Bands - What do you look for in a Bass Player?

futuregone

In the title really,although i'm not sure if this is in the right place.

Basically what qualities do you look for in a bass player,apart from the obvious timing and consistency?
Just would like to hear opinions....

pineapple*soul

that they exist.
Bassists are damn hard to come by as it is without looking for ones with special qualitites.

but if you do have an excess to choose from, it really depends on your own style of music and personality

futuregone

"that they exist." lol
I've been playing guitar 20 odd years and the bass the last couple (just on my own songs/recordings)and have found recently I can't even find a band to have an audition with these days.So i'm picking the bass up and was just trying to look at it a different way.
My location is the biggest problem me thinks...Connaught:eek::D

smur89

better off moving to hell mate

Ive been looking to join a band as a bassist since the summer, and no joy.. depends on what youre looking to get into!

rcaz

Someone who, when you say, "This song is in D major", doesn't reply with, "What fret is that?". And then, following on from that, someone who, when you say, "You have to tune your E string down to D for this one", doesn't reply with, "Why?"

Some sort of knowledge of jazz is a huge plus for me. I don't mean non-stop walking bass, just someone who can play in modes and put some interesting movements and maybe some educated chromaticism in their part. I started a band in the summer, and I wrote a few songs but I didn't want to just tell everyone to play parts I had written for them, and when I heard what our bassist was playing for his parts, I started grinning instantly. Turns out he took jazz classes in school :cool:

eoin5

futuregone wrote: »

In the title really,although i'm not sure if this is in the right place.

Basically what qualities do you look for in a bass player,apart from the obvious timing and consistency?
Just would like to hear opinions....

Timing, that they show up on time.

Consistancy, that they reliably turn up for practice and gigs.

Rigsby

I'd say timing and consistency are the most important things in a bass player. No good having all the skill and knowledge described by El PrOn, if your timing is way out.

Of course, reliability, should be a given.

Malice

I always like a bass player to listen to what I'm playing on the guitar and to have the ability to jam out a bass line to it without having to stop and ask what chord I'm playing. It's a bonus if they can come up with something that doesn't just blindly follow the roots of the chords too.

Above all though, the bass player must have a sense of timing. If they can't lock in with the drummer then it's going to be a frustrating experience for all concerned.

Doctor DooM

Malice_ wrote: »

I always like a bass player to listen to what I'm playing on the guitar and to have the ability to jam out a bass line to it without having to stop and ask what chord I'm playing. It's a bonus if they can come up with something that doesn't just blindly follow the roots of the chords too.

Above all though, the bass player must have a sense of timing. If they can't lock in with the drummer then it's going to be a frustrating experience for all concerned.

??

Speaking as a bassist, thats something you should have learned by year 2. Seriously, that's bass 101 there. In the modern era of music, also, there's no point to a bassist who just purely doubles the guitarist- you can almost just increase the low end on the guitar if you want that.

Things I look for in a bassist- as a bassist are-

1. The ability to watch and work with a drummer to create interesting sounds
2. an understanding of the root of a song to know when to hang back and when to go crazy
3. The ability to drive the beat along in up tempo songs
4. Enough imrpovisational skills to take the bass for a walk when it's appropriate
5. A small enough ego to know when to just hang back and double the guitars
6. An awareness of your place in the band- at is core, translating from guitarish- to drumish but but knowing most of the time if you're doing right, most people wont even realise what you're doing

Malice

Doctor DooM wrote: »

??

Speaking as a bassist, thats something you should have learned by year 2. Seriously, that's bass 101 there. In the modern era of music, also, there's no point to a bassist who just purely doubles the guitarist- you can almost just increase the low end on the guitar if you want that. ]

Why the question marks? Have you not been unfortunate enough to have to deal with a bass player who can't do what I posted? I agree that it's pretty rudimentary stuff but as I've had the dubious pleasure of having to deal with people who couldn't handle song transitions from verse to chorus, couldn't lock in with a drummer and who couldn't handle tempo or time signature changes, they are all things I look for in a bass player. They are all things that can't be hidden either which makes it easy to weed out unsuitable players thankfully.

OK-Cancel-Apply

Doctor DooM wrote:

1. The ability to watch and work with a drummer to create interesting sounds
2. an understanding of the root of a song to know when to hang back and when to go crazy
3. The ability to drive the beat along in up tempo songs
4. Enough imrpovisational skills to take the bass for a walk when it's appropriate
5. A small enough ego to know when to just hang back and double the guitars
6. An awareness of your place in the band- at is core, translating from guitarish- to drumish but but knowing most of the time if you're doing right, most people wont even realise what you're doing

+1

And I hate when a bassist insists on having a high end, cutting tone. In a live setting, you want the bass player to make the audience 'feel' the music rattle their ribcage, not cause them to put their fingers in their ears. If you want to have a sparkling tone and strum chords.... play guitar!

But yeah, on the other side of the coin, don't just play like a low pass filter either. Don't reduce your musicality to something the guitarist could do by turning up the bass dial on his amp.

Rigsby

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

+1

And I hate when a bassist insists on having a high end, cutting tone. In a live setting, you want the bass player to make the audience 'feel' the music rattle their ribcage, not cause them to put their fingers in their ears.

I dont want to go off on a tangent here, but I'd say, a lot of the time, if a bassist has a high end cutting tone, it is in order to be heard over the guitar, or guitars, or a hard hitting drummer.

As for the "small ego" mentioned by Doctor Doom.. a bassist has to have one, in order to make room for the guitarist's. :P

Doctor DooM

Malice_ wrote: »

Why the question marks? Have you not been unfortunate enough to have to deal with a bass player who can't do what I posted? I agree that it's pretty rudimentary stuff but as I've had the dubious pleasure of having to deal with people who couldn't handle song transitions from verse to chorus, couldn't lock in with a drummer and who couldn't handle tempo or time signature changes, they are all things I look for in a bass player. They are all things that can't be hidden either which makes it easy to weed out unsuitable players thankfully.

