A Conversation for Bass players

Bass Players

Post 1

Bassman - Funny how people never ceases to amaze me!

Well said FLYMBA. I take it that you play. I was looking through the A-Z of entries and another researcher had written with great authority (NOT), about basses missing two strings! I would like to say that several players that I could name, Mark King, Phil Lynott and JJ Burnel for example would challenge your idea of standing at the back grinning!

So... How many Bass Players does it take to change a light bulb?

None. They're not afraid of the dark!


Bass Players

Post 2

Mike A (snowblind)

If a bass player wants to be noticed, he can be like Jack Bruce and do some beautiful wailing vocals alongside the best electric guitarist and the best drummer in the business.

Did Sid Vicsous play bass?


Bass Players

Post 3

Bassman - Funny how people never ceases to amaze me!

Mike A.

It is my belief that Sid din't play bass. Any idiot can hang one round his neck but that doesn't make them a bassist. I also believe that Sid pioneered - in the late seventies - a technique that a plethora of manufactured bands have striven to better in the late nineties. That of being talentless hopefulls jumping on the music industry band wagon. Most (or even all) of these bands fail however in that they haven't - to my knowledge - allegedly murdered their pathetic drug soaked gorlfriends and taken an overdose, which is a great shame for I'm sure the world would be no worse a place without them.

I am unable to share your view that John-Paul Jones made a few bucks off the tallents of his band mates. You are clearly unaware of his own tallents as a virtuoso on his chosen instrument and his skills as a producer and arranger.

So before wadeing in and slagging off Bassists I suggest you do some serious homework. Maybe start with Jaco Pastorius and move on through Mark King, Billy Sheehan, Jean-Jacques Burnell, Phil Lynott, Abraham Laboriel, Mike Rutherford, Tony Levin and Lelland Sklar for starters.


Bass Players

Post 4

Bassman - Funny how people never ceases to amaze me!

Mike A

Apologies, you said Jack Bruce not John-Paul Jones didn't you, sorry. However the rest still applies.


Bass Players

Post 5

Mike A (snowblind)

Why would I want to slag off bass players when I'm learning to be one?
Sorry if I sounded cheeky, but Jack Bruce sure didn't simply sit at the back grinning, and he was playing with the greatest guitarist and drummer in history.

And I'm fully aware that there's more to Jack Bruce than Cream.

My big brother informed me that Sid Viscous played bass. Big brother is a fool. Sid may have been untalented, but he was untalented with style. Modern musicians are simply untalented. It's due to this country's overpopulation of skids that they're succesful. A curse on Radio 1.


Bass Players

Post 6

Bassman - Funny how people never ceases to amaze me!

Mike A.

Many apologies for going off the deep end. I read an article by a researcher that said Bass giutars seem to have a couple of strings missing, and thought you were coming from the same place.

So who's your fave players?

I had a great week Bass wise last week. I went to an audience with JJ Burnell at the Bass centre in Wapping on Thursday and a Skunk Anansie gig on the Saturday.


Bass Players

Post 7

Andy

Well, as a bass player myself, I have to take great offense at both the idea of the bass "missing towo strings" and the bass player "standing in the back grinning".

To be fair, however, one has to search to find bass players (or any other kind of players) worthy of respect in this instant-gratification market.

"How do we change this?" you may ask. Well, quite simply, we can demand more. If your local radio station plays nothing but crap, tell them you're not listening anymore. If you go see a local band with real talent, tell your friends about it. If enough people take this approach, the industry WILL change.

I'll shut up now before I start to sound too preachy.


Bass Players

Post 8

Bassman - Funny how people never ceases to amaze me!

EndEr.

Well Said. If you happen to be anywhere near The King William VI in Earl Shilton (near Hinckley Leics) on Friday 22 Oct drop in and we'll have a chat. I'm not saying that I'm the worlds greatest, but all in all the band are fine, so bring your mates anyway. This is an open invite, so all of you bring your mates.

The one thing that you must remember about the "Music Business" is that for the greater part, they're in it for the business and not the music. I'd like to think that we could change things, but we're talking about a very large slow moving dinosaur here!

Preach all you like.....as long as you make sense someone will listen. Probably me!

Cheers Chap. Andy T.


Bass Players

Post 9

Andy

Thanks! I have no idea where that is, but if I end up there, I'll look for you. Same goes for you if you find yourself in Minneapolis.

After reading a bit of this conversation, I decided to check out a little more on the subject of bass here on h2g2. Unfortunately, it appears as though what has been written is scattered at best. (That's not to say there aren't some good thoughts out there, they're just not all in one place.)

With that in mind, I've written an entry on the bass guitar (A192935) and I'd like to invite all my fellow bass friends out there to read, comment on, edit, and whatever it. I'm no writer, but it's a start. Together, perhaps we can get one really good entry.


Bass Players

Post 10

Mike A (snowblind)

Okay-dokay I shall read your entry.

