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What do drummers look for in Bassists?


degroove

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What I look for first is a good sense of rhythm. Does this bass player play a definite rhythm or does he just wander about? If he has a good rhythm then I can adjust to what he is doing. Also, does he hear what is going on in the song or is he just playing some part that he likes over the song? Second I look for tone. The greatest bass player in the world will sound like {censored} if his tone is no good. Last but not least, I look at his personality. If we can't get along then it will never work.

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Originally posted by JSimms

What I look for first is a good sense of rhythm. Does this bass player play a definite rhythm or does he just wander about? If he has a good rhythm then I can adjust to what he is doing. Also, does he hear what is going on in the song or is he just playing some part that he likes over the song? Second I look for tone. The greatest bass player in the world will sound like {censored} if his tone is no good. Last but not least, I look at his personality. If we can't get along then it will never work.

 

 

 

Exactly. I have a tough time with my current bassist because:

 

1. I have a tough time locking in with his erratic grooves

2. His tone sounds like his amp is in a submarine beneath the Atlantic. I can hardly pick out his downbeat half the time.

3. We don't get along very well. Actually he doesn't get along well with the rest of the band. Lot's of tension. Personality goes a looooooooong ways...

 

He is now leaving the band because of #3 and other personal reasons...thank gawd!

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Originally posted by rumblebelly

Oh, and there is NOTHING worse than a bassist that just got an effects pedal. My lord!!!!!!!!!!!! Shut that goddamn piece of {censored} off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

What kinda bass player uses an effects pedal (except maybe Cliff Burton back in the day)? Nothin beats clean tone when layin down a groove. And that's from a bass players point of view.

 

ND

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Originally posted by degroove

As a bassist, looking for some insights...


Feel free to explain based on positive and negative bass player experiences.


:)


Thanks!

Know what your doing

Know how to be creative and have an open mind for various styles

keep rhythms

be nice!

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For me there are a few things that make a bass player easy to play along with.

 

1. I have to be able to have a laugh with them, if you dont get on then it's unlikely that you'll be able to lock in with them.

 

2. They have to actually make some eye contact with you. Some people dont think this is necessary but I personally find it a lot easier to get locked when the bass player makes eye contact every now and then.

 

I recently went to a band audition and the bass player would not look at me:confused:, I had to keep looking at the guitarist to get cues for the songs that I'd never heard.

 

The funny thing is I told them politely that the style wasn't really what I was looking for and then the bass player starts getting all uptight. I looked at one of my advertisements on a board and he's like "pro standard, yeah right." The word "Bitter" comes to mind, and they wonder why they're still without a drummer. I dont think that they realise that drummers actually talk to each other.

 

Doesn't bother me, it turns out that there's a huge shortage of drummers around London and I've had 6 replies from an ad I posted yesterday.

 

That's a good point about the effects pedals, this bassist literally had about 7 pedals and 2 tuners for some reason, that was another reason it was hard to lock in with him, all the damn effects got in the way and I couldn't tell what the hell he was playing.

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Originally posted by wombar

[...]

That's a good point about the effects pedals, this bassist literally had about 7 pedals and
2 tuners
for some reason, that was another reason it was hard to lock in with him, all the damn effects got in the way and I couldn't tell what the hell he was playing.

 

 

LOL Two tuners are better than none!!

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Good stuff:

 

First, I agree about the dangers of Bassists with Effects Pedals. Luckily I am one who likes some overdrive (not distortion) from time to time to thicken my tone up, but not one to go overboard. I like my sound simple for what we do.

 

Another - Eye Contact with Drummer. Never thought of that. I actually am so used to looking at the guitarists (since we are audtioning drummers right now, its us and a drum machine at rehearsal) that I don't look much at the drummers. I will try this next time.

 

Listening to whats going on is something I do. I like to jam on things, so I think my listening is pretty good...

 

Playing in time. I work on this alot and with a metronome. I would say I have a steady time, but obviosuly some songs are more steady than others.

 

Tone - My guitarists love my tone, but I never asked a drummers point of view. I am thinking it should be good as I use a AMpeg Head and 410 Cab and a MIA Fender Pbass in the classic rock cover band I am in now.

 

SO far, this has been informative...anything else.

 

Thanks.

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Like you said give the eye contact a go, I'm not talking crazy man staring or anything but looking at the other person really seems to cement it for me.

 

I have no idea why you'd need two tuners, I think that both the guitarist and bassist were doing the "we've got loads of pedals, therefore we're fabulous" routine, I can accept that a lead guitarist needs some effects but the bass player had a wah, distortion, flanger etc, way too much.

