What makes a good bass player...
Discussion
I was contemplating this last night on a very long drive home...
I started off the journey with a bit of Wedding Present and I was thinking that for a fairly average band, the bass player was half decent, quite melodic bass lines. The I popped Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Live in Hyde Park' on and I thought, actually Flea is outstanding and makes the Wedding Present bassist look really ordinary (I guess not suprising really)...
But then I got to thinking (I said it was a long journey) is Flea actually that good, he's flash that's for sure, but technically how good is he.
With guitarists I find it easy to tell who really understands their craft but bass players not so easy.
So lets start with 'is Flea any good' and then follow on with 'who's better and why'...
Cheers
DC
I started off the journey with a bit of Wedding Present and I was thinking that for a fairly average band, the bass player was half decent, quite melodic bass lines. The I popped Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Live in Hyde Park' on and I thought, actually Flea is outstanding and makes the Wedding Present bassist look really ordinary (I guess not suprising really)...
But then I got to thinking (I said it was a long journey) is Flea actually that good, he's flash that's for sure, but technically how good is he.
With guitarists I find it easy to tell who really understands their craft but bass players not so easy.
So lets start with 'is Flea any good' and then follow on with 'who's better and why'...
Cheers
DC
Victor Wooten has got to be one of the best - you've got to see this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz7flss0w9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz7flss0w9Y
Everytime I see anything 'Maiden' related I can't help thinking of :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTCP0jk3cX4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTCP0jk3cX4
chevy-stu said:
It's almost as if they don't take themselves too seriously, isn't it? Weren't they the ones who had a 2/3rds scale model of a Wellington bomber on there German tour - inlcuding Dresden? Might have been Motorhead come to think of it. Either way 'One of England's loudest bands'.
Gaz. said:
I always thought you could turn John Deacon's amp off and no-one would notice his absence
Really?! I always rated Deacon.I'd say a good band-oriented bassist is one you don't notice *until* you've turned his amp off (and then he's missed). Then you have chaps like Flea who drive songs but also have the flash. Vic Wooten is something else though. His fingers scare me.
timbob said:
Victor Wooten has got to be one of the best - you've got to see this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz7flss0w9Y
He makes that bass guitar sound like a Chapman Stick. VERY impressive, and a lovely sound to boot.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz7flss0w9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcvnRhT2NZQ
Edited by Funk on Saturday 31st October 16:09
Stuuu, Stuuu, Stuuu......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQeEiEg1zWk&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E_avGeQRNY&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQeEiEg1zWk&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E_avGeQRNY&fea...
Edited by whitechief on Saturday 31st October 17:20
timbob said:
Victor Wooten has got to be one of the best - you've got to see this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz7flss0w9Y
How? How does he do that? Absolutely awesome.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz7flss0w9Y
all these guys are fantastic in their own right. As I've said before, bass players are often overlooked because:
a) until recently, not seen as a sexy or hip instrument to play - how many guys end up plaing bass in their 1st band because nobody else would do it?
b)other instruments such as lead guitar grab the limelight.
IMHO, Deacon was a great bassist, but definitely in the 'happy to stand out of the spotlight and just play my sh*t' school of bassists.
I've just been looking at Lawrence Cottle, he's pretty good as well
a) until recently, not seen as a sexy or hip instrument to play - how many guys end up plaing bass in their 1st band because nobody else would do it?
b)other instruments such as lead guitar grab the limelight.
IMHO, Deacon was a great bassist, but definitely in the 'happy to stand out of the spotlight and just play my sh*t' school of bassists.
I've just been looking at Lawrence Cottle, he's pretty good as well
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