Say something nice about bass players...

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Bass players drive like this...

@d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

umm, lots of them kick major ass

Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Some of them play upright.

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Bass players who play the bass the way the bass should be played and are proud to be bass players = classic.
Bass players who are frustrated guitarists = mega dud.

NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Anybody ever seen the Kids in the Hall Tribute to the Bass skit? God that shit was funny.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Bass players have strong hands.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

They're the least likely member of the band to catch getting it on with your girlfriend while you're in the vocal booth.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

my favourite bass players are Steve Harris and CoCo the Electronic Monkey Wizard.

jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

The bass player girl in School of Rock was the best musician of the bunch! Or at least had the best hair.

anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

The greatest pop songwriter ever is a bass player. :-)

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Stop talking about Sting like that.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep, Lemmy does indeed rock, Geir.

Oh, you probably meant Steve Harris, n'ermind.

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Stubborn bass players not getting back together with their band somehow manage to help a band's former legacy not fall prey to their current shenanigens (ie The Eric Avery Principle).

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Having a good bass player in your band usually means you have a good band. Usually.

dleone (dleone), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The bass player always gets the best looking girl...'s friend.

Brucio, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

they're generally the only sane member of the band.

Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

slap bass = generally a dud

Grell (Grell), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

some exceptions

Grell (Grell), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Like Larry Graham.

Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Like Larry Gra...oh thanks dude!

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

every band needs a whipping boy. and bass players fill that role nicely.

the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Solid dependability == teh sexy

damian_nz (damian_nz), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

jaco pastorious tried to pick a fight with my dad once and my dad told him to fuck off and jaco went away.(he even came back later to apologize) so if i were to say anything nice i guess i would say that bass players are easy to intimidate!

scott seward, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Unless their last name is 'Mingus'.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Bass players aren't Fred Durst.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Apart from Macca, there is also one bass player whose bass playing is classic. His name is Mick Karn.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

They don't need to bang you on the head with their ego. And, um, they make basslines. Nuff said.

oops (Oops), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Has anyone ever noticed in the movie "That Thing You Do", the bass player is never referred to by any name and in the closing credits the character is named T.B. Player?

boldbury, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Bass players tend to age well.

Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

mark sandman was the shit

kephm, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Rick Danko played bass and had the voice of an angel.
Geddy Lee played bass and had the face of an unattractive Canadian spinster.

James Jamerson from Motown was a fantastic musician.

Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000003GZW.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 23:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Bass players are the foundation of any band.

This trend of not having a bass player (a la White Stripes) is distressing.

Jakels (Jakels), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 03:31 (twenty-one years ago)


i like les claypool.

i like mike watt.

thud thud,
m.

msp, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 03:46 (twenty-one years ago)

My friend Evan plays bass. He lives in an airstream trailer in Arizona with no electricity and a dog named Taco on land he got cheap from the government because it's occasionally underwater (but only occasionally, because it's Arizona). He once made a bass banjo by using an acetylene torch to cut the bottom third off an industrial metal drum and bolting a hand-carved neck to it. It only had three strings. He went to Egypt for a semester in college and sent me some scraps of actual mummy wrap through the mail. I thought for a few days I might come down with some ancient Egyptian malady, bloodworms or black bile or something, but I didn't. Evan's one of my favorite people.

spittle, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 07:46 (twenty-one years ago)

STAR-SHAPED SUNGLASSES.

nate detritus (natedetritus), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 08:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I love them.

luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Rick Finch. Chuck Rainey. Also most bass players who use a pick should be shot. (ie that's why Iron Maiden sounds so shitty)

dave q, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Great players who use picks: Carole Kaye, Steve Swallow.

(As the ongoing controversy about whether Kaye or Jamerson played on "Bernadette" and a host of other Motown classics demonstrates, it can be hard to tell sometimes when a pick is being used.)

ArfArf, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm about to start playing bass in a new group, and I'm a nice person.

So there.

Rob M (Rob M), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

The trend of not having a bass player (ala White Stripes) is the first sign of the impending apocalypse!

dwayne dibley (frownland), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 12:10 (twenty-one years ago)

nate OTMFnM
kephm OTMFnM to the infinite power

Contrary to popular opinion, it is the bass player and not the lead singer in the band that get's the most ACTION *nudge nudge wink wink*.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Steve Harris from Maiden uses his fingers.

One nice thing about bass players is that every time Dave Q tries to say something about them he makes an ass of himself.

Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Steve Harris doesn't use a pick.

(x-post)

Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Cuz I LUV the bass! What better topic to embarrass myself over?

