"Your bassist trys to show off too much"

[hammer]

I'd have to agree with the others and would add the term tastefully to the mix. I think those who mentioned what it adds to the tune got it right. Adding notes simply to see how many you can fit in to a passage (a la guitarist John McLaughlin) does little for me.  On the other hand, tasteful passages (bass, guitar, or any other instrument for that matter) add to the experience.

[hydrargyrum]

One other comment on the thread. Hydrargyrum said: and Victor Wooten would probably have been bored playing with Pink Floyd. Hmmm... Maybe, but I'll bet not. And I think Roger Waters would probably have a hard time sitting in with the Flecktones (too many happy songs, right?), but I bet he wouldn't be bored either.
 
Maybe not the best example, but I think my point is still valid.  If you're doing your own thing while everyone else is doing something else, you're the one who is going to sound bad, no matter how talented you might be.  
 
Scene: What kinds of music influenced you as a young musician?
Wooten: All the music that was on the radio in the mid-to-late ?60s: A lot of soul music, R&B, Motown, James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone. But because radio was so open, I would also hear Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd. And then later on I got into jazz ? people like Jaco Pastorius, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke.
 
Full article: http://missmollymack.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/interview-with-victor-wooten/

[tmoney61092]

Thanks for everyones input, my band loves the basslines I play because it makes our sound kind of funky. And as I said everyone in the crowd loved what I played except for those 2 people! hahaha I would love to be able to approach all my parts with a what would geddy do? style but I don't have that kind of talent! We have a gig on Friday so we'll see what the people think this time!
 
~Taylor

[jos]

I think that most of the real pros have great taste and knows when to play and when not to! At least most of the bass players I know and admire know when to shut up! To play less notes for a real pro is not boring because they are all there for the music... it?s about sound, phrasing & taste. That?s why we are playing Alembic, to enjoy our sound.  
The music normally tells you what to do. If its singer songwriter stuff you need to support the song and make the singer sound good! If you play Donna Lee with a Jazz combo in up-tempo and have a solo spot maybe its better to play more?.but it can still be enjoyable.  
Everything that is good is good? less or more?.after that it?s a question of taste and what you personally like! I love all great music!  
James Taylor, Paul McCartney, Stanley Clarke, Pink Floyd?.all good!!
J-O-S

[benson_murrensun]

The name Jamerson came up... From the little I know about his lines, they were NOT simple. They just sounded right because they were so in the pocket. He chose some notes that were not right for the chord, yet they were perfect somehow. An example is the bass in Ain't That Peculiar. I just found this, it's cool: http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2010/02/15/aint-that-peculiar-just-the-bass-and-drums/

[thumbsup]

I agree they were NOT simple. They just sounded right because they were so in the pocket.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard a song and thought the bass line was simple until I sat down and learned it!
A bass line performed right...including  sustaining/mutting tecnique & placed properly & dynanmics!....
Well a seemingly simple bass line may not actually be so simple and as Charles said then add to that vocals and synchronized show steps and stopming effects when required.
A good bass player will make a...... lets say an advanced bass line.... sound simple!

[bassman10096]

I like hearing what Jamerson was actually playing.  He was fearless in his use of chords and arpeggios.  For those not familiar with Standing in the Shadow of Motown, Bob Babbit (bass on Midnight Train to Georgia and lots of others) performed Jamerson's line from Bernadette mostly solo (and very accurately to the original) - for you cheapskates out there the 29 sec preview on Amazon is worth a listen to discern the beautiful stuff Jamerson was doing on the record.  
 
Select Bernadette:  
http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Shadows-Motown-Various-Artists/dp/B00021LPLA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1314329102&sr=8-3
 
 The CD itself is a fantastic Motown showcase and well worth buying.    
 
As to critics from the crowd - most aren't qualified to judge your playing, some have an axe to grind (sometimes just to have an opinion at someone else's expense), and more important -- how is it that your singer is sharing all this with you?  As to showing off, I've been accused of overplaying enough times to know I need to question myself periodically.  But by and large, the better I know what I'm playing the more easily I can hear what sounds right to me.  Beyond that - everybody's style is different.

[adriaan]

How does one tell if a bass line is simple? Sometimes you find a bass player who doesn't have any great skills (as in fancy chops and stuff) but can play in the pocket as if anyone can do it. (NOT!)
 
On the one!

[terryc]

Okay what I meant about Jamerson/Kaye ie 'simple' was that they are not playing a million notes per bar at a light speed BPM.
Or slapping, tapping, two handed fretting either, but I agree with all that as long as you get the groove and fit the song that is the best way to get more work and please the band.

[benson_murrensun]

Yeah, Jamerson didn't play a million notes/second, but he WAS pretty fast for a guy who used to pluck with only one finger (The Hook)!

[benson_murrensun]

Yeah, Jamerson didn't play a million notes/second, but he WAS pretty fast for a guy who used to pluck with only one finger (The Hook)!

[bassman10096]

Jamerson was not only fast, but incredibly precise with that single finger technique.  Add to that, the fact that there wasn't another James Jamerson preceding him for him to learn from and you begin to appreciate his original creativity.

[white_cloud]

I sing and play bass - and like to make a lot of the bass lines to the covers we play better. That is - my own opinion on how it can be improved. Often, when it comes to learning new songs I dont even listen to the original...I just go with the bass line that I feel is right.
 
Does this sound strange to anyone? It seems perfectly natural to me. Its what being a musician is all about to me - my interpretation.

[811952]

Sometimes if it's a song I've heard I'll try to do the original bass line.  If it's a song I'm unfamiliar with, I'll ask everybody what kind of groove it is and go from there.  I'm always open to suggestion, since I do like being invited back.  
 
I'm sure I play too much for some situations, but when we're playing I am reliably told to cut loose and have fun so I generally do so.  And of course, if the song needs it I'll play diamonds.
 
Three examples of a recent gig (I posted one in my gigs thread):
 
Busy:
http://youtu.be/yvSubirAQP4
 
Less busy:
http://youtu.be/UZbb447AbTU
 
Laid back and simple:
http://youtu.be/yUCrtR1hCAs
 
Yeah, I might put too many notes in there, but it's sure not showing off to anyone.  It's just me enjoying the music.  I don't get many complaints, even though I probably horrify a lot of people.  I would think of two people in an otherwise happy crowd complaining as an anomaly.
 
John

[keith_h]

Rocco Prestia. Personally I never thought he played too many notes.  
 
Keith