Playing Bass this Saturday night....HELP!

[Danotron]

Hello to my Bass playing Rickenbacker friends!

My band, Los Mysteriosos, got asked to play a Birthday party for a friend this Saturday afternoon. We were asked about a month ago. He really likes the band and comes to all the shows and we were happy to say yes. It's going to be a pretty big party, lots of fun, catered, stage, the whole thing. No problem.

Just yesterday our Bass player had a family matter come up and he can't make it. We didn't want to cancel because the guy is a friend and really excited that we're going to play, so........................Since I have a bass and know the songs, I'm playing bass this Saturday

Cut to emergency practice tonight (Thursday), first and only one we're going to have, me on the Jetglo '73 4001 I had at SCARF that Joey set up. I got through it OK. I don't know how to play bass but I do know my way around the neck. I pretty much stuck to the root notes, E and A string stuff with a few octaves thrown in here and there; and I play with a pick.

Any tips for a guitar player playing bass for the night? Stay simple? Go for the big walks? Any "easy to learn" tricks I should know about?

Your help is appreciated.

PS.
My fingers are aching...............how do you guys play those huge strings!

[heinpete]

...stay calm and with the basic notes. Enjoy the gig!

[antipodean]

...stay calm and with the basic notes. Enjoy the gig!

Yep - less is more - it's hard to be too simple with bass unless you're playing prog. Lock in the tempo and you'll be fine!

[Ivan3000]

Apply guitar riffs to a bass and KISS "keep it simple stupid"

[jps]

I have a bass and know the songs, I'm playing bass this Saturday

It's about time!

[jps]

PS.
My fingers are aching...............how do you guys play those huge strings!

Now you know why we are the leaders of the pack!

[jps]

Play with a light touch, relax your fretting hand. I assume you play lead as well as rhythm guitar so you can safely addd some melodic limes to the songs, just have fun with it. Make sure you get in the way of the lead vocals , singers always appreciate that.

Leave your pedal board at home!

[philipharris]

Can't go far wrong with Root 'n 5th

[s4001]

Light touch - let the amp do the work. Root - five. When in doubt - put a note on every kick.

[rickenbrother]

Dan, everyone has given you good advice so far. I know you'll do well!

[teeder]

less is more - more or less

[cjj]

Bass is really part of the rhythm section. Your basic job is to keep the beat going and provide both the rhythmic and harmonic foundation to the music. Don't think that it's the drummers job to provide the beat and you're just along for the ride. You need to have a good, solid sense or rhythm too and work with the drummer and drive the beat. To a large extent, it doesn't matter how perfect your notes are if they are in the wrong place.

The harmonic foundation is where the note selection comes in. The bass supports the harmony by marking out crucial notes in the chord so that everyone knows what the chord is. In general, when we hear a bunch of notes played together - a chord - we hear them relative to the lowest pitch.

So, keeping it simple is almost never wrong. Playing roots, 5ths and octaves while keeping the groove moving is exactly what you need to be doing. Throwing in other fancy stuff is great as long as you don't forget your basic job as the foundation. Remember that and you'll do fine...

[jdogric12]

Wear it strapped really low if you want carpal tunnel syndrome!

[woodyng]

Allright,Dan! That '73 of yours is far too fine to NOT be getting some playtime,if i were there,i would be glad to play it for ya! If you are playing with a pick,you can also get away with a guitar strum technique,so it shouldn't have to be too different from playing rhythmn guitar. Oh,and every time i try to play a "small string" guitar,my fretting hand gets cramps,so i don't see how you guys do that,either...
Have fun with the new role!

[guitarcarver]

Listen closely to the drummer.......stay simple..............relax............have fun............don't have too many beer's