bass players

lol, it's true when your playin metal songs that it really feels empty without a bass player, and drop tunin like Akira said is a pretty nice soudn if you're jamming alone, just perhaps not very versatile if you want to play a huge range of bands (I know a heap of bands do drop tune).

The otha day i was watching chili peppers at slaine and i was pretty impressed with flea even though he comes accross as not the brightest person, he's pretty damn good at bass.

Originally Posted by: AkiraWho needs bass players anyway?

*initiates crazy detuning of guitar*

there are actually a few bands that if bass was taken away, they would sound the same. the only reason they have it is for the deep vibration sound, which just makes them louder. some bands appreciate a deeper meaning of the bass function. it can be made to be a second lead guitar in a way. i enjoy the lack of chords, it leaves more time for more complicated, diverse, and worthwhile basslines.

Yeah, it's the bassists who act like lead guitarists who get more recognition as virtuosos, but it's also important to have a healthy respect for a bassist who can use interesting lines to blend into the groove so well, that you don't hear the bass line so much as feel it. A good example is Rick Laird from the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Another underrated "solid" bassist would be Tommy Shannon of Double Trouble.

Not sure how many people know this but he was an original member of Johhny Winter's band. After the Death of SRV he has done some side projects. He played with the Arc Angels. You can hear him break away from the more traditional blues on this Album/CD.

i guess a good balance between keeping rhythm and showing off should be practiced. i like to think when my guitarist is playing something more complicated, i try to keep rhythm, but when hes playing a simple chord progression, thats my key to show off. not all the time, but its good sometimes to put more focus on one instrument.

I play limited bass and wouldn't use the term bass "player" in my vocabulary. I'm just not that good. Just simple patters.

But I do remember a bass player telling me once to al;ways listen to the kick and remember that a bass is not a guitar with heavier and 2 less strings but "percussive intrument with actual notes"

Originally Posted by: jimmy_kwtxI play limited bass and wouldn't use the term bass "player" in my vocabulary. I'm just not that good. Just simple patters.

But I do remember a bass player telling me once to always listen to the kick and remember that a bass is not a guitar with heavier and 2 less strings but "percussive intrument with actual notes"

i like that, it puts it into perspective. its almost philisophical