Bands with 'busy' bass worth learning

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 3:57 pm

I am sick of Rush. I still love them, and they're still number one on my favorite bands list, but I'm sick of playing it. I've learned almost all of it, and what's left are the ****** songs, IE: 'Dog Years', 'Totem' and 'Secret Touch'. I even learned half of their cover album.

I need another band to learn stuff from. I've tried writing, but it always comes out bad and turns into something I already know. I did come up with something semi ok the other night. Simple chords, a key change.. silly stuff.. and I have no lyrics to go with it ATM.

My friend let me borrow an Iron Maiden CD... '96's "Best Of The Beast".. the 17 track one disk version. Well I learned 15 of the 17 before I had to give it back. Steve Harris is incredible, but repetitive.

Any suggestions for stuff to learn? The Who? Primus? Yes? Led Zep?

Yes would be nice so I could teach myself to use a pick a little better.. but the whole 'I'm **** with a pick.' is holding me back.

Something where the bass player sings would be nice too.. it'll give me something else to do.

So... any suggestions?

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 4:16 pm

Get all the Renaissance albums up through "Song For All Seasons". Jon Camp plays some incredible melodic lines and he sings, mostly backup, but lead on a few songs. Plus it is all Rickenbacker!

Check out "Ocean Gypsy" on "Scheherazade" for what amounts to a second melody line that runs through the whole song that intertwines nicely with Annie Haslam's vocal line.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 4:32 pm

I'll make a list of stuff to buy then. Hehe.

Nothing wrong with backup. I love singing harmony.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:19 pm

How technical do you want to get?

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:38 pm

Yes, by all means. Inventive, melodic, groundbreaking, hard as hell to play correctly at first. Even harder when you sing. Vanilla Fudge if you like to play with your fingers.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:48 pm

Watchtower
Death
Dying Fetus
Spiral Architect

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:54 pm

I tried learning 'Roundabout' fer my dad once. When I plugged in my 4001 for the first time that's what came into his head. I tried it but I'm not fast and precise enough with a pick. Also... should I get a bridge pickup cover for that?

I'm great with my fingers. I can do Steve Harris's triplets with one finger. It's more like a kind of strum though. So I dunno if it counts or not. Pretty fast though.. heh.

Technical... hmmm... not sure. Well I'm great with Rush's time changes and stuff like that.. "La Villa Strangiato" is the most technical thing I know right now. Anything else would be just as fun.

I think my main problem is I'm not as familiar with some of the players styles... I know Geddy's moves great, but when I got into playing some Sabbath I became confused. Geezer's string bending is great, but it still confuses me.

So anything else would be great! Thanks so far guys.. keep em comin!

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:55 pm

"Spiral Architect"

I love that song! Adding to the list.

Wow.. I'm gonna have to find a good downloading site or buy alot of Cd's.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:33 pm

Try Dream Theater, King Crimson, Yes, and UK ...

I play roundabout without a pick ... I can play it faster and cleaner that way ...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:59 pm

Seconding the Dream Theater suggestion, if you like Rush, you will love DT. John Myung is a BEAST.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:05 pm

Yeah DT is good.. John has a 6 string though.. hmm.. the thing that bothers me is when they cover Rush, John over does it. I knew it could be done, but I just don't like it. I have an MP3 of DT doing 'Jacob's Ladder'.. it's pretty good.

I've tried 'Roundabout' without a pick.. but it doesn't sound the same.

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:59 am

ELP and Deep Purple, to name a couple that haven't been mentioned.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:08 am

Actually I was referring to a band called Spiral Architect. They are a power metal/progressive metal band.

http://www.spiralarchitect.com/

Death had some great bass work, especially on their albums Individual Thought Patters and Symbolic.

Watchtower was one of the earliest prog-metal bands. Insane riffs, especially for their time.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:29 am

Kewl.. what about King's X? I've heard good things about them from my uncle.

eatswodo · Post by **eatswodo** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:43 am

Try anything with Stuart Hamm on it - preferably his solo stuff, like Kings of Sleep.