Bass Players - Help!

[DM60]

OK, not really that desperate. I've been trying to play bass now for 10 years. All I can really do is mainly root note and follow kick. But I want it to do soooo much more. I really dig bass, but I really suck. I got this idea to treat the bass more like I would a synth. I mean it is a great analog signal. Plus I have more control of sensitivity and attack (no knobs).

You get the idea. I was wondering, could you share in how you "modulate" your bass in a more, I don't want to say electronic, but in that direction, process?

Any tips and tricks. Most videos really just talk about it as it would be used like in rock, country, etc. That is why I am asking. Or if you know a good video, share the link.

Thanks!

 

[ecc83]

With these sort of "how can I get xyz sound" posts the first thing everyone will say is "Audio examples PLEASE!"

Have you considered DM60 running the bass into a PC and using it to trigger MIDI? Then the sonic world is your oyster!

My son combines the free Cakewalk with the almost free Reaper to do this except he plays a Rikky 330 into a MOTU M4 and gets a harpsichord out (or whatever!P)

Dave.

 

[Old Music Guy]

When I got serious about the bass, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I got a P Bass, put on LaBella flats and immersed myself in Motown, Stax and the Beach Boys, James Jamerson, Duck and Carol Kaye. First and foremost, I learned what a bass is for and how to love it, I taught myself how to play in a three fret box. Learned dynamics using my fingers. I learned to stay below the 7th fret. I taught myself how to be essential without being heard.
The bass player I play with now is a great guy, and a better friend, But his style is to play as many notes per bar. I'm also a drummer, and as much as I love him, he can never find a groove.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

I've never had a bass lesson, but it is not too far from a regular 6-string.
The strings make a big difference to the sound. I have round strings on 2 basses, and flat strings on a fretless.
You can slide easily on a fretless.
By trial and error i find that doing slurs up and down on round strings sounds good.
I find myself naturally sticking within 3 frets, out of laziness.
Apparently slap bass is now old hat, and cringeworthy.

 

[DM60]

Thanks. I have an example that I will post. I wasn't looking for a sound, but different ways of processing the sound. Treating the bass more like a "keyboard" synth rather than a traditional bass.

On my experiment I just did, I was doing heavy processing, playing above the 12th fret and taking advantage of the velocity one can get with a stringed instrument. Thought there might be others on the board that were already deep into it and might have some interesting set ups.

I post something in the next few days. I have something that is pretty interesting and treating the bass like a monosynth. There is a lot of fret board on the bass. But mainly using the bass as a source wave for further processing with much more control of the sound than a digital keyboard.

 

[DM60]

With these sort of "how can I get xyz sound" posts the first thing everyone will say is "Audio examples PLEASE!"

Have you considered DM60 running the bass into a PC and using it to trigger MIDI? Then the sonic world is your oyster!

My son combines the free Cakewalk with the almost free Reaper to do this except he plays a Rikky 330 into a MOTU M4 and gets a harpsichord out (or whatever!P)

Dave.

I am actually not looking for a particular sound, but what sounds are people getting. Also, not going after "traditional" bass tones. Just seeing what others have done for experimentation purposes aka "ideas".

 

[DM60]

I've never had a bass lesson, but it is not too far from a regular 6-string.
The strings make a big difference to the sound. I have round strings on 2 basses, and flat strings on a fretless.
You can slide easily on a fretless.
By trial and error i find that doing slurs up and down on round strings sounds good.
I find myself naturally sticking within 3 frets, out of laziness.
Apparently slap bass is now old hat, and cringeworthy.

Yea, see, that is not far from the way I have been treating the bass. I really want to stretch my use into something different. I'll post my first experiment and it might give you an idea of what I am talking about. I hate to waste a good instrument because I lack creativity

 

[DM60]

With these sort of "how can I get xyz sound" posts the first thing everyone will say is "Audio examples PLEASE!"

Have you considered DM60 running the bass into a PC and using it to trigger MIDI? Then the sonic world is your oyster!

My son combines the free Cakewalk with the almost free Reaper to do this except he plays a Rikky 330 into a MOTU M4 and gets a harpsichord out (or whatever!P)

Dave.

Yes, that is really the focus, using heavy processing and DI. The triggering MIDI, I have experimented with that in the past, but analog to MIDI conversions tend to not be great. But you being an ol' electronics guy, you probably get what I am saying. I am using the bass as a source analog signal. The force is strong with the bass. A lot of signal to work with and process it juts like one would with any analog synth, but bass being the source/keyboard. There is so much energy there, trying to see how to better use it.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[DM60]

When I got serious about the bass, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I got a P Bass, put on LaBella flats and immersed myself in Motown, Stax and the Beach Boys, James Jamerson, Duck and Carol Kaye. First and foremost, I learned what a bass is for and how to love it, I taught myself how to play in a three fret box. Learned dynamics using my fingers. I learned to stay below the 7th fret. I taught myself how to be essential without being heard.
The bass player I play with now is a great guy, and a better friend, But his style is to play as many notes per bar. I'm also a drummer, and as much as I love him, he can never find a groove.

Thanks, but exactly what you are saying is what I am moving away from. Mainly because I'm not skilled enough to play like those folks and not even going to try. I do like the ones you reference, but I am really trying to go in a direction that is within my skill set. I can play notes and I can hits strings, I am pretty good with the scales. End of skill set