(He honestly doesn't use a pick? Seriously, that surprises me. Today I learned something! Honestly, I can't stand how the bass is just all over everything on their albums, with THAT tone esp. I like that Sab sound where it's definitely "there" but where? Nightmare for transcribers for sure)

dave q, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

(what up Colin, don't you LIKE Rick Finch? listen to "Get Down Tonight" again, THEN tell me that Jaco wasn't the second-best bass player to come from Miami)

dave q, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Didn't Entwistle use a pick? Also Chris Squire. I much prefer bass without it, but I think I'm starting to accept it doesn't necessarily = suck. Oh, and all the bass players from Ruins used picks.

dleone (dleone), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Just playing with you, Dave. Rick and Chuck are seriously aces.

Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

The Life and Art of Bass Playing
by Tony Levin

In the beginning there was a bass. It was a Fender, probably a
Precision, but it could have been a Jazz - nobody knows. Anyway, it
was very old... definitely pre-C.B.S.

And God looked down upon it and saw that it was good. He saw that it
was very good in fact, and couldn't be improved on at all (though men
would later try.) And so He let it be and He created a man to play the
bass.

And lo the man looked upon the bass, which was a beautiful 'sunburst'
red, and he loved it. He played upon the open E string and the note
rang through the earth and reverberated throughout the firmaments
(thus reverb came to be.) And it was good. And God heard that it was
good and He smiled at his handiwork.

Then in the course of time, the man came to slap upon the bass. And lo
it was funky.

And God heard this funkiness and He said, "Go man, go." And it was
good.

And more time passed, and, having little else to do, the man came to
practice upon the bass. And lo, the man came to have upon him a great
set of chops. And he did play faster and faster until the notes
rippled like a breeze through the heavens.

And God heard this sound which sounded something like the wind, which
He had created earlier. It also sounded something like the movement of
furniture, which He hadn't even created yet, and He was not so
pleased.

And He spoke to the man, saying "Don't do that!"

Now the man heard the voice of God, but he was so excited about his
new ability that he slapped upon the bass a blizzard of funky notes.
And the heavens shook with the sound, and the Angels ran about in
confusion. (Some of the Angels started to dance, but that's another
story.)

And God heard this - how could He miss it - and lo He became Bugged.
And He spoke to the man, and He said, "Listen man, if I wanted Jimi
Hendrix I would have created the guitar. Stick to the bass parts."

And the man heard the voice of God, and he knew not to mess with it.
But now he had upon him a passion for playing fast and high. The man
took the frets off of the bass which God had created. And the man did
slide his fingers upon the fretless fingerboard and play melodies high
upon the neck. And, in his excitement, the man did forget the
commandment of the Lord, and he played a frenzy of high melodies and
blindingly fast licks. And the heavens rocked with the assault and the
earth shook, rattled and rolled.

Now God's wrath was great. And His voice was thunder as He spoke to
the man.

And He said, "O.K. for you, pal. You have not heeded My word. Lo, I
shall create a soprano saxophone and it shall play higher than you can
even think of."

"And from out of the chaos I shall bring forth the drums. And they
shall play so many notes thine head shall ache, and I shall make you
to always stand next to the drummer."

"You think you're loud? I shall create a stack of Marshall guitar amps
to make thine ears bleed. And I shall send down upon the earth other
instruments, and lo, they shall all be able to play higher and faster
than the bass."

"And for all the days of man, your curse shall be this; that all the
other musicians shall look to you, the bass player, for the low notes.
And if you play too high or fast all the other musicians shall say
"Wow" but really they shall hate it. And they shall tell you you're
ready for your solo career, and find other bass players for their
bands. And for all your days if you want to play your fancy licks you
shall have to sneak them in like a thief in the night."

"And if you finally do get to play a solo, everyone shall leave the
bandstand and go to the bar for a drink."

And it was so.


darth nader, Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:14 (twenty-one years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc700/c736/c736428r10o.jpg

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Rick Price of Mark II Move was took clanky thud to the level of rumbling art.

I mean, he *was* the Brontosaurus.

Ian Grey (Ian_G), Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I want that bass!!!
http://mapage.noos.fr/franoiss/photos1%20jpg/robbieshakes.jpg

oops (Oops), Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:35 (twenty-one years ago)


satomi from deerhoof plays a bass like that occasionally... a very nice sound it made indeed.
m.

msp, Thursday, 13 November 2003 03:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I believe it's a Rickenbacker. Anyone know for sure?

oops (Oops), Thursday, 13 November 2003 03:16 (twenty-one years ago)

They always hit on my friend Kristen!

Sonny A. (Keiko), Thursday, 13 November 2003 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Electronic would probably have been even better with Hooky playing along.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 13 November 2003 04:32 (twenty-one years ago)

It's a Hofner, I would think.

