| Author | Message | ||
| Rob Rybak (essenceman)
New Username: essenceman Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2002 |
Just thought I'd throw this one into the melting pot to see what comes out! What IS the role of the bass player? Does he/she hold down the bottom end; act as the interpreter between rhythm and melody; set the groove; provide an alternative lead instrument to guitar, keys or wind? A combination of all or some of these? Isn't this why we play this wonderful instrument - which other musical instrument offers such versatility of purpose? My own style is more of the groover, holding down the low end. The dusty end on my Essence 5 tends to stay pretty dusty, but it would be interesting to hear other people's contributions on their style and their view on the role(s) of the bass player. Rob | ||
| Paul Ellsworth (elzie)
Junior Username: elzie Post Number: 37 Registered: 8-2002 |
All of the above  | ||
| Matt Bulmer (prime)
Junior Username: prime Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2002 |
Ok, has anyone ever heard someone say "The role of the guitar player, is to...."? Why is that? Personally, I like to hold down a groove, but I also want the bassline to contribute to the melodic aspect of the music. Role of the bass: Overthrow the tyranny of guitar players everywhere in a glorious coup d'tat. Matt | ||
| Derwin Moss (bassdude63)
Junior Username: bassdude63 Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2002 |
It all depends on the style of music you're playing and the musicians you're playing it with. I find with a solid drummer I have a bit more freedom to be experimental. Many players want the bassist to function as a link between rhythm & harmony and that's it(especially guitarists),which is fine with me-I love to lock in with the drummer and drive it. Ideally, Marcus Miller summed it up when he said " a bassist should be able to lay down the fattest groove and blow the hottest solo". | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Intermediate Member Username: palembic Post Number: 114 Registered: 9-2002 |
When you have a good drummer the audience start to move, when you add a good bass on top of that the audience start to dance, a good melodyline makes them sing along! My two cent! Paul | ||
| Charles "David" Tichenor (alembic76407)
Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 83 Registered: 5-2002 |
the bass players job is to keep the guitar players from killing the drummer | ||
| Derwin Moss (bassdude63)
Junior Username: bassdude63 Post Number: 19 Registered: 10-2002 |
Very good! or vise versa. The bass player's other job is to try to hear his/herself over the drummer, guitarist, and vocalist. Uh, could give me more vocals in my monitor? Yeah, while you're at it, I can't hear my Marshall-could I have some guitar in my monitor? Hey, I need to hear more of my kick in my monitor too. Bass Player(muttering) Damn, do I have earplugs in my gig bag?! | ||
| Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Junior Username: bigredbass Post Number: 23 Registered: 9-2002 |
I always approach my part in the arrangement as its own part. I was trained in classical piano originally, and in the that music, the left hand was its' own part, not just a collection of roots and pedal points. The same as orchestral music, or string quartets, or 4-part vocal music. My favorite players, from Carol Kaye and McCartney, on to Anthony Jackson and Jimmy Johnson, always played parts that could almost stand alone. They grooved, were the foundation of the song, locked with the drummer, and had these little figures that echoed some other part in the juiciest spots. This was my inspiration and target for my own development. I always felt bass was an 'ensemble' instrument: It was the mesh of the whole band that was the rush. As much as I admire Jaco or Stanley, it was utterly out of sync with where I saw myself. My goal was when you came to see a band I was in, you might not even see me, but you couldn't sit still in the face of that much groove. I still keep shooting for that. | ||
| Daniel Tracey (dannobasso)
Junior Username: dannobasso Post Number: 14 Registered: 7-2002 |
I have found over the years that my job has been to drive the band, pushing and pulling the drummer when the tempo strayed. Anthony Jackson's picking was always an inspiration to me. A pick really helps to keep things consistant. In a hard rock/punk setting you have to drive it like a big truck grinding through all of the other mayhem. Provide the deep bottom that everyone always relies on. Also to piss off the guitarist whose gear isn't as well made as your Alembic! Dragon Inlay anyone? | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior Username: dean_m Post Number: 20 Registered: 7-2002 |
I always thought the bass players job was to provide a root note so the singers (vocalists) would have some idea of what note to sing off of HAH!!!! Before and after the gig, the bass players job is to get the drummer to and from the gig. HAH Again!! Seriously though, one of my teachers, Paul Farnen always said, "there's no money above the fifth fret"!!! Peace - Dino | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Member Username: stoney Post Number: 75 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Dino, I read your other post about "no money...." and although I'm a huge fan of John Entwistle and Stanley Clarke, I tend to agree...at least to a point. If you listen to the playing of James Jamerson, who played bass for almost everything that came out of Motown in the 60's, you'll find some of the coolest, tastiest grooves known to bass....all below the "5th fret". Paul McCartney was a master at this as well. He kept (almost) everything low but incorporated very tasty deviations from the root. Unless you ARE Stanley Clark (acting as the front man) or John (having to play lead bass)you're much more "noticed" when the band has a nice tight/fat bottom, stepping out occasionally to showcase only. My roll as bassist: Designated Driver, bill collector, sound tech....etc. etc. Stoney | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior Username: dean_m Post Number: 21 Registered: 7-2002 |
Oh yeah man!!!! Stanley is my all time hero. But then again so isnt Jamerson too. Like I had said about the 5th fret though, believe me, there are plenty of times I'm not making any money. Especially when it's time to blow away the guitar player. One last lesson that I'd like to share, no one notices the bass player until he/she isn't there anymore. Peace Again!!! | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Member Username: stoney Post Number: 76 Registered: 7-2002 |
A-men to that !!! | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 65 Registered: 7-2002 |
Well Said!!! | ||
| Bob Bell (kipknee)
New Username: kipknee Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2002 |
Interesting thread. I've had a few people over the years ask this type of question. Generally, the cryptic answer that I usually give is that a bass player's role is to listen. In the "old days" the bass player was usually the least competent musician in the band, but it has now reached a point where the bass player is typically the most musically versed (and diverse) musician in the band. Generally speaking, bassists today have a solid understanding of rhythm, melody and harmony. They listen to the voice of every instrument and vocalist and then they play a part that is both independent from and complementary to the rest of the band. | ||
| Rob Rybak (essenceman)
New Username: essenceman Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2002 |
In response to Dino's last post. A few years ago I was playing in a band with a young, inexperienced (but very talented) singer. We were learning a song where the bass didn't start until bar (measure) 17. When I started playing, he stopped singing and just said "Wow!" I'm not THAT good! It was simply, as Dino pointed out, the effect that bass can have on people's perception of a piece of music. | ||
| Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Intermediate Member Username: palembic Post Number: 123 Registered: 9-2002 |
Well Rob: that's the "essence"man! ;-) Paul | ||
| Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
Junior Username: dean_m Post Number: 24 Registered: 7-2002 |
Here's a true story and this just happened last night. A friend of mine has been doing a solo acoustic gig every Sunday at this local pub in my hometown. Just last night he invited me to come down and play some bass with him, unfortunatley he didn't want electric, just strictly upright. Which I'm always happy to work on my upright chops especially when it's a no pressure gig. Well wouldn't ya know, after every set, the regulars couldn't figure out what the big difference was other than the big fiddle standing in the corner. Something was different, they just couldn't figure out what it was. Needless to say my friend asked me to finish out the year with him every Sunday. I told him it'll be tough missing The Sopranos, but I think I can cope!!! HA Rob, you're absolutely right on the money. The bass does have an effect on peoples perception, sometimes visually as much as sonically. Now I need to start saving pennies for a Classico!?!? Pretty cool huh?? Peace - Dino |
