Bass in music

[Vivi22]

I find it insulting how music classes will ignore songs like these which show how a bassline can practically dominate a song, Rush should be on the syllabus over here dammit.

That's probably why I never liked the music classes I had to take in school here in Canada, despite being a drummer. I can understand the value of teaching fundamentals of music theory, but there was always a focus on Piano (I can even understand that to an extent though given it's wide tonal range and simplicity in visualizing the notes your playing) and more classical tunes which I guess are less offensive to the old farts dictating what is acceptable for the curriculum.

I mean damn, you could teach a course JUST on Rush if you really wanted to. So why the hell not right?

EDIT: And now you're linking to videos of other favourite Rush songs of mine. You're pretty cool... in so far as fans of Rush can be considered cool.

 

[necromanzer52]

I'm a bassist myself. I really dislike all that slap & pop stuff though. The ox never needed any of that bullshit.

 

[Aiden Raine]

I think bass is a pretty important instrument in modern music. if you don't believe me, go listen to The White Stripes on a good stereo. when I first listened to the song "fell in love with a girl" on one, it felt like something was definitely missing from the music, as it was just drums, guitar, and voice. the big problem is that most modern bass players treat the base line as just backup to the guitar. sure, it makes the song sound better with it there, but they could at least do something different with it.

also...



what's a bass player's real role?

to translate the drums for the guitarist.

 

[DJDarque]

In my opinion, bass is one of the most important parts of modern music second only to the drums. I don't remember who first introduced me to this analogy, but I really like it. Think of rock music as a bed. Drums are the bed frame (or the box springs if your bed just sits on the ground like mine), the bass is the mattress, and the guitars and vocals are the sheets, frills, pillows, etc. Or, if you rather, a house. The drums are your foundation that everything is built upon, the bass is your walls and roof. The guitars and vocals are the paint, furniture, decorations that make it home.

Even if the bass isn't doing anything besides playing some chords it's important because it helps fill the sound space. If you ever listen to a song that's supposed to have bass without it, it will sound empty, and frankly, like shit.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I was curious how important people though bass, as in bass guitar, was in music. I play bass, and I've had a lot of stabs taken at me from friends and roommates telling me that 'bassists don't matter', or 'no one listens to the song for bass'. While I know this isn't true, I was curious as to what everyone else else though. I'd like ya'll to be honest as to weather or not you care/think its important/listen for it/ect.

I play bass but sometimes I regret it...I guess I just need to get better at it or something.

 

[Grimsinger]

I'm a bassist myself. I really dislike all that slap & pop stuff though. The ox never needed any of that bullshit.

Just outta curiosity, what don't you like about it?

 

[Ninjamedic]

snip

I just thought of rush as good example, In my school, they had an obesssive fixation on the choir and piano so most other instruments and genres were neglected, a shame since it resulted in a lack of interst of music beyond singing hymns/pop song/trad music.

Rush is a great example since they are fantastic musicians yet still widely known.

 

[HDi]

I can understand the value of teaching fundamentals of music theory, but there was always a focus on Piano (I can even understand that to an extent though given it's wide tonal range and simplicity in visualizing the notes your playing)

I think the main point in focusing on keyboard instruments is that the centuries-old systems of tonality (the distribution of tones and semitones in each octave) is laid out, literally, in black and white. Funnily enough though, bands like Rush and Tool still adhere more closely to this system than many 'classical' composers of the past hundred years or so have.

I'd be really interested to see how basic music theory is taught when major/minor tonality isn't the driving force of most music anymore... but I'm not sure I'll still be alive if or when that happens.

 

[hecticpicnic]

Being a bassist who used to only listen to rock now turned fusion-techno producer, i can say that yes in certain circles of music bass is less important e.g. pop-metal, soft rock, But those types of music don't are bollocks.
Even in pop and electronic music bass is super important in a 4 piece(singer, guitar, drums, bass) i say the bass is about the same importance as anything else.And just because it's simple doesn't mean it's easy to play, it takes a lot of restraint and gives you a better perspective on music in general. here are some recommendations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM2Ttov_zR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUBPH6vp5Uo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM2Ttov_zR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0TvnWRSyr4&ob=av2e

 

[hecticpicnic]

I was curious how important people though bass, as in bass guitar, was in music. I play bass, and I've had a lot of stabs taken at me from friends and roommates telling me that 'bassists don't matter', or 'no one listens to the song for bass'. While I know this isn't true, I was curious as to what everyone else else though. I'd like ya'll to be honest as to weather or not you care/think its important/listen for it/ect.

I play bass but sometimes I regret it...I guess I just need to get better at it or something.

The bass is probably the most versatile instrument in the band (except guitar if you are able to harness the magical ways of feedback).Easy to learn but hard to master.It's also the most important instrument to get good equipment because if the the bass and drums sound good the whole band sounds a lot better.With guitar you can just hide it with effects.

 

[3AM]

Bass is key to good music. It centers and directs the song. And to quote Sly Stone "I'm gonna add some bottom to make it easy to move your feet".

