The Bass thread

[boo boo]

Originally Posted by mr dave

just going to make a few points based on some of the stuff i've seen in this thread, not going to quote everyone.

the idea that bassists are failed guitarists only applies to the connect the dot style of rock where the bass player only hits the root of whatever chord the guitar player is playing at the same time as the bass drum hit.

a good bass player that understands the role of establishing and maintaining a groove within the context of the band is rare and requires a whole other set of skills than those you normally develop on a guitar. it seems a lot of time bands end up with someone who should really be playing guitar. i'm not saying there isn't room for bass leads outside of jazz, but trying to solo on a bass the same way you do on a guitar sounds cheesy. conversely a bass player should be allowed to do more than pedal point the root of the riff.

as for my own low end dealings. i've got 2 basses. one is a 4 string aria pro II - cat series. weighs a ton, sounds great. the other is a 5 string fretless by samick. weighs little, neckdives like there's no tomorrow, but gets surprisingly deep low end.

flea became a monstrous influence on me as a teen. not just in terms of playing bass but also the way he dealt with music. he might not be on the same level as wooten and pastorius but in terms of what's available to mainstream music listeners he's definitely a great starting point to learn about more than what you hear on tv and radio.

i also really dig all the old sabbath riffs, geezer butler is definitely worthy of praise. his technique of not loosing the groove when playing lead fills is freaking ace.

scott reeder from kyuss also deserves a mention in the sludgy groove based hard rock vein that butler started.

i also seem to remember all three guys in spinal tap playing basses for 'big bottom' haha. although if memory serves me correctly smalls had an 8 sting. soundgarden does a pretty good cover of that track too hehehe.

Well, I did take up the bass because I failed at the guitar.

For me, the problem with guitar was all about chords. I couldn't play them.

So bass is a more natural fit for me. You just play scales and individual notes, that's a lot easier to learn, though it's still a bitch to master, especially when rhythm comes into play.

I wish I had more confidence in my ability to learn, I don't practice nearly as much as I should.

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by boo boo

Well, I did take up the bass because I failed at the guitar.

For me, the problem with guitar was all about chords. I couldn't play them.

So bass is a more natural fit for me. You just play scales and individual notes, that's a lot easier to learn, though it's still a bitch to master, especially when rhythm comes into play.

I wish I had more confidence in my ability to learn, I don't practice nearly as much as I should.

yeah but you also stand as one of the more 'unique' people i've come across on the net. coming from me that puts you WAY out there hahaha

as for bass being just scales and notes, yes and no. you can't really chug power chords the same way as you do on a guitar but it's still a viable option when you're playing on the top 2 strings. playing a full chord arpeggio on a bass also sounds really really nice especially if you find a way to incorporate a ringing open string or harmonic into the mix.

personally i enjoyed practicing my guitar far more than my bass. playing with people is where i really developed my bass playing chops. i know it's easier said than done but if you can manage to find your way into a 'good' improv session it'll do wonders for your playing.

[boo boo]

I would like to join an actual band eventually, it would help the learning process a lot.

Probably a folk, country or punk band, or a blues rock band. Something that requires simple walking or strumming basslines

[Antonio]

i just want to say that i play both, and the way that i play on guitar, i almost entirely mimic when i'm playing bass. i mean there are a few differences, i.e. barre chords/slapping popping, but for the most part i like extended fingerpicking and improvising as well as use of triad forms and open notes too. for me, it's not about what's "easier", but how i could get a different tone and sound as well as be a bit of a new challenge each time.

one thing i realized when i started playing bass for my band was how in that genre i fit better as a bassist than as a guitarist. not so much that it's easier or anything, but because when playing guitar, i hate to be confined in things like strumming power chords for the majority of the song, and like i said before with im usually improvising or trying to use different chord forms. i found that that fit alot better with bass, because i could add things to the song my own way.

oh and boo boo, joining a band or even jamming with others can help you ALOT, because you can share ideas with musicians and learn how to work with a group musically.

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by boo boo

I would like to join an actual band eventually, it would help the learning process a lot.

