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Comfortable Being a Sideman
Comfortable Being a Sideman
I think that it is important to admire the role that the rhythm
section, and the fundamental component of the bass in this context, to
the sound of the overall band. We provide the platform on which other
players/singers stand. We ramp up the energy, create holes for
soloists, and generally keep time and the pitch thing going.
In my 40 years performing I've played saxophone, guitar and bass, and
in so have stepped from the 'apron' (front) of the stage to the back
row. While I always feel like an integral part of the total sound of
the band, I am most concerned about keeping the rhythm section "flock"
together and work to incorporate the guitarist or keyboard player who
is falling into the groove.
I have read several of the posts and there seems to be a good mix of
young and old players, some ID'd by their gen X, Z labels and others
identified by their references. I am interested in your thoughts on
the bass in the band context. Certainly we provide a key rhythmic
element playing off the drummer and sometime the talented KB player or
guitarist, and we also lead the listener to the chord changes, add
power to the power chord, movement with the walking jazz line and
elegance to the rubato chick singer (we called them canaries back in
the day).
I stopped playing professionally to have a couple of kids and careers
and have returned to it recently after my narrow waist and wide mind
exchanged places. It still is the best thing going. I love the
communication of a live performance, the thump a dump of the bass drum
and my thumb, the last time through nod of the soloist/singer and
those tasty licks that we bassist get in at the 12 bar turnarounds.
Take it to the Bridge boyz.
I think that it is important to admire the role that the rhythm
section, and the fundamental component of the bass in this context, to
the sound of the overall band. We provide the platform on which other
players/singers stand. We ramp up the energy, create holes for
soloists, and generally keep time and the pitch thing going.
In my 40 years performing I've played saxophone, guitar and bass, and
in so have stepped from the 'apron' (front) of the stage to the back
row. While I always feel like an integral part of the total sound of
the band, I am most concerned about keeping the rhythm section "flock"
together and work to incorporate the guitarist or keyboard player who
is falling into the groove.
I have read several of the posts and there seems to be a good mix of
young and old players, some ID'd by their gen X, Z labels and others
identified by their references. I am interested in your thoughts on
the bass in the band context. Certainly we provide a key rhythmic
element playing off the drummer and sometime the talented KB player or
guitarist, and we also lead the listener to the chord changes, add
power to the power chord, movement with the walking jazz line and
elegance to the rubato chick singer (we called them canaries back in
the day).
I stopped playing professionally to have a couple of kids and careers
and have returned to it recently after my narrow waist and wide mind
exchanged places. It still is the best thing going. I love the
communication of a live performance, the thump a dump of the bass drum
and my thumb, the last time through nod of the soloist/singer and
those tasty licks that we bassist get in at the 12 bar turnarounds.
Take it to the Bridge boyz.
Re: Comfortable Being a Sideman
> I am interested in your thoughts on the bass in the band context.
I've always been most turned on by Entwistle-style lead bass, but that
sort of stuff usually doesn't apply in the "real world." I still think
of bass guitar primarily as an accompanyment instrument (and for that
is mostly due to it being used for single-note melody rather than
chords). It has the capability of going far beyond that, but that's
what it was designed for, and so much music is written with that in
mind. I remember something one guy said, that bass shouldn't be heard
unless you listen for it (not my opinion), but even with bass that's
as in-the-groove as that, there's a very noticeable hole left if it is
suddenly taken out of the mix.
So I guess what I am saying is, on one hand, there is the historical
role of the bass, very supportive and basic. On the other hand, there
is the more expressive, dynamic role. And, getting the best of both
worlds by combining the two is pretty nice :)
> I am interested in your thoughts on the bass in the band context.
I've always been most turned on by Entwistle-style lead bass, but that
sort of stuff usually doesn't apply in the "real world." I still think
of bass guitar primarily as an accompanyment instrument (and for that
is mostly due to it being used for single-note melody rather than
chords). It has the capability of going far beyond that, but that's
what it was designed for, and so much music is written with that in
mind. I remember something one guy said, that bass shouldn't be heard
unless you listen for it (not my opinion), but even with bass that's
as in-the-groove as that, there's a very noticeable hole left if it is
suddenly taken out of the mix.
So I guess what I am saying is, on one hand, there is the historical
role of the bass, very supportive and basic. On the other hand, there
is the more expressive, dynamic role. And, getting the best of both
worlds by combining the two is pretty nice :)
Re: Comfortable Being a Sideman
After 35-or-so yrs of bass to guitar to bass to whichever was needed, I've
come to realize that i'm wired for bass. I knew it all along, but its so
much fun doing it all, I sometimes forget.
Bass is all about groove. head-boppin, foot-tappin, bass-thumpin groove. On
bass i can set the dynamics,flavor, drive, pick-up and drop-off or whatever.
its not speed, flare or flash, its just sensitivity to the groove.
Now my confession; I cant do that thumb-slap style that everyone is doing
these days. The Lord knows i have tried, but its so awkward and not-me....
v
"SheaNC" <sheanc@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:4f74acac-a53e-4e71-9e63-2fcbbf6dfda8@z24g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>> I am interested in your thoughts on the bass in the band context.
>
> I've always been most turned on by Entwistle-style lead bass, but that
> sort of stuff usually doesn't apply in the "real world." I still think
> of bass guitar primarily as an accompanyment instrument (and for that
> is mostly due to it being used for single-note melody rather than
> chords). It has the capability of going far beyond that, but that's
> what it was designed for, and so much music is written with that in
> mind. I remember something one guy said, that bass shouldn't be heard
> unless you listen for it (not my opinion), but even with bass that's
> as in-the-groove as that, there's a very noticeable hole left if it is
> suddenly taken out of the mix.
>
> So I guess what I am saying is, on one hand, there is the historical
> role of the bass, very supportive and basic. On the other hand, there
> is the more expressive, dynamic role. And, getting the best of both
> worlds by combining the two is pretty nice :)
After 35-or-so yrs of bass to guitar to bass to whichever was needed, I've
come to realize that i'm wired for bass. I knew it all along, but its so
much fun doing it all, I sometimes forget.
Bass is all about groove. head-boppin, foot-tappin, bass-thumpin groove. On
bass i can set the dynamics,flavor, drive, pick-up and drop-off or whatever.
its not speed, flare or flash, its just sensitivity to the groove.
Now my confession; I cant do that thumb-slap style that everyone is doing
these days. The Lord knows i have tried, but its so awkward and not-me....
v
"SheaNC" <sheanc@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:4f74acac-a53e-4e71-9e63-2fcbbf6dfda8@z24g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>> I am interested in your thoughts on the bass in the band context.
>
> I've always been most turned on by Entwistle-style lead bass, but that
> sort of stuff usually doesn't apply in the "real world." I still think
> of bass guitar primarily as an accompanyment instrument (and for that
> is mostly due to it being used for single-note melody rather than
> chords). It has the capability of going far beyond that, but that's
> what it was designed for, and so much music is written with that in
> mind. I remember something one guy said, that bass shouldn't be heard
> unless you listen for it (not my opinion), but even with bass that's
> as in-the-groove as that, there's a very noticeable hole left if it is
> suddenly taken out of the mix.
>
> So I guess what I am saying is, on one hand, there is the historical
> role of the bass, very supportive and basic. On the other hand, there
> is the more expressive, dynamic role. And, getting the best of both
> worlds by combining the two is pretty nice :)