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I was curious how important people though bass, as in bass guitar, was in music. I play bass, and I've had a lot of stabs taken at me from friends and roommates telling me that 'bassists don't matter', or 'no one listens to the song for bass'. While I know this isn't true, I was curious as to what everyone else else though. I'd like ya'll to be honest as to weather or not you care/think its important/listen for it/ect.

I play bass but sometimes I regret it...I guess I just need to get better at it or something.

The bass is probably the most versatile instrument in the band (except guitar if you are able to harness the magical ways of feedback).Easy to learn but hard to master.It's also the most important instrument to get good equipment because if the the bass and drums sound good the whole band sounds a lot better.With guitar you can just hide it with effects.

Very good point to be honest...I know I'm better with bass, my fingers are just too clumsy and delicate to be able to handle guitar. The freaking strings cut right into them.

 

[HDi]

Oh yeah... and on the topic of bass...

This has always amused me... Snr Simmons thinks he's awesomeness on toast.

Spoiler: ...so bad, it's fucking hilarious

 

[loc978]

Guitar Hero may claim that a mini fridge is more important than a bassist... but I think if you remove Les Claypool from Primus, you may as well impale the rest on his viking helmet for all the good they'd do on stage.

 

[repeating integers]

You want Bass? I'll give you Bass.

<youtube=3dm_5qWWDV8>

Yep, people definitely don't listen to this song for the bass. Nope, not at all.

*rolls eyes*

My friend says that "Bassists are usually failed guitarists or ambitious drummers". I quite like the sound of that second term.

 

[Paladin2905]

I think the problem is that so many people listen to a bass line alone and think "How boring, its just the same few notes". I remember some comedian (who's name slips memory) complaining that his most hated song ever was Pachabel's Canon because he was a tuba player and just played the bass notes all song.

The sound is amply clear though when you're missing it. Bass makes the filling for the tasty pie, and in the hands of somebody very skilled (Flea from RHCP comes to mind as mentioned earlier) it can be an excellent part of any piece of music.

Oh, and anybody who doesn't think bass matters is probably the kind of person who goes to a jam session, then turns their own instrument up so nobody else can hear theirs. You know; full of themselves.

 

[hecticpicnic]

I was curious how important people though bass, as in bass guitar, was in music. I play bass, and I've had a lot of stabs taken at me from friends and roommates telling me that 'bassists don't matter', or 'no one listens to the song for bass'. While I know this isn't true, I was curious as to what everyone else else though. I'd like ya'll to be honest as to weather or not you care/think its important/listen for it/ect.

I play bass but sometimes I regret it...I guess I just need to get better at it or something.

The bass is probably the most versatile instrument in the band (except guitar if you are able to harness the magical ways of feedback).Easy to learn but hard to master.It's also the most important instrument to get good equipment because if the the bass and drums sound good the whole band sounds a lot better.With guitar you can just hide it with effects.

Very good point to be honest...I know I'm better with bass, my fingers are just too clumsy and delicate to be able to handle guitar. The freaking strings cut right into them.

You should get a cheap guitar and learn the chords and what not so you can play songs for friends and so on.

 

[adrakonis]

<youtube=rHxZAykKjJg>
This song wouldn't have any musical quality if it had no bass, but the lyrics would still be funny.

Bass guitar is awesome. I'm a guitarist myself, but I still wan't to learn bass because you can cool stuff with it.

No one mentioned Victor Wooten yet?

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I was curious how important people though bass, as in bass guitar, was in music. I play bass, and I've had a lot of stabs taken at me from friends and roommates telling me that 'bassists don't matter', or 'no one listens to the song for bass'. While I know this isn't true, I was curious as to what everyone else else though. I'd like ya'll to be honest as to weather or not you care/think its important/listen for it/ect.

I play bass but sometimes I regret it...I guess I just need to get better at it or something.

The bass is probably the most versatile instrument in the band (except guitar if you are able to harness the magical ways of feedback).Easy to learn but hard to master.It's also the most important instrument to get good equipment because if the the bass and drums sound good the whole band sounds a lot better.With guitar you can just hide it with effects.

Very good point to be honest...I know I'm better with bass, my fingers are just too clumsy and delicate to be able to handle guitar. The freaking strings cut right into them.

You should get a cheap guitar and learn the chords and what not so you can play songs for friends and so on.

I may do. Although it seems a lot of my friends can play guitar with a couple able to sing well so, maybe being the bassist is my destiny ;P

 

[Jaime_Wolf]

Very few people listen to music for bass (unless its some particular genres where bass is more important). And this is pretty unsurprising - most people don't listen for anything but the melody and even those paying attention to more will tend to pay less attention to the bass since lower pitches are less salient.

That said, people immediately recognise when bass is missing. Saying that people don't listen for the bass is not at all the same thing as saying the bass doesn't matter. Try looking for a comparison of a song with and without bass guitar to show to your dumb friends (I'm sure you could find one somewhere online). The difference is immense.