You punk players:

[o b s]

I'm going to be playing bass for a punk band, I listen to a decent amount of punk but haven't played it before.

The concept of 'hold down the bass, play a lot of root notes' doesn't worry me but I was wondering if any of you punk players had any insider tips or advice on good ways to spice up lines a little, ways to bridge songs or go from verse/chorus etc or just general tricks that I probally wouldn't think of.

Cheers.

[User Name]

Listen to cool punk bassists.
Mike Watt
Ron "The Ripper" Greco
Klaus Flouride
Richard Hell
Joe Lally

[lateralus423]

Mike dirnt?

[sr800bkBassist]

Mike Watt (Minutemen) and Joe Lally (Fugazi, although it's post-hardcore not punk if you're gonna be a nit-picker about it) can help you. Mike plays lead, and Joe is just groovey as hell and almost blends as a third guitar while still holding the low end.

Lou Barlow from early-mid 1980's Dinosaur Jr as well. their stuff after he left has basic bass, but when he was in the band his basslines were raw, distorted, and filled the gap of a rhythm guitarist being that they were noisy as hell but only had one guitar. so it was up to him to keep it noisy and negate the need for a second guitar. when J Mascis was soloing and he was left to hold the rhythm melody, it sounded like there was a second guitar playing chords and stuff, and it still had the low-end of the bass, but it was just him.

[User Name]

Hahaha, I was hoping no one would call me out on the Joe Lally thing. :(

[sr800bkBassist]

i got called out on it once, too. i'm not that picky, but i know people are gonna come in here and go "STOP IT FUGAZI ISN'TPUNK IT'S POSTHARDCORE DON'T SAY LALLY" so i just figured i'd mention it.

[PsychoTronn]

use a pick even if u r better with your fingers

[Akira]

Check out some early Mike Dirnt. "Welcome to Paradise" is a pretty good example of making a punk line interesting. Check out "Stuck With Me" for a really intense line.

[User Name]

i got called out on it once, too. i'm not that picky, but i know people are gonna come in here and go "STOP IT FUGAZI ISN'TPUNK IT'S POSTHARDCORE DON'T SAY LALLY" so i just figured i'd mention it.

Well, as long as you don't try to say that they're emo. That really bugs me for some reason.

[Jimbobntnr]

Karl Alvarez !!

[Akira]

Karl Alvarez !!

Does he play for the Descendants? If so, then hell yes.

[o b s]

Thanks for the recommended listening.

I need new strings for my bass so I may as well buy some fitting ones, I was going to buy Ernie Ball Slinkys or Roto swing basses (or maybe DR Hi-beams seems as its payday next week). What do you recommend for this genre? I play a Yammy TRB if that makes a difference. Also I was going to get a light gauge, is that suited to punk or is heavier better? (or is it a case of not really mattering so much?)

Cheers.

[sr800bkBassist]

string gauge doesn't matter. it's more that you need to get a good thick, driving, raw tone out of your amp and bass.

[bottlerocket]

Ernie Ball Slinkys, definitely.

Attack attack attack!

I'd consider medium gauge. You want attack and treble but it can't sound too trebly and light.

[PsychoTronn]

a pick will make your bass sound more pingy and more punk-like


cheers :chug:



-[]D<[]>

[User Name]

Ernie Ball Slinkys, definitely.

Attack attack attack!

I'd consider medium gauge. You want attack and treble but it can't sound too trebly and light.

That attack thing reminded me of El Dorado by Agent Orange. He's a pretty solid bass player, too.

Hilarious song as well.

[Jimbobntnr]

or El Camino by Ween?


Bloodstain of course is my highlite for agent orange punk sound.

[Buzzbomb]

Definately Alec Baillie from Choking Victim/Leftover Crack. Very underrated and very talented bassist.

[User Name]

or El Camino by Ween?


Bloodstain of course is my highlite for agent orange punk sound.

I don't know, never heard El Camino.

I was really into all of Living In Darkness for a while for the sheer angst factor.

[Jimbobntnr]

phantom rep +

[sr800bkBassist]

Defiance, Ohio has cool bass too. they use an upright (except on their current tour) and not in a cheesy lame rockabilly way.

[Afrokid]

play with your fingers...it just makes u look that much more badass! it wont give u that generic punk tone, but a thicker / deeper tone which will give your music some balls. Check out some Early AFI stuff. They had hell of alot of sweet basslines. I know the guy from Rise Against has some cool fills, but he mostly roots.

[sr800bkBassist]

i think fingers sound bad with punk. not because it's different, but the round ends of your fingers don't give nearly as much of a drive to the music as the crunchy grind of a pick. i really like using those small jazz picks that guitarists use. they're justas thick as a bass pick, but the size is smaller, so you end up picking a lot deeper so it's twice as thick and dirty sounding.

[Jimbobntnr]

when I played punk I used a copper pick.

[bottlerocket]

They make those?

I bet the tone is INYOURFACETREBLE.

[Jimbobntnr]

looking back, I would call it suck, but here they are:
http://www.suncreekmusic.com/product_info.php/cPath/26_38/products_id/933?osCsid=0aefd957cf2962664f7a6a8240c4455a

[bottlerocket]

That just looks uncomfortable.

