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