Marvin Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) As in the title, what is the worst bass line you play in a set or have played in a set? The song itself you might quite like, it could be a favourite but the bass line sucks. Currently still only at the stage of practising, my top contender would be U2's Pride (In the name of love). Bog awful. To me it doesn't even seem to fit the song - perhaps that's just me. Has had me considering 'sawing' my fingers of with a pick whilst playing it. EDIT: not mad keen on the song either but there are other songs in the proposed set I don't like but the bass parts are ok. Edited February 14, 2011 by Marvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) Proud Mary Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum ZZzzz ! Edited February 14, 2011 by Hobbayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I have a Nirvana-esque track which involves a whole string of triplets in E to add some punch to the rythmn - which it certainly does, at the expense of my interest. However, it's my bass line, so I should change it, eh? I'd just need to argue the toss with the band, who think it's great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Marvin' post='1127097' date='Feb 14 2011, 02:37 PM']....As in the title, what is the worst bass line you play in a set....[/quote] There are no bad bass lines in any of my sets!!! Edited February 14, 2011 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Ain't Nobody - hate it. Doesn't groove, doesn't do anything. Punters love it. Go figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 [quote name='Marvin' post='1127097' date='Feb 14 2011, 02:37 PM']As in the title, what is the worst bass line you play in a set or have played in a set? The song itself you might quite like, it could be a favourite but the bass line sucks.[/quote] for me its a toss up between Walking on sunshine and Funky Music. Its 3 1/2 mins of pure hell for me as i know how the rhythm goes to both but cant play it due to my drummer playing every rhythm but the correct one. Way too much shuffle and ghost strokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderbird13 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 [quote name='Hobbayne' post='1127103' date='Feb 14 2011, 02:41 PM']Proud Mary Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum ZZzzz ! [/quote] God I hate that song - had quite a major argument with the guitarist how to play it as well ( he was wrong obviously ) For me its ZZ Top, practicing Gimme all your loving at the moment its so boring I feel degraded ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' post='1127142' date='Feb 14 2011, 03:14 PM']There are no bad bass lines in any of my sets!!![/quote] ha ha ..yep, agree. I make them up to fit the song taking the cover as a reference only...and if they are originals, then I put them down anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I have an artistic license and I'm not afraid to use it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_skezz Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I can't really think of anything, the worst I play are songs where the bass just plays root notes of the guitar - and given that it's punk, it still works and has enough speed to keep me properly interested. Even if I do get bored playing the same note for a while, I'll just liven it up a notch by hammering onto the note from the next fret down every bar or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 [quote name='Bilbo' post='1127149' date='Feb 14 2011, 03:17 PM']Ain't Nobody - hate it. Doesn't groove, doesn't do anything. Punters love it. Go figure.[/quote] That surprises me somewhat... It's a synth part so I agree it's difficult to capture the feel but if you're on that groove with a really locked down drummer it can rock... I find it interesting to try to get the notes in the right place. Especially because it's quite jerky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 That's a trick question, right? Seriously - I'd flip that around and say there's plenty of bad songs I play, but I like all the bass lines. Chances are I'm not playing the original bassline tho - and that's how I stop myself from disliking them. 'The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers? I like that a heck of a lot by the time I'm finished with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 [quote name='jakesbass' post='1127217' date='Feb 14 2011, 04:05 PM']That surprises me somewhat... It's a synth part so I agree it's difficult to capture the feel but if you're on that groove with a really locked down drummer it can rock... I find it interesting to try to get the notes in the right place. Especially because it's quite jerky.[/quote] It never gels for me (even on the original). When I play it with the function band I play in, I do a sixteenth note variation that kind of works but I still feel its a bit like polishing a turd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 It used to be Quo's Rocking All Over The World. That was until I changed the straight quavers into crochets and quavers and played the emphasis a little off the beat, which made the whole thing groove a bit. The rest of the band said they all enjoyed it too A turned upside down into a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Synth stuff is very hard to get close to..of course, but I recall Jimmy Haslip making a decent fist of it on a live show but it would take one or two very good keys to make sense of the top end of the track, IMV. If it doesn't, it is too much for the bass to do otherwise. Funny how the bass player might get the blame for the groove not working tho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 [quote name='thunderbird13' post='1127154' date='Feb 14 2011, 03:21 PM']For me its ZZ Top, practicing Gimme all your loving at the moment its so boring I feel degraded ![/quote] If your band's really tight and the guitarist has the right sound and feel then Gimme All Your Lovin really comes alive and it sounds so good you don't realise that your only playing one note. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) [quote name='thunderbird13' post='1127154' date='Feb 14 2011, 03:21 PM']For me its ZZ Top, practicing Gimme all your loving at the moment its so boring I feel degraded ![/quote] +1. Annoyingly, we play it tight, sounds great, and the audience seem to love it, so it stays in the set. But there are only so many bars of C that you can play without losing the will to live! Edited February 14, 2011 by simon1964 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I'm in an all originals band right now so if I'm not having a good time playing bass I only have myself to blame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) [quote name='gareth' post='1127305' date='Feb 14 2011, 05:06 PM']Get back[/quote] Yes I agree with that, Lord Macca was a never a root note plodder, still, I suppose it fits the song. Check out the B side Dont Let Me Down for some Macca bass vertuosity! Edited February 14, 2011 by Hobbayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 [quote name='simon1964' post='1127308' date='Feb 14 2011, 05:09 PM']....But there are only so many bars of C that you can play without losing the will to live!....[/quote] That's when you're supposed to be posing and looking mean and moody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Can't believe it but when i think about it "Real Mutha for Ya" a Johnny Guitar Watson track is pretty boring bass wise but the track is great. I do something different when the sax and guitar take solos but other than that its quite mindless. Suits the groove though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 yellow by coldplay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeBrownBass Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 The Red One - Pat Methany & John Scofield Love the tune & love playing it but my god it's a difficult one to get the groove going. So it's a love hate relationship!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Dakota. There are some root-note songs that I find enjoyable - She Sells Sanctuary is almost all root but it's full of energy. Rocky Mountain Way is one of those locking in to the drummer songs. But Dakota is just tedious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 [quote name='tauzero' post='1128057' date='Feb 15 2011, 10:19 AM']Dakota. There are some root-note songs that I find enjoyable - She Sells Sanctuary is almost all root but it's full of energy. Rocky Mountain Way is one of those locking in to the drummer songs. But Dakota is just tedious.[/quote] +1 I use a big lump of artistic licence on that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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