Bottom Feeder Series--Basic Bass Playing Bassline Tip

"I Like To Say, "The Sky Belonged To Jimi and the Earth Belonged To Me" (Billy Cox) Jimi Hendrix Bass Player for The Band Of Gypsys 

First of all,I have to say I can't read music and nor do I know what a note is or the chorus of a song is for that matter. Some of you are probably thinking, how can this guy call himself a music journalist?

Yeah, I'm kind of a dunce in that regard and I don't worry much about it.

But how many musicians do you know that can't read music? Probably more than you think. But I digress. Lets get back to what this bass playing tips article is about. Okay, I was reading an old article

in Bass Guitar Mag by one of metal's ultimate bottom feeders'--that being Shadows Fall Paul Romanko.

He talked about the give and take between Bass, drums and what's involved in effectively playing a solid bassline without playing over the drums, and giving the bassline what it needs. This in effect means 2 things. First knowing when to work around lead guitar and drums without stepping on the basic chord and riff progression. Also, using differing chords and riffs when fretting to change it up a bit as well.

But here's the rub bottom feeders,when anyone kicks the playing up a notch keep the bottom down and don't play above the fray so to speak. Meaning keep the bottom down and don't play above every one chord or tempo wise. Got it?

But when someone else lays back a bit or you see their phrasing has textural spacing in-between, that is your cue to either noodle around their chording or step on the bassline just slightly in between their phrasing to give it a different feel. Basically your bassline should serve the song and comp the tune in a way that benefits everyone. In some respect giving a good bassline what it needs for everyone else. It's kind of like doing session work. What I mean is if you're an old pro at creating a great bassline you will know almost to the note when to complement the song with your bass stylings and go above the fold just slightly and when to lay back and hold down the fort.

But a pro bass player can put in his style of playing at sessions whether live or in the studio and it serve the song in a way that makes it better. You won't always do it in a way everyone likes,but if you're a straight ahead player who listens and studies like a bastard you'll do well as an in demand bottom Dweller!

Maybe I'm talking friggin' jibberish and don't know shit. I think if you practice your ass off with your band and learn all you can you'll do well as a bass player and be served well holding down the earth like Paul Romanko and Billy Cox.

Mark Grove

Are You A Great Bottom Feeder? Here's How To Be A Slick Bass Axemen Like Geezer

"I Never Try And Sound Like Sabbath" (Geezer Butler)


This is a repost I felt was important because of the amount I watch bass players locally and how most bottom feeders don't have for the most part, their own original playing style, feel and tone. Just my opinion. Bass players are the glue that holds bands together, and watching them gives you an indication of how the rest of a band will play. Next time you watch a jam session, a concert or even a recording session watch the bass player and how they play in step with the lead guitarist, drummer and even a singer.

Think about Geezer Butler the Bottom Feeder for Black Sabbath. He plays in lock step with Tony Iommi, and he plays his own way, like a lead axeman. Take a look at a You Tube video of Geezer and how he plays with Iommi. You'll see what I'm talking about. You may think that you being a bass player you aren't that important. I beg to fuckin' differ!

If you're a real bass bottom feeder you'll always play your ass off and get set lists down like it's the only thing that matters. You'll learn how to play differently and play your way if you read this post. And you better. I think you'll gain some valuable knowledge you can take on stage or in the studio. You can even tweak your bass guitar and amp settings to get a different playing tone and feel. As well, you can even tweak your stompbox settings to add to your original tone. So take a few notes and then get started playing, just a little differently.

Sometimes your Bass playing gets stale and you don't stray far from the pocket for anything. One of the better utilization's of being a bass player is holding down the rhythm, yet adding your own texture and chording structure.


When you hit the first two beats with a solid pocket bass back beat take the next two and play them differently by combining different note structures inside the chord. This will take some training and practice on the chord and fret structure that takes the beat and sound to a higher level.


This will help create a bolder feel to the music. You can even switch the first beat to the new chord structure as well and assist in being more of a bass virtuoso and challenge your playing ability. It will even take your band's playing and stretching it dynamically.


