Wow, now that’s a set of responses.
Ray, thanks for your generous set of contributions. I also need to find a small space for my BDI21 as I tend to get a bit cluttered on the floor when I have a few instruments on the go. You describe yourself as a boring bass player but surely it requires discipline to play what appears to be an uncomplicated pattern and execute it in a way that benefits the remainder of the song? I’ve not had major issues with strings ringing but then to be fair I’ve not played anything too flamboyant thus far but a piece of foam sounds like a useful addition if it does become an issue. I have some strips of varying densities so might be worth experimenting. I noticed that with a decent amount of gain and some compression I can be quite gentle with the strings when simply putting the end under the chords, but I guess the twangy kind of playing might well cause a few rattles and buzzes. My bass seems reasonably set up from out of the box and I only get ringing when playing a little heavier, which seems to occur when I get carried away with it. I noted your examples of bands and types of music where an alternative or no bass was present, I know from experience what you mean because I have some material where the initial draft versions have no bass and they certainly seem to jog along better with it added. I used my digital piano which has an extensive bass section including various acoustic and slap basses which to be fair are convincing but lack the authenticity which becomes obvious when hearing the real instrument with the way the notes are mechanically achieved. Besides, a slide would sound a bit odd on a keyboard but I’m sure there are applications for it. I’m glad I bought the bass and I’m hoping my choice of six strings will over time bear fruit as the correct instrument for my needs, as I’m likely to use the high end for melodic purposes as it has some great tonal qualities. The low string is mad, having never owned one previously, I find it rather novel that I have the option to use the very low B to excite the woofers on regular hi-fi speakers to such an extent. Thank you.
Heatmiser, thank you for your reply. What you say is actually very helpful and does point to a useful method of coming up with at least an idea of what I might want to have underpinning the track, then simplifying it if unable to execute it well in the form which it is first conceived in mind. I agree that compromise is more sensible in terms of what one would like to play as opposed to playing it badly and sticking to it.
Thank you.
Ido1957, I have to admit I also initially played my bass like it was a big regular guitar until I found that after a few slides I’d got a nice set of furrows in the ends of my fingers where the new strings had ground the skin away. It’s not an issue if it happens on regular guitar strings but on the large diameter strings it’s not particularly useful for when I swap back to using the regular guitar. I have watched and listened to some lively bass playing and find I get ideas above my station which soon have a reality check. Thank you.
gekko zzed, thank you for reading and replying, that sounds like good advice.
VomitHatSteve, Thanks for your reply. I rarely get bored and trying to play even the simplest patterns for an entire track keeps me focused and I’d certainly be happy to pluck at one open string for four minutes if it does the job. I do eventually want to feature the instrument more but I’ll not lose the sense of importance of the more basic playing as I can already appreciate the merits of it. Thanks.
fat_fleet, thanks for dropping by and contributing to the thread, thank you.
grimtraveller, you raise some interesting examples of material where an actual bass instrument is not used and some reasoning behind that. I noticed when using the high strings on my bass it can deliver some interesting tones which are not what I’d really consider at the bass end of the spectrum in the more usual sense, and I’m wondering how it might work in conjunction an acoustic kind of track, so your thoughts are certainly widening my perceptions of the instrument, thank you. Rain by Status Quo, that takes me back, I think I have that on a vinyl album in my loft, along with a whole catalogue of other 70s-80s material. The information you give in respect of bass in the context of time and the brief insight in how the role has evolved is really useful.
guitaristic, thanks of r replying. Again you reassure me that playing straightforward parts which stay within my ability at this time, does not mean I need to worry providing the material I work on is suited to that approach. I’ll have a tinker with 2nds and 6ths, I’m also experimenting to see how I can use the bass to harmonically enhance some compositions as having one in the studio has opened my ears to something I probably took for granted. Of course I’m also finding that I need to be more of a one man band than I anticipated, but my nights playing out are most likely well behind me so it’s not like I have to consider having to be able to play my tracks out Thank you.
somegeezer, You raise some interesting points in respect of melodic applications and that’s an area of bass playing I’d certainly like to explore beyond the functional use which I initially had in mind for the instrument. Going outside of the scale certainly does have a place, and some really interesting sounds occur providing there is some sense to it. With my guitar playing I have tinkered with diminished scales and other synthetic scales which provide a great contrast when one resolves a melody and once again conform to the key in which a passage is played. It seems very effective if a formula is adhered to as opposed to dropping random notes in which are dissonant.
Yes some technique memorised in the hands is a high priority, I’ll be working on that for a while. Thank you
Thanks very much for the time everyone has taken in replying. This has saved me a lot of time wandering in the dark and is much appreciated.
all the best
Tim
I find, for me, that the song tells me what to play. I play around wit bass lines until something hits me, that I know goes with what I'm trying to do for a particular song. I don't "Play by the rules"..hehe! I suggest just playing whatever sounds best to your ear