any tips to be a great bass player

[Mr Rage]

I've been trying to pick up bass now for a while, i struggling reading music tabs, but pick things when i've got someone helping me,

anybody got some ideas for some help?

[Evolution]

Hopefully this thread will help .

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=22821.0

[Mr Rage]

thanks

[D]

Dont be a root note player.

I see so many bass' that have absolutely Zero Style.

If the guitar player is playing a C,D,G chord progression, the bass player will simply pluck the Root note C,D,G and thats it.

Learn to slap,do melodic runs and make the bass a valuable instrument.


Listen to the Red hot Chili Peppers, Flea is the most amazing basses ever in my opinion.


Listen to music outside of Rock. Funk music in my opinion showcases the best bass players.

[Mr Rage]

good point i'll have a look at some stuff

Is it possiable to write a song on a bass, maybe a stupid question just wondering if people do?

[D]

Oh yeah.

I got a song that the entire first verse is just vocals over bass.

[Evolution]

If the guitar player is playing a C,D,G chord progression, the bass player will simply pluck the Root note C,D,G and thats it.

Learn to slap,do melodic runs and make the bass a valuable instrument.

A - fuckin' - men to that.

[Mr Rage]

Oh yeah.

I got a song that the entire first verse is just vocals over bass.

how you do it?

[D]

Just have a great bass riff playin with vocal, the guitar comes in later with a counter riff that very excellently compliments the bass riff but they are two completely different riffs.


Id transcribe it but then Id have to kill everyone.

[Butch Français]

Listen to music outside of Rock. Funk music in my opinion showcases the best bass players.

definately, Flea, Bootsy Collins, Les Claypool...and lots more.

[Butch Français]

good point i'll have a look at some stuff

Is it possiable to write a song on a bass, maybe a stupid question just wondering if people do?

pretty much just as easy to write a song on bass as it is on guitar.
it might make the song even more interesting, cos when you're done with the basic song on bass, you get to be creative on guitar on top if it and make some freaky ass shit!
lord, Ive even written songs based on drumbeats

[D]

U know the hardest songs to write?

the ones where u already have vocal melodies and lyrics finished but u then have to try and fit music around them.


I got a song finished lyrically and melodically, but the music is a pain in the ass.

[Butch Français]

yep i agree, D.
but I generally think lyrics is a pain in the ass to write

[Mr Rage]

just off topic, do you prefer writing songs as a band or leaving it 2 one person?

[Evolution]

For my money, much easier when the lead guitarist comes in with ideas. Writing together is a headache at times 

[WhosGilby?]

The only tip to being a great bass player that you need to know is just fucking pracitice all the time

[Butch Français]

just off topic, do you prefer writing songs as a band or leaving it 2 one person?

in a band, I prefer all chip in, even though it might be a pain in the ass.
it's also a pain in the ass if one guy marches into the rehearsal house and commands the others to play what he's made.
that's not how a band should work IMO.

I prefer writing my own songs, playing every instrument myself.
but it's fun being the drummer in a band as well, more relaxing, don't have to wrap my head around every single thing all the time. and yeah, I love playing drums!

[Thorazine Shuffle]

Tips on how to be a good bass player?

Just listen to what the guitarist in your band tells you to do.? You'll be fine.




**Im kidding, I'm kidding **





**Or am I?**


 

[D]

just off topic, do you prefer writing songs as a band or leaving it 2 one person?

I write 95 percent of my songs by myself.

I do have a great musical soulmate i write with and he and I have excellent chemistry and write great together.

STill yet I have the final say when it comes to the song.

He is my John Frusciante and kind of plays that type of unconventional way and I play more like Slash so our styles blend in very interestingly.

I compromise some but sometimes Ill have a vocal melody or a lyric and Ill have to change a little of what he comes up with to fit around my idea.

I couldnt write with? multiple people chiming in, there is no way.

Im a control freak and somewhat of a dictator, so I could never write with 3 or 4 people at once.

This guy I play with is the only person Ive ever been able to write with.

I think to write great songs u have to be 100 percent comfortable cause its hard to pour out your soul infront of people u dont trust.

U cant feel any kind of inhibitions around your writing partner.



ON TOPIC:

Rage dont feel bad if u cant play Tabs or even cover songs.

Dude I am a shitty cover player. Not that Im not skilled enough or dont have the chops to play cover songs its just I get very bored trying to learn other people's material.? I stick strictly to original compositions only cause I dont have the patience to learn other people's stuff and I also dont wanna risk my style being influenced or sounding like a copy of someone elses.

Plus Ive always said, U can know every cool cover song ever written but when u get in that studio its all about how well u write.

Producers,record labels etc could give a fuck if u can play every Metallica song ever made.

So If u are interested in a musical career of your own, I recommend songwriting and coming up with your own style and flavor.

Cover can help develop some skills but dont go overboard with it.

[Butch Français]

yeah but still D, playing to other people's songs by tabs and everything is a good way to start. you learn a lot from it. but don't take it too far!

Im a lot like D, I sometimes hear a cool riff I have to learn, but I never get the desire to learn the entire song, just a little riff so I have something to noodle with and warm up my fingers and such.

same deal with my band, we don't know a single coversong. only some random bits and pieces we play when we're bored, jamming or warming up.