Are you ready for Bass Freedom? 🪜“Step By Step” courses - Clear, structured path and curriculum - Overcome feeling stuck & overwhelmed - 11 Levels - 400+ lessons - Easy to follow 🎸 **Start at Level 1** - Even if you aren’t a beginner, try Level 1 at a next-to-nothing price -See if the courses align with what you’re looking for -This will help you decide if the other Levels are worth it for you to move forward 📈 Ready to become a better bassist? 👉 Check out the related video ☝️☝️
When I started playing bass it was because I didn’t want the pressure of being in the spotlight like a lead guitarist, turns out there’s way more pressure to do your job right as a bassist lmao
I always knew I wanted to be involved in music, but didn't like pressure. Picked up bass 15 years ago and absolutely love it! It's great to have a key role in the (somewhat) background. I can't lie, though. I enjoy those rare occasions when the guitarist doesn't show and I need to provide a little more fill in the upper frets!
Yeah, if your rhythm section isn’t solid, it makes your band look worse than if your lead guitarist is channeling his/her inner Kirk Hammett or unintentionally playing jazz. People can ignore a trash solo, but they’ll walk out if your rhythm isn’t solid and keeping the band in time. In fact, the best way to “fake it till you make it” as a band is to make sure your drums & bass are locked in. That way the rest of your band should stay as tight.
I actually got a private Skype lesson from her. It was the most...intense(?) 55 minutes I've ever experienced. It probably 8 years ago, and I'm still amazed how it changed my playing.
For sure. But it's like drums. You definitely hear a drum fill, especially an awesome one, but it's not suppose to be what you're suppose to be focused on like vocals or a solo. But it's still bonkers important. It's the meat of your music.
Sure, but almost none of them are Geddy Lee, or Les Claypool. And Sting, although he's a great Jazz trained bassist, has lines in The Police that are strategically placed for his singing, which btw is the genius part of it!
@@BlackJackLopez Those little easy sections when singing? Guitarists do that a LOT, too. Think of any blues song with a call and response (vocal and licks); heck, start with BB King and go from there. Not too many solos going on when the vocalist is singing. But yeah, singing and playing the (relentless) bass isn't a skill that many can master, although there are probably quite a few more if you stop and look into it.
It’s better to follow the sound in your head then to try and adhere to some “rules” that don’t apply to you. Yes, you can be a bass player and still front a band, be the lead singer, and play leads too. While maintaining the groove. It’s okay to think out of the box and follow the sound in your head. That’s how new and great art can sometimes be made. I’d never want to discourage anyone from being creative and working toward something they believe in. Imagine if Les or Geddy so this as a kid and got discouraged thinking a bass player couldn’t be the lead person.
I'm the only musician in my immediate family. I just felt the vibration of the bass through the things around me, I had to figure which one of those guys in the band were making those low sounds. I figured out on my own what a bass guitar was, and got one. That was 35+ years ago, still playing! I've learned to play other instruments since then, but bass is my favorite to play in a band.
I got to pluck around on a friend's bass for just a few minutes, but it really resonated with me and I was taking to it pretty quickly. My Nana used to play the bass and my Grandpa played the guitar and sang. I'm starting to get more interested in learning...☺️
Yep! I LOOOOOOVE playing my bass guitars! Started out as a drummer; as I thought my short fingers AND "carpal tunnel" syndrome would keep me from being able to play well... (I found ways around those, btw...!) I wish I picked bass when I was drummingat 8 years old, but then again... I strongly feel that my "drumming foundation" is what helped/allowed me to pick up the bass without (too) much "trouble"... OF COURSE, we get "hung up" on things... Don't get frustrated!! Just move on and come back to it later, imho... Always be learning and working on "new" things (especially playing genres that you're not familiar with/ or enjoy) and IF you keep your practice "intentional/deliberate", you WILL get it, eventually!! You'll wake up, get in "the zone" and the "muscle memory" takes care of the rest! Have fun everyone! That's the MAIN goal!
I just started playing bass after playing guitar for 12 years... I'm hooked!!! I will still play guitar no doubt but man bass is so damn awesome. I love it
As a bassist/frontman it feels so rewarding to know that I'll have a part this is both immediately noticed and one that is more nuanced and fundamental
Totally disagree with the comment if you want to ‘front’ the band bass isn’t for you. A lot of lead singers with bands also play bass. Look at Sting in the Police, Mark King in Level 42, Paul Macartney in the Beatles, Suzie Quattro, Lemmy in Motörhead the list goes on.
"Anthem" from Rush is one of those. It takes quite a bit to really nail the bass part alone. Then... singing on top of a line that is playing a completely different melody. Geddy Lee and Sting are posterboys of professional musicians.
