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D.o.S. wrote:Funk music is the blues lawyer jams of the bass world.

I blame fusion for this as well as a great many things.

FIGHT FUSION WITH FUSION
NUKE THE JAMMERS

A lot of guitarists don't play like bassists.

I think if you're going to differentiate like that, maybe a quick-fix to get you sounding "more like a bassist" is to get some drum loops. Listen, play bass to them. You will be less inclined to follow a guitar part as there is none. Once you've done this....a lot.... your style and bass sensibilities will grow. Much like guitar, "good/great" doesn't just happen. Even without schooling, everyone learns. No one starts with any edge. So practice, practice, practize.

I think using the terminology "playing it as a rhythm instrument" while accurate for people who understand what you are talking about, fails to convey the intent to those who are maybe not getting it.

Approach.

Play the bass simultaneously as a melodic instrument, and as a percussive instrument. Especially if you like a clearer, more clanky kind of sound, the bass should be complimentary to the drums in pacing, and sympathetic to the other guitars in melody. 80% of the time my favorite bass players are not playing the same things as the 6 stringers are. When you do come together it should be to create massive rhythmic emphasis on that part.


So that's an attempt to clarify what I think confuses some people about the difference between a Bassist, and some dude with a bass guitar.

I'm looking at used Basses, fuck. I shouldn't have sold mine.

oldangelmidnight wrote:I just went to the guitar shop and spent some time playing a bass. I think maybe I was supposed to be a bass player this whole time. It just felt and sounded so right. I've played guitar for over 20 years now.
Anyone here ever switched instruments after so much investment of time and money?
Mostly I'm just annoyed that I might have to buy a bass amp...

Same thing happened to me.
I got into a band and ended up playing bass.
I had dabbled with bass, for recording purposes. Didn't particularly feel anything then.
When the band got going, I really really dug playing bass. Like it was meant to be.
I don't like being center stage, front and center in the spot light......so maybe that's why.
I liked creating the foundation. I loved the tone of bass. the feel.
As a bigger guy (tall), the bass just fit me well......
Felt like I was better at bass. more creative. clicked.

I'm now playing guitar again, and having fun with it, but man, the call of the bass is strong.

oldangelmidnight wrote:I've played guitar for over 20 years now.

I don't think its ever too late to switch

I mean Bruce Jenner went 65 years before deciding to switch it up

yeah, and there's no reason to have feel about it.
If you like it, enjoy it.

So how does one learn to play bass? I've always learned guitar by playing alone. Do you play with recordings? Alone? With a drum machine?

D.o.S. wrote:Funk music is the blues lawyer jams of the bass world.

Yeah, I think part of the reason I never seriously considered bass before is that I always thought "bass culture" was all about da funk.

That's part of the reason why I don't really consider myself a bass player, even though I play bass more or less exclusively when I make music with other people. Which is not to take anything away from those guys, it's just not my scene.

Recordings are good, and listening to/stealing from the musicians you like is always good, but I really do think the best learning experiences come from playing with a drummer and/or other people.

D.o.S. wrote:That's part of the reason why I don't really consider myself a bass player, even though I play bass more or less exclusively when I make music with other people. Which is not to take anything away from those guys, it's just not my scene.

Recordings are good, and listening to/stealing from the musicians you like is always good, but I really do think the best learning experiences come from playing with a drummer and/or other people.

Also on the stealing part go see your favorite bass dudes live and watch them be badass! I've learned more by seeing Boosty, Ray Brown, Mike Watt and Lemmy play live then I ever did from lessons, books, vids and so forth

oldangelmidnight wrote:

D.o.S. wrote:Funk music is the blues lawyer jams of the bass world.

Yeah, I think part of the reason I never seriously considered bass before is that I always thought "bass culture" was all about da funk.

#funkshaming

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

Mudfuzz wrote: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?

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