Why Bass Guitar???

[anarchyx]

i don't really care for funk. I'm not a huge fan of Bootsy Collins. I heard his signature wah was good, though.
 
as long as there's some rock out there, I'm fine, but if the bass player is better than average, that's a plus: Protest The Hero, Cryptopsy, Yes, all that stuff

[thumbsup]

Dad used to play with Hank Thompson and played piano & guitar around the house. At age 10 I got a (Sears)box guitar & my brother showed me how to play Peter Gun and then moved me up to House of the Rising Sun lol. At age 15 a new band called Jimmy Hendrix hit the scene and some players asked me to play bass in a band cause there weren't many bass players....I still play guitar and piano but becoming a bass player was totaly accidental. The funk,soul & drive of the bass guitar instrument is what drew me to stay with bass and not other bassist.However there are many bassist I admire and try in vain to emulate!

[elwoodblue]

Steve,...or anyone else,
 Do you have any experience with Hendrix basslines?  
 
  I'm doing pretty well learning them as this new band I'm in is forming...'Mad Beauty'...I would love to hear tips from others who have experience with Jimi's music...being a guitarist who is playing bass I am doing a pretty good job tackling Noel's (and Billy Cox') place in the band.  
   
   I would love to hear advice...stories...etc...from others who know the material.
 Our focus is on some of the more obscure/rarely played material along with the staples.  
 
 I feel very honored to be accepted by my friend who has an uncanny ability to emulate Hendrix.
 
In a month or two we should be ready for shows.
 
I absolutely love how well Jimi and his band(s) composed and created a complex tapestry of sound as a trio.

[jet_powers]

I've never been in a Hendrix tribute band or anything but have played many of the tunes over the years. I 've found that the bass lines are pretty straightforward. It's all about the guitar in those songs, isn't it?
 
-JP

[3rd_ray]

I wouldn't say Noel Redding's or Billy Cox's playing was straightforward. I would say there was a lot going on down there. Jimi was obviously the star, but the bass lines stayed pretty busy. The bass lines weren't up front in the mix so much, so maybe you have to listen a little closer than usual. My 2 cents.
 
Way up at the beginning of this post, I probably should have included Noel Redding as an influence. I always loved that bass sound.  
 
Mike

[thumbsup]

JP & Mike both have thier points. Bass lines for star guitar players such as Hendrix or even Stevie Ray Vaughn are relatively simple. A lot of 1,3,5,jump 2.Look what ZZ Top did with three cords! Sometimes keeping it simple creates the groove and these type bassist are known as solid players.Once your comfortable with the scale you can include your own (licks) enbetween which adds your style to the song which is how a band gets its individuallity.But some players/bands like to perform cover tunes just like the record.It's all good as long as the grove is there and you play in the pocket! My nichols worth...Steve

[elwoodblue]

thanks guys...I'll add that as I'm learning them ;
like Mike said , the bass lines aren't always what they seem to be.
 I'm going to have to work on my right hand finger work to get Billy's sound accurate...once we have things solid I'll post some youtube performances.

[anarchyx]

?? o...........k............? so u guys are telling me ur still learning Hendrix songs on the bass?

[elwoodblue]

yup.
...cream of the crop.

[garethnh]

Don't know if this'll give you any idea's. We are a three piece and do a number of Hendrix songs. Whilst the guitarist is doin his stuff, we entertain ourselves by doing really tight drum fills/bass runs and changing the beat when we shouldn't... noone really notices but it makes it more interesting for us! In 'Hey Joe' (yep, we do that) we quieten down t'ward the end and do stops whilst the six stringer gets all bluesy, as I say it makes it a bit different. But with the bass you can pretty much do as you like round the chords (I do anyway!)

[elwoodblue]

thanks Gareth,
 We will let loose after a while...now the focus is reproducing selected parts of Hendrix shows to a tee...similar to what Dark Star Orchestra does so well.
 
   It's a treat to hear Hendrix done right with 3 guitar stacks and two bass stacks.A rarity these days.
 
... of course we will make mistakes once in a while and nothing is perfect...my guitarist has played with Buddy Miles (who graced him with compliments) and has alot of experience with what sounds 'right'.  
  We will leave the theatrics like attire and wigs to other well known Hendrix emulators...  
...just hoping to turn on folks to a heavy and soulful show that brings back all those vibes that Hendrix was a master at.
 
 I'll be playing with a pick to give a tight punch to the sound...I'm hoping I can get my right hand technique to approach Billy Cox' confidence and 'thumpiness'.
'Message of love' for instance has parts that I know a pick will sound a little different.We will make a few adjustments as we hone our sound.
 
   
(I convinced my guitarist that my F-1x works great...even though the Experience and Band of Gypsies never had one.I'm looking forward to trying out my Sunn 2000s that was Steve Miller's and was actually played at the filmore west in '67)
   
 
 
  To allow ourselves to express our own creativity we might open up for ourselves as a different band.

[garethnh]

What you describe would sound pretty amazing. I fear myself and the other guys in my band wouldn't have the discipline for what you are attempting... all the best with it!

[elwoodblue]

Thanks Gareth, I take to heart your comments.
It will be a task like you say...hence my probing for tidbits of advice that might help in our project.
 
I look forward to sharing the fruits of our labor  after alot of practicing.
(it's tough sometimes not to add my own creativity...I have to think of the big picture and goals to keep my fingers in check, after all...there is Mad Beauty in unorthodoxy)  
 
best regards

[anarchyx]

oh ok. If you're adding things that's cool, but I mean, just learning the basics of the song would be pretty weak. I've only been playing for half a year and I can do that stuff. That's like a bodybuilder lifting a dumbell that weighs 2 lbs. It's extremely easy

[811952]

Hendrix' Power to Love has one of the all-time killer bass lines..
 
John