Ian Grey (Ian_G), Thursday, 13 November 2003 04:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Bass players are the most likely person in the band to worship the Devil.

Speedy Gonzalas (Speedy Gonzalas), Thursday, 13 November 2003 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Didn't Entwistle use a pick?

No. Take a look at any Who clips

Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 13 November 2003 06:31 (twenty-one years ago)

most of my latest ex-boyfriends have been bassists. nice guys, all.

Emilymv (Emilymv), Thursday, 13 November 2003 08:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Peter Hook uses a pick. I gots no problem with that.

boldbury, Thursday, 13 November 2003 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Eric Avery uses a pic!!! I've never understood this anti-pick stance, rockism at it's lamewad-est!

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 13 November 2003 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

it's not so much that all bass player who use a pick suck, just most. the bass is there for the low end, you get a more full, low-end sound with your fingers. plus, picks are often adopted by people who just cant hack it with their fingers. it's like drummers who wear gloves.

Felcher (Felcher), Thursday, 13 November 2003 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't playing with a pick more rock (and therefore more rockist)? I used to play with my fingers but I can hit harder with a pick.

That violin bass is a Hofner or a Hofner rip-off. The Rickenbacker, a beautiful instrument:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/images/4003.jpg

scott m (mcd), Thursday, 13 November 2003 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

This past Friday I was committed into a battle royale with my conscience when I almost stole one of those from this drunk dude. God those things sound good.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 13 November 2003 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...
i recently quit this band i had been playin in 4 about a year back then, and when i heard them practising (they couldn't find another bass player) they were falling all over the place. it stresses me out like satans big fat cock that bass players pull the band 2gether. its way 2 much fuckin stress thats y i joined a band with a mad guitarist who every 2nd song lets me do some slap/pop solos

Vin Lee, Tuesday, 25 January 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

Playing the bass endows the player with the gift of making other people's bodies move.

scotstvo (scotstvo), Tuesday, 25 January 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

ten years pass...

RIP Andy Fraser

X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Tuesday, 17 March 2015 22:09 (ten years ago)

Indeed, great bass player and pretty good songwriter! RIP Andy.

Walking Close to Melton Mowbray (Tom D.), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 10:17 (ten years ago)

four months pass...

Why are mainstream / vaguely alternative rock bassists so boring these days? When did the rot set in? Is it U2's fault? Is it RHCP's fault? Is it Noel Gallagher's fault?

Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 27 July 2015 10:44 (ten years ago)

like who?

(no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 10:44 (ten years ago)

Exactly.

29 facepalms, Monday, 27 July 2015 10:56 (ten years ago)

Is it U2's fault? Is it RHCP's fault? Is it Noel Gallagher's fault?

Say what you will about RHCP, they have much better low end than the other two acts mentioned.

the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:13 (ten years ago)

For all Flea's gymnastics, I can't remember a time where I've heard one of his basslines and been inspired. And this comes from someone who plays and adores bass guitar.

(no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:20 (ten years ago)

Ah well, I think he's come up with a number of decent licks throughout the years.

the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:22 (ten years ago)

it's impressive work, but not inspiring to me in the same way as say Tina Weymouth whose style was a lot simpler but more effective and affecting.

(no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:26 (ten years ago)

Well off the top of my head...
Snow Patrol
Coldplay
Mumford & Sons
Temper Trap
Arctic Monkeys
Arcade Fire
Kasabian
The Libertines

Blur, Radiohead, Muse might be exceptions.

I am being very 'old man waves fist at clouds' here, I know.

Blaming RHCP is down to a feeling of ostentation having put people off.

I guess White Stripes need a slap, too.

Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:27 (ten years ago)

Not sure what Flea is doing being bracketed with Adam Clayton and whoever Oasis' bass player was.

Possibly Fingers (Tom D.), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:31 (ten years ago)

(xp) oh right, I see your explanation, but no nonetheless.

Possibly Fingers (Tom D.), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:32 (ten years ago)

Yeah, the bass playing on Blur, Radiohead and Muse tracks is generally very good, IMO. All the other acts in that list are acts I find unexciting in every possible way, not just bass playing. I also don't find Flea's playing "ostentatious", and a lot of his bass lines are actually deceptively easy to play.

You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:39 (ten years ago)

Snow Patrol
Coldplay
Mumford & Sons
Temper Trap
Arctic Monkeys
Arcade Fire
Kasabian
The Libertines

I'm not sure it's just the bass that's mediocre in these bands.

White Stripes don't have a bass player?

