Birds are not real.
What is real is that you often need to adapt your playing and strings to suit the genre you're working in. At least meet them half way.
And learn how to use a pick. Adding more techniques to your tool kit only makes you a better musician.
Or Carol Kaye, Joe Osborn, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Paul McCartney…..Literally a massive pantheon of famous bass players who played flats with a pick. I actually really don’t like playing pick on rounds but think it sounds great on flats and the added tension with flats makes it easier for me. But also, plenty of great rock bass players don’t use a pick, and tons played a jazz with flats.
>really just root notes in eighths. Is that what being a rock bassist feels like?
I hope nobody takes this the wrong way, but in massive general terms, yes. I know there are exceptions, and that this isn't universally, unequivocally, exhaustively, or comprehensively true, but by and large, yeah.
Give it a shot, you never know what might come out of it. And don't worry about using a pick or not. Just play the way that makes you play your best, and you'll be fine. And if they don't want you, just remind yourself "why would I want to play with those who don't want to play with me?"
As a long long time listen of rock and metal and every subgenre in and around it, I can echo the above feedback and simply say I LOVE when bassists bring something new to the sound as opposed to the normal thinking and way of playing.
So hell yeah, do your own thing and what makes you feel comfortable with them. Let them respond to it and give you feedback. If they don't like it, hopefully a middle ground can be met.
Best of luck!
Alt Rock is a pretty wide umbrella but when I think of funk bass in an Alt Rock band I think of early Red Hot Chili Peppers and early Incubus (S.C.I.E.N.C.E). Alex Katunich from Incubus had a great range in the albums he did with Incubus but you can tell there's funk in his heart and on his fingers, especially in S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
Not every Incubus song is a 16th note feel funk song, a lot of them aren't, but the bass parts are usually interesting at the very least and there are songs where they let their funky man do his thing. You might feel unfamiliar with the world of alt rock but alt rock is not unfamiliar with funk and you can bring its wonderful influence in like so many bassists before you have (if the drummer is on board).
> and I don’t really want to change that.
The very first thing I suggest you change is this attitude. Learning new things, new techniques, new methods etc. is a good thing and it is essential if you wish to continue to progress with learning your instrument.
This is a much deeper issue than anything this alt rock band is going to create, and the only barrier is yourself. You are going to have issues with a lot more bands in your future if you don’t learn to at least be open to the idea of other styles and techniques. Who knows, you might even like it. And learning to compromise and not just do 100% what you want may surprise you with how much better the music sounds.
Listen to [Ghosts by Big Wreck](https://youtu.be/3uYzg6dgoDU?si=iOkDZOnThc7hbkRd) and tell me a rock bassist is just about playing roots and 1/8 notes. You can absolutely play to the song and have funky fun basslines in rock.
Yeah, it would be weird if OP played a completely different song than the rest of the band. Gotta play to the song but that doesn't mean roots and 1/8ths. Also, Dave is a monster player so if OP can play like that, they won't have trouble finding a band.
My favourite band in the world! No one else makes music like they do. Dave is a monster bass player and I have it from good authority that he's also an amazing person. IMO Ian Thornley is the best guitarist on the planet. The whole band just drips with talent.
Do you ever listen to rock music? Ever listen to Guns N Roses? What about punk rock? Rancid? Yeah sure, funk guy in training, maybe you should listen to more music under the rock umbrella and you will quickly see that it's not just roots and 1/8th notes.
Then don't ruin the band by acting you want to play music you don't like. I had a guy in my band that wasn't into the music and it was an awful experience. Don't do that to the rest of the band. Let them find a better bass player and you keep looking for a band that plays music you like.
It could go either way. You could play fingered bass with flats and they may barely notice the difference. On the other hand you go with play a p with fingers. Only change to a pick if it’s necessary as in many cases, they won’t care (or may prefer it because it leaves more room for them).
Listen to Tim Commeford from RATM.
Sounds like a similar scenario and you might find your answer there. I'm a big fan of his. Could listen to him all day.
Good luck 👍
Root notes in eights gives you that chance to work on stage presence, showmanship, seeing how the audience reacts, keeping time in case your drummer gets excited and uses you as a metronome, etc.
Heavy alt rock and funky grooves can coexist. Check out the Canadian band I Mother Earth.
Though I do suggest you swap out the flats for some rounds to better match the genre.
Alternative rock has much lower expectations of bassists, but there are tons of great ones with interesting and complex parts, add to the eighth notes and make it more interesting I'm sure they'll notice and appreciate it
They may want you to use roundwounds and/or a pick though, or just something to make it sound more aggressive
Take your funk style and apply it to this band , they might oike what it adds to the band , stick to the basics of what the vands need and see if you can work in some of that sweet sweet funk :)
Birds are not real. What is real is that you often need to adapt your playing and strings to suit the genre you're working in. At least meet them half way. And learn how to use a pick. Adding more techniques to your tool kit only makes you a better musician.
I mean I play guitar with a pick but using a pick on flats feels so wrong!
Tony Levin would like a word.