Bass is fun! If you’re fine motor skills go a little sideways when the adrenaline of the stage comes on, you might just love the broad strokes of the bass! Big strings, big gestures, big sound! It’s also easier to dial in a good tone, and easier to get in tune and play in tune. All of this ups the fun factor from the early stages- plus, you’ll be in-demand right away!
bass is an easy way to get into playing in a band for sure. You can just start with root notes then work your way up as you learn more techniques. I'm 54, been playing bass since I was 15. I've played everything from bluegrass to heavy metal, and that was all because bass players are always in demand.
I completely relate to the fine motor skills part you said. I am pretty good in my living room on guitar but screw up in front of a couple people hearing me play for the first time.
I started out as a guitarist and wanting to shred and all that but switched to bass after hearing players like Geddy Lee and John Paul Jones. You can play some tasty lines and still keep the groove.
If you’re playing bass, effectively you own the band. You’re the link between the harmony under the melody and the groove. You make a massive difference in the way you play. I’m a bass player who often impersonates a guitarist, and I don’t have nearly the control over the music to drive the band as I do when playing bass. You’ll never catch me playing bass like a frustrated guitarist, however, I have been caught playing guitar like a frustrated bass player, which makes me a below average guitarist. What separates me from all the other below average guitarists is, being a bass player, I know when not to play….
I stared on double bass in school orchestra. I play guitar, keys, and several brass instruments, too. But im mainly a bassist. In band situations, I usually end up as the singer and a songwriter. So, of course I stay with bass while doing that.
40 years ago and still today, my dream is to be a part of the powerful stone wall made by me, the drummer and the Keys. Everything sounds good if the base is grooving hard and tight. And, from time to time, unleash a thundering slap solo, maybe just once in a gig. You know, like Little John supporting Robin kinda thing. A luxury side man.
As someone who sings, plays lead, rhythm, acoustic & bass both in live & session work settings (no singing in sessions) a couple of things to consider for choosing instruments: A con for bass: Unless you have way more talent than me, I can only sing & play rhythm or acoustic (basically rhythm) guitar at the same time - with occasional lead-ish solos. Bass lines & lead are too different from the beat/rhythm of the singing & i just can't do it at the same time. Major pro for bass: If you live somewhere it's easy to get session work (Austin, LA, New York, Nashville, etc.), I tend to pick up a lot more sessions on bass than other guitars. At least in Austin (nearby for me), everybody wants to be Stevie Ray Vaughn or play lead, so there is a lot more opportunities for the others - especially bass!
Yup, guitarist at first because what kid doesn't wanna shred? Started to fall out of love with it once I realized soloing made no sense at the time and I couldn't for the life of me write my own parts. Picked up the bass when my band in highschool said they needed one and they already had 2 guitars. Then BOOM, everything clicked. Writing parts was almost second nature, I loved supporting the guitars while ago being the thunder, eventually I felt confident enough to sing and play, I wasn't lost when noodling, etc etc. I still play guitar, but bass will always be my #1, even if I'll never be as good as Victor or Jaco.
I play a five string bass with heavy distortion. You would think i was playing a baritone if you didn't know any better.😂 I play with deathcore/tech metal/djent/ groove metal drums. I play lead/rhythm style. I can get carried away with boomer bends too😅 Playing the bass with a clean sound is fun sometimes (I like jazz/thai funk/post punk/neo-psychedelic). I also like metal clanky bass too. But to me their is something about chugging a extended range bass with heavy distortion.
Here's the thing about playing bass and singing lead: Bass mostly doesn't stop. It's role is to constantly be tying the rhythm to the chord progression, and in a lot of cases it's moving from chordal notes to the next chord notes to provide transitions BEFORE the chord changes (lead-in or anacrusis notes.) Most of the time you're pivoting on THE ONE or one of the beats, if not syncopating with them. Meanwhile, melody is all over the place, you're singing notes, but also using language; words with syllables and phrases, telling a story. Many times the lyrics do NOT occur with the beats exactly; there are times when the words pick up before THE ONE (also anacrusis) which may or usually does not do the same thing the bass does at that time; OR sometimes the lyrics start AFTER the downbeat. BONUS HINT: The beats usually align with consonants or hard vowels, while the vowels are generally the 'notes' of the melody. It helps a LOT if you know which letters fall on which beats. As usual, know where that The One is at and let that be your guide. Two ENTIRELY different tasks!
Very good advice. For me, a singer and writer, I'm learning many instruments because I plan to make my entire albums by myself. For me to learn the base and drums is very important because I need a strong foundation first each song before I can add all the extras later like lead, rhythm, brass, synth etc. May sound like an overwhelming task, but for me I know I'll learn at a very rapid pace. It's as God says, I perished for lack of knowledge!
My deal is I either want to do the bass or the drums but and yeah I could do both but I want to dedicate my learning to only one so i could get better at one quicker and if im in a band smb else will play the other instrument i just dont know. I want to play the bass and follow after my dad but... In my heart i know I wanna play drums..
