First Jam As A Bass Player!

MrBump

So this week I'm going to attend an informal jam as a bass player!

I'm a pretty good guitarist and - like all guitarists - I think I can play bass too...  Only I can't, I've still got a long way to go..  Still trying to get my head into locking into a groove with a drummer.

Anyhoo - I'm quite excited about this.  The more I play bass (and the more I listen to the bass parts of tracks) the more I understand what I don't know.  My timing has definitely improved.

Nervous too though...  I can usually breeze though a guitar jam/rehearsal..

Funkfingers

MrBump said:
like all guitarists - I think I can play bass too. 

Nervous though.

Don't sweat it. The guitarists at your jam will probably pay so little attention to the bass guitar parts that you can get away with almost anything.

MattBanshee

Don't forget to pack your Big Muff!

fretmeister

Don't worry - someone will be along in a minute to tell you that you can only play root notes.

Forever.

Not even Adam Clayton sticks only to root notes (close, but not always).

MrBump

Actually, I'm OK with root and fifth... at least I know where I am with the chords!  But when you attune your ears to the bass parts, there's loads more going on than I ever realised.

John_A

It's a great thing playing bass, really improves your general musicality. I'm a bass player 'by trade' but have played guitar in bands for the last 20 years because I enjoy making more noise

VimFuego

actually, it's good this has popped up cos I was wondering how does playing something other than lead instrument work at a jam? My musical experience is limited to folk sessions, where you play folk/fiddle tune standards, if you don't want to take a lead break, just say so and no one expects you to do so, and orchestra playing, where you play the dots they give you to play. I've never been to a jam, but the ones I see locally it generally says all welcome, there will be the house/backing band, assuming people who want a spot will play a lead instrument. But what happens if you want to play bass?


erm, sorry for hijack, GL with the jam.

fretmeister

VimFuego said:

actually, it's good this has popped up cos I was wondering how does playing something other than lead instrument work at a jam? My musical experience is limited to folk sessions, where you play folk/fiddle tune standards, if you don't want to take a lead break, just say so and no one expects you to do so, and orchestra playing, where you play the dots they give you to play. I've never been to a jam, but the ones I see locally it generally says all welcome, there will be the house/backing band, assuming people who want a spot will play a lead instrument. But what happens if you want to play bass?


erm, sorry for hijack, GL with the jam.

Disco Octaves.

Funkfingers

fretmeister said:

Don't worry - someone will be along in a minute to tell you that you can only play root notes.

A highly medicated character in my area was infamous for expecting pick-up bassists to restrict themselves to the lowest five frets on their lowest two strings. His exact instruction was, “stay out of my octave, maaaaaan.” 

fretmeister

Funkfingers said:

fretmeister said:

Don't worry - someone will be along in a minute to tell you that you can only play root notes.

A highly medicated character in my area was infamous for expecting pick-up bassists to restrict themselves to the lowest five frets on their lowest two strings. His exact instruction was, “stay out of my octave, maaaaaan.” 

Throw him in the sea.

wrinkleygit

That’s how I started bass playing some years back at a local blues jam, best advice is try not to be clever & overplay, have a stock of basic blues riffs, perhaps a walking bass line & if all else fails roots n fifths & last resort just roots. Always remember someone has to stoke the boiler to let somebody else drive the train.

proggy

fretmeister said:

Don't worry - someone will be along in a minute to tell you that you can only play root notes.

Forever.

Not even Adam Clayton sticks only to root notes (close, but not always).

Really! I thought Adam Clayton only knew the root notes.

fretmeister

He manages some passing notes between root note changes sometimes!  

I'm not a U2 fan - but if I could be paid what he gets for root notes... I'd be there in a heatbeat.

I'd use the money to release my experimental jazz album on the side.

pintspiller

I play the Bass part to Smells Like Teen Spirit over everything. Nobody has noticed yet.

VimFuego

if it's on the side, how do you get the needle in the groove? Or is that a new form of jazz I'm not aware of?

proggy

fretmeister said:

He manages some passing notes between root note changes sometimes!  

I'm not a U2 fan - but if I could be paid what he gets for root notes... I'd be there in a heatbeat.

I'd use the money to release my experimental jazz album on the side.

You and me both. Talk about money for old rope.

John_A

fretmeister said:

He manages some passing notes between root note changes sometimes!  

I'm not a U2 fan - but if I could be paid what he gets for root notes... I'd be there in a heatbeat.

I'd use the money to release my experimental jazz album on the side.

New Years Day uses 3rds. Very memorable bass line too, just to give Adam a bit of support

fretmeister

Don't think I know that song.
I might even listen to it later!

crunchman

John_A said:

fretmeister said:

He manages some passing notes between root note changes sometimes!  

I'm not a U2 fan - but if I could be paid what he gets for root notes... I'd be there in a heatbeat.

I'd use the money to release my experimental jazz album on the side.

New Years Day uses 3rds. Very memorable bass line too, just to give Adam a bit of support

That's an early one.  Talking of early stuff, isn't there a bass solo of some kind on Under a Blood Red Sky?

John_A

John_A

Not a big Adam Clayton, or U2 fan, just sticking up for him