Building a Classic Rock Song From the Ground Up

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

I mean if you're playing with a live, human drummer, mentally put yourself in his or her place as if you're the one playing the drums, while all along you're actually playing bass or guitar or whatever. A bit woowoo, I know, but go with it. You may find a synergy (or call it "tightness" or"pocket") that you didn't have before. It's a very tiny, primitive version of the thing that tells a flock of birds to all make a hard left at the exact same instant.

Ah ya I really did not get it thanks
No not woowoo at all . I think the best bands/combo's ( the ones that are a joy to listen to for an entire performance) are very cognizant of their playing in relationship of the playing of the other instruments , particularly the rhythm section .

[muscmp]

absolutely amazing! what a fun song to do for someone you love!!!

very detailed learning experience for me. thanks.

oh, and i like the two-headed guy in the picture

play music!

[MikeBmusic]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

When that bass is in your hands, be a bass player :-) . It's a different mindset. The good news is, you can fake it.

I play bass for about 40% of the songs in my semi-acoustic band, I'm good at faking it!
I had to learn a lot of the songs, as they are mostly 80s/90s tunes I had never played before (some I had never even heard before!) and I was astounded by how uninspiring the bass parts were in most of them, at least compared to many of the earlier rock songs I know or learned on bass.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

I had to learn a lot of the songs <> and I was astounded by how uninspiring the bass parts were in most of them...

Your "uninspiring" was someone else's "simple, yet effective and appropriate." These are, after all, bass parts taken from records that became popular enough that you're in a cover band copying them.

When a bass part is simple, it frees you from the task of having to get the notes correct, and you can concentrate fully on getting the feel and groove exactly right. I, for one, would call that both inspiring and fun. But like I said, being a bass player calls for a different mindset.