What Defines a Good Bass Player?
What does it mean to be a good bass player?
First it’s important that we distinguish between a good bass player, versus a good performer, or a good band mate etc… Lots of things add to the value of a band member; attitude, equipment, stage presence, followers, appearance… But none of those things count much when asking the question “What is a good bass player?” A good bass player can be as ugly as sin, might not own a car, might have cheap gear, might be a mean old cuss, or an arrogant young punk… It comes down to how well he can implement his musical ideas on the strings of his bass, and how well he (or she) does this while playing in an ensemble. Below is my list on the topic. I'm not saying you have to nail all of these to 100% to be considered a "good" bassist, but the closer you get the better! If you think of other qualities needed in a good bassist, please add them in the comments :
*If you can accurately manifest your melodic and harmonic ideas through the sound of your bass, you are a good bass player (the quality of those ideas is entirely subjective).
*If you can create a wide variety of tone through various right and left hand technique, and then use the appropriate tone for the genre you are playing, you are a good bass player.
*If you can perform in a variety of musical styles and sound equally well versed in them all, you are a good bass player.
*If you can read music and perform the all notes with the inflections indicated by the composer, you are a good bass player.
*If you can listen to a fairly intricate bass line (say the Lemon Song) and learn it by ear, you are a good bass player.
*If you can “fake” your way through a tune you’ve never played before and not only please the audience, but also please your band mates (and yourself), then you are a good bass player.
*If you can listen to the other members in your ensemble, compliment them, and put the overall sound of the group before the sound of your own instrument, you are a good bass player!
(please upvote and resteem as you see fit, thanks!)
As a drummer i think a good baseplayer also has to keep time well. Often you will be playing key notes together, having drummer and baseplayer perfectly synchronoys adds greatly to the feel of a band
Yes! the drummer is absolutely key! and that's part of what I meant in my last bullet point, "If you can listen to the other members in your ensemble, compliment them, and put the overall sound of the group before the sound of your own instrument, you are a good bass player!" If I can't communicate and lock in with a drummer, I will never hire him again. Also, It's so important to be able to adjust tempo on the fly. As a bassist/vocalist, I'll tell a sub drummer on a gig right up front, if I feel the need for the tune to speed up or slow down, they need to listen to my bass and voice and adjust accordingly. I've been fortunate to find great players who are not only able to do this, but don't have big egos and arent' offended when I make an incremental push or pull to the groove. I LOVE those guys! and I try to give them a good deal of work :)
I don't need my bass player to do solos'....just know your scales. :)
I originally posted this in my introduction, but now understand it should have been a seperate post. I'm just getting the hang steemit now :)
Great post. I'm a bassist too, but just self taught. I follow you