Biggest Mistakes Guitar Players Make On Bass?

[summer_69]

Marking the rythm rather than the pulse.

[bluesfordan]

Originally Posted by summer_69

Marking the rythm rather than the pulse.

this is interesting, can you elaborate, please?

[howlin]

Maybe its just the type of music that I focused on [R&B, jazz, blues, some rock] but something that I hardly ever hear mentioned in regard to playing bass these days is "the feel". When you're in the groove or locked in with the drummer it effects the the whole band and that in turn effects the audience experience. Just my 2¢ . . .

FWIW - I rip my hands apart if I play acoustic guitar regularly but the bass hardly ever. Could be the flatwounds.

[bluesfordan]

as a long time guitar player, and second time bass owner, I can attest to playing too much when I play bass. The weird thing is, I catch myself doing it and force my playing to be more sparse. Before long, though, I'm cranking along again.

I had been doing ok on bass, then I got my tele. Since then, I've been totally sucking on bass. To the point where I'd rather sell my bass and get a good chair for my music room.

My biggest problem is not the fretting hand but the picking hand. I can get a nice tone with the pad of my thumb, but I have trouble trying to not involve my fingernails when using my fingers. part of the problem may be the round wounds (factory stock) on the bass. I'm trying to get an old school sound, and my nails put treble in there that just doesn't sound right. If I **** my hand at an uncomfortable, unnatural angle to avoid the nails, I can reduce the artifacts I don't want.

I don't have an amp, nor would I have very many opportunities to play bass with an amp if I had one. I've been doing the majority of my playing going direct to my recording setup. This means I'm using my headphones to listen to my bass, and it is barely adequate. Plus I'm still trying to figure out how much space to give the recorded bass signal. I want low tones and the aft-mentioned treble from my picking hand nails cause a larger sonic image than I want. I believe in not EQing until it is time to mix, so I'm trying to get good fundamental sounds from the source. So far, I'm just not getting it. As nice as my sansamp is, it is not a dedicated bass DI.

Last, but not least, I have no drummer to lock in with. I totally understand the concept. I've witnessed it live on numerous occasions. Just a tad difficult when you're by yourself in the music room. Can you really 'lock' in with a drum machine?

[cyclopean]

peter hook is all about playing simple melodic figures, usually high up the neck, and his bass playing is what drives most of joy division and new order's songs. he's probably one of my biggest musical influences.

also, listen to more reggae, rocksteady, and ska. the bass is usually what's driving, and it's all about solid groove and a catchy simple melodic figure.

[Tim Armstrong]

I want to take issue a bit with the whole idea of "too many notes". Too many notes for that particular song, maybe, but "keep it simple" really only applies to situations where a simple part is what works best. If a busy, complicated part GROOVES and propels the song forward in a good way, have at it!

I'd also note that God and Leo Fender didn't give us all those frets and expect us to stay in first position all the time! Again, what works is what works, you have to LISTEN to what you're playing and HEAR whether it's the appropriate thing...

Just sayin'...

Tim

[mgwhit]

Originally Posted by cyclopean

peter hook is all about playing simple melodic figures, usually high up the neck, and his bass playing is what drives most of joy division and new order's songs. he's probably one of my biggest musical influences.

I love Peter Hook as much as the next guy, but New Order almost always had a synth covering the low end when he was doing his high-end melodic stuff.

[robb3566]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

I want to take issue a bit with the whole idea of "too many notes". Too many notes for that particular song, maybe, but "keep it simple" really only applies to situations where a simple part is what works best. If a busy, complicated part GROOVES and propels the song forward in a good way, have at it!

I'd also note that God and Leo Fender didn't give us all those frets and expect us to stay in first position all the time! Again, what works is what works, you have to LISTEN to what you're playing and HEAR whether it's the appropriate thing...

Just sayin'...

Tim

As usual, very well put Tim!

[summer_69]

Originally Posted by bluesfordan

this is interesting, can you elaborate, please?

I'll try. In a simple world pulse marks are 1 and 3 and rythm is the interaction between these pulse marks and fills out the space between them - could be fingersnaps at 2 and 4 or it could be fill-in notes on the bass or a guitar or anything else. My preference for a majority of songs is that the pulse is there all the time. Steady and stable also when other parts of the rythm section make syncopated marks it should just be there and give continuity. That is difficult - at least it was a learning process to me when I took up also playing bass a few years ago. I still play the guitar as the main instrument but I felt the need to understand how I would like our band bass player to play.

[jefrs]

Originally Posted by rcole_sooner

Yeah, I'll try that on the frettin' hand, but it is the thumpin' fingers that get really sore. I just hate to have to use one a them big cotton picks, that just don't seem right.

Ah, but I play guitar with my fingers too. It was probably the bass that led to me loosing the pick and going back to finger style. Try stroking the bass stings instead of thumping them.

But how do you practice the bass, 64 bars of playing I+V drives me bananals.

[Paul in Colorado]

As a guitar player who dabbles on bass, what I did was go to the library and get a bass instruction DVD/book and pretended like I'd never played a fretted instrument before. This was to learn physical technique and to get the instructor's perspective on the instrument. Since most of what I play is original music, I composed bass lines to mesh with the percussionists.

What I'm learning for other kinds of music is that you play the root and V. The secret to making it isteresting is HOW you get from one chord to another. There are infinate choices. I've got a lot to learn. But I put on my bass hat rather then my guitar hat and listen for what's needed and try to come up with something interesting and musical and in time.

[robb3566]

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

As a guitar player who dabbles on bass, what I did was go to the library and get a bass instruction DVD/book and pretended like I'd never played a fretted instrument before.

I actually bought 'Bass Guitar for Dummies' over the weekend, and it's really good!

[guitarbiker]

Arpeggios, scales, chromatic approach notes, kick drum, groove, feel, connect drums to the rest of the orchestra or visa versa. Watch the dancers if any. The most important element most guitarists trying to be bass players miss is PLAYING THE SILENCE.

[teleforumnoob]

<<The most important element most guitarists trying to be bass players miss is PLAYING THE SILENCE>>

Excellent!

[micpoc]

Originally Posted by guitarbiker

The most important element most guitarists trying to be bass players miss is PLAYING THE SILENCE.

True; but most guitarists miss that while playing guitar as well.

[rcole_sooner]

Originally Posted by jefrs

Ah, but I play guitar with my fingers too. It was probably the bass that led to me loosing the pick and going back to finger style. Try stroking the bass stings instead of thumping them.

But how do you practice the bass, 64 bars of playing I+V drives me bananals.

It has been a few years. I took the tab route. If I remember I was working through some Skynryd. I think it was Tuesday's Gone, that was just so cool. I never knew that so much of that was the bass. ...and maybe it is not, and that is what was killing my hands.

I'm sure in time they would toughen up.

[scud133]

not using the pinky

[Fool, Esq.]

Great thread! Telesavalis and summer_69 are right on target -- following the snare instead of the kick means that the band will lack the syncopation that makes a band truly groove.

Bass is so incredibly important and so underappreciated. The drummer makes you tap your feet, but the bassist makes you shake your @ss.

[gmann]

Don't be afraid to play below the 12th fret. I hate bass players that stay way up high and seem to noodle around. Hold down the bottem end, there's a reason it's called bass. On the other hand, going up high fm time to time can be very effective if done with a little taste. Concentrate on turnarounds, a lot of players seem to gloss thru this.

[JCJCJC]

Not owning a van to take the band gear to gigs like a good bass player