Wednesday 16th September 2009

Five things I have learned about playing bass guitar…

Don’t pick a band with two guitarists. The classic rock line-up of singer, guitarist, bassist and drummer worked for Led Zeppelin, the Who, R.E.M., U2, the Sex Pistols, the Stooges, Free, the Gang of Four and innumerable other bands, including us. And it works for a reason – everyone can be heard, no-one steps on anyone else’s toes.

People who really care about music do listen to the bass. In fact, the more they love music, the more likely they are to realise that you’re there, and that there’s more to what you’re doing than root-note plodding. (Though that has its place, too.)

Leo Fender got it more than 90% right when he introduced the Precision Bass in 1951. What he didn’t, he fixed in 1957 with the only ever major redesign of the Precision, and in 1960 with the introduction of the Jazz Bass. Active electronics, fretless, headless, five/six/more strings, fanned frets, graphite necks, exotic woods and all that jazz – I’ve no objections if that’s what you want, but they’re solutions to problems I don’t have, answers to questions I haven’t asked.

Playing with a plectrum is just fine. The bass guitar evolved from the electric guitar, not the double bass. It isn’t somehow more ‘authentic’ to play with your fingers.

Less is more, at least when playing live. I’ve tinkered in the past with phaser, flanger, wah-wah and a box that does everything. But not any more. No effects pedals, just a good bass, a good amp (valve, of course) and some big old cabs to push some air.

Russ