I started learning guitar over 40 years ago. I also picked up bass along the way, and I spent about 15 years playing bass in a few bands. These days I'm not sure if I'm a guitarist who also plays bass, or a bassist who can also play guitar. I'm capable of soloing but I don't like to do it too much. And bass solos? Not my thing, although there have been a few - a very few - great bass solos in the history of the instrument.
Im a peter steele type of bassist (i play chords and guitar riffs on bass) and everyone thinks i transitioned from guitar or played guitar at some point but i never did. I transitioned from playing the drums and just kinda developed it on my own and it surprises people when they hand me a guitar and i got no idea how to play it
As a former guitarist and current bassist, bass is a weird dilemma. It’s easier to get to the point where you can play along to most songs, but significantly more difficult to develop the intuition required to become a master. The way you start and stop notes, the dynamic choices, the note choices in compliment to chords, matching drum accents, and so much more. As a bassist you have the unique role of being both an important rhythm instrument but also a key part of harmony in the band. Guitar is where I spent a lot of time (about 15 years) and I stuck mostly to rhythm before realizing I should have just been playing bass the whole time. Guitar can make beautiful chords and handle melody well, and can even play a deeply rhythmic role in certain genres, but it doesn’t fit the role as well as bass.
As a bass/guitar player that also plays keyboards, The guitar and bass guitar are not really different instruments to me, they are just the upper and lower range of the same thing. Keyboard instruments are generally not divided into bass or lead instruments, they do both. To me the perfect guitar would be able to cover both instruments ranges so I can do both guitar and bass roles simultaneously. (I do currently have an 8 string guitar and am learning it)
So many great frontmen are bassists. Especially in metal. Slayer's Tom Arraya, Type O Negative's Peter Steele, Motorhead's Lemmy are just a few of them. And in regular rock we of course have the legends Paul McCartney and Sting. Being a bassist frontman is a completely valid choice.
One things for sure. Most of the Bassists I've ever met and played with have been more studied and knowledgeable musicians than most of the guitarists I've ever met.
I can already tell the bass guitar is for me. I'm going to be lead and play solos! And I am immune to criticism because I'm also learning to play the guitar and sing too. 😜 For real though, I just do what the music calls for. And a lot of the music I write calls for lead bass.
What about Chris Wolstenholme, he is one of the greatest bassists but functional role is like that of a second guitar in the band And what about Metallica, they have bits and parts where bass soloes
I’ve already been playing the alt saxophone for 6 years and started piano 1,5 year ago, I already play songs on the piano of the same level that people that play double as long as I do, do you think I should tey to pick up bass?
Lots of leaders and frontmen are bassists. Geddy, Les, Flea, Sting, Lemmy, Phil, Kip, Victor, Stanley, Jaco to name as few. In most cases, you learn to sing as well as play
Boomer here... playing for over 50 years... Lead guitar is a passion that I work on daily... but bass... oh yeah. Playing lead, I know what I'd want the bass to do, and I do it... the "less is more" theory is my calling. It's all about the groove. I played bass for an acoustic songwriter for a few years... what a joy... He moved away. He found some bassists far beyond my skills... since they were full-time dedicated bassists... but my time with him, I will cherrish... he was so f'n good... Rant... I love Victor Wooten... but the dude goes way beyond... he may be playing a bass, but he's not playing bass.... stellar chops... same goes for Jaco.... they need a bassist while doing their razzle-dazzle... The duet between Wooten and Edgar Myer... is truly a bassists delight... endless, jaw-dropping dazzle. Look it up.
I mostly agree, but what makes Jaco amazing is the way he effortlessly fuses the concept of rhythm and lead. The two examples that come to mind are his playing behind Mike Stern on the song Mood Swings and as the bassist for Weather Report on the song Birdland. Very melodic but also clearly outlining the harmony and rhythm. Most of the time, Jaco is playing the role of the perfect bassist. Although, I'll admit a lot of the time Jaco does experiment outside the traditional role of bassist
I'm not quite sure what qualities make someone a "frontman". Sometimes this term is simply used for the lead singer in which case, yeah sure, you have to primarily sing (which doesn't necessarily mean that you can't play the bass as well), sometimes it is used for the main song writer, which makes it irrelevant what instrument you play, if any. Sometimes it is also used for the band member who interacts the most with the audience and/or the media, which also makes it irrelevant what part you play in the band.
I know I'm in the minority here but here's a counter: bass is just a tonal instrument. There is no right or wrong way to play it, only convention. The capability to follow conventions such as bridging the rhythm and harmony of a song will aid in playing with others. However, most of our icons on bass, our Paul mccartneys, geddy lees, fleas and James jamersons disrupted the convention of their time in some way or another. Tame Impala is one the largest rock acts of the 2010s and after, and his basslines are acoustically and functionally reject the bedrock of a lot of bass philosophy. I play a number of instruments and arrange from the ground using the bass as the lead melodic element and I would not enjoy my music the same in any other format. Ultimately, you should play the bass because you like the way it sounds and it's ergonomics. HOW you play the bass is a separate question that needs to account for the genres of music you prefer and the ensembles you associate with.