Lol no! I haven't cos I am a bass player. I was just shocked there's bass players who don't realise thats pretty much the very basics of the job! I'm no amazing bassist but thats 101.

Doctor DooM

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

+1

And I hate when a bassist insists on having a high end, cutting tone. In a live setting, you want the bass player to make the audience 'feel' the music rattle their ribcage, not cause them to put their fingers in their ears. If you want to have a sparkling tone and strum chords.... play guitar!

But yeah, on the other side of the coin, don't just play like a low pass filter either. Don't reduce your musicality to something the guitarist could do by turning up the bass dial on his amp.

Yarp... In order for doubling the guitar to have musical effect, you need to be doing something different before it I always feel. Then it has punch.

If you just copy the guitar the whole way through... these days guitar amps have much better bass settings

rcaz

Rigsby wrote: »

I'd say timing and consistency are the most important things in a bass player.

I don't get why these are getting so much focus put on them regarding bass player. There's no excuse being any sort of musician and not having these. Timing, especially, is WAY too fundamental to even have to be looked for.

Rigsby

El Pr0n wrote: »

I don't get why these are getting so much focus put on them regarding bass player. There's no excuse being any sort of musician and not having these. Timing, especially, is WAY too fundamental to even have to be looked for.

I agree that every musician in a band has his/her responsibility with regards to keeping time, but it is the bassist's sole responsibility. Unfortunately, timing has to be looked for. You would be amazed at how many bassists there are out there with chops and technique to burn, but ask them to keep a simple groove going and they stumble. It might seem simple and fundamental, but often, these are the things that trip you up. Other instruments, at different stages can solo or accompany, but the bassist's (along with the drummer of course) job, first and foremost is to keep a steady pulse and drive the band.

Dont take my word for it. The legendary bassist James Jamerson once advised "dont sacrifice the groove for that extra note" (or words to that effect).

rcaz

Rigsby wrote: »

I agree that every musician in a band has his/her responsibility with regards to keeping time, but it is the bassist's sole responsibility. Unfortunately, timing has to be looked for. You would be amazed at how many bassists there are out there with chops and technique to burn, but ask them to keep a simple groove going and they stumble. It might seem simple and fundamental, but often, these are the things that trip you up. Other instruments, at different stages can solo or accompany, but the bassist's (along with the drummer of course) job, first and foremost is to keep a steady pulse and drive the band.

Dont take my word for it. The legendary bassist James Jamerson once advised "dont sacrifice the groove for that extra note" (or words to that effect).

Oh, I agree with you, I know that there are plenty of bassists who overlook their timing and rhythm, but that's down to not learning your instrument properly. I play guitar and piano, and I don't think I'd be much of a guitarist/pianist if I could keep time. Timing's applicable, and fundamental, to all instruments.

But bassists contribute to melody and harmony as well. Actually, now that I've thought about it, if I had to look for a new bassist tomorrow, I'd look for one who understands all that.

Rigsby

El Pr0n wrote: »

Oh, I agree with you, I know that there are plenty of bassists who overlook their timing and rhythm, but that's down to not learning your instrument properly. I play guitar and piano, and I don't think I'd be much of a guitarist/pianist if I could keep time. Timing's applicable, and fundamental, to all instruments.

But bassists contribute to melody and harmony as well. Actually, now that I've thought about it, if I had to look for a new bassist tomorrow, I'd look for one who understands all that.

Yeah, I think we are on the same wavelength here Timing is applicable and fundamental to all instruments... my point being, it is more applicable to bass than the others. Out of all the other instruments in a band (minus drums), if the bassist is out of time, than the song falls on it's face. Maybe it is because timing and keeping a groove seems so basic and easy, that it is overlooked when learning the instrument.

This is why I could not understand that you seemed surprised that people were going on so much about timing being so important when playing bass.

rcaz

Rigsby wrote: »

Maybe it is because timing and keeping a groove seems so basic and easy, that it is overlooked when learning the instrument.

Exactly, but additionally, I guess I overlook it by taking it for granted.

futuregone

Pretty much what I was expecting,which is a good thing I suppose!

I think if you can't keep time on any instrument then that's a major problem - if you can't do that on bass then it's a catastrophe.Good to hear others' opinions though.

Rigsby

futuregone wrote: »

I think if you can't keep time on any instrument then that's a major problem - if you can't do that on bass then it's a catastrophe.

Exactly !! That was my point throughout.

sabiansoldier

That he/she knows exactly how to get the right sound from the instrument.
That he/she knows what is the right volume to play at.
Creativity and colour in their playing.

Rigsby

sabiansoldier wrote: »

That he/she knows exactly how to get the right sound from the instrument.

What exactly do you man by the "right" sound.

What's "right" for one, may not be for another.

DerKaiser

As a bass player, I'd say someone who approaches the bass as a bass and isn't a frustrated lead guitarist, real technical knowledge is a luxury that most bass players don't have (and is not neccesarily needed if you are playing pub rock / indie rock / punk) and having a bass player that understands he/she plays with the bass drum and not the guitar melody is a big plus too, groove first, melody second

busttropical

two words - MAXWELL MURDER :P

Nalced_irl

Bassplayer here also. I think the main things to look for are timing with the drummer and inventivness. The main thing that makes a could be good band sound bad is when the drummer and bassist arent tight together cos it throws the whole band off. Inventivness, someone who can listen to the drums and guitars and hear a bassline that fits both.

ham_n_mustard

Bass players have to be able to keep their drummer on time.
sorry drummers, thats just how it works