I bet your fingers turn green if you use it for too long.

[Jimbobntnr]

I'm starting to think you used one, gav.

[sr800bkBassist]

Steve Albini used those for guitar in Shellac. he had the most metallic, creepy, unique tone ever. it was also just because he tweaked his tone all weird. i can' picture it being used on bass though.

[bleep_bloop]

off minor
saetia
fugazi
all have sweet *** bass lines
also, i know it's emo, but i hate myself has some pretty good but also simple basslines

[bottlerocket]

I'm starting to think you used one, gav.

Hahahahaha, if that's about what I think it's about, then lolz.

off minor
saetia
fugazi
all have sweet *** bass lines
also, i know it's emo, but i hate myself has some pretty good but also simple basslines

Yes...but those are emo...pretty far off.

If you were going to mention popular emo bands and punk, talk about Hot Cross' "A New Set of Lungs" LP because that's the only popular emo band that gets even relatively close to punk.

[Jimbobntnr]

Hahahahaha, if that's about what I think it's about, then lolz.

probably not, they actually turned my fingers green/black.

[bleep_bloop]

Yes...but those are emo...pretty far off.

If you were going to mention popular emo bands and punk, talk about Hot Cross' "A New Set of Lungs" LP because that's the only popular emo band that gets even relatively close to punk.


my bad im an idiot

[sr800bkBassist]

http://www.myspace.com/shellacmusic

there's a good example of Steve Albini's metal/copper pick tones.
the songs "Copper" and "Squirrel Song" are my favorites.

[jordan-z]

Matt Freeman from Rancid, is a pretty talented bassist, i'm surprised nobody had mentioned him yet. I'd look into the older released stuff...

[bleep_bloop]

black flag's stuff is pretty pro

[pitchfork]

Don't put any musical wankery in, punk is simple music, end of.
It usually turns into emo pop punk with some vice on bollocks singer if people try and play incredibly difficult stuff.

[trumpeter]

Hot Water Music



that is all.

[equinox]

I started out in punk, a hell of a long time ago. I can't offer much advice as I now don't like to play punk but I would concider a pick essential for punk. Also, someone once said that punk sounds best on a crap instrumentm so put down the fender jazz and pick up the sx knock off :)

[o b s]

I have a surprisingly punchy fretless Maya P copy which looks like its been through 2 world wars that I may break out :P.

[lemoley]

East Bay Ray - Dead Kennedys
Mike Dirnt - Greenday
Chris K - The Offspring

...easily accessable punk bands with awesome bass

[DBoons Ghost]

Just to add what these guys have stated, keep it simple.

Simple yet good attack and consistent. You can trill on turnarounds ala Dirnt but otherwise I wouldn't stray too far from the root cuz then it aint "punk" anymore. Listening to other players probably won't help, because every punk bass player outside of Freeman, Watt and mayhaps Dirnt (at times) sound the exact same anyways.

Nifty intros and tricksy yet simple turnarounds are the only thing that seperates good punk bass players from mediocre bass players. Even on the root, a simple subtle trill on a change would suffice as being creative.

[pitchfork]

My first band was punk, well my first few, as long as there was a sound coming out I wasn't too worried about tone. I played a crappy stagg through a 20watt stagg amp. fingerstyle.

If you have a nicer insturment play it, no need to downgrade, if you prefer fingerstyle go for it. Your tone, why change it?

[Misanthropic]

Chris from Anti-Flag... mostly plays the same patterns over again, but it works.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Andy Flag, he was on the first couple of Anti-Flag albums: Their System Doesn't Work For You and Die For Your Government.

[eaton1012]

Dude playing punk is easy.

[PsychoTronn]

pickgaurd on your pink bass


:thumb:

[Polyamarous]

Paul Simonon

[Bass_swede]

Okey, this sounds all ego, but check out my band :p http://myspace.com/deformatives listen to "nature of your soul". I think I managed to spice up an otherwise "too punky for my band"-bassline.

[EADG]

Dude playing punk is easy.


Maxwell Murder and Axiom solos plz?


That's a generalization. Punk is usually pretty simple yes, but it depends on the subgenre, band, player.


If you're looking for a typical punk tone I suggest you boost high mids and treble. Maybe low mids if you want a little growl. It's usually not too heavy on the bass, but you can add a little to thicken up the sound if you're playing in a trio or band with 1 guitar.

Also, when playing with 1 guitar, you can add some 5ths/ diads to fill space if the guitar is doing a lead or solo.

[Akira]

Chris from Anti-Flag... mostly plays the same patterns over again, but it works.

Man, how did I forget Chris. He rocks. Really awesome bass.
Awesome band too.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Lulz. I mentioned him already, but Andy Flag never gets any recognition. Chris 2 hogs the Anti-Flag bass spotlight.

[Akira]

Lulz. I mentioned him already, but Andy Flag never gets any recognition. Chris 2 hogs the Anti-Flag bass spotlight.

I don't have those albums so I wouldn't know.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I don't have those albums so I wouldn't know.