I strongly disagree with your mention of "if you want to front the band...bass may not be for you." There have been a substantial number of bassists that have "fronted" the band by themselves or with another band member. Phil Lynott, Jack Blades, Martin Page, John Lodge, Peter Cetera, Jason Scheff, not to mention Sting, Paul McCartney and Geddy Lee, to name a few. If one has the vocal chops and can command an audience, there is no reason for the bassist to be relegated to upstage and under no lighting.
Playing Bass and trying to be a frontman can be very challenging. Especially if your music isn't just basic punk rock. Some of the stuff Sting does on Bass while singing live is wild
I am biased, but bass is absolutely the best instrument. I find most people I speak to don’t even realise there is a bass, they’re just listening to the vocals and guitars. When I listen to a song I hear every single instrument critically. I often repeat songs over and over to concentrate on different parts each time. But mostly I’m listening to the bass and how it provides melody and rhythm with the rest of the band. Obviously that varies with the genre/ song.
I feel like I've done all the Chris Squiring and Geddy Lee-ing I need to do and I had a lot of fun doing it. Now I feel like being one of the big burly bearded bassists leaning against the backline. Like Leland Sklar.
picked 6 string bass because i can play any song without tuning out of standard. i can play all the stuff i used to play on guitar on bass. its just superior
i chose bass, because im an introvert and dont really like to be in the spotlight the whole time... And ofc, because i prefer its rythym role alot more than soloing and showing off how good i am...
Are you ready for Bass Freedom?
🪜“Step By Step” courses
- Clear, structured path and curriculum
- Overcome feeling stuck & overwhelmed
- 11 Levels
- 400+ lessons
- Easy to follow
🎸 **Start at Level 1**
- Even if you aren’t a beginner, try Level 1 at a next-to-nothing price
-See if the courses align with what you’re looking for
-This will help you decide if the other Levels are worth it for you to move forward
📈 Ready to become a better bassist?
👉 Check out the related video ☝️☝️
I thought it would be Carol Kaye telling why ((( I came here for her
You can always start off with a
Tambourine... 😳
Bass is the “Motor” of a band. Without it , it ain’t going nowhere.
@@son0fsocal Metallica did ok
@@Farewelltokingzdepends on who you ask.
white stripes is lucky to succeed without a bassist, most band without them will fail
I don’t think anyone got the reference
But if you are starting, new bands are not forming any more. Go find one in the charts that was formed in this millennium.
When I started playing bass it was because I didn’t want the pressure of being in the spotlight like a lead guitarist, turns out there’s way more pressure to do your job right as a bassist lmao
Yeah when the bassist effs up, you REALLY hear it lol
I always knew I wanted to be involved in music, but didn't like pressure. Picked up bass 15 years ago and absolutely love it! It's great to have a key role in the (somewhat) background. I can't lie, though. I enjoy those rare occasions when the guitarist doesn't show and I need to provide a little more fill in the upper frets!
@@computer_toucher soo true it is quite funny
Endurance and stamina. I can play bass for one song. Then collapse
Yeah, if your rhythm section isn’t solid, it makes your band look worse than if your lead guitarist is channeling his/her inner Kirk Hammett or unintentionally playing jazz. People can ignore a trash solo, but they’ll walk out if your rhythm isn’t solid and keeping the band in time.
In fact, the best way to “fake it till you make it” as a band is to make sure your drums & bass are locked in. That way the rest of your band should stay as tight.
Nice to see Carol Kaye in this video. She’ll be turning 90 soon. Legend.
Literally clicked this video because it has Carol Kaye on it
glad someone else still knows her :)
@@taxman4889 same!
@@taxman4889 Me too! The book about the Wrecking Crew is well worth a look-her, Hal Blaine, Glen Campbell and a cast of many!
I actually got a private Skype lesson from her. It was the most...intense(?) 55 minutes I've ever experienced. It probably 8 years ago, and I'm still amazed how it changed my playing.
In R n B , and gospel music the Bass stands out more..And makes a huge difference...
Yep. Even when we AIN'T soloing, we're soloing. The groove DEMANDS it!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Especially in gospel.
For sure. But it's like drums. You definitely hear a drum fill, especially an awesome one, but it's not suppose to be what you're suppose to be focused on like vocals or a solo. But it's still bonkers important. It's the meat of your music.
It's absolutely the best instrument in the world! Its power to push the other musicians to play and sound better is insane!
At 14, I played lead guitar. At 62, I play the bass. I prefer the bass 😊
Soul/R&B/Funk is what got me into playing the Bass. I enjoy it immensely!
