Lead guitarists vs. Electric Bassists...................

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

For those of use from the olde school, and I do hope that I'm speaking for a majority of the longer playing Forum members.......the old dog-house bass was such a main-stay in the country bands, regardless of the size of the group. We sorta got used to it and loved it.

Now, for those that haven't already turned to the LOUD, full treble, multiple affects stomp boxes, lead guitar...... playing every pedal riff one can imagine, there has been a movement of recent years that if you can't learn to play a 'real instrument'...... one can always teach themselves how to play stand-up, electric, bass-guitar, with one of those REALLY BIG amps so everyone can hear them.

I've had the good fortune to play with many skilled and technically correct bass players but.......
This new breed that seems to think LOUD is beautiful on an electric bass are the same ones that seem to think that strumming all four strings is likewise an asset to the small 3 or 4 piece group. Usually they're the ones that hit a note and allow it to RING, and RING, and sustain FOREVER! Getting stuck having to sit next to one of these, destroys my hearing for the entire evening.

HOW ABOUT YOU? Huh? Pardon me, what did you say?

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I couldn't help but notice you found a weak statement in my post.....but that's ok. I'll attempt to address it.

A lot of these self-taught, bass guitarists who avoid the rigors of any formal instruction and are content to spend the evening doing their BOING, Boing, boing routine..........tend to leave out a lot of things a lead instrument can benefit from.

A few years ago I played several months with a 5 string bassist who primarily played jazz. His work was inspiring. He never failed to lead the band into the next chord change or whatever, a 7th chord or whatever was called for.

Bobby Hicks does the same thing on fiddle, as did Dale Potter.

The bass can contribute immeasureably to a groups overall sound, provided they care enough to learn/know what they're doing. I fully realize that the majority of you are aware of this point but in the loneliness of my dark, windowless room, I felt compelled at this point during the predawn darkness of night, to touch upon this point.

Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

If your bass player sucks, your band will suck, no matter how good everyone else is. If the bass and drums lock well together it pulls everyone else along. Add to this mix an inventive, sensitive rhythm player and you have a great band. Then least important person on the bandstand is the lead player Mr. Green

I don't like playing with really loud bass, and I don't like busy bass players. In bass, less is always more! I like bass to have a fairly large midrange component for clarity, not much really low bottom and for gods sake, get rid of those horrid tweeters on bass amps Mad

_________________
Primitive Utility Steel

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

Its not The Bass Players Job To Lead the Band into a Chord Change, But The Lead Instrument at the time, The Bass Player Should Compliment The Lead Instrument, I have no use for bass players who think they are playing a lead instrument. I've only been Doing This Since 1952, So What Do I know Rolling Eyes

Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

Curtis Alford · From: BastropTexas, USA 78602

I too, like the stand up bass as well as the well played electric bass.
Twayn, I too, agree the drums and bass being tight can make band.
John, I agree with you on the lead bass issue.
IMHO, a bass player can absolutely destroy the sound for listening or danceing to. The beat is important to get people on the floor, the volume is not. And never ever play a bass into the vocal speakers of the PA. Too much Bass or too much treble from the bass just doesn't do it for me.
Just my dime.
Curtis

Ken Adkins · From: Galena, Mo

I don't care for lead bass at all, but don't mind showing off a little, when necessary.

Joel Meredith · From: Portland,Oregon, USA

You talk about loud bass like it's a new thing. If you listen to country albums from the 1970's (especially Waylon), the bass is one of the most prominent instruments and is really driving most, if not all of the songs.....

Brick Spieth · From: San Jose, California, USA

I think a lot of the problems with bass players stems from the fact that many really want to be, or were, guitar players.

You can be a real asset to a band with simplicity.

You need to be a real team player.

The very best musicians I have come in contact with had their egos very well under control. They realize everyone sounds better with a balanced mix. Excessive volume is a poor substitute for talent.

The bass player is going to be the least noticed player on stage by most everyone in the room. Get over it.

The better the drummer, the more fun you will have.

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

I have been told, and agree, that the Bass is the Soul of the band and should be felt as much as heard. Many lead guitarists that changed to bass could not get away from thinking and playing lead instead of the proper bass line.

Bo Legg · Posted 10 Sep 2008 4:29 pm

It's hard to tell now a days.
Are you playin bass guitar or is that a tennis shoe banging around in the dryer?

Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

In my very humble opinion..........you can't have a BAND without a Bass. Sometimes a song, just by the way it is written requires a "lead" Bass. 'course I don't cotton to that kind of music anyway. er.......well, we will call it music just to be polite.

Don Drummer · From: West Virginia, USA

I always introduce my guitar students to the elements of bass playing once they are getting some where on the six string. There is no better way to illustrate the concept of how simplicity and artistry intersect. Don D.

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

I tend to agree with the point of view that the bass player is the most important member of a band. The dual function of providing both rhythmic and harmonic foundation makes the bass the "glue" that holds the music together.

It's not entirely a question of "less is more", IMHO. I feel there's what I would call a "bass sense" that's the key--if the player has it, he could be the simplest of players or be all over the place, and either way it will make the music go. But a bass player without the bass sense will spoil the music, whether he is a flashy "lead bass" showoff or a plodding plunker.

Of course, you could say the same about any other instrumentalist having to have "_____ sense". But even if everybody else in the band has it, a bad bass player will bring everybody down more than anyone else could. The general audience is not consciously aware of this, but they know when the band doesn't feel right.

I've played "lead" instruments my whole life, but I sometimes think if I had it all to do over I might choose to be a bass player. People are often bemused when I decline to fill in on bass; they figure if I can play guitar I can play bass, right? But I know that my "lead instrument" habits would make me a lousy bass player without my spending some serious time attempting to program my mind for "bass sense".

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

Our western swing band recently went to upright bass. They resonate differently than an electric bass and present a totally different feel. I really enjoy it. Sometimes we run into a sound man that thinks the bass needs to thump or mixes us like a tejano group. Loud bass just doesn't work for us. I'm destroyed as a steel player if the bass isn't right.

To me, bass is kind of where the music starts. Bass has influence over tempo,style,and chord pattern. I don't know which is the hardest to deal with, a lead bass or one that plays wrong notes. Many people pick up bass because it is easy to learn, but it is the feel that is difficult. Bass is very powerful...or not.

Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

I have stated to several in this area that if I just wanted to work, I would switch to Bass. Bass that will do the dance band type of playing is very, very and very hard to find here.......singing Bassmen even harder.

Bill Cunningham · From: Atlanta, Ga. USA

Mr. Montee,

There is nothing like the warmth of a well played and recorded upright bass. I think I enjoy the bass playing on the Nashville records of the 70's and 80's as much as any of the lead instruments.

At the same time, I recall a comment from of well respected "old school" south Georgia player who said "we really didin't know how bad most of our bass players were until they came out with the electric and we could actually hear them"!! Laughing

I too believe as someone stated above, the bass leads the band through the changes.
_________________
Bill Cunningham
Atlanta, GA

Marc Jenkins · From: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Download the 'What's Goin' On' from this thread.

Enough said.

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Many years ago i was playing steel in a great band and we had no lead player.The front man was a great bass player and could double on lead. also.Was always on the correct note.We played some heavy stuff at times.
I knew enuff bass to play on simple songs and he showed me how to play bass on some of the songs he did while playing lead that had lots of chords.Any hoo,off the band stand he showed me a hot jazz run which took me some time to learn.
One night we were playing some western swing thing and i was on bass.I started putting the jazz run in he had taught me.(I was so proud of my self.)
At the end of the song he handed me his guitar of whih i can't play lead on and said.Take this and give me the bass if you want to play lead. Mad

Think there is a lesson in this some where.
BTW.Why would the bass player have to lead the chords?The guitar player or what ever should know them.

Eric Philippsen · From: Central Florida USA

Last weekend we had a bass player sub with us. An older gentleman who was up from Florida. How we got his name is another story. Nevertheless, from the first song it was plain that he was a real pro. No overplaying or fingerboard acrobatics. He wasn't playing the latest, the hottest or the most vintage equipment either. But on every song he was right there. It was such a huge difference. The gig was so much more fun. It was easier for the rest of us to settle in, relax and play our parts. Of course, the leader wanted him back.

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

[quote="Tracy Sheehan"[ IMHO Bass players and drummers that play only what they are supposed to are hard to find now days[/quote]

"play only what they are supposed to".....according to who?

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

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