:eek:

They are essential if you're an Anti-Flag fan.

[Akira]

:eek:

They are essential if you're an Anti-Flag fan.

I have been meaning to pick them up, but I haven't gotten around to it.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Did anyone say Sid Vicious yet?

[Jimbobntnr]

lol, no.
no.

[lais817]

East Bay Ray - Dead Kennedys
Mike Dirnt - Greenday
Chris K - The Offspring

...easily accessable punk bands with awesome bass
dude, Klaus Flouride played bass for DKs :)

Joe Principe from Rise against as a real sweet tone, and really hammers out the root notes with some pretty sweet chordal bridges and intros too. Jim cherry (RIP) from Strung Out's first 4(?) albums sounded like a freight train being run through your ears, and their current bassist Chris is pretty tight too, listen to "Cemetary" and "Never speak again".

They aren't really punk, more hardcore, but the various bassists for refused pumped out some killer lines, check out "Summer holidays vs. punk routine". Grade had a decent bassist, but I guess they're more hardcore too. Oh yeah, boysetsfire, check out "management vs labor", "suckerpunch training " and "bathory's sainthood".

why has nobody mentioned bad religion? Jay had some sweet lines, like "turn on the light". Also, check millencollin, pulley and the bounching souls.

mad props to whoever said Hot water music :thumb:

:p

Dude playing punk is easy.
why don't you go play with the traffic? or perhaps the guitar forum? :)

[Criss Frantic]

I got in late on this thread, and i'm not reading 3 pages, so i'll just go ahead and say what i want.

1. Don't limit yourself to root notes (unless you want to). Punk bass can have so much more to it.

2. Listen to Meet The Family by Frenzal Rhomb.

3. Ernie Ball Slinkys sound sick when they're new, but die quicker than a baby with AIDS.

4. You don't need to play exclusively with a pick. I play in a punk band and utilise slapping, fingerstyle and pick strumming in my playing, sometimes a combination of two in the same song (finger in the verse, slapping in chorus etc).

[Polyamarous]

Paul Simonon.

[eaton1012]

so does someone delete my post or something?
I totally remember posting " Punk is Fun"

[Pluperfect_Arson]

Dude, just read Guitar World's Bass Guitar.

The current issue is dedicated to punk bass.

It was a bad issue, though.

[Shinobi_sniper]

i think fingers sound bad with punk. not because it's different, but the round ends of your fingers don't give nearly as much of a drive to the music as the crunchy grind of a pick. i really like using those small jazz picks that guitarists use. they're justas thick as a bass pick, but the size is smaller, so you end up picking a lot deeper so it's twice as thick and dirty sounding.

he could grow out his fingernails, lolol

[L0SerKiD11]

matt freeman of rancid... great bassist (doesnt just hold down the root notes)

[sr800bkBassist]

matt freeman of rancid... great bassist (doesnt just hold down the root notes)

yeah, if only his band could write some decent songs.

he could grow out his fingernails, lolol

hahahaha i've actually seen that argument used before, by fingerstyle purists. as is your weak nails could get that deep drive and punch. just imagine how violent a poorly planned up-stroke would end up, if you were using nails!

eugh. blood.

[The Chemist]

try some bad religion "sorrow" good bass work in there
if you're into the ska side of things, leftover crack and less than jake have some rockin bass

oh, and andy flag was rockin the **** on die for the government. one song that stands out is "kill the rich"
ps: some AFI has some rockin bass work (song: death of seasons)

[doodooking]

Although it was mentioned before, Karl Alvarez is my idea of what punk bass playing should sound like, period. I do enjoy Anti-Flag, and their bassist is awesome, but for a more classic style punk, go to Karl. His work is awesome.

And for those of you that say play with a pick because its the punk thing to do, well Karl doesn't. Listen to the Everything Sucks album, fingers on a stingray. I'd recommend that as a first listen, then go back to the other albums that he wasn't on for even more madness. Then go to the newest one, Cool to be You. All around awesome player, he even plays soul.

[AcerbicCunnt77]

Thanks for the recommended listening.

I need new strings for my bass so I may as well buy some fitting ones, I was going to buy Ernie Ball Slinkys or Roto swing basses (or maybe DR Hi-beams seems as its payday next week). What do you recommend for this genre? I play a Yammy TRB if that makes a difference. Also I was going to get a light gauge, is that suited to punk or is heavier better? (or is it a case of not really mattering so much?)

Cheers.

buy the DRs! ernie ball's are advertised as taking a beating and being good for rock and such but the bottom line is they sound like a tin can and the dr's will sound good for a while. the gauge doesn't matter too much, I used to think thicker strings would suit my punk tone better but when I got some super slinkies (45-100?) I was able to play alot faster and easier.


ps: some AFI has some rockin bass work (song: death of seasons)
I would have to agree, and id also add file 13, and lost souls as fun songs to check out.

[Flex of the Yellow]

Hot Water Music



that is all.

This



Plus a pick

[Criss Frantic]

Forgot to mention Propagandhi. Doesn't matter which album, but I really love Potemkin City Limits. Awesome bass.