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Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:13 am
by phantasmagorovich
mauerkraut wrote:This is just like a talkbass thread a bunch of dudes arguing about a completely SUBJECTIVE topic.
To answer to post...
IMO electric bass guitar is such a weird instrument because it encompasses a lot of different roles and styles. Coming from a very percussive and rhythmic world of the upright bass and fusing it with the chordal, melodic aspects of guitar. "How to" play correctly I would say would be determined by what you find your role in a particular setting. One thing I do find essential though is being able to glue everything together. From Lemmy to James Jamerson, they keep the music together. My favorite bassist is Joe Lally (Fugazi, Ataxia, solo, etc.) He always plays for the music, which is what any musician should do, especially bass. He mixes strong repetitive grooves, melodies, chords, arpeggios, and genius syncopation. Truly bridges melody and rhythm. I always think of it as a conversation between bass and drums. You have to stay on topic and have things relevant. IMO as well you can't go crazy with effects as a guitar player can. One the drums are present crazy delays and reverbs and really washed out sound on guitar can work, but it is (usually) the duty of the bass to keep it locked down.
One gripe I do have is guitarists style with a pick, it's always so scratchy. On bass, you have to push and dig in with a pick, not strum and glide.
Bassists to look into:
Joe Lally - arpeggios, grooves, chords
Jaco Pastorius - melody, melody, groove
Juan Alderete - keeping it locked with a lot of chaos around, melody, syncopation, grooves
Holger Czukay - SYNCOPATION, groove
Colin Greenwood - groove, syncopation, melody
Brian Cook - chords, pick technique
Enjoy the instrument! Most fun to me!
This should be framed and stuck to every rehearsal room's door.
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:47 am
by Mudfuzz
I most post this for a little more positive Watt-esque impression
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LSFOGb0T2Y[/youtube]
Also... and then... there is.... the ONE!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x8GZx_u9aI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7qnm57oYyM[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtqDB2spyG0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjKFCYzqq-A[/youtube]
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:32 pm
by Seedy
Mike Watt REPRAZENT
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:06 pm
by bigchiefbc
Wow, this has totally become a TB thread. People making broad generalizations about what the bassist's "job" is, how much affects use is ok, how you should play, how you should sound, and a liberal dose of people just name-dropping their favorite bassists.
How you should play your bass is completely based on what kind of band you're in, what kind of music you play, and what your band's understanding of your role is. Not all bassists are (or even should be) in a "glue" position. In some bands, the bass carries the main melody, and some other instrument is responsible for locking in with the drums for rhythmic control. Basically, making generalizations about the proper role is pointless navel-gazing.
In my rock/metal covers band, my position is definitely glue. And I have great chemistry with my drummer. In my originals group, my bass is heavily effects-laden, and is often the melody/lead. The rhythm is defined by a drum machine and synth patches that are synced to it. So I come at it from both sides, and neither is better than the other, and neither is right or wrong. Every band's dynamic is different, and the only way it's wrong is if your band wants/needs you to play differently than you do.
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 8:41 pm
by magiclawnchair
always listen to what the other people you are playing with are playing
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:09 pm
by metalmariachi
Play what ever you want the rest of the band has to follow you.
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:18 pm
by magiclawnchair
this thread needs more bass playing...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLAX5vQolNI[/youtube]
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:22 pm
by unownunown
i think we should all get along.
and play disco.
j/s.
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:23 pm
by bob the r0bot
disco FTW
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:30 pm
by unownunown
yes!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKl6EZShaaw[/youtube]
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:36 pm
by magiclawnchair
jack bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkVVtB2vLBo[/youtube]
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:47 pm
by Mudfuzz
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQGIk2YEwJw[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yik9YDndUxM[/youtube]
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:03 pm
by warwick.hoy
Navel Gazers
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:51 pm
by Gearmond
unownunown wrote:i think we should all get along.
and play disco.
j/s.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMS1bKk9yAQ[/youtube]
disco.
Re: bass players: how do guitarists play bass wrong?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 11:05 pm
by snipelfritz
This thread inspired me to listen to Heart of Glass by Blondie. I'm on my fifth time in a row.
EDIT: lol, I just realized the first half of the bridge/instrumental break is in 7/4. Weird. It's so smooth though.