There's tons and tons of bassists who are singers!
Sure, but almost none of them are Geddy Lee, or Les Claypool. And Sting, although he's a great Jazz trained bassist, has lines in The Police that are strategically placed for his singing, which btw is the genius part of it!
Mark hoppus
@@BlackJackLopez Those little easy sections when singing? Guitarists do that a LOT, too. Think of any blues song with a call and response (vocal and licks); heck, start with BB King and go from there. Not too many solos going on when the vocalist is singing.
But yeah, singing and playing the (relentless) bass isn't a skill that many can master, although there are probably quite a few more if you stop and look into it.
So why does this video Stevie Wonder as the background music instead of one of those guys? Makes no sense lol.
The Bass is a Guitar you can in Bass scale. It can be a lead instrument, it can play with the guitars, drums or on it's own.
It’s better to follow the sound in your head then to try and adhere to some “rules” that don’t apply to you.
Yes, you can be a bass player and still front a band, be the lead singer, and play leads too. While maintaining the groove.
It’s okay to think out of the box and follow the sound in your head. That’s how new and great art can sometimes be made.
I’d never want to discourage anyone from being creative and working toward something they believe in. Imagine if Les or Geddy so this as a kid and got discouraged thinking a bass player couldn’t be the lead person.
Yes!!
I'm the only musician in my immediate family. I just felt the vibration of the bass through the things around me, I had to figure which one of those guys in the band were making those low sounds.
I figured out on my own what a bass guitar was, and got one. That was 35+ years ago, still playing! I've learned to play other instruments since then, but bass is my favorite to play in a band.
I got to pluck around on a friend's bass for just a few minutes, but it really resonated with me and I was taking to it pretty quickly. My Nana used to play the bass and my Grandpa played the guitar and sang. I'm starting to get more interested in learning...☺️
Yep! I LOOOOOOVE playing my bass guitars!
Started out as a drummer; as I thought my short fingers AND "carpal tunnel" syndrome would keep me from being able to play well... (I found ways around those, btw...!)
I wish I picked bass when I was drummingat 8 years old, but then again... I strongly feel that my "drumming foundation" is what helped/allowed me to pick up the bass without (too) much "trouble"...
OF COURSE, we get "hung up" on things... Don't get frustrated!! Just move on and come back to it later, imho...
Always be learning and working on "new" things (especially playing genres that you're not familiar with/ or enjoy) and IF you keep your practice "intentional/deliberate", you WILL get it, eventually!!
You'll wake up, get in "the zone" and the "muscle memory" takes care of the rest! Have fun everyone! That's the MAIN goal!
Colin Moulding (XTC) is excellent : fretted and fretless basses, acoustic guitar, vocals, songwriting... XTC's Dave Gregory years are wonderful !
I just started playing bass after playing guitar for 12 years... I'm hooked!!! I will still play guitar no doubt but man bass is so damn awesome. I love it
Bass is now my 3rd inst after drums and piano, so it comes pretty naturally to me!
Best instrument I've ever played tbh. There's so much joy in playing bass. And I grew up playing the guitar.
Paul McCartney played the Hell out of his bass AND sang as a frontman.
I know, I was thinking him, Lemmy, Sting, Roger Waters and Phil Lynott would like a word
As a bassist/frontman it feels so rewarding to know that I'll have a part this is both immediately noticed and one that is more nuanced and fundamental
Totally disagree with the comment if you want to ‘front’ the band bass isn’t for you. A lot of lead singers with bands also play bass. Look at Sting in the Police, Mark King in Level 42, Paul Macartney in the Beatles, Suzie Quattro, Lemmy in Motörhead the list goes on.
honestly i just chose to play bass because it looked cooler than guitar
and its still why i play bass, i would look silly with a guitar
You’re so real for that
Chris Squire was soloing the whole time. And he wasn't the front man. He was HIMSELF. As all of us should be. That's most of it.
Geddy Lee and sting both sing 😭 it’s just harder
"Anthem" from Rush is one of those. It takes quite a bit to really nail the bass part alone. Then... singing on top of a line that is playing a completely different melody.
Geddy Lee and Sting are posterboys of professional musicians.
Lemmy and Tom Araya
@@billyd7882 Also Cronos, Ross Dollan, Glenn Benton, and Peter Steele
Can’t forget Phil Lynott
While singing and playing bass or keyboards, Geddy Lee also manages bass pedals : never overwhelmed ?!
Bass is fun! If you’re fine motor skills go a little sideways when the adrenaline of the stage comes on, you might just love the broad strokes of the bass! Big strings, big gestures, big sound! It’s also easier to dial in a good tone, and easier to get in tune and play in tune. All of this ups the fun factor from the early stages- plus, you’ll be in-demand right away!
bass is an easy way to get into playing in a band for sure. You can just start with root notes then work your way up as you learn more techniques. I'm 54, been playing bass since I was 15. I've played everything from bluegrass to heavy metal, and that was all because bass players are always in demand.
