wateroftyne Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 The truly remarkable thing about the vid is that the bandleader's glasses match his hair. That's SO COOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 22 hours ago, Leonard Smalls said: I quite like the overplayed versions... If only they all overplayed all the time! Seen this vid a load of times and always thought “...but all those guys are just to tasteful to REALLY overplay...” Yes, even their overplaying is on the restrained side compared to what I’ve heard in church and in gigs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tthiggins Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 Hmm just watched the vid and although I agree with the premise I gotta say I preferred it when they overplayed as it shut the singer up ! 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herman Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 Jerry Barnes from Chic, springs to mind !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 I think it depends on the song, though with many worship songs, it is knowing when not to play. Yesterday we did Glorious Day. No bass playing until the 1st chorus & then when the turnaround came, I overplayed & mimicked the guitar riff. A couple of songs later we did It Is Well. Pounding 8th notes on the bass along with a piano right up until the chorus & then stop. Organ & guitar take over. Many bassists (including myself) would keep the bass ringing whole notes in the chorus, but dropping out for a good bit means that when the bass comes back in, it adds power & depth to the song. Listening to the lyrics is very important too. You want to adjust your dynamics and/or octave to suit what is being sung. I was an overplayer when I first got put on the worship rota. You feel like you have something to prove, when in reality, you don't. Now, I need to join a funk fusion band to release this overplaying itch! 🤩 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 Over the years I've had the impression that some bass players think that any bass playing at all, bar roots and occasional fifths, is overplaying and showing off! It's about playing what's right for the song, but there's absolutely nowt wrong in my book with a bassist or any other musician showing their Mad Skillz... Just not necessarily All Of The Notes All Of The Time - only occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 I think we're all working to different definitions, but in my dictionary overplaying = inappropriate playing. Some players make busy work, ie James Jamerson, even Jerry Barnes (mostly!) so busy is good or bad depending on what you're playing but to me overplaying is a negative term and is rarely good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zalastar Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 3 hours ago, Leonard Smalls said: Over the years I've had the impression that some bass players think that any bass playing at all, bar roots and occasional fifths, is overplaying and showing off! It's about playing what's right for the song, but there's absolutely nowt wrong in my book with a bassist or any other musician showing their Mad Skillz... Just not necessarily All Of The Notes All Of The Time - only occasionally. You mean roots and fifths aren't all of the notes?? bu*ger, back to the books then ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 Finally watched the clip. The bassist was still classy when "overplaying" - until he slapped anyway - that didn't fit. His taste still came through. He should do it more often. It moved with the tune and gave it something interesting. Almost like the JS Bach approach to the low end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 It's about time someone mentioned Norm, and the Rhythm Stick bass line. A case of more is more. That song would not work as well without a busy bass line. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 20 hours ago, MacDaddy said: It's about time someone mentioned Norm, and the Rhythm Stick bass line. A case of more is more. That song would not work as well without a busy bass line. Often more is more. IMO there are too many songs where the bassists, drummers or guitarists underplay. Not that I'm a fan but Bad Company, Free, ZZ Top , AC/DC, U2 , Oasis and Coldplay all might've been better bands (IMO) with a bit of overplaying, especially the rhythm sections. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 1 hour ago, Barking Spiders said: Bad Company, Free, ZZ Top , AC/DC, U2 , Oasis and Coldplay all might've been better bands (IMO) with a bit of overplaying, especially the rhythm sections. Respectfully disagree with most of those examples. Listen to Mr Big on Free Live and come back to me... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, Barking Spiders said: Often more is more. IMO there are too many songs where the bassists, drummers or guitarists underplay. Not that I'm a fan but Bad Company, Free, ZZ Top , AC/DC, U2 , Oasis and Coldplay all might've been better bands (IMO) with a bit of overplaying, especially the rhythm sections. With the exception of Coldplay ( I don't know what would improve them for me) all the other bands work because the rhythm sections don't overplay. Bad Co & Free in particular had spectacular rhythm sections IMO, who completely understood and used an understated groove to make the songs work. As Mickeyboro said in the above post, they could also cut loose in a live situation where necessary. Edited September 4, 2018 by casapete 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 On 03/09/2018 at 12:39, MacDaddy said: It's about time someone mentioned Norm, and the Rhythm Stick bass line. A case of more is more. That song would not work as well without a busy bass line. Busy and overplaying aren’t the same thing IMO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 2 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: Busy and overplaying aren’t the same thing IMO Yup. The difference is knowing when not to be busy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyP Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 I think you have to remember the context that the video was made for. Don Moen is demonstrating how to play (or not to play) in a church environment when the band is not the centre of attention but is there to lead/support the congregation. This is a completely different situation to standing on stage in front of an audience to entertain them. When the band is the star of the show then "let rip" by all means but when you are playing for audience participation (as in a church service) the KISS principal (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is often the best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 4 hours ago, LeftyP said: I think you have to remember the context that the video was made for. Don Moen is demonstrating how to play (or not to play) in a church environment when the band is not the centre of attention but is there to lead/support the congregation. This is a completely different situation to standing on stage in front of an audience to entertain them. When the band is the star of the show then "let rip" by all means but when you are playing for audience participation (as in a church service) the KISS principal (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is often the best option. Having learned to play at church I think it’s a good lesson to learn which you might not learn as quickly in other contexts- When not to play. take that and you can go and play in any other band and you can easily turn up the bling - learning when to leave spaces and not play.... I doubt anybody here would want to play in the band in the OP - or that type of music - but the KISS principle is a good place to start in most bands as it means you listen to everyone else first and then busy it up.... Mind you when I was learning I was trying to see how many clash bass lines I could sneak in to on a Sunday morning... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic mac moe Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 1 minute ago, LukeFRC said: Having learned to play at church I think it’s a good lesson to learn which you might not learn as quickly in other contexts- When not to play. take that and you can go and play in any other band and you can easily turn up the bling - learning when to leave spaces and not play.... I doubt anybody here would want to play in the band in the OP - or that type of music - but the KISS principle is a good place to start in most bands as it means you listen to everyone else first and then busy it up.... Mind you when I was learning I was trying to see how many clash bass lines I could sneak in to on a Sunday morning... The organist at my church sneaks in movie soundtracks, in between hymns!! 😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 1 hour ago, mic mac moe said: The organist at my church sneaks in movie soundtracks, in between hymns!! 😆 Such as 'The Exorcist'..? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic mac moe Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 4 minutes ago, Dad3353 said: Such as 'The Exorcist'..? Quite likely. He is very discreet!! 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic mac moe Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 (edited) I think the very worst case of overplaying on bass is when the lead guitarist "has a go" Edited September 4, 2018 by mic mac moe 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 6 hours ago, mic mac moe said: I think the very worst case of overplaying on bass is when the lead guitarist "has a go" Oh yes! Don’t get me started... ”umm yes, lots of notes and I guess you’re vaguely in time” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic mac moe Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 1 hour ago, LukeFRC said: Oh yes! Don’t get me started... ”umm yes, lots of notes and I guess you’re vaguely in time” And he's up the neck..... Now he's down it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 And, of course, the other problem with overplaying is what when you get to part of the song that could really do with a bit more going on... where do you go? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 11 minutes ago, wateroftyne said: And, of course, the other problem with overplaying is what when you get to part of the song that could really do with a bit more going on... where do you go? ............that's when you go to 11, of course. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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