Ross Brown Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I hate it when a guitard in the band tells me what they think the bass line should be in a song we do... because "this is how they played it when they played bass". My internal response (unspoken) was "shove it up your a$$ p*ssface". What I said was "I'll go listen to the song again and see if I hear what you hear"... read between the lines (I don't care what you "think" it should be... I'll check it out my self). I may not be playing it the same as it was played 35 years ago on a recording... I bet it is not played that way anymore by the band that recorded it either... I did not mention the extra chord changes he throws is where they don't belong (I'll point that out after I say I went back and listened to the recording) nor did I mention that the guy singing it sounds like a frog in pain. I will try to have an open mind and improve the bassline.... I just hate it when a guitard tries to tell me what to play... unless he wrote the song... I know I should be more of a pro and take the constructive criticism... maybe tomorrow I will... today I feel like a prick. "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 If the guitar player is the band leader, then he can tell me what he would like me to play. Hopefully he's smart enough to be open to my input as well. If he's not the leader, then I'm happy to take his suggestions and take them for exactly that -- suggestions. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCriley Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 ^^^What he said.^^^ I'm lucky in that in my current situation I'm free to play whatever I want. In fact, I've never heard the recorded version of many of the songs we do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I'm always happy to take suggestions. I'll only play them if I want but our oud player used to play bass in the band and when she made a suggestion the other day for a bassline it was a great one and I'm happy to play it. You never know who in the band has an ear for a great line. But if the guitarist is acting superior that's another matter... http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I have two inflexible rules in a band: 1. The keyboard player keeps his/her left hand out of my territory; 2. No guitar player tells me what bass line to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 That said, i often try to cop the bass line from a recording pretty closely, as I believe it plays a role in the track's success originally. Case in point: The other night at the jam a lady sang "Funky Broadway." The bass player, a friend, played A bass line that fit pretty well both melodically and rhythmically. I may have been the only one who noticed, but the original bass line is so much a part of the song for me that it wasn't the same. Perhaps I was the only one who noticed. Anyway, I also didn't go up to him and say, "Dude, you played the wrong bass line." It's a jam. But if a bass line is in any way unique or non-generic, I try to reproduce it. My $00.02. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Time to gripe a little Gosh Ross, that's so unlike you. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 If the guitar player is the band leader, then he can tell me what he would like me to play. This is of course dependent on the proviso that said band leader is getting you PAID on a regular basis at a reasonable rate. Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 Time to gripe a little Gosh Ross, that's so unlike you. I know!! I thought maybe you guys missed my bitchin'.... I ended up discussing this with the guitard in question. He said he broke his own rule and said he agreed with me. We agreed to make general suggestions, but not tell each other how or what to play. He also took the time to compliment my playing.... nice. "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 ... meanwhile, somewhere on Craig's List, an ad appears looking for a pro bassist ... Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 Implying I have not acted as a pro? "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 EVERY CL ad is always looking for a "Pro" whatever. Because that's where all the pros go to look for bands. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 cool... "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 My bad. I should have used the irony or sarcasm font. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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