Double Bass How to get a Bass Player to play "simple?"

Bop Stick

Bop Stick

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Apr 16, 2016
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#1
What's the best way to have the conversation about playing simple to a bass player? To focus on the band sound, and leave the too-loud click runs up to people who can play them?

We have a nice guy for a bass player, but we're always told - "he's too busy," "noodling is killing the groove," etc.

We've said 100 times: "play simple," "Play the groove," "no click" (because it's out of time) and that "every phrase doesn't need a signature bass lick." He does this (I think I'm Jaco) on electric as well - and took this bad habit to upright.

We've shown him live videos (it's the "mic in the camera's fault") and listened to the last 3 blown recording sessions (something, something...")

Thanks
 
#4
Thats tough. I know exactly what you are talking about with the click from the palm slap pushing things out of time. Getting the note and the palm slap properly synched up to make a driving, nice feeling groove that doesn't rush or drag is one of the hardest things I've worked on as a double bassist, and I continue to work on it. This gets extra-compounded when you add triple slaps, triplets, drag triplets, quads, and all of the other rockabilly licks that are easier to learn than use effectively and musically. Busy is one thing and it can come down to taste, but having parlor tricks throw off the band's groove is unacceptable.

I would suggest, if he is adamant about not simplifying the majority his playing, to insist that he practice his licks with a metronome set to the agreed-upon performance tempo for each tune. Have him practice with the click on all four beats, the 1 & 3, the 2 & 4, just the 1, and just the 4. I think those exercises will give him a little bit of a wakeup call about how he's not really pulling off what he's attempting to do, and help him hear where the "sweet spot" is for rockabilly bass playing. He'll probably have to simplify a little bit to lock in with the metronome at first, and that might help teach him the utility of the less busy but great feeling bassline. Even if he sticks with his current note-y parts, if he masters the metronome at least he'll have much improved time!
 
#5
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#6
As a "busy bassist" myself I would suggest you straight up tell him and put his position on the line for it.

He has to realize there's a time and place for things.
On a side note, there are even ways to get away with playing busy tastefully but that requires skill that appearantly he doesn't have yet.
Be honest with him, it would either make him better or make you have to find someone better.
 
#7
Maybe you could soften the discussion by concentrating on the way he is playing not being cool for the idiom of the music. Assuming you're doing a rockabilly thing, those out of time Palm slaps must be just killing you guys. It's a tough one because you don't want to dampen his enthusiasm or energy, but you have to channel it into making the music better.
 
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