I completely relate to the fine motor skills part you said. I am pretty good in my living room on guitar but screw up in front of a couple people hearing me play for the first time.
Everything resonated with me. That's why I play both bass and guitar.
ngl i always preferred bass above any guitar and yes those things resonate quite well with what i prefer :)
I started out as a guitarist and wanting to shred and all that but switched to bass after hearing players like Geddy Lee and John Paul Jones. You can play some tasty lines and still keep the groove.
Carol Kaye. Legend
Talks about rhythmic, shows Lemmy who was lead bass... 😄
Thanks Bro for mentioning Carol Kaye
That's good advice and info. I agree and I love playing my bass.
If you’re playing bass, effectively you own the band. You’re the link between the harmony under the melody and the groove. You make a massive difference in the way you play.
I’m a bass player who often impersonates a guitarist, and I don’t have nearly the control over the music to drive the band as I do when playing bass.
You’ll never catch me playing bass like a frustrated guitarist, however, I have been caught playing guitar like a frustrated bass player, which makes me a below average guitarist. What separates me from all the other below average guitarists is, being a bass player, I know when not to play….
Excellent summation.
I stared on double bass in school orchestra. I play guitar, keys, and several brass instruments, too. But im mainly a bassist. In band situations, I usually end up as the singer and a songwriter. So, of course I stay with bass while doing that.
I play bass and sing a bit too....definitely like the groove....I dabble on the guitar.
i just love playing bass. the feeling is just unreal
bass or guitar if you just want to groove.
i played acoustic guitar as a kid but i didn't like playing chords
40 years ago and still today, my dream is to be a part of the powerful stone wall made by me, the drummer and the Keys. Everything sounds good if the base is grooving hard and tight. And, from time to time, unleash a thundering slap solo, maybe just once in a gig. You know, like Little John supporting Robin kinda thing. A luxury side man.
As someone who sings, plays lead, rhythm, acoustic & bass both in live & session work settings (no singing in sessions) a couple of things to consider for choosing instruments:
A con for bass: Unless you have way more talent than me, I can only sing & play rhythm or acoustic (basically rhythm) guitar at the same time - with occasional lead-ish solos. Bass lines & lead are too different from the beat/rhythm of the singing & i just can't do it at the same time.
Major pro for bass: If you live somewhere it's easy to get session work (Austin, LA, New York, Nashville, etc.), I tend to pick up a lot more sessions on bass than other guitars. At least in Austin (nearby for me), everybody wants to be Stevie Ray Vaughn or play lead, so there is a lot more opportunities for the others - especially bass!
I just realised now because of this video base is for me I hit all the points😊❤
Love being in the background and love the rhythm & groove. Don't want the attention.
Yeah, the bass is definitely for me
Yup, guitarist at first because what kid doesn't wanna shred? Started to fall out of love with it once I realized soloing made no sense at the time and I couldn't for the life of me write my own parts. Picked up the bass when my band in highschool said they needed one and they already had 2 guitars. Then BOOM, everything clicked. Writing parts was almost second nature, I loved supporting the guitars while ago being the thunder, eventually I felt confident enough to sing and play, I wasn't lost when noodling, etc etc. I still play guitar, but bass will always be my #1, even if I'll never be as good as Victor or Jaco.
Good stuff, my dude! 😎👍🏻
I play a five string bass with heavy distortion.
You would think i was playing a baritone if you didn't know any better.😂
I play with deathcore/tech metal/djent/ groove metal drums. I play lead/rhythm style. I can get carried away with boomer bends too😅
Playing the bass with a clean sound is fun sometimes (I like jazz/thai funk/post punk/neo-psychedelic).
I also like metal clanky bass too. But to me their is something about chugging a extended range bass with heavy distortion.
...Carol Kaye...🌻
Here's the thing about playing bass and singing lead: Bass mostly doesn't stop. It's role is to constantly be tying the rhythm to the chord progression, and in a lot of cases it's moving from chordal notes to the next chord notes to provide transitions BEFORE the chord changes (lead-in or anacrusis notes.)
Most of the time you're pivoting on THE ONE or one of the beats, if not syncopating with them.
Meanwhile, melody is all over the place, you're singing notes, but also using language; words with syllables and phrases, telling a story. Many times the lyrics do NOT occur with the beats exactly; there are times when the words pick up before THE ONE (also anacrusis) which may or usually does not do the same thing the bass does at that time; OR sometimes the lyrics start AFTER the downbeat. BONUS HINT: The beats usually align with consonants or hard vowels, while the vowels are generally the 'notes' of the melody. It helps a LOT if you know which letters fall on which beats. As usual, know where that The One is at and let that be your guide. Two ENTIRELY different tasks!
