Whats So Great About The Bass?!?

[aaronbell]

I hope i dont get killed for the title but im having a tough time trying to decide whether to pick up playin the bass or guitar. I already play keys but was looking for something a little new to broaden my boarders . So  i was wondering if any of you had any suggestions.

[uriahsmusic]

...if you have a big amp....alot is great....slapping is fun!.....shout runs are fun.....

[uprising_bassist7]

very very true

[ddwilkins]

Everything!!!!!!!!

[cordney]

the bass to me is probably the least recognize out of all of the instruments unless you're a bass player but if you can make it talk everybody will be in your face

[ddwilkins]

the bass to me is probably the least recognize out of all of the instruments unless you're a bass player but if you can make it talk everybody will be in your face

I can make my bass talk now that I have a Digitech Talker

[jonesl78]

 Nothing beats a live bass player. I hate the sound of the bass on the keys and organ.

[malthumb]

I hope i dont get killed for the title but im having a tough time trying to decide whether to pick up playin the bass or guitar. I already play keys but was looking for something a little new to broaden my boarders . So  i was wondering if any of you had any suggestions.

Hum the following songs out loud......

I'll Take You There - Staple Singers
Forget Me Nots - Patrice Rushen
Brickhouse - Commodores
Good Times - Chic (Rappers Delight - Sugar Hill Gang if you're under 35)
What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye
Flashlight - Parliament
777-9311 - The Time
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Bad - Michael Jackson
I Want My Destiny - Fred Hammond

I'll stop at 10, but I could easily list 1,000.

I'll bet you $10 to a donut that on most, if not all of these, you hummed the bass line.  And if you didn't, you hummed the vocal track, not another instrument.

Peace,

James

[aaronbell]

  Im convinced, but i was looking at a few basses online and i'm having trouble to decide what to get. Whats the difference between 4, 5, and 6 string basses? Which do u suggest i get to start?

[chrismc101]

I'm not trying to be funny at all, but every bass player in here can tell you; if you have to ask a question like that; then the bass isn't for you. I respect all other instruments for the roles that they play, but nothing can come between me and Caramel; my bass.

I married so, I can look at my bass like it's my wife. I wanna know everything about her. Every note, every chord, every sound she can produce. When I can make my bass sound like something I just heard or been practicing; it's one of the best feelings in the world!

All I will say is, which ever instrument you choose, let GOD use you & play it to the fullest. And if it so happens to be the bass, do us in here all proud.

BASSn4EVA

[B3Wannabe]

I may get beat up, but most of the keyboardist I know learn to play the bass sooner or later. Not many go for the guitar. To be different, you could go with the guitar. To me, the learning curve for the bass isn't as steep as the guitar, if you know some theory and have a good ear.

....I like all instruments.

[mr.dj]

I love the bottom end on my bass, I can't make mine talk yet but I will shake the foundation with the bottom end!

[MikeGee]

Hum the following songs out loud......

I'll Take You There - Staple Singers
Forget Me Nots - Patrice Rushen
Brickhouse - Commodores
Good Times - Chic (Rappers Delight - Sugar Hill Gang if you're under 35)
What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye
Flashlight - Parliament
777-9311 - The Time
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Bad - Michael Jackson


Commodores, Brickhouse. I hum the bass line and play it. Anotherone bites the dust and Flashlight give me 5 min. and I'll play them too.

I love that funk
I Want My Destiny - Fred Hammond

I'll stop at 10, but I could easily list 1,000.

I'll bet you $10 to a donut that on most, if not all of these, you hummed the bass line.  And if you didn't, you hummed the vocal track, not another instrument.

Peace,

James

[carlmack7183]

I had the same dilemma when I wanted to pick up another instrument besides keys.  Trust me, pick the bass. WHY? A good choir with a bass player will always sound better and more complete than a choir without one. Cant say the same for lead guitar. Lead makes a great complement for bass and organ, but bass is the heart of a live performance whether its jazz, gospel, r&b, or whatever. If you are a true keyboard player, you like to have an important role in the music. With bass you will have a more important role, trust me!!!!
 

[ddwilkins]

Also, music needs a foundation, and bass is just that. 

[wimberlyclark]

Being a bassist I agree with ALL that has been said here except that the bassline in Flashlight is being played by the incomparable " Woo " aka Bernie Worrell, one dynamite keyboardist...lol Although back in the day at a live P-Funk concert I saw Rodney Skeet Curtis play it and lay down a serious solo as well..
God Bless

[malthumb]

Being a bassist I agree with ALL that has been said here except that the bassline in Flashlight is being played by the incomparable " Woo " aka Bernie Worrell, one dynamite keyboardist...lol Although back in the day at a live P-Funk concert I saw Rodney Skeet Curtis play it and lay down a serious solo as well..
God Bless

Yeah, Flashlight is keyboard bass.  So is Bad.  But it is the bass line.

Peace,

James

[musiqisme26]

i think the bass is the sexiest instrument out of all the major church instruments

[GuitarDonkey]

the fact that you can rock the whole church and yur house with a bigenough amp! example