The low frequency conspiracy... and playing with yourself...

darthed1981 · December 2021

Hi All,

Don't come in here much, but have discovered across recent jams that I really rather love picking up a bass, certainly beats being "rhythm guitar #3"... and there is a lot of hidden fun involved, like you are part of a low frequency conspiracy, nobody notices you are there... but they would notice when you are gone... like the band illuminati

I've also noticed the bass lines more on songs, pop songs ironically, where the bass can vary from simple root notes but reinforces chord sequences with climbing bass notes (like on George Michael's "Praying for Time", which I'm a bit obsessed with at the minute) or whacks in nifty passing notes, and so on.

I should note, I'm a very poor bassist, I play with a plectrum, and mostly will happily busk with some root notes, rather than try to be clever... but I do enjoy working out where you can slip in a fifth, or a passing note... I probably get it wrong, but it's fun.

So apart from sharing the fact I've "discovered" that bass is pretty cool as an instrument for ME (should note I've been fortunate enough to play with bassists off of this parish, who are fantastic musicians, and I was aware of this before!)...

How do you try to play with yourself? (snigger), - sometimes you can pick up a guitar and just widdle pentatonics for ages and have a ball - though I suppose it can be the same on a bass - do you all play along with recordings? Is it worth investing in a bass amp, or are headphone solutions (like the nux mighty plug, wot my mrs got me for xmas, and the Vox bass amplug, which I also have) good enough?

Thanks all

Winny_Pooh · December 2021

With bass 90% of the time jamming with songs or drum loops

Bridgehouse · December 2021

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

And for me it’s also jamming along to tracks - I use my helix as an interface and use Spotify to randomly select stuff - you get some interesting challenges that way!

VimFuego · December 2021

Bridgehouse said:

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

And for me it’s also jamming along to tracks - I use my helix as an interface and use Spotify to randomly select stuff - you get some interesting challenges that way!

sooooo much innuendo!!!

Bridgehouse · December 2021

VimFuego said:

Bridgehouse said:

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

And for me it’s also jamming along to tracks - I use my helix as an interface and use Spotify to randomly select stuff - you get some interesting challenges that way!

sooooo much innuendo!!!

That’s your mind, that is…

VimFuego · December 2021

Bridgehouse said:

VimFuego said:

Bridgehouse said:

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

And for me it’s also jamming along to tracks - I use my helix as an interface and use Spotify to randomly select stuff - you get some interesting challenges that way!

sooooo much innuendo!!!

That’s your mind, that is…

and proud if it I am. The day I grow up is the day I die.

darthed1981 · December 2021

Bridgehouse said:

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

The problem I have - and it hurts my guitar playing as well - is I'm left handed and play right handed, so I have a fantastically poor right hand.

No doubt practice could fix that, but my confidence about such things is very low!

Bridgehouse · December 2021

darthed1981 said:

Bridgehouse said:

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

The problem I have - and it hurts my guitar playing as well - is I'm left handed and play right handed, so I have a fantastically poor right hand.

No doubt practice could fix that, but my confidence about such things is very low!

Me too. So that’s your excuse scuppered. Practise is all you need.

Funkfingers · December 2021

I play both guitar and bass.

In a recording project situation, I try to play the sort of bass part that leaves space for guitar noodling.

When the guitar idea comes first, I try to create a bass part that supports the chord structure but includes interesting passing moves to move between those chords.

Occasionally, I come up with a bass part that works against the chords, taking the whole composition to another level.

darthed1981 · December 2021

Bridgehouse said:

darthed1981 said:

Bridgehouse said:

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

The problem I have - and it hurts my guitar playing as well - is I'm left handed and play right handed, so I have a fantastically poor right hand.

No doubt practice could fix that, but my confidence about such things is very low!

Me too. So that’s your excuse scuppered. Practise is all you need.

Really? Haha never noticed that!

Bridgehouse · December 2021

darthed1981 said:

Bridgehouse said:

darthed1981 said:

Bridgehouse said:

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

The problem I have - and it hurts my guitar playing as well - is I'm left handed and play right handed, so I have a fantastically poor right hand.

No doubt practice could fix that, but my confidence about such things is very low!

Me too. So that’s your excuse scuppered. Practise is all you need.

Really? Haha never noticed that!

Yep - I’m a lefty who plays right handed. Trained my right hand to play finger style. Couldn’t do it the other way round at all now.

fretmeister · December 2021

I can sight read reasonably well (at least for the stuff I like to play) so I often find some transcriptions and play that, still along with the CD / YT etc.

I'm not limited to just bass guitar music then. Loads of great stuff for the left hand of the piano works really well, but if I want to effectively play solos over a backing then Trombone parts are fantastic. Quite a lot of trombone jazz tunes out there, with backing tracks available.

There's also a fair amount of YT bass people with large libraries of bass playalongs

Constantine is a bit of a legend - massive variety of stuff from Dolly Parton to Bryan Adams to Hendrix etc etc - all with tab available. Some very easy at genuine beginner levels, and some more difficult.

