Thinking like a bass player

[eric.kiser]

@joergkutter

I find myself wanting to incorporate small rhythmic embellishments when constructing bass lines and also write rather “melodic” bass lines

I’m completely with you on this and I’m not interested in thinking like or playing like a traditional bass player.

I almost decided to go with guitar instead of coming back to playing bass. What made the decision for me was when I realized there was no melody I want to play on guitar that I wouldn’t rather hear myself play on bass. Even if it was written for a different instrument and I think it sounds great on that other instrument, I would still rather play some version of it transposed to bass.

[DaveT]

@howard

It seems to happen when the bass is playing a similar pattern as the rhythm guitar strumming over it; as the guitarist adds some syncopated strumming in it can sound like the bass is playing extra notes.

That’s a pretty good example! That’s exactly the type of thing I’ll phantom hear.

That would make a terrific lesson module: listening to a tune, imagining the bass and then hearing the iso bass. I guess the more time consuming method is to go through the transcription process and see how close the first listening guess was.