You lot obviosly know lots more about bass's than me. Don't suppose you can educate me a bit? I can't really even name many bass players off the top of my head. Jack Bruce, Paul McCartney. I suppose I'm a bit out of my depth here.


Bass Players

Post 11

Mike A (snowblind)

Problem. Quite a few bass guitar entries. Can't find the one with that number.


Bass Players

Post 12

Andy

Hmmm . . . for some reason, it doesn't pop up under that number. It's the entry titled "Bass (the guitar, not the fish)". If that doesn't help, you can get to it from my start page (by clicking on my name).


Bass Players

Post 13

Andy

Well, I'm not sure I'm qualified to educate anyone, but I'll take a stab. If you're interested in some of the better players out there, I'd suggest starting with Tony Levin, the absolute greatest of all (IMHO). He can be found on about a billion recordings, most notably Peter Gabriel and King Crimson. I'd reccomend Peter's double live CD from about 4 years ago to start.

Of course, there's also Geddy Lee, of Rush fame, still breaking new ground after nearly 30 years. Victor Wooten, on his own solo work and with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (among others). More recently, there's Sam Rivers (Limp Bizkit), who has taken Les (Primus) Claypool's new ideas and run with them. I'd also recommend Blind Melon's "Soup" album as a beautiful example of how the bass can be incorporated into exquisite arrangements.

Does that help or am I rambling?


Bass Players

Post 14

Mike A (snowblind)

Great one! I'll look as soon as I can.

I'm afraid that after your little lesson I'm still in the dark. I suppose that because I'm only kinda young means that I'm just way out of my depth to be able to find any of that stuff. I can go as far as the Peter Gabriel bass dude and then I'm stuck. Suppose I'd better leave it to you more experienced people who know their stuff.

Bye...smiley - sadface


Bass Players

Post 15

Andy

Not at all . . . everyone has to start somewhere. Most of the stuff I listed above should be available at pretty much any record store. Of course, you don't have to take my advice; you can just go with what you like (probably a better idea anyway).

smiley - smiley


Bass Players

Post 16

Mike A (snowblind)

Suppose I ought to stick to what I know. Bruce & Harris etc.
I'm more in the habit of listening to a band play than picking out the bass and listening to that. Seeing as it's a bass that makes a song better, I ought to just listen to a song and think "this is a great choon, and it's all down to the bass player".

I must admit I'm exaggerating slightly. Where would a band be without a big drum kit and electric guitars?

However, we all agreed much earlier on on the fact the bass strings it all together and provides the rythem. I'm just rambling on now.

*Stops rambling*


Bass Players

Post 17

Bassman - Funny how people never ceases to amaze me!

Mike A.

If you let us know Where in the world you are, what age you are and what sort of muzak lights your fire, I think that will help us - help you.

EndEr.

I must apologise for assuming that you were in the UK when I gave you an invite to the gig on Friday. I'm still new to this World Wide Web thang, and didn't realise that you guys across the water would be into H2G2 and Douglas Adams. I stand humbled and corrected. The gig was ROCKING by the way - it's a shame you missed it.


Bass Players

Post 18

Andy

Bassman -- No harm done. There are quite a few of us here in the new world that are into DNA. I'd be more than happy to come to your next gig. If you could just send me some plane tix . . .
smiley - smiley

Mike A -- Ditto on what Bassman said.


Bass Players

Post 19

Mike A (snowblind)

Mein gott, you chaps are friendly! Happy to oblidge!

I'm 14 yrs old, Ich habe Plymouth in England. My music taste changes with my mood. At the moment I'm into punk/heavy metal stuff: Sex Pistols, Iron Maiden etc. But then my mood takes a swing in the opposite direction and I'd happily listen to yer Eric Clapton blues stuff. And other times it's a compromise and I like the earlier Clapton stuff & Cream.


Bass Players

Post 20

Bassman - Funny how people never ceases to amaze me!

Mike A.

I get the link now, you're into Punk - did Sid play the Bass. I think there are some truely great songs on "Never Mind The Bollocks..." Anarchy, Pretty Vacant, No Feelings to name but a few, however I'm pretty sure it wasn't sid playing on that album. So there's a few songs to play along to - not too taxing. Do you do The Stranglers as well? The first song that I ever played along to was Peaches from "Rattus Norvegicus". There are so many great Bass songs on that album that a copy should be given away with every new Bass guitar. How about The Jam, another great player Bruce Foxton, now with Stiff Little Fingers.

I get Bassist Magazine every month, I may be preaching to the converted, but it always has good articles on gear, players, techniques, basically everything a budding Bassist could ever need. You will be able to put in an order at your local newsagent.

My personal last tip would be to go out and get hold of Thin Lizzy's "Live And Dangerous" and learn as much as you can.

I hope you have many happy hours in fact years as I have with some of the material mentioned. If you ever find yourself in Huntingdon, where I live, or around the Rugby area, where I gig - drop me a line and we'll meet.

Andy T.


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