Probably a folk, country or punk band, or a blues rock band. Something that requires simple walking or strumming basslines

don't fool yourself into thinking those are easy styles to play simply because of the technical simplicity involved. especially folk and country, those styles require LOTS of restraint and an excellent sense of timing. it's one thing to keep that same pendulum feel going for a song, it's another thing to keep that same feeling going for a set. it's far more of a mental challenge than a physical one.

blues rock is GREAT for getting your feet wet as it provides ample opportunity to bust loose during instrumental vamps while still maintaining relative simplicity during the more structured parts.

like Antonio said, joining a band or just jamming with others WILL be beneficial. you might not always see the direct benefit depending on the people involved but it's there.

[boo boo]

Originally Posted by mr dave

don't fool yourself into thinking those are easy styles to play simply because of the technical simplicity involved. especially folk and country, those styles require LOTS of restraint and an excellent sense of timing. it's one thing to keep that same pendulum feel going for a song, it's another thing to keep that same feeling going for a set. it's far more of a mental challenge than a physical one.

blues rock is GREAT for getting your feet wet as it provides ample opportunity to bust loose during instrumental vamps while still maintaining relative simplicity during the more structured parts.

like Antonio said, joining a band or just jamming with others WILL be beneficial. you might not always see the direct benefit depending on the people involved but it's there.

I don't have to worry about restraint, I have nothing to hold back.

[Ricochet~kun]

okay, ph34r:
i saw this video today:

and i almost shat in my pants.
as of right now, there is nothing i want to do with my live other than strings and bass. so, anyone have good recomendations on bass gear? im starting today, and i need a bass ( i think 2 hundred watt speakers and a gutiar amp should work for a while ) but i have 2 or 3 years of gutiar experiance so im not totally in the dust. but the bass... its just so... so... i dont even know.
like when the groove slows and the pump rolls.
then the bass grows.
and some basic info would help, like,
do bassists in rock bands usually use distortion like the guitarists do?
what diffrent about the way the right hand manipulates the intrument?
are the huge fret spaces difficult to work with?

(ps. im not giving up guitar or any other intruments to learn bass, im just adding bass to the list)

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by boo boo

I don't have to worry about restraint, I have nothing to hold back.

that's exactly how you'll trip up hahaha

[ElephantSack]

Favorite bass? My Schecter Stiletto Custom 5.
I like to mix it up when it comes to style. I'm mainly a finger player. I like to throw in some slaps, taps and sweeps. I use a pick on only one song.
Favorite bassist? Noel Redding, Les Claypool, Cliff Burton, Colin Marston, Fat Mike, Steve Harris

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by jkloring

okay, ph34r:
i saw this video today:

and i almost shat in my pants.
as of right now, there is nothing i want to do with my live other than strings and bass. so, anyone have good recomendations on bass gear? im starting today, and i need a bass ( i think 2 hundred watt speakers and a gutiar amp should work for a while ) but i have 2 or 3 years of gutiar experiance so im not totally in the dust. but the bass... its just so... so... i dont even know.
like when the groove slows and the pump rolls.
then the bass grows.
and some basic info would help, like,
do bassists in rock bands usually use distortion like the guitarists do?
what diffrent about the way the right hand manipulates the intrument?
are the huge fret spaces difficult to work with?

(ps. im not giving up guitar or any other intruments to learn bass, im just adding bass to the list)

yawn... check out some live squarepusher if you want pants pooping bass action. this guy is alright, his right hand technique is top notch, but overall meh.

do NOT run a bass through a guitar amp. you can run a guitar through a bass amp but you're asking for problems if you go the other way around.

as for the basic info you wonder about....

distortion? depends on the band, when it comes to bass less is usually more. i run mine through a russian big muff.

right hand action? entirely dependent on you. i used to slap and pop back in the late 90s, it's not something i do anymore. that's the technique buddy is using in that video, you slap your thumb on the strings in a percussive way and the noodley bits are done by pulling the higher strings with opposing fingertips so the string slaps against the fretboard. you'll notice that he's really only playing 3 octave patterns over and over for this clip until the very end.

the only time i use my right hand thumb on my bass strings now is a weird double slap thing i sometimes do in tandem with my little finger. my main technique during the last jam room was 3 fingers or a pick. there's no real limit to what you can use to attack the strings with.

fret size? never was an issue for me. the biggest issue i found when going back and forth between instruments was my reflex shape for certain chord shapes became warped after playing the bass for extended periods. you'll find you've got more finger strength and a greater reach when you go back to those puny little guitar necks hahaha