Very good advice.
For me, a singer and writer, I'm learning many instruments because I plan to make my entire albums by myself.
For me to learn the base and drums is very important because I need a strong foundation first each song before I can add all the extras later like lead, rhythm, brass, synth etc.
May sound like an overwhelming task, but for me I know I'll learn at a very rapid pace.
It's as God says, I perished for lack of knowledge!
My deal is I either want to do the bass or the drums but and yeah I could do both but I want to dedicate my learning to only one so i could get better at one quicker and if im in a band smb else will play the other instrument i just dont know. I want to play the bass and follow after my dad but... In my heart i know I wanna play drums..
i enjoyed playing bass more than any other instrument
Great short!
Always wrote counter melodies in my bands originals.
Often ending up the motion in verses and some choruses.
But, also.....
I like turtles!
Yes they resonate with me. 😁😁
Why do they keep showing clips of that older lady?
Kidding! I’m well familiar with the Wrecking Crew. Carol Kaye is a god.
Totally forgot to mention Rush and Geddy Lee.
Good advice for a cover band. With original music I encourage breaking standard molds, but I play what I like, and not necessarily what will sell
I started learning guitar over 40 years ago. I also picked up bass along the way, and I spent about 15 years playing bass in a few bands. These days I'm not sure if I'm a guitarist who also plays bass, or a bassist who can also play guitar.
I'm capable of soloing but I don't like to do it too much. And bass solos? Not my thing, although there have been a few - a very few - great bass solos in the history of the instrument.
Im a peter steele type of bassist (i play chords and guitar riffs on bass) and everyone thinks i transitioned from guitar or played guitar at some point but i never did. I transitioned from playing the drums and just kinda developed it on my own and it surprises people when they hand me a guitar and i got no idea how to play it
As a former guitarist and current bassist, bass is a weird dilemma. It’s easier to get to the point where you can play along to most songs, but significantly more difficult to develop the intuition required to become a master. The way you start and stop notes, the dynamic choices, the note choices in compliment to chords, matching drum accents, and so much more. As a bassist you have the unique role of being both an important rhythm instrument but also a key part of harmony in the band. Guitar is where I spent a lot of time (about 15 years) and I stuck mostly to rhythm before realizing I should have just been playing bass the whole time. Guitar can make beautiful chords and handle melody well, and can even play a deeply rhythmic role in certain genres, but it doesn’t fit the role as well as bass.
As a bass/guitar player that also plays keyboards, The guitar and bass guitar are not really different instruments to me, they are just the upper and lower range of the same thing. Keyboard instruments are generally not divided into bass or lead instruments, they do both.
To me the perfect guitar would be able to cover both instruments ranges so I can do both guitar and bass roles simultaneously. (I do currently have an 8 string guitar and am learning it)
I started to get into bass from the mw3 delta force spawn theme and some other stuff related to video games
I'm a Support player in everything, including Music. Bass is for me.
So many great frontmen are bassists. Especially in metal. Slayer's Tom Arraya, Type O Negative's Peter Steele, Motorhead's Lemmy are just a few of them. And in regular rock we of course have the legends Paul McCartney and Sting. Being a bassist frontman is a completely valid choice.
i decided to start playing bass after going to concerts and realizing that the bass was what was making me dance more than anything else
U wanna play a bit of everything, crazy grooves and funky solos, Welcome to Ska
I love that John Frusciante solo at Slane Castle in Ireland!!! 🇮🇪
One things for sure. Most of the Bassists I've ever met and played with have been more studied and knowledgeable musicians than most of the guitarists I've ever met.
"Be like other people, and worry about what they think. Do not do your own thing."
I can already tell the bass guitar is for me. I'm going to be lead and play solos! And I am immune to criticism because I'm also learning to play the guitar and sing too. 😜 For real though, I just do what the music calls for. And a lot of the music I write calls for lead bass.
“while you can play some sick solos on bass”
…”nobody will let you”
What about Chris Wolstenholme, he is one of the greatest bassists but functional role is like that of a second guitar in the band
And what about Metallica, they have bits and parts where bass soloes
And Chris sings too, not just backing vocals
I’ve already been playing the alt saxophone for 6 years and started piano 1,5 year ago, I already play songs on the piano of the same level that people that play double as long as I do, do you think I should tey to pick up bass?
Lots of leaders and frontmen are bassists. Geddy, Les, Flea, Sting, Lemmy, Phil, Kip, Victor, Stanley, Jaco to name as few. In most cases, you learn to sing as well as play
Ive played guitar since i was 14 (im currently 35) and bass since last year. Bass for me is so much fun because it is so different to the guitar
Boomer here... playing for over 50 years... Lead guitar is a passion that I work on daily... but bass... oh yeah. Playing lead, I know what I'd want the bass to do, and I do it... the "less is more" theory is my calling. It's all about the groove.
