Bands without bassists

[stingrayPete1977]

Motorhead, too soon?

[luckydog]

I think it's up to the bassist to always demonstrate the obvious contribution that's available. Keyboard bass sounds exactly like keyboard bass, though there are some mighty talented keyboard players who handle it well. Nevertheless, like everything, you can't beat the real thing. There are good guitar/drums duos, but always one ends up thinking about the chromatic contribution a bass could make IME.

LD

[RhysP]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1470320141' post='3105092']
One of the main reasons I don't play bass very much anymore is that when I started to write & record my own material I realised that 99% of the time what I was doing just didn't actually need any bass. Heresy I know...
[/quote]

Having said what I said above I've just spent the last few hours recording a new rough demo of an instrumental & I actually got the bass out from under the bed & recorded a bass part. Rather enjoyed it too.

[The-Ox]

Although the Doors had a string of session musicians on bass, they didn't have one for their debut album, i think

[Painy]

I think a band without a bass player is a terrible idea. You know what happens when you let bands go around forming without a bass player?
You get Keane that's what happens!

Now let that be a lesson to you all!

[Billy Apple]

Alien Sex Fiend.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1470356091' post='3105507']
Although the Doors had a string of session musicians on bass, they didn't have one for their debut album, i think
[/quote]

Larry Knechtel on some tracks but not credited on the LP cover.

But keyboard bass throughout.

Edited August 5, 2016 by EssentialTension

[The-Ox]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1470383110' post='3105560']


Larry Knechtel on some tracks but not credited on the LP cover.

But keyboard bass throughout.
[/quote]

Yep spot on

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1470342019' post='3105401']
Surely a 'bassist' is anyone who plays the bass part of the song? If that means it is played on a keyboard or pedals or whatever then fine, but it's still the bass part and it is being played by the 'bassist'.

I realise this will sound pedantic but I read the topic title as bands that don't have a bass part in their music, whereas it actually seems to mean bands without a bass guitarist - a whole different thing altogether.
[/quote]

It does sound a bit like that. I take your point but I think it was generally taken to mean "bass guitarist". I don't play keys myself but I have no objection in principle to picking it up at some point. Bear in mind that I want to become skilled with my guitar before playing with keys.

Not quite accurate I know but when "Ace of Base" released their early hits I thought the spelling was "Ace of Bass". I'd joke about how misleading the name was because I was expecting lots of percussive bass (Level 42 were THE thing at the time). I still feel short changed on that one.

Edited August 6, 2016 by SpondonBassed

[NancyJohnson]

We played with a band cslled Dronningen on Friday. No bass player, but lots of keyboards doing bass stuff.

For the record, they were just incredible. Highly recommended.

[Barking Spiders]

Ah but the thread title uses the word 'bassist' to also include upright and Chapman stick players, and not the word 'bass' which could include tuba, church organ, Bryn Terfel..

[tauzero]

a-ha on their first three albums (there's one track with a bassist credited). They used bass (as in the instrument) more and more in later albums.

Gary Wright, in his solo career (Dream Weaver and following).

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1470652864' post='3107303']
Ah but the thread title uses the word 'bassist' to also include upright and Chapman stick players, and not the word 'bass' which could include tuba, church organ, Bryn Terfel..
[/quote]

But what exactly is a bassist. The band [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikinki"]Chikinki[/url] have a member who plays the bass parts on synth (and only bass parts and only on synth). Does he count?

And would a Chapman Stick player who uses it simply for tapping chords and melodies and never ventures below the low E of a normal guitar count?

Edited August 8, 2016 by BigRedX

[tauzero]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1470662821' post='3107433']
But what exactly is a bassist. The band [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikinki"]Chikinki[/url] have a member who plays the bass parts on synth (and only bass parts and only on synth). Does he count?

And would a Chapman Stick player who uses it simply for tapping chords and melodies and never ventures below the low E of a normal guitar count?
[/quote]

If the mods wouldn't throw it out of the "Basses for sale" section, it's a bass.

How you use it defines whether you're a bassist.

Other definitions are available. May contain nuts. Contents may have settled in transit. HTH, HAND.

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1470652864' post='3107303']
Ah but the thread title uses the word 'bassist' to also include upright and Chapman stick players, and not the word 'bass' which could include tuba, church organ, Bryn Terfel..
[/quote]

Thanks for the clarification.

[GrammeFriday]

Three Trapped Tigers
Strobes
Phoenix Bodies
The Dirty Three

[Bilbo]

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1470319271' post='3105079']


Motion, that's poo. It's Paul Motian. But you know that, Bilbo. Sorry to be so pedantic, it's a slow Thursday afternoon.
[/quote]

Spellchecker failure, bro. I know.

[Bilbo]

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1470319271' post='3105079']


Motion, that's poo. It's Paul Motian. But you know that, Bilbo. Sorry to be so pedantic, it's a slow Thursday afternoon.
[/quote]

Spellchecker failure, bro. I know.

[Jazzneck]

Atomic Rooster (but sometimes a bass player was used in the studio).

And the best of the lot - Hound Dog Taylor and The Houserockers:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt6V20j2BjQ[/media]

The great Brewer Phillips on second guitar.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Jazzneck

[DaytonaRik]

The Cadillac Three feature a bass player (lap steel player IIRC) on their recordings but gig without one

[darkandrew]

Just came back from holiday in France (Les Sables d'Olonne) and the town's "house band" (ie they would play at a different cafe, restaurant, street pitch, etc each night) were a band Leonie

https://youtu.be/GLEpuyj_f70

that were actually pretty good. It was just a shame that all the bass parts were pre-recorded as they were a three piece with no bass player (guitar/vocals, guitar/vocals and drums). Still pretty good though (and a bonus point for naming a song "Fanny" - I guess it doesn't have the same snigger value in French).

Edited August 16, 2016 by darkandrew

[Owen]

Joshua Redman Elastic Band. Lovely keys bass.

[blue]

Perform without a bass player or record without a bass player.

The Rascals aka The Young Rascals, live Felix Cavalier covered bass with the bass pedals on the Hammond B3.

I believe they used electric bass guitar on their records and I think they used Chuck Rainey.

Blue

[josie]

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1470826918' post='3108731']
The Cadillac Three feature a bass player (lap steel player IIRC) on their recordings but gig without one
[/quote]

Current live lineup is Jaren Johnston guitar and vocals, Neil Mason drums, Kelby Ray lap and pedal steel. Kelby played bass in their earlier 4-piece lineup, American Bang. (His first UK gig was in the Queens in New Mills on lead guitar with my son Chris Wood on drums, around 2002. I was there ) He plays bass and lap steel on the Tennessee Mojo album, haven't heard the new one yet. The high point of my last trip to Nashville was jamming with Kelby on lap steel, Chris on drums, me on bass

Disclaimer: I don't actually like their music that much, I've just known them all since they were in high school together.

[Rubbersoul]

Let's go the other way : Evil Blizzard have 4 (that's FOUR) bassists. Epic.