#1958922 - 06/17/08 11:45 AM
Metal Bass
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The Pot
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Registered: 06/13/08
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Recently I have been playing with a friend who plays guitar and all he does is these fast freaking metal riffs usually with a droning E or D and I can't come up with anything to play behind him. I am use to standard tuning for one and usually play funk to moderately fast rock stuff. What can I do that won't sound horrible other than playing the droning E and D notes to keep time. There is no room for fills and he moves around so much I can't really do chord tones.
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"Music is the space between the notes." -Claude Debussy
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#1958936 - 06/17/08 12:25 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: The Pot]
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Griffinator
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Find someone else to jam with.
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#1958948 - 06/17/08 12:46 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: Griffinator]
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5 string Mike
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Find someone else to jam with.
+1
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#1958958 - 06/17/08 12:55 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: 5 string Mike]
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EddiePlaysBass
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Is it songs, or just him playing scales and showing off?
If it's the former: learn the songs.
If it's the latter ...
Find someone else to jam with. +1
+1
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#1958972 - 06/17/08 01:11 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: EddiePlaysBass]
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CMDN
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If you're dead-set on playing with this guy, you should probably learn what he's doing and then cut it back to the basics (downbeats with some accented unison parts) and call it a day... That's a tried-and-true bass technique for most metal, and it usually works in a very standard way.
However, if you wanna get creative and come up with something complimentary that fills the holes in his riffing, that can be cool, too, but it's not particularly "metal."
Either way, the real key for writing a bass line is to understand what the other instruments are doing and finding a way to play right in there with them or around them... or both. Mess around and see what happens.
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Erik
Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?
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#1958973 - 06/17/08 01:11 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: EddiePlaysBass]
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jeremy c
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When he's not looking, cut off his low string.
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#1958980 - 06/17/08 01:21 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: jeremy c]
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Lowtones11
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"Music is the space between the notes." -Claude Debussy That's a good thing to keep in mind. It sounds llike there is nothing musical happening with you and your buddy.
Unless you are gaining something from your time with this guitarist, don't play with him anymore.
I try to fit myself into situations all the time that are not right for me. I will do it gladly if I can learn and grow musically, or, as a last resort, if the money is right.
I've been in situations where I've been friendly with musicians that have wanted to jam. Outside of being friends with these particular players, we had nothing in common, especially musically. They tried to get me to fit into their world which didn't work. I tried to get them to fit into my world, no luck. It was only a matter of time before we were all frustrated and stopped playing together.
Do you think you can learn something from your time with your friend? Do you think if you asked him to leave you some space, he would be willing and able? Do you think it could lead to gigs by playing with him? Do you think you will improve by playing with him? When you really look at this situation, are you happy to be playing with him?
Just a couple thoughts.
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"It takes an awfully good drummer to be better than no drummer at all." Steve Millhouse
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#1958982 - 06/17/08 01:22 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: Lowtones11]
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Lowtones11
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Or do what those other guys said. They said it in less than 9 pages which is to be commended.
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#1958999 - 06/17/08 01:52 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: Lowtones11]
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The Pot
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Thanks alot guys for the advice. Chances are I will try to find someone else to play with. I have jammed with him like 3 times and each time became more and more frustrating. Not that he is a bad guy he just goes off and does whatever without any direction in mind it drives me crazy. No groove what so ever. I would much rather play something I enjoy.
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"Music is the space between the notes." -Claude Debussy
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#1959113 - 06/17/08 05:43 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: The Pot]
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b5pilot
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That guy sounds like a musical masterbator. It's got to be awfully boring jamming with a guy like that. Anyway, the only way you can play with a guy like that is to keep it simple. You don't have to just play E and D but use some of the notes that make up the chords. Or work with the melody. Good luck!
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#1959223 - 06/17/08 09:04 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: b5pilot]
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BenLoy
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Sounds boring. No reason metal shouldn't groove...just ask this guy (RIP):
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#1959267 - 06/17/08 11:42 PM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: The Pot]
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Bottomgottem
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I would much rather play something I enjoy.
Then play something that you enjoy and make him follow you.
Or find someone else to play with.
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"Our time should be spent on building intimate, everlasting relationships with those who care for us, thus transcending this physical realm....but first you have to get that bass." - rizzo9247
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#1961616 - 06/23/08 05:58 AM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: Bottomgottem]
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howtoplaybass
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Registered: 06/23/08
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to play metal on bass just copy what the guitarist plays and it makes it heavy as if the bass player follows same. also try drop c for it to sound heavier visit my website plz
http://howtoplaybass.co.uk
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#1962093 - 06/24/08 04:13 AM
Re: Metal Bass
[Re: thanny XIII]
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TimR
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If the riffs repeat, which I guess they should, stick to the roots for 3 out of 4 then play in unison for the 4th time round. Assuming he is able to stop messing around for long enough for him to show you what he is playing.
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Feel the groove internally within your own creativity. - fingertalkin Check us out here: REVIVAL
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Don't write it off. This guy just sounds like one of them there stairway to heaven g*****ists. You know they can play something that they think is cool and hard and will impress people, but in reality just sucks. Ahh whatever shall we do.....
