Nail Soup Posted June 24, 2021 Share Posted June 24, 2021 1 hour ago, PaulWarning said: once saw an obviously competent bass player, he was part of the band on a cruise ship, he played slap all over the verse of Alright Now, I'm still traumatised, so yes, taste is very important and can't be taught or learnt I'm feeling some kind of sympathetic trauma just hearing about that! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 24, 2021 Share Posted June 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, Cat Burrito said: I don't mind flash but fine tune it at home, not on stage. Equally I am perfectly happy to watch a player who plays it safe but does it well. If you simplify parts to concentrate on a vocal, I am cool with that. I guess my point in a nutshell is be properly rehearsed for the performance you are able to deliver. Any deviation from this and I am not a fan. The occasionally mistake we're all guilty of but it shouldn't be every show! Amen to that brother. If it sounds good leave it as it is, don't womble all over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_dinger Posted June 24, 2021 Share Posted June 24, 2021 1 hour ago, EssentialTension said: A punter once told me I was too short to play bass. So, if you are 5'9" (175cm) or under, sell your gear. Do we have any volunteers to break this news to Suzi Quattro? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted June 24, 2021 Share Posted June 24, 2021 6 hours ago, ubit said: Well that's me fecked! Yeah me too, im 5,7" with my boots on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted June 24, 2021 Share Posted June 24, 2021 6 hours ago, bass_dinger said: Do we have any volunteers to break this news to Suzi Quattro? Or Tina Weymouth. Or Nicole Row. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 On 29/09/2010 at 17:10, thisnameistaken said: There are two types of bad bass players: 1) Bass players who you notice. If you notice the bass player he's doing it wrong. 2) Adam Clayton. Disagree on both counts. You notice people like Squire, Entwistle, JJB, Jaco, Norman W-R, Jamerson, and they’re all doing it very right, IMO. Whilst there may be an element of humour in your statement, Adam Clayton is a perfectly good bass player so far as I’m concerned. He plays parts that work in the context of the music (whether or not you like that music is not relevant). Whenever I hear people slag him off I always wonder what they think he should be playing. Funky 16th note groove in With Or Without You? That would be bad bass playing. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 19 hours ago, bass_dinger said: Do we have any volunteers to break this news to Suzi Quattro? Nope. She’d probably batter me, even at 5ft nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 The bassline of One is sublime. It rules the feel of the tune with a velvet glove. Adam Clayton is a bass player's bassist. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 30 minutes ago, Downunderwonder said: The bassline of One is sublime. It rules the feel of the tune with a velvet glove. Adam Clayton is a bass player's bassist. I agree, I can never understand why he gets a bad press. He does exactly what the songs need. I'm not a huge fan of U2 and I can't stand Bonio but they have come out with some great stuff over the years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilp Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 I'm not a huge fan, but U2 were and are the tightest band I've ever seen. Clayton undoubtedly has the ability to play lots and lots more notes than he does, but makes the CHOICE not to. No way a band can be that tight and powerful with a bad bass player. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 He and Jameson are what made me start - both very tasteful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 (edited) What makes a bad bass player? Usually a guitarist playing bass: They have little or no thought of bass function or where a bass sits in a song and fribble away frantically like billio, making a horrible racket. They just think 'less strings, no chords easy peasy.' Wrong. A lefty playing righty: Someone I know can't play a solid tight rhythm because he plays wrong handed. Everything comes out sounding all bibbidy bobbidy instead of dumdumdumdumdumdumdum. I know some players do it wonderfully, but some don't. Edited June 26, 2021 by 12stringbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, 12stringbassist said: a guitarist playing bass: Story time. One New Year's Eve I was in the audience when it all turned to custard. I surveyed the scene on stage. Bassist had vanished and LG was now 'playing bass'. I volunteered and LG was relieved. I guess they were figuring it couldn't get any worse with the random sober guy volunteering and if it did the sight of some random playing his gear might spur their man to get back from his girlfriend meltdown problem. We tore it up and I never saw the bassman again. Edited June 26, 2021 by Downunderwonder 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 3 hours ago, 12stringbassist said: What makes a bad bass player? Usually a guitarist playing bass: They have little or no thought of bass function or where a bass sits in a song and fribble away frantically like billio, making a horrible racket. They just think 'less strings, no chords easy peasy.' Wrong. A lefty playing righty: Someone I know can't play a solid tight rhythm because he plays wrong handed. Everything comes out sounding all bibbidy bobbidy instead of dumdumdumdumdumdumdum. I know some players do it wonderfully, but some don't. You obviously haven't met my brothers in Law. Both brilliant guitarists and brilliant bass players. My ex guitar teacher toured with a well known band as bass player. