Calling all Bass Players....HELP
- Thread starter slashgnr88
- Start date
I've made more money playing bass than any other thing, though I usually play guitar when I'm writing things or learning parts, for obvious reasons. About a decade ago I decided to only play fretless, largely because it keeps my attention and concentration level up - after 39 years, there are some things that are just a bit boring... but everyone should start fretted, just so you don't suck too bad.
The single most important thing is to learn bass parts. That seems obvious, but it... isn't. Listen to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_45dXRKHReU&feature=related
Listen to how little Tim Schmit plays at the beginning - one note every two bars. Then he starts to fill it in in the chorus, and by the end of the song, he's playing on every beat - which gives it a drive that couldn't be achieved any other way. It's the bass player's job to figure out stuff like that. Schmit is a master at it - there are a lot of cross-rhythms in songs that the bass player doesn't play, but he sets them up. Take ten favorite songs, and learn the bass parts. They're not just one-note versions of the guitar parts.
The single most important thing is to learn bass parts. That seems obvious, but it... isn't. Listen to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_45dXRKHReU&feature=related
Listen to how little Tim Schmit plays at the beginning - one note every two bars. Then he starts to fill it in in the chorus, and by the end of the song, he's playing on every beat - which gives it a drive that couldn't be achieved any other way. It's the bass player's job to figure out stuff like that. Schmit is a master at it - there are a lot of cross-rhythms in songs that the bass player doesn't play, but he sets them up. Take ten favorite songs, and learn the bass parts. They're not just one-note versions of the guitar parts.
Super Turbo Deluxe Custom
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In a straight blues or rock beat where the bass sounds best locked in with the kick drum, I like to play the root with the kick drum and the 3rd, which denotes the major or minor, with the snare. It's a simple way to keep moving without overplaying, and can make a 2 or 3 chord song interesting. I'm often surprised by the bass player that thinks only in roots. For example they are thinking "E" but not E maj or E min, or hang on the occasional 7th without getting all jazzy.