Then there's Cover Solutions too

Again - tab available.

Just between those 2 you could build a really good cover band repertoire.

PS - there are always people complaining about plectrums on basses. Ignore them. I'm 99% finger style but there are many excellent bassists in all genres who prefer a pick.

Ideally - pick / fingers / Slap / thumb plucking etc as it's all part of the tool kit, but don't worry too much about what you think you should prefer.

It's only ever Dave Mustaine who puts "must play with a plectrum" in his adverts for bass players. So do what you like!

ICBM · December 2021

darthed1981 said:

I should note, I'm a very poor bassist, I play with a plectrum, and mostly will happily busk with some root notes, rather than try to be clever...

Those things are not related. It totaly depends on the style of music you play and what sound you want to make.

I play in a punk-ish band, and I use a pick - it's a deliberate choice, I prefer to play bass with my fingers for my own stuff, but it doesn't sound right for that kind of material.

Busking with root notes is the foundation of good bass playing - you need to be able to do that well *before* you move on to more adventurous stuff. If you play accurately in time with the right feel and confidence, that's often all you need to do.

alalalkasar · December 2021

ICBM said:

darthed1981 said:

I should note, I'm a very poor bassist, I play with a plectrum, and mostly will happily busk with some root notes, rather than try to be clever...

Those things are not related. It totaly depends on the style of music you play and what sound you want to make.

Absolutely, i play in a 60s band and using a pick gets the click and thump with flatwound strings.

Bridgehouse · December 2021

ICBM said:

darthed1981 said:

I should note, I'm a very poor bassist, I play with a plectrum, and mostly will happily busk with some root notes, rather than try to be clever...

Those things are not related. It totaly depends on the style of music you play and what sound you want to make.

I play in a punk-ish band, and I use a pick - it's a deliberate choice, I prefer to play bass with my fingers for my own stuff, but it doesn't sound right for that kind of material.

Busking with root notes is the foundation of good bass playing - you need to be able to do that well *before* you move on to more adventurous stuff. If you play accurately in time with the right feel and confidence, that's often all you need to do.

It’s often all I do do…

trikelops · December 2021

VimFuego said:

Bridgehouse said:

I really need to teach you finger style - it will open up the bass so much more.

And for me it’s also jamming along to tracks - I use my helix as an interface and use Spotify to randomly select stuff - you get some interesting challenges that way!

sooooo much innuendo!!!

I always thought Innuendo was an Italian suppository.

Open_G · January 2022

I'm terrible for just working out a bunch of fun riffs to play rather than whole songs... I can hear the band in my ever so vivid imagination funking along behind me, and also waiting while I try to remember which fingers go where...

the thing I loved about bass when I first picked it up is how much it got me listening to other forms of music... I'm not sure I'd have ever really listened to a lot of soul and funk if not for the bass... even just the other day I heard "Express Yourself" on the radio and thought to myself "what a fun little line," got home and picked up an acoustic bass and worked it out (almost certainly in the wrong key, but hey ho)

darthed1981 · January 2022

Open_G said:
the thing I loved about bass when I first picked it up is how much it got me listening to other forms of music...

That's a really good point.

What I've found really enjoyable recently is noticing the bass on classic pop songs, the bassist on "Last Christmas" is enjoying himself, clearly, but also adds to the general "bounciness" of the whole song through they way the bass line weaves through it.

More recently, when not noticing that she's a rather attractive young woman, I've noticed Dua Lipa's Physical and Don't Stop Now are topped with fantastic funky bass lines.

Also I'm now incurably an old man having used the phrase "rather an attractive young woman" like I'm in a mid-ranking carry on movie.

mrkb · January 2022

It would have been ‘filly’ in a carry on movie.

stickyfiddle · January 2022

I make playlists (some bass specific, most just good songs), then chuck those on random and play along to pick up new stuff. Like drums it's not so much fun on its own as it's not really melodic content in the same way.

But I love a good bit of bass - get yourself a good soul compilation

Funkfingers · January 2022

darthed1981 said:
I'm now incurably an old man having used the phrase "rather an attractive young woman" like I'm in a mid-ranking carry on movie.

You are Leslie Phillips and I claim my five Guineas.

Phwoar! I say. Ding-dong! Left hand down a bit, CPO Pertwee.

darthed1981 · January 2022

mrkb said:

It would have been ‘filly’ in a carry on movie.

Damn fine filly that Dua Lipa, and look how much fun her bassist is having here...

Stratavarious · January 2022

darthed1981 said:

Hi All,

Don't come in here much, but have discovered across recent jams that I really rather love picking up a bass, certainly beats being "rhythm guitar #3"... and there is a lot of hidden fun involved, like you are part of a low frequency conspiracy, nobody notices you are there... but they would notice when you are gone... like the band illuminati

I've also noticed the bass lines more on songs, pop songs ironically, where the bass can vary from simple root notes but reinforces chord sequences with climbing bass notes (like on George Michael's "Praying for Time", which I'm a bit obsessed with at the minute) or whacks in nifty passing notes, and so on.

