Bass In The Band

This is partly an answer to an old post on how 'easy is a bass to play'. Here's what I've learnt.

Plucking roots IS easy and sometimes all that's needed, BUT putting them at the right part of the beat with the right emphasis is hard. When a song is building no one wants a loud bass trumpeting in from nowhere. Likewise you don't always have the drummer to tie in with sometimes you have to make the downbeat and the drummer comes in with you, big responsibility.

Guitarists listen to your bass and drums. First few rehearsals I was rubbish, racing to catch up with galloping guitars, then the drummer had to skip ahead. Worst thing was the guitars were so happy with their stuff being note perfect they didn't hear we'd murdered the song. Things only changed when I started stopping the session and saying, wait for THIS part before you play the riff.

When you tune up and make a fine tone on the amp remember it may need to be a bit louder and bit snarlier to be heard by guitars and drums. Drums depend on you for rhythmic cues. So keep the bass head nodding in time and be prepared to play in an exaggerated way to indicate a chorus fill coming up. If the drummer loses a stick keep playing, if you keep the beat they'll pick up that stick and get back in.

Get the downbeat, the one, this is harder than it sounds. Even when you're right next to the drums the sound on stage or in rehearsals can be terrible, you may have to look to see if the bass drum skin is kicking. Some kick drums don't show much from the front either so be prepared to stare at your drummer's right knee. If you're doing the right kind of rhythmn for the song you'll hear the drummer's stick moves, be it hi-hat or snare or tom, inbetween your notes. This is a magic zone, being there is the drug that bass players thrive on ;-)