BASS
WHAT MAKES US? | Gary Lunn
The music we listen to hits us all differently because we are all different. Then, enter the musician.
We all have our different tastes. Some of us are more critical than others— especially bassists. As we listen to music, its subtle nuances hit different spots in our likes and dislikes. It influences us, and we don’ t even realize it. The deeper stylings of the melodic structure have an amazing effect on our moods, and if there’ s an instrument in our hands, our response comes through our instrument. It causes us to feel the various moods within the music.
Let’ s go deeper!
When COVID happened, we all had to rise out of an awful time of isolation and solitude. However, it did allow us a chance to practice and experiment with sounds! I have often stated that the key to dialing up a good bass tone depends on what your ears want to hear, and the only way to change this is to listen to more bass players who have really great tone. You need to figure out how to imitate it.
It doesn’ t matter which amp or speaker you’ re playing through. Just find a way to make your bass sound like the ones that you like. It’ s not so much about remembering the settings that you use. It’ s more about being able to compare your sound with the sound on the recording. This will help you to change what your ears need to hear.
This is an essential skill set to acquire. I have seen too many bass players with very expensive gear who are unable to get a good bass tone because they’ re married to a bad bass sound that’ s ingrained in their mind.
Ask other musicians how they get their sound. What’ s their secret? Ask them who their favorite bass players are, or which bass player they think you should listen to. Then go home, listen, practice, and try your hardest to imitate their tone with your own gear.
It helps immensely to listen with decent ear monitors, headphones, or speakers. That way, you are always starting from a good point of reference. Listen and practice with the same sound source as much as possible so you become familiar with the way your new tones sound.
An important part of this process is learning how to take feedback from people in a positive manner. Not being offended by people’ s opinions is the mark of a wise person. You should always strive to be a better person— it will pay off in many other aspects of life as well. It will also increase your influence over others by having a good attitude towards constructive criticism. Remember always to view feedback as a gift, not a dig.
The tone that you select for a particular song has everything to do with the type of bass line that you want to compose for that song. In other words, when considering your bass line composition, tone can have as much to do with what you play as the bass line itself does. This is why knowing and understanding how to get great bass sound( s) is so important.
Also, you should consider that your individual bass line compositions for different sections of a song might not sound different to the average listener, but they will always hold a completely different meaning for us. To us, writing a bass line is just as important as writing a song.
When you think about it, as musicians— spiritual musicians— we see into the music with our ears. We let the spirit in the music lead us and guide us through each different part of every song. In this way, as we play, we are constantly learning what each part of the song requires, especially from a fundamental standpoint. Usually, as a song builds, we transition from a simple / soft bass line to a more authoritatively controlled, slightly busier style.
I realize that this sounds a bit too philosophical in terms of the approach to bass line composition and sound, but I think it’ s essential to our most important job.
I have always said that the key to a smoothoperating rhythm section is when everyone closely listens to each other as they consider the main objective: staying out of everyone else’ s way while keeping the song as the main focal point.
So why don’ t certain music stylings move everyone the same way? Because we are using our ears to see into the music spiritually, and that is what makes our interpretation unique and wonderful. Remember, we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Gary Lunn Gary is a session player / producer / writer in Nashville, TN. He plays for many recording session accounts, does home recording and producing, and attends Grace Church( gracechurchnashville. com) in Franklin, TN. Email him for questions, comments or scheduling at... garylunn @ me. com
94 October 2025 Subscribe for Free...