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

 

[TalismanRich]

I usually don't pay as much attention to the "sound" of the bass, but more the technique. You have people like Geddy Lee who plays melodies under Alex's guitar. Then you have Dusty Hill who is almost minimalistic in his approach. Listen to ZZ Top and you mostly get a nice smooth bass track with occasional embellishments. Billy can do all his stuff because he knows that Dusty and Frank are just going to set up a solid, full sounding groove.

That said, I like the sound of a P-bass, followed by the Ric. I'm a bass player about twice a year. I know 3 bass players who can play rings around me, but I'll still fill in when asked. I am clearly in the minimalist camp. When I try to get fancy, I get lost!

 

[Old Music Guy]

but I am really trying to go in a direction that is within my skill set.

Then just go for it. No one can tell you how to get creativity out of you brain. That's in your head and your heart.

 

[DM60]

Then just go for it. No one can tell you how to get creativity out of you brain. That's in your head and your heart.

Yea, that goes without saying. Just thought someone may have went down a path that might yield quick results or interesting observations that might aid in my quest.

 

[DM60]

OK, here is a sample. This is all improve, there is no editing for the most part. EQ on each channel, mainly for the filtering out the low frequencies. Bass track and its sub track does have compression since it is a bass. Fader volume, nothing on the master.

Main instrument that goes the full length is the bass. Once again, one single take, no editing. I will qualify this as, I am not a bass player. Let me know if what I am trying to do makes more sense.

 

[rob aylestone]

I am very confused. Earlier you mentioned you were not a bass player and normally just play the root note - in this music the bass is a rather odd note to choose. I don't know what you intended, but it would not be one I would have played - the chord for most of the time being played, does not contain that note. Is there some kind of hidden intention - like dissonance or tension you are going for?

 

[DM60]

Trying to use the bass more like I would a synthesizer than what I have used the bass for in the past. Trying something different and asking here if anyone else has used the bass in this way. I am actually using the bass more as a lead than just support. Almost all notes played above the 5th fret. Just dropping down the lower range for dynamics.

I didn't think the idea was that far out there.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

The music was rather busy throughout. A lot going on.
Perhaps a bit of space would allow the bass to shine.
I have a Line6 Low Down bass amp with an 18" speaker. (It was a waste of money)
It does have a knob called SmartFX, which allows Filter, Octaver, and Chorus.
It can make the bass sound synthy.

 

[rob aylestone]

For what you want would a synth be easier to modify? synth bass is a very common solution when you want notes that just don't go boing?

 

[DM60]

For what you want would a synth be easier to modify? synth bass is a very common solution when you want notes that just don't go boing?

I have a synth and vsti's, thought the bass could be better used and have more control than a digital keyboard.

 

[DM60]

The music was rather busy throughout. A lot going on.
Perhaps a bit of space would allow the bass to shine.
I have a Line6 Low Down bass amp with an 18" speaker. (It was a waste of money)
It does have a knob called SmartFX, which allows Filter, Octaver, and Chorus.
It can make the bass sound synthy.

The music was just improvising and a just enough mixing for a little clarity. Other than the time required to play, I have very little mix time. Wasn't meant to be a finished piece, just a quick example of what I was trying to convey. Maybe I will remove most of the other instruments and just show case the bass. But I am getting the feeling that the concept might be too odd or just makes no sense.

 

[DrewPeterson7]

Trying to use the bass more like I would a synthesizer than what I have used the bass for in the past.

I think this is the part I don't understand here. Like, use a bass as a melodic instrument? How do you use a synth?

I don't have a good handle on what you're trying to make your bass DO, so... it's tough to suggest anything.