I played bass for an acoustic songwriter for a few years... what a joy... He moved away. He found some bassists far beyond my skills... since they were full-time dedicated bassists... but my time with him, I will cherrish... he was so f'n good...
Rant... I love Victor Wooten... but the dude goes way beyond... he may be playing a bass, but he's not playing bass.... stellar chops... same goes for Jaco.... they need a bassist while doing their razzle-dazzle...
The duet between Wooten and Edgar Myer... is truly a bassists delight... endless, jaw-dropping dazzle. Look it up.
I mostly agree, but what makes Jaco amazing is the way he effortlessly fuses the concept of rhythm and lead.
The two examples that come to mind are his playing behind Mike Stern on the song Mood Swings and as the bassist for Weather Report on the song Birdland. Very melodic but also clearly outlining the harmony and rhythm. Most of the time, Jaco is playing the role of the perfect bassist. Although, I'll admit a lot of the time Jaco does experiment outside the traditional role of bassist
Love the frusciante solo near the start 😎
I was wondering who played that solo. Do you know what song that's from?
I played lead bass in a punk/funk/reggae band 😅
I'm not quite sure what qualities make someone a "frontman". Sometimes this term is simply used for the lead singer in which case, yeah sure, you have to primarily sing (which doesn't necessarily mean that you can't play the bass as well), sometimes it is used for the main song writer, which makes it irrelevant what instrument you play, if any. Sometimes it is also used for the band member who interacts the most with the audience and/or the media, which also makes it irrelevant what part you play in the band.
carol ,honey u are the queen of the bass guitar
Playing bass made me a better guitar player. 😎👍✨
I know I'm in the minority here but here's a counter: bass is just a tonal instrument. There is no right or wrong way to play it, only convention. The capability to follow conventions such as bridging the rhythm and harmony of a song will aid in playing with others.
However, most of our icons on bass, our Paul mccartneys, geddy lees, fleas and James jamersons disrupted the convention of their time in some way or another. Tame Impala is one the largest rock acts of the 2010s and after, and his basslines are acoustically and functionally reject the bedrock of a lot of bass philosophy.
I play a number of instruments and arrange from the ground using the bass as the lead melodic element and I would not enjoy my music the same in any other format.
Ultimately, you should play the bass because you like the way it sounds and it's ergonomics.
HOW you play the bass is a separate question that needs to account for the genres of music you prefer and the ensembles you associate with.
Sending this to my bass player dude thinks he's the centre of attention when I'm the one with the microphone😂
W I’ve learned bass, guitar, drums, piano and a random ukulele for some reason
I strongly disagree with your mention of "if you want to front the band...bass may not be for you." There have been a substantial number of bassists that have "fronted" the band by themselves or with another band member. Phil Lynott, Jack Blades, Martin Page, John Lodge, Peter Cetera, Jason Scheff, not to mention Sting, Paul McCartney and Geddy Lee, to name a few. If one has the vocal chops and can command an audience, there is no reason for the bassist to be relegated to upstage and under no lighting.
Playing Bass and trying to be a frontman can be very challenging. Especially if your music isn't just basic punk rock. Some of the stuff Sting does on Bass while singing live is wild
I enjoy the fact that my seven-string is tuned low enough to rattle the neighbor's windows. 😁
I am biased, but bass is absolutely the best instrument. I find most people I speak to don’t even realise there is a bass, they’re just listening to the vocals and guitars. When I listen to a song I hear every single instrument critically. I often repeat songs over and over to concentrate on different parts each time. But mostly I’m listening to the bass and how it provides melody and rhythm with the rest of the band. Obviously that varies with the genre/ song.
why wouldn't you use frontmen like Sting or Paul McCartney or Mark King of Level 42
the only reason I started bass was to be a main character and lead in my band because I hate guitars and it’s great
What if I want to play it just for fun with zero intentions of playing for other people or with a band?
I feel like I've done all the Chris Squiring and Geddy Lee-ing I need to do and I had a lot of fun doing it. Now I feel like being one of the big burly bearded bassists leaning against the backline. Like Leland Sklar.
I’ve always said the bass is easy to start but really hard to put down!
Royal Blood mentioned, what even is a song without perfect riffs and hooks? 🗣🔥
BARS🔧🔥
Yep def a bassist… don’t look at me! Don’t look me in the eyes!!
picked 6 string bass because i can play any song without tuning out of standard. i can play all the stuff i used to play on guitar on bass. its just superior
Carol Kaye is such an industry badass! So glad to see her in the thumbnail. Too bad she’s very much an iykyk artist.
I play rhythm guitar, I like to support from behind
i chose bass, because im an introvert and dont really like to be in the spotlight the whole time... And ofc, because i prefer its rythym role alot more than soloing and showing off how good i am...
What about type o negative