BASS
STEPPING OUT | Gary Lunn
There are so many different aspects of the sound of a bass . It can significantly influence a song ’ s heartbeat , speak to its melody , or thunderously add shock value to the music . It ’ s a beautiful thing to think that a single , fourstringed instrument can do all of that , and we get to play it !
The most important thing you can do as you spontaneously create bass lines is to listen to the lead vocal . As you become familiar with the way a melody ebbs and flows , you will find that it has repeating patterns . Once you learn where the spaces are between melodic phrases , you will be more aware of the places to do subtle connecting runs and quick melodic ideas .
Soloing at the appropriate time can musically move the spirit within the worship , but solos typically are rare in today ’ s worship music . That ’ s why you need to be prepared for them when they happen . Bass solos require knowledge of chord spelling , great rhythm , and grounded , spontaneous inspiration .
Being familiar with several different bassists ’ solos can help a lot , too . As you learn them , they will become a part of your “ repertoire ,” but this will require a lot of practice hours for analysis . Look at this time spent as an investment ! Every time you learn a bassist ’ s solo , you grow . The more you learn , the more you grow . The two most important factors to successfully “ step out ” are the appropriateness of your tone and your sensitivity to what ’ s happening in both the band and the room . As bass players , we have to be aware of both .
I have been asked if it ’ s better to have the sound people plug into the back of your amp , put a microphone in front of it , or plug into your pedal board that contains some sort of direct box . The answer for me is , in the end , choose whichever one supplies the cleanest and quietest signal to the sound person . Typically , the more pedals you have , the higher the potential for a noisy signal . If you have a lot of pedals , then a passive direct box might be a better option . If you have fewer pedals , perhaps a nice active direct box or even a tube direct box would supply a bigger , warmer sound for your sound person to mix with . A microphone on your amp can greatly add dimension to your tone .
In a live setting where no headphones and amps / monitors are being used , try to be aware of your own volume level compared to the other musicians . If you ’ re the loudest guy on stage , the house engineer must mix the whole band around you . If you are in a hall or church where the overall volume is an issue , remember that
the P . A . can only be as soft as the loudest guy on stage . I never want to be that guy ! Always ask the engineers if you ’ re playing too loud . If they say yes , be willing to accommodate them by lowering your volume with a good attitude .
Keep your bass sounding good ! Take note of when you have one string that sounds more “ dead ” than all others ( no life , no sustain , etc .). When this happens , it ’ s time to change to a new set of strings . Or , if you like a darker bass sound , it will help if you save old string sets ( which I do ) so you can possibly replace a “ bad ” string for a used one . Because many bass players do not like the bright sound of new strings , it ’ s nice to have plenty of old strings on hand . They usually have a darker , more retro feel to them . This seems to be the bass sound that is most requested these days . Also , I see the use of flat-wound strings now more than ever .
Keep those questions coming ! Message me on Facebook or Instagram , or email me at garylunn @ me . com . Take care of those hands !
Gary Lunn Gary is a session player / producer / writer in Nashville , TN . He does home recording , plays many recording session accounts , and attends Grace Church ( gracechurchnashville . com ) in Franklin , TN . Find him on www . facebook . com for questions or scheduling . garylunn @ me . com
96 September 2023 Subscribe for Free ...