with them once......once.

It comes down to this; why do you need to impress anybody? Is that why you play, so people will tell you how great you are? And who are you playing with? That's a big one. Some are all ego and don't want anyone to notice the bass player. Some want to lean on you, some want to be able to count on you and some need to be helped along. It just all depends.

What I've always done is show up on time.....in the right place, know the stuff well enough and know what you're doing. I've had to turn work down so it must work. If that doesn't impress them then find somebody with a drummer.

It finally happened! Old Cane just wrote a post I absolutely and wholeheartedly agree with!!!!



Tim

[Ben Harmless]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

I don't think you're the lone voice of dissent. I said "know where the root is". I didn't say just lay down and stay there. But a lot of you guys have never played "for somebody". They ARE the show, not you, and they will be happy to point that out at every opportunity just in case you ever doubt it.

I should have been more careful to indicate that I didn't feel that anyone in the thread was trying to keep our OP down at all. I really hope I didn't come off as snarky.

It's quite true that I've never played bass, or guitar "for somebody" but that's because it was never the reason I got into music. If I found myself playing "for" someone who wanted to dictate (rather than suggest) my bass playing, I'd move on. It's just not my game.

I fully recognize and embrace that I do not represent all bass players (especially talent-wise) and my advice will probably only get people punched in the nose.

[robb3566]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

Oh, and why are you playing without a drummer? I know the usual reasons but DWI and drug use laws have gotten a lot stricter I thought.