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Topic: Who doesn't or can't play bass guitar |
Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 9 May 2009 4:38 pm |
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I have been doing a little research in here about our fellow steelers and who plays multiple instruments and have found that most members have indicated that they play more than just their steel. Many, if not the majority, play electric lead and followed closely by those who also play bass.
I know learning the bass guitar is a fairly easy jump for most musicians; however, who amongst the steel guitarists in here can't or have never tried or to play the bass guitar? |
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Don Discher
From:
Sault Ste Marie,Ontario,Canada
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Posted 9 May 2009 5:23 pm
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I play bass in two other bands and rhythm,fiddle,steel and lead vocals in my band.Bass is relatively easy to learn but playing and doing the singing takes a bit of work.I learned to play bass because it was hard to find a bass player that sang lead or even harmonized.
I was just never satisfied playing one instrument so recently picked up a dobro. |
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Steve Alcott
From:
New York, New York, USA
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Posted 9 May 2009 6:17 pm
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| As a bass player, I should probably stay out of this, so I will. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 9 May 2009 6:37 pm About bass picking.................
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I'm a single instrument musician.......
I cain't play bass, banjer or drums..........
Just try real hard to play steel guitar. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 9 May 2009 6:42 pm
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I talked about my BASS PLAYING in the stories section,under [My week as a drifter] DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Papa Joe Pollick
From:
Swanton, Ohio
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Posted 9 May 2009 7:09 pm
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| I'm a terrible bass player.I know all the positions and licks,but I overplay like I'm on lead.I also tend to speed up..When I need to lay down bass tracks it seems to take me longer on that then it does on any other insturment..Usualy end up using BIAB.. |
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Steve Alcott
From:
New York, New York, USA
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Posted 9 May 2009 7:21 pm
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| Right you are, Papa Joe-it's REAL easy to play bad bass. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 9 May 2009 7:44 pm
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The REAL,REAL,bass player,Victor Wooten. DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Leland Ogle
From:
Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA
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Posted 9 May 2009 8:26 pm
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There are lots of people who play bass, not very many bass players though.
Lee |
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Terry Winter
From:
Saskatchewan, Canada
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Posted 9 May 2009 8:39 pm
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Played bass quite a while before starting steel. Still love playing bass!!
Terry  |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 9 May 2009 8:40 pm
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What Leland said. As most of us know a good drummer and bass player are the backbone of a good band.
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 9 May 2009 9:18 pm
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I started out playing chromatic harmonicas then was given a Fender Precision bass guitar in lue of a loan in 1959 and started doing old time country bass. Somehow, and because of a fluke opportunity, I ended up playing jazz bass (I actually didn't even like jazz) for the next fifteen years. I eventually went back to my first love, country music.
Between my chromatics, bass, some limited keyboard and steel, I still seem to enjoy the bass above them all.
Last edited by Les Anderson on 9 May 2009 9:31 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 9 May 2009 9:27 pm
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Oops.  |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 9 May 2009 11:19 pm
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| Quote: |
| I know learning the bass guitar is a fairly easy jump for most musicians; ... |
As has been already said - it's easy for a reasonably competent guitar player to learn to hack at bass guitar.
I don't consider myself a good bass player at all, but I studied upright bass formally for about a year just to try to understand what it was about. I think it helped my general musicianship and guitar playing, but if I wanted to really become a serious bass player, I'd have to take years to really focus on it. I don't think it's at all easy. Just listen to 12 bars of a good bass player, and then listen to the same thing played by some guitar player wannabee who winds up playing bass. 'Nuff said, my opinion of course. |
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Chris Caruso
From:
Merrimack, NH USA
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Morgan Scoggins
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 10 May 2009 4:26 am Bass Players
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I played electric Bass for a gospel group several years ago, because they already had two guitar players. I eventually got to be pretty good, but now my playing is limited to my Remington Stringmaster.
_________________
"Shoot low boys, the're ridin' Shetlands" |
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Ellis Miller
From:
Cortez, Colorado, USA
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Posted 10 May 2009 4:49 am
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It seems that bass is often a default position for the worst guitar player in the band and/or people take it up because they think bass is easy. Given the degree of musical sophistication of my fellow forumites, I suspect we all agree that this is default is a poor substitute to a truly competent bass player. That said....
In my experience, when a good PSG player does migrate to bass for whatever reason the theoretical knowledge inherent in playing pedal steel seems to serve them well on bass. They often have a head start on chord structures, inversions, passing chords etc.
I love playing with good bass players and drummers and they have my respect as musicians.