I know that when I was a kid in the 90s, even when I was taking up the guitar, I had trouble understanding what the bass guitar was for, since bass wasn't a big feature in much of the music I was listening to (save Blur, maybe Pearl Jam?). Most Britpop and grunge tended to follow the guitar on the whole. To me at the time, a big part of what sounded 'lol eighties' about the 80s was the presence of big slappy new wave basslines. Now I love those kinds of basslines of course.

(no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 11:49 (ten years ago)

So many of those bands in that list play arrangements that are so utterly pedestrian, it's only natural that the bass is hardly noticeable. Imagine being the bass player in Snow Patrol - deng-deng-deng-deng-deng-deng *chord change* deng-deng-deng-deng-deng-deng-deng *zzzzzz*

MaresNest, Monday, 27 July 2015 11:54 (ten years ago)

Saw X last night (get better Billy Zoom), and gosh darn it John Doe is a great bass player.

BlackIronPrison, Monday, 27 July 2015 12:00 (ten years ago)

Yeah, maybe this is actually a question about boring arrangements rather than boring bass playing. As ever, i feel that U2 are squarely to blame.

Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 27 July 2015 12:20 (ten years ago)

People used to compare Radiohead to U2. I'd say today the only thing they have in common is their unfathomable contingent popularity; if for completely opposite reasons - U2's blandness vs Radiohead's complete lack of commerciality

(no offence to people) (dog latin), Monday, 27 July 2015 12:39 (ten years ago)

Radiohead's complete lack of commerciality

Heh, this isn't true at all. Radiohead have a large number of anthemic, very catchy songs. I'd say they dabble in non-commerciality.

the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Monday, 27 July 2015 12:43 (ten years ago)

I like some bands without bass players, it helps set a particular mood. Sleater-Kinney works with no bass (THOUGH I have seen Corin playing through a jewel-blue Ampeg bass amp, not that this counts). The sort of nervous high-end frantic feeling of e.g. "One More Hour" makes sense with guitar/guitar/drums.

White Stripes/Black Keys (in their live duo incarnations) also sometimes bring that cocaine/caffeine fizzy anxious vibe. Not my favorite thing but I can understand it as an aesthetic choice.

Taking Sides: bass playing that you consciously notice vs. bass playing that you don't notice (but if it weren't there, the music would suck)

Related topic: if people are generally listening to music on bass-deficient systems (laptop speakers, earbuds), should music in general adapt by forefronting trebly scoopy bass sounds, lots of slapping? Or trust that even if you can't really hear the bass, it's there helping to unify and give structure to the song.

Put another way: The bass is a type of glue, and like the glue in my furniture, I don't need to see it to be glad it's there.

Ye Mad Puffin, Monday, 27 July 2015 17:26 (ten years ago)

I like the guy in Future Islands.

timellison, Monday, 27 July 2015 17:46 (ten years ago)

(THOUGH I have seen Corin playing through a jewel-blue Ampeg bass amp, not that this counts). The sort of nervous high-end frantic feeling of e.g. "One More Hour" makes sense with guitar/guitar/drums.

there's def bass on the new album and some other recordings

Ma$e-en-scène (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 27 July 2015 17:54 (ten years ago)

UMS, there is bass on some of their recordings yes. Their signature sound is a trio, esp. early and esp. live. It is frenetic and trebly in the extreme; my point is that it adds to the emotional vibe.

If someone had dubbed in a kickass bass line on e.g. "All Hands on the Bad One," I am not sure it would have been improved.

Ye Mad Puffin, Monday, 27 July 2015 18:37 (ten years ago)

i don't know if it would hurt

it can work but i've seen a zillion 2 man underground bands and i'd say 80% of the time i'm just like "i guess you guys couldn't find a bassist" and it doesn't really add any vibe except there feels like something's missing

Ma$e-en-scène (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 27 July 2015 19:01 (ten years ago)

This is why I prefer the likes of Cop Shoot Cop or Lightning Bolt to similar underground acts who have dispensed with the bass instead

Master of Treacle, Monday, 27 July 2015 20:01 (ten years ago)

An exception is the Cramps early records that had no bass yet are their best stuff

Josefa, Monday, 27 July 2015 20:17 (ten years ago)

I recently saw Insect Ark w a drummer and the drums/bass combo was outta this world heavy/good. Also bass players are usually nice and friendly ime.

La Lechera, Monday, 27 July 2015 20:20 (ten years ago)

I feel a special connection to Tina Weymouth's bass lines because my first start with fretted instruments was playing along with talking heads bass on my dad's baritone ukulele when I was 15

demonic mnevice (Jon Lewis), Monday, 27 July 2015 20:36 (ten years ago)

Oh lol I wasn't supposed to use this username anymore. Well anyway

demonic mnevice (Jon Lewis), Monday, 27 July 2015 20:37 (ten years ago)


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