Guys, as I sat here gazing at the picture of John Entwhistle in my locket, a thought crossed my mind - how do people tell the difference between a very very good A-tier player and a superb S-tier player?
I mean most people can tell the difference between a beginner and an intermediate - technique, speed, musical knowledge etc. - but these difference become so small when you get to the upper levels. Do they have to play really complex Jazz, or is it someone who can play any song any style at the drop of a hat?
For me it has to be someone who can play good songs, although that my be more of a composition skill?
itās really whatever you think it is. what do you value in a musician? mohini dey may be one of the most technically accomplished players alive but i know a ton of bassists who canāt stand her and say she has no pocket, no soul, etc. i have said it a thousand times if jamerson was just starting to play today he would be shouted down by an army of charles berthoud fan boys.
What I meant is that, at that level, we can assume that they all got the technical part down, and so it comes down to whether they put their skills to āgood useā or not.
Yes, Mohini Dey perhaps; Charles Berthoud (for me, but I donāt know a lot of what he has been doing outside of YT); the young(er) Hadrian Feraud perhapsā¦ (as examples where technical ability can outperform musicalityā¦)
Oh yeah sheās good, but I wouldnāt buy her albums because Iām not really into that sort of thing. I saw a performance with Jesus Molina on YT and it kind of left me cold.
Maybe you have to be an A-tier to appreciate an S-tier
For me the top players are the ones I just canāt help grooving too. If the bass line hasnāt gotten me nodding my head or tapping my foot then itās no good no matter how accomplished it is.
For example I love hearing some of the classical arrangements that people play on the bass. Often seriously virtuoso; technically superb. But often they donāt have soul. Maybe the fault of the composer; I love Mozart, but if I want soul I listen to Beethoven. So if I hear it and it carries me away to the extent Iām not even wondering how theyāre doing it then that is tops for me.
Yeah Iām not really sure what he has done outside YT. Heās technically really good but nothing heās done has made me want to hug my wife or phone my mum or anything like that.
Youāre right - I am (and he has the best signature model(s) @Barney@howard)
Itās just that a guy with his technical prowess is/was prone to overplaying and showing off before considering whether that was ābestā for the tune. I guess you could easily accuse him of that in his younger years (heck, I would have done the same ), but I also think he has matured a lot (literally) and - while still playing a lot of notes - he knows exactly what to play to add spice and interest to a tune.
For one thing, S tier bassists often play in a three piece. In the Who Pete didnāt play lead, he played rhythm, leaving a lot of room for John on bass. Geddy is another example.
I really like @Barneyās comments about sports = more objective (from a separate thread) and applying them to S-tier rankings.
Music?
Art?
oof.
Sounds like we like who we like?
Unless someone (and Iām sure this is a YT series somewhere) develops the S-Tier bassist challenge.
Which, in my opinion, should have āliving out of a van and cheap motels and playing shitty shows for few people for 5-10 yearsā as one of the requisite criteria.
), but I also think he has matured a lot (literally) and - while still playing a lot of notes - he knows exactly what to play to add spice and interest to a tune.