 

When I'm playing with a new band I would expect lots of interaction from the bassist because without a solid rhythm section the rest of the band really suffers.

 

Keep it simple as far as I'm concerned, that means no more than 3 pedals and definitely no more than one tuner:D

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I good personality is a must especially when the Drummer and Bass player are sometimes excluded from the other band members as if they are "only the support team" syndrome.

 

I like a bass player that has Excellent time.

 

I hate it when Bass players and other people in the band DEPEND on you to Kepp time FOR THEM. (Get your own time and maybe we'll jam).

 

good tone. and a good ear for rhythm.

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Originally posted by rumblebelly

Oh, and there is NOTHING worse than a bassist that just got an effects pedal. My lord!!!!!!!!!!!! Shut that goddamn piece of {censored} off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

oh man that's funny as hell i almost pissed myself when i read this post,especially because i've been there a few tmes with bass players in the past .. it's almost as bad as when a friend of mine got his guitar synth about 6 yrs. ago.(god that was a very annoying time in my life) and man that was all i heard for like 2 weeks straight until i couldn't take it no more,and just beaned him in the head with a stick( blamed it on the sticks were sweaty when i went for a crash cymbal,but between us and a few thousand other people the sticks were dry as a bone ) usually what i like in a bass player is as follows , sense of timing, knowing how to groove. technique when used apropriately . being able to flow with a drummer ( or vice versa) and not be out in left feild somewhere.. and yes definately the personality is a big factor i think in anyone,but as a drummers point of view . the rythym section has to have the brotherhood between them.. i rely on my bass player for almost everything in a tune,and without the link between us it would be like night and day...

 

just a few of my own opinions,

 

sam(otacon28)

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yeh...i have to say drummers and bass players have ot get along well otherwise there could be havoc in a band.....eye contact and sence of rythm..all the stuff u guys ahve already said is really important...

 

FroStStix----

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Originally posted by otacon28




oh man that's funny as hell i almost pissed myself when i read this post,especially because i've been there a few tmes with bass players in the past .. it's almost as bad as when a friend of mine got his guitar synth about 6 yrs. ago.(god that was a very annoying time in my life) and man that was all i heard for like 2 weeks straight until i couldn't take it no more,and just beaned him in the head with a stick( blamed it on the sticks were sweaty when i went for a crash cymbal,but between us and a few thousand other people the sticks were dry as a bone....




sam(otacon28)

 

 

HAHAHAHA!

 

That's FANTASTIC! I've gotta remember that one!

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What kinda bass player uses an effects pedal (except maybe Cliff Burton back in the day)? Nothin beats clean tone when layin down a groove. And that's from a bass players point of view.

 

Errr....

 

Sting - Police

Barry Adamson - Magazine

Simon Gallup - Cure

Peter Hook - Joy Division

David J - Bauhaus

 

All used effects with Bass...

 

Like you said give the eye contact a go, I'm not talking crazy man staring or anything ...

 

*LMAO* I can just see that... instant gig getter!

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Originally posted by bbc994

I good personality is a must especially when the Drummer and Bass player are sometimes excluded from the other band members as if they are "only the support team" syndrome.


I like a bass player that has Excellent time.


I hate it when Bass players and other people in the band DEPEND on you to Kepp time FOR THEM. (Get your own time and maybe we'll jam).


good tone. and a good ear for rhythm.

 

 

What do you mean by this? Becuase I have played with drummers that were't very good at keeping time, and I had to keep it together with the bass. I don't think this is appropriate at all. The drums should be anchoring the time in my opinion.

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Originally posted by wombar

I have no idea why you'd need two tuners, I think that both the guitarist and bassist were doing the "we've got loads of pedals, therefore we're fabulous" routine, I can accept that a lead guitarist needs some effects but the bass player had a wah, distortion, flanger etc, way too much.


Keep it simple as far as I'm concerned, that means no more than 3 pedals and definitely no more than one tuner:D

 

I don't know why that guy would have two tuners?? One suffices for me.

 

I do have to say some music lends to more effects than others...

For example, if you were a Funk band, Wah, Octave, and Envelope Filters would be used. If you were psychedelic, there might be chorus, delay, phaser, flanger, etc...

 

So, there may be a need for some effects, but the bassist shouldn't compensate for a lack of playing ability by adding effects. :)

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Originally posted by degroove



I don't know why that guy would have two tuners?? One suffices for me.


I do have to say some music lends to more effects than others...

For example, if you were a Funk band, Wah, Octave, and Envelope Filters would be used. If you were psychedelic, there might be chorus, delay, phaser, flanger, etc...


