steve-bbb Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1358933038' post='1947132'] often it's the simplest parts that are the most fun [/quote] my previous function band we use to do mavericks dance the night away - this is a good example of this - very simple line but a moderate challenge to play it fluidly and once the crowd are up shaking their booty on the dance floor you cannot help get caught up in the enjoyment of the whole thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul torch Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Some of the players I respect the most are those that know when they need to just hold it down for the benefit of the song. Especially when you know that they are more than capable of keeping it busy when required. Macca is a good case in point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Most of my favourite bass lines are the pedal type (no not a moogerfooger) the ones where the bass holds down one note all the way through whilst the chords shift around above. Without the pedal the songs are wishy washy, the bass determines the harmonic structure of everything above it. "The Whole of the Moon" "Wild Wood" "Ghetto life" "Midlife Crisis" etc. etc. all work because the bass player is holding down one note. And I absolutely love the feeling I get when my one note changes personality throughout the song! Also, if its an open string I get to have a drink while everyone else is working hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisba Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 We do One Day Like This by Elbow. Wonderful song, but the bassline is just octave E's ( the original is, I think, in Eb or F ) all the way through until very nearly the end. When it does change to following the tune near the end though, the effect is quite dramatic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fumps Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 I love playing basic bass lines, when doing gigs it gave me more freedom to dance about & be silly. I always see being a bass player-ist as being part of a team, sometimes you have to be the team player & hold a solid foundation, at the end of it all its what comes out of the speakers & how it is received by the listener that counts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1358939404' post='1947258'] And I absolutely love the feeling I get when my one note changes personality throughout the song! [/quote] Yes I know exactly what you mean - in, and ,out of time - I can easily do that!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1358939404' post='1947258'] Most of my favourite bass lines are the pedal type (no not a moogerfooger) the ones where the bass holds down one note all the way through whilst the chords shift around above. Without the pedal the songs are wishy washy, the bass determines the harmonic structure of everything above it. "The Whole of the Moon" "Wild Wood" "Ghetto life" "Midlife Crisis" etc. etc. all work because the bass player is holding down one note. [/quote] Alright now. Under pressure (intro) Smoke on the water (intro) Love pedal tone bass lines myself too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneyg42 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 What's Up-4 Non Blondes...............A,B,D. That's it all the way through, slight change in emphasis on the notes in between beginning of the verse and the second part of the verse and play louder in the chorus.......boring to play...f*** yeah, but as a set finisher with the "hey yay yay yay" singalong chorus for us it's a absolutely cracking set finisher. Always gets the crowd singing and as our singer sings it so well I forget I'm only playing three notes all the way through. Some times it's the sum of the parts that count! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 A truly great song is a great song irrespective of how simple any of the individual parts are. Sometimes the simple bits are what makes the song really great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 I enjoy playing the simpler songs in our set, there are plenty of songs I get to 'show off' on anyways! One thing I've always enjoyed about bass is that it encourages you to listen to everything that's going on and enjoy that, instead of just concentrating on what you're doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOD2 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 While agreeing wholeheartedly about the song overall being more important than the bassline, or any single part of a song, I'm afraid I did draw the line when the last covers band I was suggested "Waterfront" by Simple Minds. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUBz4J1Gc-w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUBz4J1Gc-w[/url] Not only is the bass line the same one note ALL the way through.... it also lasts almost 5 minutes ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='BOD2' timestamp='1359040510' post='1948872'] While agreeing wholeheartedly about the song overall being more important than the bassline, or any single part of a song, I'm afraid I did draw the line when the last covers band I was suggested "Waterfront" by Simple Minds. Not only is the bass line the same one note ALL the way through.... it also lasts almost 5 minutes ! [/quote] You know there's a hell of a lot more to bass than just the notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Monster by The Automatic is another one of these. There's a bit of scope for some funky octavey work in the chorus, and there the 'face down home town' bit which is always fun, but most of the song is straight quarter notes, though i do miss out one or two in places because it works better. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Playing repetitvie patterns is not neccesarliy a simple exercise : keeping everything properly in time and a consistant "pocket " can be just as much of a challenge as playing a lot of notes , more so in fact . Playing solid eighth notes and quarter notes is an absolutely essential skill for any bass player , and not as easy as some might think . Record yourself playing along to some AC/DC tracks and try and keep it as tight as Cliff Williams does - you may well find it's not easy at all . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1358933038' post='1947132'] I'm not sure I've ever been bored playing the bass part in any song - literally never! As others have said, often it's the simplest parts that are the most fun. Let's you sit back and really 'work' with the band and appreciate everything around you. In fact, employing this approach has actually lead to me not playing at all in certain parts of a song to change the feel - I really enjoy being able to do that, lol [/quote] I'm with you on this one - if I've got a bass in my hands then I'm happy . Every song I can think of has its' own challenges . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOD2 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1359041032' post='1948882'] You know there's a hell of a lot more to bass than just the notes. [/quote] Yes, I realise that. And I would also agree that it's not an easy thing to play solid notes like that all the way through a song. And if you were playing that sort of song to a "real" audience who were enjoying and appreciating the overall sound, then it's a joy to be a part of. But in a covers band at the "Dog n' Duck", or whatever, the experience is somewhat different. But I'll bet there were gigs when even the Simple Minds' bass player would be thinking "oh no.... not Waterfront again !" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 You can always do what I do and use the simple one note kind of numbers to go over to the mixing desk and sort the sound. The desk will now be lighting up like the dashboard of the Millenium Falcon, cos' all the guitards and the drummer lied to you when you asked them for a level to set their channels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='BOD2' timestamp='1359042525' post='1948908'] Yes, I realise that. And I would also agree that it's not an easy thing to play solid notes like that all the way through a song. And if you were playing that sort of song to a "real" audience who were enjoying and appreciating the overall sound, then it's a joy to be a part of. [b]But in a covers band at the "Dog n' Duck", or whatever, the experience is somewhat different. But I'll bet there were gigs when even the Simple Minds' bass player would be thinking "oh no.... not Waterfront again !"[/b] [/quote] You need to change your attitude then. You need to chuck your energy at the audience, or you won't get any back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='Les' timestamp='1359058871' post='1949316'] [b]You can always do what I do and use the simple one note kind of numbers to go over to the mixing desk and sort the sound.[/b] The desk will now be lighting up like the dashboard of the Millenium Falcon, cos' all the guitards and the drummer lied to you when you asked them for a level to set their channels. [/quote] I don't want to see that on a stage! Jeez guys, where's your musical spirit and energy gone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 [quote name='BOD2' timestamp='1359042525' post='1948908'][size=4]But I'll bet there were gigs when even the Simple Minds' bass player would be thinking "oh no.... not Waterfront again !"[/size] [/quote] If he were thinking that, then maybe he would have written his line differently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.