Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I'm moving to New York, and hope to get in with a band quickly after arrival. However, I'm realizing - I know a lot of music, and don't know what of it is considered 'hard' or 'difficult' and what is considered 'basic'. So, if you got the time to reply, tell me: What songs could a bassist be able to play that would make you want to hire them/bring them into the band? All answers can be for any style of bass playing...

Couldn't answer. All 3 are appropriate at different times, depending upon the needs of the piece.

I'd go with number two. Although my first instrument is the drums its a hell of a kick to have a bass player who can run off on the beat and return.

Good post JJ.

Chippy.

The bass is part of the "rhythm section". As such, playing in sync with the drums is ESSENTIAL. There are times when the bass is used in various ways, but in most genres, it makes up half of the RHYTHM section.

IT MUST be in sync with the drums, or the rhythm is not tight.

This should be a FIRST priority.

But being in time with drums, does not mean it has to be a "basic" bass line, so I don't know why you limited that first choice?

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A couple songs that can show off skill are YYZ by Rush or just about anything by Mudvane or Primus, but I'd recommend having the band that is auditioning you play their music and show them your skills at writing something fresh.

If the bass dont keep the floor down the house wont stand long.
Long live the bass players!

How do YOU want to play bass? Like Stanley Clark? Jack Bruce? Keith Ferguson? Dave Carey? There's so many different styles. Do you want to play lead bass? Will that style work in your preferred genre(s)? I've been playing bass for almost thirty years. I play very basic, almost percussive. I almost never play anything other than the first ten frets on the bass. I can't even tell you what notes I play. It's all patterns to me. I take a few lead breaks each gig but it's nearly almost all very basic. I like playing open strings if possible. I also like using the E string as much as possible. I play through a fifteen inch speaker (Peavey TNT 115). I get the maximum bottom end sound I can get. I have played through very expensive bass amps with ten inch speakers. You can stack 100 ten inch speakers together but in my opinion it can't give you the chunky bottom end tone a good fifteen inch speaker will give you. Again everything depends on what genre you prefer. For blues and country the bass and drums are sometimes almost inseparable. A really good bass player in these genres is almost seemless with the music. In the music I play the bass and drums are ironclad TIGHT. I've been playing with the same drummer for many years. We are a UNIT. Do you want to play as a UNIT or as an individual. It all depends on you..what YOU want.

I agree to a point craig. I dunno? It's nice to have a rip roaring bass line that wanders sometimes in my view. Not always of course. So long as drummer/bass have a head patch I've never found a problem. Plus its versatile and interesting too.

CraigMaxim wrote:The bass is part of the "rhythm section". As such, playing in sync with the drums is ESSENTIAL.

Just walk in to the audition, plug in your axe, and start playing the Red Hot Chili Peppers version of "Higher Ground". That'll get their attention!
In the long run, I prefer a bass player who stays basic when the song calls for it, but isn't afraid to do a bass (and drums) solo at the drop of a hat. Experimentation is for the rehearsal room only. At a gig, play what you know. Although improv can be cool in the right atmosphere too.

Looking at this thread describes why so few bass players reach market value. They are SOOOOOO Important. We all know that but don't take away their creativity either!

Bass is the translator between the drums and the guitar. It interprets the melody to the drums and at the same time deciphers the drum beat to the guitar.

To answer the question, if you make the other players sound and look good, you will get the job.

That's an old school view I'm hearing from most ppl in here.

These days, the bass has come into its own. It can stand alongside any instrument, if it's played properly & tastefully.

It can be used very well as a counterpoint to either the melody or the drum beat, or both at once. It can be busy as Latin in anything, or sparce as 1-5-1-5 all night long, in the right band. Either way is "right."

Chippy wrote:Looking at this thread describes why so few bass players reach market value. They are SOOOOOO Important. We all know that but don't take away their creativity either!

If I ever felt I was that important I wouldn't get any better. I suck, therefore I need to get better. I consider EVERY time I play for people to be lucky. I WANT to rehearse. I WANT to sing better. I WANT to strive to BECOME important. I'll NEVER be important enough in my mind...

I meant generally not personally Bob. I've been lucky and has some really good bass players I suppose.

fisherman bob wrote:If I ever felt I was that important I wouldn't get any better. I suck, therefore I need to get better. I consider EVERY time I play for people to be lucky. I WANT to rehearse. I WANT to sing better. I WANT to strive to BECOME important. I'll NEVER be important enough in my mind...

It's pretty damn rare to find a bassist who can play everything a bassist should know how to play, but also one who is introspective and controlled enough to play a simple rhythm when call upon to do so, without the slap, flair, and 200 note-per-second runs up and down the neck.

It's even more rare to find a drummer with the same qualities