You can play different chord variations by learning from music that has both a higher and lower tempo feel. Blues arrangements like Elmore James Jr's tracks on his recent release(JSP)Daddy Gave Me The Blues album, with tracks like "Don't Get Mad" and "I'll Get You," are two examples of playing with intensity--yet taking your blues back beat on the bottom feeder scale to a new level.


You might want to include partial chords on each note you play, there by mixing up the bottom end even more. You'll learn when to include variations on chords and when to stay in the old Bottom Feeder pocket.


Mark Grove

Bottom Feeder Improvising Tips To Take Your Bass Playing To New Heights

By Mark Grove

Sometimes your Bass playing gets stale and you don't stray far from the pocket for anything. One of the better utilization's of being a bass player is holding down the rhythm, yet adding your own texture and chording structure.


When you hit the first two beats with a solid pocket bass back beat take the next two and play them differently by combining different note structures inside the chord. This will take some training and practice on the chord and fret structure that takes the beat and sound to a higher level.



This will help create a bolder feel to the music. You can even switch the first beat to the new chord structure as well and assist in being more of a bass virtuoso and challenge your playing ability. Even take your band's playing and stretching it dynamically.



You can play different chord variations by learning from music that has both a higher and lower tempo feel. Blues arrangements like Elmore James Jr's tracks on his recent release(JSP)Daddy Gave me the blues album, with tracks like "Don't get Mad" and "I'll get you" are two examples of playing with intensity--yet taking your blues back beat on the bottom feeder scale to a new level.

You can buy Elmo's album from http://cadillaczack.com/


You might want to include partial chords on each note you play, there by mixing up the bottom end even more. You'll learn when to include variations on chords and when to stay in the old Bottom Feeder pocket.


Mark Grove

Bottom Feeder Series:How Bass Axeman Can Finangle The Shit Kickinist,Dirtiest Tone Know To Mankind

"And it ain't from Using Strictly Humbuckers and a Marshall Stack"

Been a while since I've done a good Bottom-Feeder article.So I was due.

But my critcizers are in full force out there saying I don't know shit about music,and I'm a  terrible writer. Good--Bring it on!!

You've been playing your bass to set lists your frontman left you and you think you've been just bloody crushin' it! Then your band starts recording your practice's,Jams and live gigs, but your tone seems to be getting lost and obliterated in the mix. What to do?

Chances are you're playing hard enough and alternating between using a pick and your fingers,but it still isn't cutting it.Hell,you've been using Humbuckers strictly,but to no avail.

What the hell you gonna do now?

Here's what to do. Change your pickups to a combination of a single and hum,instead of just Hums. Reason is with strictly hums your tone may be too low or just blasts too much over lead guitar and drums,to be useful. You'll only need to change the neck pickup to a single coil. You already have a Hum in the Bridge position,so you're good. I also have a good pickup replacement and installing video on the site with the one and only Seymour Duncan showing you how to do just that. It's an important video.

Okay,after you've done all that use a good distortion stompbox.Go to your local music shop and test several out. Don't use the first one that comes along.having a stomp will help you out when you need some girth in your bottom feeder tone on more melodic heavy material. But don't use a stomp exclusively over a good Ampeg or SWR amp's overdrive or gain knob. Keep it simple guys. Keep your heavy music tone brutal though yet keep an attack that feeds the lead guitar and drums without cutting into the whole band's mix and overdo it. Be melodic and midrange like when you need to, But keep that heavy music bottom down like the pro bottom feeder you are.

Also,remember to keep recording when you play alone to set lists,cover material and your band's jams, reheasals and live work.So, keep a close eye on whether your bass tone gets lost in the shuffle or it's getting better,grittier,dirtier and just shit kickin'. That last part is a good thing. This will take lots of time and practice fellow Bottom-Feeders.When you figure out how to tweak your bottom feeding just right,you'll know you hit the note,and your brutal bass power has other band's and fans going nuts over you.

