Where have all the good bass players gone? Do we not take lessons and learn scales and how to play music anymore? I was just watching some cheeseball Elvis documentary (I actually dig Elvis) and the bass player was a MONSTER. All over the place with runs and sweet licks - almost like he was the melody, in a way. Some sweet 70's bass groovin. Are all bass players hacks these days? I rarely to never hear stuff with bass lines like they use to play. What gives? Heck, maybe I should play bass. As drummers, we have the rhythm part down.
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It sure seems like it. My 16-year old daughter took up the bass about a year ago and I am teaching her. She complained that most of the today's popular rock music has nothing but string riding for bass lines. She even said that with a lot of the folks she jams with, they just want string riding. This is frustrating her because she really wants to PLAY the bass. I've been working with her on on a lot of the classic rock bassists and she's loving it. I started her out on some McCartney (Eight Days A week), then to a little Gene Simmons (Strutter). We then worked on some Phil Lesh from the Grateful Dead (Truckin') and some Joe Bouchard from Blue Oyster Cult (Godzilla) and we are now working on some John Paul Jones (The Lemon Song). My plan is to work her up to some Geddy Lee and Steve Harris. I also have her working on scales. She's getting there and makes me hopeful that younger bass players are doing the same.Hawk snare, toms, and bass; Hart ECII crashes & ride; VH-10 Hihat; Iron Cobra double-bass.
"I never play the same thing twice...sometimes because I simply can't remember it." - John Paul Jones -
I can't help it - when I think of a bass player, he is an overweight meathead, incapable of posessing the knowledge and skillset to really 'PLAY' bass. It takes serious talent to play REAL bass. Its not just 4 on the floor (or string). That has its place, but it seems the whole aspect of 'bass being musical' is gone.
Listen to the chorus of this classic
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We must've gotten lucky then. Our band just added a new bass player and he really makes a difference because he knows more than just one-note riffs.
It is hard to find a guy who just wants to play bass, as I think it is getting hard to find a drummer who wants to only ride the throne. I play guitar too, and I'd like to find another guitar/drummer so we can switch, but I stick with the drums because that's what we need. There was a guitarist we tried out who also had a bass, and he asked if he should bring it when we didn't have a bass player, but I told him no. Unless he was going to stick with it. Too much switching and there's a risk of being jack of all trades and master of none.
Shalom
BruceComment
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I hang out with some Jazz and Rock cats who can really swing the bass. They are pro musicians. I also know a ton of bass players who just pump 16th note pedal tones. They are called punk rockers (heh). I could say the same thing about drummers. Face it, there are a lot more hack musicians than good musicians.Comment
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True that, but more so with bass...heck, If I can sit down and play 3/4 of poison's library and many many other songs with little effort or practice ?
My point is where has music gone, that WHAT WAS pop music years ago (with kick-butt bass lines) doesn't exsist today with that same level of musicianship. This is stuff you could turn the radio on and hear - I'm singing Sir Duke as I type this. Is it the type of music that make up pop(ular) music only lends well to quarter or 16th note pulses. I would think a bass player with any talent could riff it up more than whats going on today.Comment
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gotta be in his 70's now and still tearing it up!
Last edited by hodsmack4; 09-11-08, 12:44 PM.Comment
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Hey, I just went on vbass.com forums and they're *****ing about how drumming has gone downhill...
Well, I would have if it existed...My kit:Comment
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totally agree - music in general has...Get the music back in schools....hey I wonder if there is something to that
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Check out `Level 42 Mark King Bass Solo` on YouTube.
The drums are **** hot as well.
Last edited by John.b; 09-12-08, 10:28 AM.Comment
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I think we could probably say that was a good bass player. Looks very alive to me.
And a good drummer.
Shalom
BruceComment
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