So, there may be a need for some effects, but the bassist shouldn't compensate for a lack of playing ability by adding effects.
:)

 

Yeah I know that some kinds of music lend themselves really well to bass effects, but not when you have a flanger, wah and a couple of others going at the same time:D. This band was kind of metaly and I personally dont think it suited the music at all, but thats just my opinion:).

 

Either way, when the drummers having a hard time figuring out what the bassist is doing because of all the delays and wahs that are going on I think its time to turn off a few of those pedals.

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Here's my situation: my guitarist keeps better time than my bass player. I have to lock with in with my guitarist, how screwed up is that? I'm not that great of a drummer but I can tell who keeps better time.

 

Holy {censored}, I honestly can't remember the last time I looked my bass player in the eye. I find myself actually hating the dude at times. I'm glad that the last time I'm playing with him is this Thursday, after that it's gonna be a whole new experience.

 

I've played with other bassists before. I know one guy that has a bunch of effects pedals but he uses them in a pretty tasteful manner. It's okay I think if it's in an appropriate place in the song (intro, bass solo) and if it doesn't loose the ability to help anchor a song.

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I can see both sides of the "Effects" rants, there is a time and place for everything. A lot of heavy rock benefits most from a gritty type of tone, and sometimes a little chorus goes a long way. All depends on the music.

 

Flanger, sure. Chorus, sometimes. Compressor, definately. Delay? :eek: I can think of very, very, very few occasions where a delay on a bass would be at all useful. Maybe some weirdo intro or interlude...

 

Speaking as someone who has gone from guitar to bass to drums and back to bass again I have had the privillage of quite a few different views on situations like this. It's all about communication, when playing bass I spend a lot of time making eye contact with the drummer.

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Originally posted by degroove



What do you mean by this? Becuase I have played with drummers that were't very good at keeping time, and I had to keep it together with the bass. I don't think this is appropriate at all. The drums should be anchoring the time in my opinion.

 

 

If everyone in the band has good time then you go somewhere.

 

If you need a drummer to keep time for you then you should get a metronome.

(not you just anyone in general).

 

each member of a good band should have some of the quality's that all musicians have. having an understanding about harmony and melody even though you are "just a drummer" makes you a well rounded musician.

 

if not then you are... Just a drummer.

 

same holds true with a Bass player, Geetarist, Piano player etc.

 

In all the bands i have played in I give lessons in Drum Rudiments to all the members of the band not so much to have a drum feature but so that they understand it better.

 

in return I ask for tips on guitar and Bass and keyboard tecnique as well.

 

Once you find Musicians that not only Like each other but understand each others instruments at least to some degree you then grow as a group.

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I have been fortunate enough to have a few really good Bass players that have excellent time.

 

on occasion you might get your sticks caught together or they might get thier fingers stuck When the Bass and Drums both have excellent time we would maintain a solid tempo and not try any fills until the other player recoveres from the mistake they just made.

 

That is team work.

 

Naww, but i hear what you are saying about a drummer that has lousy time.

 

I started out being all about doing the fills and 'when do i get my solo" etc.

But by age 15 or 16 I had a guitar player that really taught me how to keep good time and hence forth really helped me.

 

I was just listening to a song where i had flubbed up between the floor toms and the Bass just kept his groove until I recovered. In another song I remember he messed up and I caught him too.

So i maintaned a extra solid beat until he recovered and hardly anyone noticed.

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Originally posted by bbc994



If everyone in the band has good time then you go somewhere.


If you need a drummer to keep time for you then you should get a metronome.

(not you just anyone in general).


each member of a good band should have some of the quality's that all musicians have. having an understanding about harmony and melody even though you are "just a drummer" makes you a well rounded musician.


if not then you are... Just a drummer.


same holds true with a Bass player, Geetarist, Piano player etc.


In all the bands i have played in I give lessons in Drum Rudiments to all the members of the band not so much to have a drum feature but so that they understand it better.


in return I ask for tips on guitar and Bass and keyboard tecnique as well.


Once you find Musicians that not only Like each other but understand each others instruments at least to some degree you then grow as a group.

 

I get what you are saying now. If the guitarist is not in synch, it will make the rest sound like dog crap.:)

 

Also, I like that you provided some rudiments. I wouldn't mind learning some stuff from my drummer. Anything to help me understand how he is keeping time would help me to lock in better.

 

My band has been going through drummer audtions for the past two months, so I haven't been able to develop a rapport with a drummer since our old one left. :(

 

But, when we are done and have someone, I will ask for some lessons on the basics thanks to your insights.:cool:

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