Bass Playing

Ever since the birth of the first electric bass guitar in the 1930s, bass players have played an important part in rock’n'roll bands everywhere.  Even before this time, acoustic bass was an important part of blues, jazz and classical music.  The bass player is vital because they create a link between the rhythmic and harmonic structure of the music, acting as an intermediate between the percussion and the more melodic components.  While bass guitar players are not as comfortable in the spotlight as their band mates – especially singers and lead guitarists – many have become famous and recognisable musicians in their own right.  Some famous musical names who have been bass players include Paul McCartney, John Entwhistle and Larry Graham.  While some musicians may be known for their more extreme stimulant use, it is the humble coffee machine that have provided the fuel to many recording and rehearsal sessions over the years.

The role of the bass guitar – and of the bass part of the frequency spectrum – is fundamentally to root the harmony of a song in the rhythm of the percussion.  While the singer and lead guitarist are concerned primarily with melody, the bassist has to anchor this melody into a harmonic framework that is linked to the rhythm created by the drummer.  While The Doors may be the best example of a band that did not have a bass guitarist, Ray Menzarek performed this same function of harmonic anchoring on his organ and keyboards.  There are a number of methods used by bass guitarists to perform this function, with many also expanding the use of the bass into both more melodic and purely rhythmic functions.  Drummers and bass players have to be constantly on point as they create the entire framework of a piece of music, making coffee the ideal beverage for keeping them clicking along on time.

There are a number of different performance variations that can be used by bass players, including plucking, slapping, picking and fretting techniques.  Plucking is probably the most widely used technique, and occurs when the player plucks the string at any point between the bridge and the point where the fretting hand is holding down the string.  The slapping style is used in a lot of funk and funk influenced music, with Flea (red hot chilli peppers) being one of the most well known examples.  Bass guitar picking with a plectrum creates a more articulate sound, with a faster and more defined attack.  Fretting occurs when the fretting hand is used not just to hold down the strings but also to manipulate them when the bass strings are in vibration.  This technique can be used in a variety of ways – to change harmony, alter timbre or to create vibrato.

Musicians seem to love altering their state of mind, whether that be in extreme or more sustainable ways.  Coffee is a great way to create a focused state of mind and is a relatively healthy way for bass guitarists to stay on top of their game while they are playing.  Many rehearsal and recording studios all around the world are equipped with a coffee grinder, a coffee machine and a selection of good quality coffee beans.  Coffee is much better suited to a performance or rehearsal situation than alcohol or indeed any other beverage is, as it creates concentration, focus – and with enough cups – the kind of longevity that can help to create a truly great performance.