_________________
Ellis Miller
Don't believe everything you think.
http://www.ellismillermusic.com |
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Don Drummer
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 10 May 2009 5:04 am bass
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| As a Guitar teacher I include some exposure to bass playing as a way to explain the structure of major and minor chord. It makes it easier to "see" how it all works. Often a certain student will switch to learning bass as a result. I encourage them as the world needs more bass players. Myself, not much of a bass player, although I can handle the job if needed that doed not make me a Bass player. Don D. |
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Jim Walker
From:
Headland, AL
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Posted 10 May 2009 5:36 am
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I'd play just about anything with strings on it for $200 a night. "Show me da money!"
JW
_________________
Show Pro D10, Session 400 |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 10 May 2009 5:48 am
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| Quote: |
| It seems that bass is often a default position for the worst guitar player in the band and/or people take it up because they think bass is easy. Given the degree of musical sophistication of my fellow forumites, I suspect we all agree that this default is a poor substitute for a truly competent bass player. |
Ellis, you said a mouthful.  |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 10 May 2009 6:04 am
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| I played bass before I got into steel. On two occasions I had Jimmy Day tell me I was the worst bass player he ever worked with. Thankfully I was already making a living playing steel with Bobby Helms by that time. I don't even own a bass anymore. |
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Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 May 2009 6:30 am
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I have a bass, and can get by playing it. I do not consider myself a expert on it. I also play 5-string, Scruggs style picking, and rhythm guitar. I suck at lead guitar. Yes it is tough, to play bass and do lead singing, and harmony, but will not say no to it. Also I duff around on fiddle, and dobro. Too used to pushing pedals, and knees. Need them on my dobro.
_________________
Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142 |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 10 May 2009 6:57 am
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| Quote: |
| know learning the bass guitar is a fairly easy jump for most musicians |
+1 what others have said
This is, IMO, a misconception. popular thought, but still a misconception; learning bass *competently* is one of the most difficult jumps for most musicians, an it's a rare "lead guitar player" that can make a switch to (or even double on) bass with any degree of skill.
A good bass player is many things, but a couple of very key things stand out (and I say this as a bass player - I am one who...according to folks I play with...is a <i>real</i> bass player, rather than someone standing in the back filling space).
1. Unless you are a real bass player or a top-notch musician, you don't notice a bass player until he's not there.
2. A good bass player can lock with a drummer, carry an entire tune with the rest of the band NOT playing, just singing - and no one even notices.
This is becoming a "real" bass player - you know when NOT to play, know how to lead into chord changes, know how to drive the band without "pushing" the beat, and have a "groove" to your playing...you can carry and entire song with just the drummer (assuming the drummer is also a skilled player).
One band I play with that does a ton of classic rock and country-rock songs is a good example; the drummer and I are ONE person as we are so together we can anticipate even when one of us wants to take a song a different direction. The rest of the band is so confident about the rhythm section that there have been times they've totally dropped out except for vocals, and listening to tapes it didn't sound "wrong" - in fact it was hardly noticeable. It has a ricochet effect - the rest of the band ALSO doesn't overplay, filling every bit of air with flurries of notes. You end up with a clean, crisp, tight sound - no matter what style of music.
I've ben playing (rehearsing only) with a very mediocre local band, playing guitar and steel. But the bass player is SO good I didn't even take much notice of him until about the 6th rehearsal - and that was because the drummer was all over the place and the bass player was trying to teach him the gong's "groove". It was funny that as a bass player myself even I didn't take particular note of him for so long - songs never wander as he has the whole band on a musical leash. As an admittedly third-rate steel player it's invaluable to me, as I *always* know where the song is going - so I can play simple stuff and if my intonation isn't sucking that particular night it sounds like I know what I'm doing!
He's doing his job. Really well.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 10 May 2009 8:03 am
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I took some lessons from Maurice on Bass, he is a Great Bass Player, as is Buddy, Johnny Cox, ....
Steve Alcott Bass Play/Steel.
I will say this , He is my very first choice as a bass player, for me, Bass & Drums is the Heart of a band, they will dictate what and how you play, at least foe me, if they don't hit that grove, I can't either...Steve should be a house player for a Lot of steel shows...just my 2 cents...... |
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John Gould
From:
Houston, TX Now in Cleveland TX
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Posted 10 May 2009 8:20 am
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I think it would be a great thing for anyone in a band to have to play bass for a period of time. It makes you have to understand chord theory and timing. You get a feel for how important the "pocket" is and what that means. It's important for the Steel to be a "feel" part of the band.
_________________
A couple of guitars
Fender GTX 100 Fender Mustang III Fender Blues Jr. Boss Katana MKII 50
Justice Pro Lite and Sho Bud Pro II |
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