I should note, I'm a very poor bassist, I play with a plectrum, and mostly will happily busk with some root notes, rather than try to be clever... but I do enjoy working out where you can slip in a fifth, or a passing note... I probably get it wrong, but it's fun.

So apart from sharing the fact I've "discovered" that bass is pretty cool as an instrument for ME (should note I've been fortunate enough to play with bassists off of this parish, who are fantastic musicians, and I was aware of this before!)...

How do you try to play with yourself? (snigger), - sometimes you can pick up a guitar and just widdle pentatonics for ages and have a ball - though I suppose it can be the same on a bass - do you all play along with recordings? Is it worth investing in a bass amp, or are headphone solutions (like the nux mighty plug, wot my mrs got me for xmas, and the Vox bass amplug, which I also have) good enough?

Thanks all

Get midifiles of tunes you like and pop them into a DAW. You can mute the bass or view the bassline as notes.

When recording potential new tracks for the band, i get the drums from a midilfile and then play all the parts starting with bass.

The ‘pro’ tabs on my Tabs Pro app allow same,

slacker · January 2022

I don't play bass much at all. I've been playing so long and to answer the playing with yourself question, no.

When I started I practised for hours each day and was in at least two bands at any given point. Most of them rarely gigged but I was playing in a band.

I got to a point in 2004 where I never played at home but I was playing in 3 bands.

Imho playing bass gives you so much opportunity to drive the band. Take an average band with a decent drummer, you can make that band a lot better. You are a step away playing guitar.

My advice would be to play along with YouTube, get some recording gear, pester bridge house to play bass at jams and maybe form a little jam band. You've already got bass covered, there's loads of guitarists. Look out for someone who says I used to play drums...

Ossyrocks · January 2022

I'm a bass beginner too, having bought my cheap Squire P-Bass a few weeks ago.

There's a couple of youtube channels I have subscribed to in order to go over basics. These are:

Scott Whitley Bass
Scotts Bass Lessons

The latter has a whole fee paying academy section which I haven't got into. He also has a free "Groove Trainer App" available to download, which is basically lots of drum loops, and other cool features. I can groove and jam to some of those for ages.

Scott Whitley has some great free lessons on things like blues bass, walking bass etc. Very easy to follow, sometimes a little bit slow actually, but you can fast forward if you think you've got that bit nailed.

I've bought a Fender Rumble 15 for the lounge. It has an input for my iPad, so I can play the drums loops through it. There's also a headphone out (which I haven't used).

Rob

Funkfingers · January 2022

Ossyrocks said:
Scott's Bass Lessons … has a whole fee paying … section.

Scott seems a decent chap and does a good job of explaining things to beginner and intermediate level students. Unfortunately, the "monetizing" side of his YouTube site tends to get on one's tits after a while.

Ossyrocks said:
Scott Whitley has some great free lessons … easy to follow, sometimes a little bit slow actually but you can fast forward if you think you've got that bit nailed.

Even if you think you have nailed something, it is worth playing it a while longer to build stamina and prove that you can sustain a groove for as long as a musical director requires you to.

Ossyrocks · January 2022

Funkfingers said:

Ossyrocks said:
Scott's Bass Lessons … has a whole fee paying … section.

Scott seems a decent chap and does a good job of explaining things to beginner and intermediate level students. Unfortunately, the "monetizing" side of his YouTube site tends to get on one's tits after a while.

Ossyrocks said:
Scott Whitley has some great free lessons … easy to follow, sometimes a little bit slow actually but you can fast forward if you think you've got that bit nailed.

Even if you think you have nailed something, it is worth playing it a while longer to build stamina and prove that you can sustain a groove for as long as a musical director requires you to.

@Funkfingers ;Agreed on the "monetising" thing on SBL. I follow him on Facebook and sometimes I have to snooze him for a bit as it floods my feed. But, he must be doing something right, his vids get 1000's of views.

Good advice re building stamina and sustaining the groove. It's what us feeble guitarists struggle with when picking up a bass. It's a much more physical experience.

Actually, Scott Whitley is an old mate of mine. I think we did our first gig together in about 1995, and we've done hundreds since in multiple different bands. His overall approach and style are not what I'm aiming for, but the basics stuff he presents on his channel are really useful.

Put it this way, I'll never slap.....ooerrr

Rob

DLM · January 2022

Ossyrocks said: he must be doing something right, his vids get 1000's of views.

He'd get loads more if he could figure out a way of being less annoying. The rambling on to up the overall length of the video so the algorithm will push it more drives me bananas. That's saying nothing of the ridiculous clickbaiting, etc.

Zoonyboy · February 2022

The bassline (& chord sequence) on Last Christmas is a direct lift from Kool & The Gang's Joanna.
Also, learn major & minor scales, but never be afraid to just play simple root notes, it often works best. Use your ears.

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The low frequency conspiracy... and playing with yourself...

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