What does bass mean to you?

[The Funk]

I was thinking about bass and what it means to different people. Bass guitar, double bass, synth bass, tuba, keyboard players' left hands - they're all used to play basslines.

As a bass player how many of those different bass instruments do you feel you have to be comfortable with to fulfill your role properly? And even if you just play bass guitar, how much do you listen to/are you influenced by basslines played (or programmed) on other instruments?

[OutToPlayJazz]

I'm totally influenced by not only basslines, but also the continuing development of the bass as a solo instrument. My role as a professional bass player/session bass player is defined by my ability to play all styles, sight read music & play both upright & electric bass. My cello playing helps as well, in that I cover all the bases, as it were.

As an instrumental string specialist, my pupils also benefit, as I have such wide musical experience, from orchestral/chamber music, through rock bands, funk bands, jazz bands, operas & theatre pit work, etc, etc.

It's always the bassline I pick up first when hearing anything new. Just how my brain is musically wired, I suppose. That & also the fact that the bass is the foundation upon which all music is built.

Edited May 4, 2009 by OutToPlayJazz

[Toddy]

Good call,,,

Just discussed this with our keyboard player,, I was always impressed with playing bass on left hand and melody etc on right hand,,,,,,,

He claims,,, apart from obvious boogie woogie an RnR left hand he plays bass notes rather that bass lines,,, modest person lol,,, cos know thats not really true.....

Always impressed with a good keyboard players left hand....an he can put me to shame whilst playing melody lines on top..
Love some recent chart hits which have vamped bass parts with horn sections..

The subcontious part of bass is the awesome bit,,,,they aint listening to to the bass part,,, but thats sure as hell what they are dancin too....which is why when on form,,,, everyone has a good night,,,,, an also why ya can get away with murder when played badly,,,, cos they not really listening.....comments????

[OldGit]

All of it.
I play Baritone sax too so that influences my melody input - from the low solos on Walk on the Wild Side and Shine on You crazy Diamond to Motown burps and short pop solos...

[leschirons]

Regarding your first question, I don't feel I have to be familiar, comfortable or have empathy with, any of those other instruments you mention unless they are playing in the same band as me. I only play bass (with regard to bass type lines) and feel totally fulfilled and at ease with just that one instrument. My role in any band I've played in has always been appreciated, not particularly down to my ability, but in so much that I complete the line-up and sound and nothing else is required in the low down department. I'm always very aware of all other instruments and even the other musician's moods when playing but I must admit, I'm not aware that I listen to other bass line type instruments when just listening to music other than what I consider to be the instrument I consider is playing the bass line. I suppose that could be a keyboard or even a Tuba but I don't tend to think of them as different instruments just the bass line that happens to be played on a whatever. (Think I lost myself in this first bit a tad)

Your second point, I would simply ask how many of us have played Superstition in a covers band and found it necessary to actually have what we term as "the bass part" played on a keyboard? My point being that obviously we are influenced by the keyboard in that particular song enough to want to make that part ours, on the bass. If I listen to that track, it is obvious what I feel I must play to make the song work. Whether or not I'm influenced by other instruments that play bass type parts, I can't really say as most of the music I listen to, has a bass in it so, maybe I miss a lot of what is actually going on.

Interesting point you've raised there.

[cytania]

So I'm struggling with phrasing. Two instruments I always think of are congas/bongos and tuba/trombone, and it helps.

I've never played any of them but thinking about the sounds they make helps me remember my bass playing should be percussive and expressive in a way unlike twangy guitar. When I think congas I pat the string more, when I think tuba I make the string rasp more like a brass player's lips would.

[Marky L]

To change the thread course slightly, I can never listen to a piece of music now without tuning in to the bass end of it. I just always focus in on the bass. To the point that now, I don't think I properly appreciate a piece of music as a whole because I will always drop back to listening to what the bass is doing.

Do others feel that their overall appreciation of a pice of music is now biased? I sometimes wonder what it's like to be able to listen to something with totaly open ears.

[fragility]

I tend to think that the instrument is completely irrelevant, the bassline is the important thing, regardless of what it's played on

[Clarky]

[attachment=24835:bass.jpg]

I'll get me coat

[Krysbass]

[quote name='Marky L' post='479744' date='May 5 2009, 09:57 AM']To change the thread course slightly, I can never listen to a piece of music now without tuning in to the bass end of it. I just always focus in on the bass. To the point that now, I don't think I properly appreciate a piece of music as a whole because I will always drop back to listening to what the bass is doing.

Do others feel that their overall appreciation of a pice of music is now biased? I sometimes wonder what it's like to be able to listen to something with totaly open ears.[/quote]

+1

I find it hard to be objective enough to suggest songs for our covers band. Everything I suggest, everyone else hates and I think the reason for this is that I can never resist the call of a good bassline! Fortunately, I’m not too bothered what I play, so I just let the rest of ‘em make the song choices now.

[Clarky]

[quote name='Krysbass' post='479865' date='May 5 2009, 01:20 PM']+1[/quote]
+2

Classic example is Motown. I can't stand much of it but if Jamerson's leaping all over the place its all I really hear (eg, Bernadette), same with some Jaco/WR stuff

[funkypenguin]

I see the bass guitar as a complete instrument. Melodic, Harmonic and Bass, as opposed to just playing the bass line and leaving it at that. I take influence from the full pallette of instruments - recently i've become interested in the movement that goes on in Organ players left hands and foot pedals.

[xgsjx]

To me it doesn't matter what the bass is played on, whether it be bass guitar, keyboard, double bass, tuba or even a stretched elastic band on a broom. As long as it makes a good groove & sounds good, that's what bass means to me.

I play several instruments but class bass as my main instrument because a good bassline can really make a song (not all songs need a bassline) & I used to do a lot of synth basslines (no longer have a synth). I'm also enjoying doing solo stuff on the bass too.