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 (edited) - Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 4 hours ago, ubit said: You obviously haven't met my brothers in Law. Both brilliant guitarists and brilliant bass players. My ex guitar teacher toured with a well known band as bass player. Exceptions prove rules. I have seen many a competent guitarist all at sea picking up my bass for a play. They would probably be fine if they had one at home and practiced on it but that's not who we are talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 It has surprised me in the past how clueless guitarists can be , one guy I played with years ago was brilliant on guitar, could play pretty much anything straight off, but when he tried to put some bass on the same stuff , it was like a little kid having a go, completely incoherent would be the best word ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 27 minutes ago, Downunderwonder said: They would probably be fine if they had one at home and practiced on it but that's not who we are talking about. Well if a bass player picked up a guitar at gig for the first time what would that sound like? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 (edited) 10 minutes ago, ubit said: Well if a bass player picked up a guitar at gig for the first time what would that sound like? In my case, absolute trash worse than than the drunkest guitarist you ever heard. And I own a guitar that I hardly ever pick up. But that's exactly the point, guitar players that think they can bass because it's 'only a guitar missing the two top strings'! I doubt any I heard were first timers. Edited June 26, 2021 by Downunderwonder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskwave Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 (edited) Maybe a bad bassist is one who doesnt play the bass line that is the crux of the song.....have to say it would be unusual....cant say Ive ever heard it... Edited June 30, 2021 by greavesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 (edited) On 26/06/2021 at 05:24, ubit said: You obviously haven't met my brothers in Law. Both brilliant guitarists and brilliant bass players. My ex guitar teacher toured with a well known band as bass player. Oh, yes - you can get musicians who are guitarists first and foremost, but who are all-rounders. They are the gifted people (like Prince) who can play anything well. They are not the ones I am talking about. I'm talking about someone who is (in capitals) A GUITARIST, who happens to pick a bass up. They don't often think like a bass player. That's the problem. They will try to do some little slap thing to impress the bassist whose bass they are holding, or some little bass solo, which they may pink torpedo up because the strings are wrong for them. They can't think like a bassist and there's the problem. On 26/06/2021 at 09:46, Waddo Soqable said: It has surprised me in the past how clueless guitarists can be , one guy I played with years ago was brilliant on guitar, could play pretty much anything straight off, but when he tried to put some bass on the same stuff , it was like a little kid having a go, completely incoherent would be the best word ! That's what I'm talking about. Edited June 30, 2021 by 12stringbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 On 26/06/2021 at 10:04, ubit said: Well if a bass player picked up a guitar at gig for the first time what would that sound like? Tasteful, understated, funky …. next question ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 9 hours ago, 12stringbassist said: . They can't think like a bassist and there's the problem. My point is it works both ways. If a bass player picks up a guitar for the first time it’s a disaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 46 minutes ago, ubit said: My point is it works both ways. If a bass player picks up a guitar for the first time it’s a disaster. Nobody is talking about first timers! It's the infrequent dabblers that drive us nuts. They think they can bass but they can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Pretty much all the guitarists I know are perfectly fine on bass. But they are musicians first and foremost; all write music/songs and sing. In fact I know very few people who don’t. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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