Email me for more Bottom Feeder tips.

mdgrove@rock.com

Bottom Feeder Basics That Can Take Your Bass Playing And Stretch It Like A Pro

I always tell Musicians and bassist's to listen to different types of music, not just to listen to it, but to gain knowledge and take your music farther as a result. You have to take your music past its own genre. By that, I mean you have to listen to musicians who can use their instruments and come up with mind-blowing chords and notes that will not just mystify their own band members, but fans who love their type of music.


It could be blues, jazz, country or classical ensembles. I tend to listen to progressive rock bands like Enchant and their "Tug Of War" album(Inside-Out). As well, I listen to a lot of old Country Blues, and people like Frank Zappa and Stevie Ray Vaughan, who are, if you really listen closely to their unique chord structures and application of guitar technique are really, Jazz men.

If you don't try new things with the way you play bass, it will be old and stale. This is one of the reasons good musicians don't become great, and eventually give it up. Integrating new ways of playing Bass There are a number of ways to change the way you play for the type of music your band is styled after.

Don't worry so much about music that is played with a wacked-out meter variation, that just confuses everyone, and most bands don't have the time for shit like that. I would say having some variation in the chords and the phrasing of each instrument can lend it's self to new ways of taking your band down new paths of musical freedom and expression.

For most songs, the bass just plays a backing role and that's fine. But if your band wants to spread it's wings in a progressive manner, the bass player should attempt to apply lead guitar techniques, and the lead should reciprocate that. There are also other ways to play that can take your bass playing farther. Do a forensic audit of your bass guitar, amp head and cab, along with any accessory items such as effects or even the types of strings you use.

Number one, do the pickups in your Bass have the right clarity and give for the music you play?

If not, change them. Try to incorporate different music in your Jam's with the band, and possibly come up with new material on the fly. Try to record every practice session so it gives you new insight, or chord variances that jive with what your band is doing.

Combining different working amp heads and cabs is also essential to changing your sound. Bassist's tell me that just one whole amp head and cabinet together don't usually give you the sound you want, or the chance to interchange different amps and cabs. I try to get musicians to use minimal effects when playing, especially if you have had limited experience with them.


Bassist's and guitarist's seem to overuse them at the expense of our talent as a guitarist, and ability to take notes and chords farther naturally. Try effects by buying Jim Dunlop's (Blow Torch), basically a stomp that mixes midrange distortion in your bands overall sound, and tweaks your distortion and gain mix on the bass. A great stomp Box. Go to www.jimdunlop.com


Try to muddy your sound to some extent on the bass, because a lot of musicians seem to think that cleaner is better. By tweaking a combo of different amp heads and cab, along with minimal effects and mic placements as well, will go along way to getting your sound out of the doldrums. Now, this may not be involved in the overall sound of your bass, but if you use the same Mic's for recording, practice and on-stage, clean your mic's!

It has a definite affect on your overall sound. Think of all the saliva, smoke, food and what ever else gets imbedded in your mic. Take the top of the mic apart and use a paper towel to wipe it down, then use a good alcohol wipe to clean and sanitize it, to get of those little nasty critters that embed themselves on top of the screen, and on the inside as well.

The strings you use are important as well. Have a fresh set on hand at all times, and try to change the gauge for the type of music you're playing, which can have an effect on your tone and your ability to manipulate the strings. Just because you play with thick strings mainly, doesn't mean you're able to play anything.
Experiment, Experiment, Experiment. You won't regret it Bottom Feeder's. Now, get back to doing what you love most, creating music that takes you on a journey that most musicians or people never take.

Mark Grove-CGP

Bottom Feeder Principles For Bass Players That Let You Keep The Foundation Down Like A Pro

By Mark Grove

I was reading an old article by Paul Romanko the resident bass player for Shadows Fall,in the now defunct Bass Guitar Mag.SF is one of a very few metal bands I follow because they are original in their work and have a bass sound that keeps the bottom down better than most.And they decided to go the indie route finally.

http://shadowsfall.com

Okay,Paul talked about his role as a bass player and the fact that bass playing is about keeping the foundation down,in the pocket in a way that keeps everything in sync.Yet when the phrasing gives you an opening you can improvise and still stay in the pocket with going some where else.

