Post by Michael Angelo Batio on Mar 29, 2005 9:31:09 GMT -6
I received a PM recently regarding playing bass. Here it is. Please post questions on the forum. I post responses as often as I can. Thank you.
-Michael, do you play a bass-guitar sometimes?
Yes. I enjoy playing bass guitar. I feel I play it like a "bass player" rather than a guitarist that picks up a bass and fly's up and down the neck playing scales.
-Which bass do you think is the best?
Dean basses of course!
-How do you feel about playing bass?
Bass guitar is extremely important in music for many reasons. The bass creates a groove and a "pocket" for the song to flow in. Great bass playing has it's own rhythm and melody adding life to a great piece of music.
For example, the bass part on the chorus of my song "Rain Forest" functions as a counter melody. It has a groove and a melodic flow that makes the section come to life.
Does thicker strings bother you?
No, not at all. In fact one of my guitars (in my house) is set up with extremely high action and very heavy gauge strings. I use it just to practice on. It is a "'warm up" guitar. Regarding playing bass- the longer scale length of the neck or the thickness of the strings is not a problem for me. I apply the same principles technically on bass that I do on guitar. Good hand positioning, economy of motion, etc... Most of the time I play bass with a pick although I can play using my fingers. It depends on what I want the part to sound like. In conclusion, great bass guitar playing is much more than a guitarist picking up a bass and playing. It is a great instrument in it's own right and has an important place in music.
-Michael, do you play a bass-guitar sometimes?
Yes. I enjoy playing bass guitar. I feel I play it like a "bass player" rather than a guitarist that picks up a bass and fly's up and down the neck playing scales.
-Which bass do you think is the best?
Dean basses of course!
-How do you feel about playing bass?
Bass guitar is extremely important in music for many reasons. The bass creates a groove and a "pocket" for the song to flow in. Great bass playing has it's own rhythm and melody adding life to a great piece of music.
For example, the bass part on the chorus of my song "Rain Forest" functions as a counter melody. It has a groove and a melodic flow that makes the section come to life.
Does thicker strings bother you?
No, not at all. In fact one of my guitars (in my house) is set up with extremely high action and very heavy gauge strings. I use it just to practice on. It is a "'warm up" guitar. Regarding playing bass- the longer scale length of the neck or the thickness of the strings is not a problem for me. I apply the same principles technically on bass that I do on guitar. Good hand positioning, economy of motion, etc... Most of the time I play bass with a pick although I can play using my fingers. It depends on what I want the part to sound like. In conclusion, great bass guitar playing is much more than a guitarist picking up a bass and playing. It is a great instrument in it's own right and has an important place in music.