Crisis

[Mudfuzz]

Do I have to explain the difference between funky chops and the funk? do I really?

Can you get Lemmy to explain it to me?

I can't explain what might happen to you if you told Lemmy James Brown sucked, chances are it wouldn't be good for you
really though…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTJEu7Tngaw[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3v-z8iEN-Q[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ-ECqhSG-Q[/youtube]

bassically… whenever you take a a form of music that was originally about making people MOVE and is turned into over conceptualized easy listening music it loses it's soul in a bad way, that is why blooz dude rock sucks, that is why most fusion sucks as well as model and cool jazz… just say'n

[oldangelmidnight]

I just don't like things that make people happy.

[Mudfuzz]

I just don't like things that make people happy.

Good depressive suicidal black metal and doom make me as happy as funk does

[Jwar]

I think it's funny to hear people say if you can play guitar you can play bass because this is clearly not true in most cases. Bass playing takes years to develop just like guitar. It is in fact an entirely different beast than a guitar. I have met many, many guitarist that have tried to play bass and guess what? They play the thing like a fucking guitar. There are some that can do both of course, but it's not a natural thing IMO. You can't just transition from one to another.

For instance, guitar has never made sense to me. Why? I'm not positive but I think it has to do with the different time signatures, the rhythm in general and my distaste for the instrument in general.

Of course my opinion is based on my own personal experiences and is totally subjective, but I've yet to meet a really good bass player that used to be a guitarist.

[D.o.S.]

I don't know if it's really an instrumental thing, though. I remember reading an interview with Les Claypool or someone like that who suggested that the difference between stringed instruments is like the difference between drawing a picture with a pen or with a Sharpie. The hand behind the pen is still the same thing, and the picture is still going to look like you drew it.

[Jwar]

Ehhhh I dunno about that. I think they are completely different. Of course again, that's based on me.

[John]

My theory on instruments:

Your main instrument is the Ego. Your secondary instrument is the Superego. Your tertiary (and potentially all following instruments) are the Id.

For me, I was a "bassist" for many years. People always complimented me on my playing, I identified with the instrument and its mode, but ultimately (about 15 or so years into the game) I hit a creative wall where I was too personally tied up with the thing to move forward. Around that time, I got into guitar "just to fuck around" and found that some of the things I had been writing on bass were actually guitar riffs. I was tapping into something subconscious, and I wasn't shackled by my ideas of what a bassist should do or be. Because my ego wasn't tied to the instrument, I could just get loose and have fun. Then I bought a drum set. Well we all know that Animal from the Muppet Show is ALL id. Pure unbridled passion. Playing drums unlocked something deep and wordless in me. There is no key, no scale, no in or out of tune. Just rhythm. Drumming makes me a better guitarist and a better bassist.

Now I am just a musician, and it's the truest statement. Don't be afraid to let go of one thing, because if you do then you can actually juggle many.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJtf7R_oVaw[/youtube]

[oldangelmidnight]

I bought a Squier Mustang so I'll be taking these instructions to heart.

Speaking as a bass player, I'm'a say:

If you loved playing the bass, get (or borrow) a bass
Play it through whatever you have
Play it through "guitar" amps
Play it through any pedal you like ("low-end loss" be damned)
Screw playing rhythmically, unless you deem it appropriate to the moment
Weave a screwdriver between the strings and make it sound like a steel drum
Clip paper clips all over the strings to make it buzz
Play solos
Play chords
Or don't
Make whale sounds
Make screechy sounds
Make thumpy sounds
Just make sounds you like

Life's too short to get hung up about music. Make more of it, not less.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY_iJw_M3lA[/youtube]

Any other bass players in the Lemmy school worth investigating?