I hope that makes sense to all you bottom feeders out there.It will to veterans who are playing gigs and doing regular session work live or in the studio.When you keep the foundation or bottom when you play a complicated lick your playing will complement the lead more.

A lot of rock and metal bass axemen seem to play beyond the tempo which turns the song in side out and makes it difficult to get back to the original riff or lick the song was based on.

If more bass players learned basic blues,country and jazz their playing would take on simple and more technical techniques to stretch their ability as players.Even learning to cop bottom-feeder techniques such as applying lead guitar picking and fretting--yet keeping the bottom in place will serve you well when auditioning,,jamming,playing live or doing sessions in the studio.

I hope these bottom feeder principles will help you in your career as a bass player.


Mark Grove--Create value for other musicians and your career will soar forever.

mdgrove@rock.com

Wanna learn to be a Bass Player with a guitarist's feel? John Entwistle and Jack Cassady are some of the best Bottom Feeder's In The Biz

This very short interview with The Who's John Entwistle and Jefferson Airplane's Jack Cassady,delve into where their playing evolved from.

Also,why they changed their application to technique because of their band mates influences,which gave them the freedom to experiment,yet hold down the bottom with precision skill.

You'll notice they both play like a lead guitarist, which shows how far they're playing has progressed, and so can yours.

This can help you get session gigs as an in-demand Bottom-Feeder.

Watch and learn guys.

Mark Grove

Are You Really A Great Bottom Feeder?

By Mark Grove

This is a repost I felt was important because of the amount I watch bass players locally and how most bottom feeders don't have for the most part, their own original playing style, feel and tone. Just my opinion. Bass players are the glue that holds bands together, and watching them gives you an indication of how the rest of a band will play. Next time you watch a jam session, a concert or even a recording session watch the bass player and how they play in step with the lead guitarist, drummer and even a singer.

Think about Geezer Butler the Bottom Feeder for Black Sabbath. He plays in lock step with Tony Iommi, and he plays his own way, like a lead axeman. Take a look at a You Tube video of Geezer and how he plays with Iommi. You'll see what I'm talking about. You may think that you being a bass player you aren't that important. I beg to fuckin' differ!

If you're a real bass bottom feeder you'll always play your ass off and get set lists down like it's the only thing that matters. You'll learn how to play differently and play your way if you read this post. And you better. I think you'll gain some valuable knowledge you can take on stage or in the studio. You can even tweak your bass guitar and amp settings to get a different playing tone and feel. As well, you can even tweak your stompbox settings to add to your original tone. So take a few notes and then get started playing, just a little differently.

Sometimes your Bass playing gets stale and you don't stray far from the pocket for anything. One of the better utilization's of being a bass player is holding down the rhythm, yet adding your own texture and chording structure.


When you hit the first two beats with a solid pocket bass back beat take the next two and play them differently by combining different note structures inside the chord. This will take some training and practice on the chord and fret structure that takes the beat and sound to a higher level.


This will help create a bolder feel to the music. You can even switch the first beat to the new chord structure as well and assist in being more of a bass virtuoso and challenge your playing ability. It will even take your band's playing and stretching it dynamically.


You can play different chord variations by learning from music that has both a higher and lower tempo feel. Blues arrangements like Elmore James Jr's tracks on his recent release(JSP)Daddy Gave Me The Blues album, with tracks like "Don't Get Mad" and "I'll Get You," are two examples of playing with intensity--yet taking your blues back beat on the bottom feeder scale to a new level.


You might want to include partial chords on each note you play, there by mixing up the bottom end even more. You'll learn when to include variations on chords and when to stay in the old Bottom Feeder pocket.


Mark Grove