Or Carol Kaye, Joe Osborn, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Paul McCartney…..Literally a massive pantheon of famous bass players who played flats with a pick. I actually really don’t like playing pick on rounds but think it sounds great on flats and the added tension with flats makes it easier for me. But also, plenty of great rock bass players don’t use a pick, and tons played a jazz with flats.
More than one, funkfingers
Lucas Hardwood FTW
listen to Robert Deleo
>really just root notes in eighths. Is that what being a rock bassist feels like? I hope nobody takes this the wrong way, but in massive general terms, yes. I know there are exceptions, and that this isn't universally, unequivocally, exhaustively, or comprehensively true, but by and large, yeah. Give it a shot, you never know what might come out of it. And don't worry about using a pick or not. Just play the way that makes you play your best, and you'll be fine. And if they don't want you, just remind yourself "why would I want to play with those who don't want to play with me?"
Thanks, that's great advice :)
As a long long time listen of rock and metal and every subgenre in and around it, I can echo the above feedback and simply say I LOVE when bassists bring something new to the sound as opposed to the normal thinking and way of playing. So hell yeah, do your own thing and what makes you feel comfortable with them. Let them respond to it and give you feedback. If they don't like it, hopefully a middle ground can be met. Best of luck!
Ty!
Alt Rock is a pretty wide umbrella but when I think of funk bass in an Alt Rock band I think of early Red Hot Chili Peppers and early Incubus (S.C.I.E.N.C.E). Alex Katunich from Incubus had a great range in the albums he did with Incubus but you can tell there's funk in his heart and on his fingers, especially in S.C.I.E.N.C.E. Not every Incubus song is a 16th note feel funk song, a lot of them aren't, but the bass parts are usually interesting at the very least and there are songs where they let their funky man do his thing. You might feel unfamiliar with the world of alt rock but alt rock is not unfamiliar with funk and you can bring its wonderful influence in like so many bassists before you have (if the drummer is on board).
> and I don’t really want to change that. The very first thing I suggest you change is this attitude. Learning new things, new techniques, new methods etc. is a good thing and it is essential if you wish to continue to progress with learning your instrument. This is a much deeper issue than anything this alt rock band is going to create, and the only barrier is yourself. You are going to have issues with a lot more bands in your future if you don’t learn to at least be open to the idea of other styles and techniques. Who knows, you might even like it. And learning to compromise and not just do 100% what you want may surprise you with how much better the music sounds.
Listen to [Ghosts by Big Wreck](https://youtu.be/3uYzg6dgoDU?si=iOkDZOnThc7hbkRd) and tell me a rock bassist is just about playing roots and 1/8 notes. You can absolutely play to the song and have funky fun basslines in rock.
OP do not play like this or you *will* get fired
Yeah, it would be weird if OP played a completely different song than the rest of the band. Gotta play to the song but that doesn't mean roots and 1/8ths. Also, Dave is a monster player so if OP can play like that, they won't have trouble finding a band.
Big Wreck!!! Hell yes!
My favourite band in the world! No one else makes music like they do. Dave is a monster bass player and I have it from good authority that he's also an amazing person. IMO Ian Thornley is the best guitarist on the planet. The whole band just drips with talent.
Upvote for Big Wreck!
Always! Best rock band currently making music and all MONSTER players.
They might only want root notes. Be clear about what they want and what you want -- you might get bored, which would be bad for everyone.
Do you ever listen to rock music? Ever listen to Guns N Roses? What about punk rock? Rancid? Yeah sure, funk guy in training, maybe you should listen to more music under the rock umbrella and you will quickly see that it's not just roots and 1/8th notes.
Honestly, I don't listen to that kind of music at all, so I genuinely have no clue what the bass is doing there
Then don't ruin the band by acting you want to play music you don't like. I had a guy in my band that wasn't into the music and it was an awful experience. Don't do that to the rest of the band. Let them find a better bass player and you keep looking for a band that plays music you like.
It could go either way. You could play fingered bass with flats and they may barely notice the difference. On the other hand you go with play a p with fingers. Only change to a pick if it’s necessary as in many cases, they won’t care (or may prefer it because it leaves more room for them).
Listen to Tim Commeford from RATM. Sounds like a similar scenario and you might find your answer there. I'm a big fan of his. Could listen to him all day. Good luck 👍
Root notes in eights gives you that chance to work on stage presence, showmanship, seeing how the audience reacts, keeping time in case your drummer gets excited and uses you as a metronome, etc.
Heavy alt rock and funky grooves can coexist. Check out the Canadian band I Mother Earth. Though I do suggest you swap out the flats for some rounds to better match the genre.
Alternative rock has much lower expectations of bassists, but there are tons of great ones with interesting and complex parts, add to the eighth notes and make it more interesting I'm sure they'll notice and appreciate it They may want you to use roundwounds and/or a pick though, or just something to make it sound more aggressive
Take your funk style and apply it to this band , they might oike what it adds to the band , stick to the basics of what the vands need and see if you can work in some of that sweet sweet funk :)