Are you a foundation player or showboat?

[Ole Man Blues]

I appreciate all the replys. Some really great ones. Even Big Poppa chimed in, too cool..............

I never played bass till I started playing music in church. There is no room for showboating on a church Worship Team. You'll find yourself in the Pastor's office explaining..........

Our drummer is a long time Jazz drummer and trys to coax me into cutting loose once in a while, we have fun with it and sometimes in practice I'll strut my stuff a little, but I know when the congregation is looking on it's time to turn it off...... and settle into the pocket and just enjoy the ride..........just do what I do best.....

OMB

 

[bovinehost]

There is no room for showboating on a church Worship Team. You'll find yourself in the Pastor's office explaining.......

Same with Cowpilot.

Except none of us knows HOW to showboat, and if Brian starts getting lippy about something I do, I punch him in the throat.

 

[Big Poppa]

Final thought....who admits to being a showboat? The same guy who admits to being a slow golfer...Its funny that all of the responses are foundation.

Actually when I play in trio situations I have to play more. Last sunday night with albert and luke I had to play more notes too.....

 

[Ole Man Blues]

Final thought....who admits to being a showboat? The same guy who admits to being a slow golfer...Its funny that all of the responses are foundation.

Actually when I play in trio situations I have to play more. Last sunday night with albert and luke I had to play more notes too.....

I didn't think anyone would admit to being a showboat, but I believe this thread would give each person who chimed in a chance to look inside themselves and see why they play the way they do, and ask are they really "supporting" the music?

We have 4 musicians on our Worship Team and once in a while only 3 show up, I too have to play more notes and even turn up a bit to fill the void. If the drummer isn't there I find myself keeping the time and laying the foundation.

You're right Big Poppa, we all admit we are foundational players, at least we say we are, and that's our job as Bass Players first and foremost.....

Thanks for making our job easier with great MM Basses, you're the best..

OMB

 

[SteveB]

I'm a slow golfer... I think I walk about 25 miles when I play.

I used to play in a band with a showboat bass player. At first it was cool and interesting. But eventually we all just wanted to hear some bass lines that sat in the pocket and stayed there.

I'm a guitarist who loves a good, moving bass line in a song. I think you can create some wicked grooves with the bass that actually support the song without venturing into showboating.

But please don't play slap bass lines in metal songs... that just sucks.

Jack, I only know 12 notes.. but seven of them are more like 'acquaintances'.

 

[adouglas]

I only know five or six notes.

I thought about this for a while and I'm pretty sure I know seven notes. They start on A and go up to G, I think. Maybe H. Not sure.

Took a while to figure that out because I had to use two hands to count that high.

So, what's the deal with those little b's and hash marks next to some notes? I've never been able to work out what they mean....

 

[RitchieDarling]

Final thought....who admits to being a showboat? The same guy who admits to being a slow golfer...Its funny that all of the responses are foundation. Actually when I play in trio situations I have to play more. Last sunday night with albert and luke I had to play more notes too.....

I'm worse than slow when it comes to golf, BP! In fact, I suck at it!

Ritchie

 

[JB1]

I'm a foundation guy.

Nothing against soloists, but it just ain't my thing.

I see myself as the glue between the drums and the rest of the band.

 

[bassmonkey]

I'd like to be able to showboat, but the chops just aren't there. Oh, and there's a small question of knowledge of theory too.

I'm trying to be a foundation player, and sometimes on a good day I almost manage it.

The guys I most admire are people like Jamerson, Palladino, Pastorius when he played with Joni Mitchell, Paul Turner with Jamiroquai currently, Randy Hope-Taylor when he played in Incognito, Julian Crampton also with Incognito. I think you get the picture. Guys who can play the root note and still make it sound interesting. When they do a fill it complements the music. I listen to them and it fires me up and makes me want to pick up the bass. That is what I aspire to, I doubt I'll ever get there, but it's a good goal to have.

 

[Ole Man Blues]

I'm a foundation guy.

I see myself as the glue between the drums and the rest of the band.

Great viewpoint!!!!

OMB

 

[Dr. Nick]

The less notes I have to play, the happier I am! I really enjoy the challenge of making each one as perfect as I possibly can...it's a very fulfilling, and probably why I love my Sterling so much...you can play one note and it sounds so f*cking good that you can just let it hang there for a whole bar!

There's a guy here in town who is a fantastic slapper--really mind blowing, actually! Unfortunately, no one will play with him because he can't (or won't) lay back and support the band! After about 30 seconds, it becomes very, very old~! He has more technical skill then I will ever hope to have, yet I get asked to join more bands than I can shake a stick at! Go figure...

 

[strummer]

I've always been a foundation player even when I played guitar. Letting the drums keep the time then I lay some tasty bass lines on top of that keying in on what the drummers foot is doing, then comes the rhythm guitar and keyboards followed by the voices. This makes a nice musical sandwich for all to enjoy.

I've seen and heard bass players who want the spotlight, to be heard and seen is "their" thing. This gets boring quickly. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good bass solo or quick pop or slap every now and then to give the music some flavor, but as they say in the kitchen you can over season and ruin a good product.

As a Bass player "I believe" fitting in is better than standing out.

OMB

I always use a foundation, otherwise the make up doesn't look right

 

[tiffles]

im a showpony.






oh wait is that different?

 

[strummer]

im a showpony.






oh wait is that different?

I want to be a love boat, but I don't think I have the talent...

 

[cat_empire]

well personally (and i think im a bit late to the discussion) i think that as always, its the sweet spot in the middle. Of course you want to have some flare and individuality, but there are limits and i dont think they should be crossed. Kepp it cool and tasteful, doesnt mean you cant have some fun with the occasional bass line and chuck in a few extra runs here or there but unless specifically called upon, i dont think its the bass playres place to try and steal the show.

 

[tiffles]

I want to be a love boat, but I don't think I have the talent...

i dont know why but that always reminds me of 'loveshack'... and now i have it in my head.... and now.... so do all of you. suckers!

 

[MingusBASS]

"Tin roooof....rusted!!"

AHHHHH!!!!!!! I'd prefer not to remember that song.

 

[petch]

I (admittedly) don't have a lot of fancy chops and prefer the groove, both as a listener and a player. Once at a bar gig a veteran local musician said I was "a drummer's dream, right on the beat and no screwin' around". I was flattered, since the bassist in the headliner slapped his bass with style and authority.

 

[tkarter]

This is sorta going slap verses groove IMHO.

To beg to differ I offer up Chuck Rainey. He knows when do what when it needs done.

I go for playing bass the best I can and not fitting a label.

I just want to get it done and be proud after the gig.

I hate saying I. Makes me feel so alone.


tk

 

[bovinehost]

To beg to differ I offer up Chuck Rainey. He knows when do what when it needs done.

Oh, I tried to tell Chuck to stop rooting for the Cowboys, but would he listen?

No! He did not know what needed to be done when it needed to be done!