velvetkevorkian
The beat starts here
There we go then. That's this thread sorted.
Next up- world peace.
Next up- world peace.
How 8 string and 9 string guitars change the role of the bass player in metal.
- Thread starter luca9583
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Djentai
lurk lord
MF_Kitten
Set up us the bomb
the problem with it is that it's hard to discern WTF you're even hearing if it goes too fast. If i record something slower, it'll sound fucking ridiculous, in a good way. I think tuning it in unison works better for tunings like these. drop D is pretty fucking low already. and i might go to C#.
MF_Kitten
Set up us the bomb
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3782113/Look Away For A While.mp3
More unison bass "evidence", this time in drop Db.
More unison bass "evidence", this time in drop Db.
Winspear
Winspear/Noisemother
That was fucking awesome...Intense progression.
JazzandMetal
Well-Known Member
Awesome songs, Kitten.
Everybody need to check out this video immediately:
Oh. My. Gosh.
I think that pretty much sums up what a bass is capable of in metal.
Everybody need to check out this video immediately:
Oh. My. Gosh.
I think that pretty much sums up what a bass is capable of in metal.
Listened to the hyperbass MP3s... really liked it. It really is just a synth pad at those frequencies, but that's good. It creates a feel in those riffs that you wouldn't get with just a guitar.
The key is, where do you go from there? You've found a spanner in the toolbox, and it's great from undoing nuts and tightening them up again, and you could use it as a hammer in some jobs, a stirring spoon in the kitchen, but it's no good at cutting wood or painting fingernails. I think that's where you need to think through what feel you need, what is the message you are trying to convey.
I personally would prefer a more grindy guitar sound to carry the heavy tone more. You'd get the psychological effect using a mahogany guitar detuned and picked hard with EMG 81s, because you are trying to get a rich organic hugeness across, NOT a super low tone.
But - it's your piece and while I would choose another tool for the job, who cares what I think? You've taken the spanner and worked great things with it. And those choices are what is necessary to say "hey, what are we going to use this bass for?". I love Contrabass strings in the lowest registers, because they have this thick woody rumble, the tuba and bassoon don't have that tone. Bass guitar is capable of some nice tones too that complement the guitar... but do they complement a 9 string?
The key is, where do you go from there? You've found a spanner in the toolbox, and it's great from undoing nuts and tightening them up again, and you could use it as a hammer in some jobs, a stirring spoon in the kitchen, but it's no good at cutting wood or painting fingernails. I think that's where you need to think through what feel you need, what is the message you are trying to convey.
I personally would prefer a more grindy guitar sound to carry the heavy tone more. You'd get the psychological effect using a mahogany guitar detuned and picked hard with EMG 81s, because you are trying to get a rich organic hugeness across, NOT a super low tone.
But - it's your piece and while I would choose another tool for the job, who cares what I think? You've taken the spanner and worked great things with it. And those choices are what is necessary to say "hey, what are we going to use this bass for?". I love Contrabass strings in the lowest registers, because they have this thick woody rumble, the tuba and bassoon don't have that tone. Bass guitar is capable of some nice tones too that complement the guitar... but do they complement a 9 string?
27duuude
Picky about tone
But think about how many ERG players, in metal, don't cut everything below 100Hz. If they didn't then they would get a muddy tone or have to crank the bass to the point where the fundamental is apparent enough to sound like a bass (e.g. Nothing; Meshuggah). The bass comes in and covers the fundamentals for the guitar when it isn't covering those frequencys.
Brohoodofsteel75
Well-Known Member
My bassist is in drop E on a four string.... He handles! It fits in the mix well too.
LordCashew
Death Punch for Cutie
I mostly use capo (or better yet partial capo) to transpose natural harmonics into a useful key.
Continuum
Active Member
#1 reason you need a bass player... You can't slap an 8-string
HellMinor
nycthbris
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Danukenator
Kane's Bane
Plus it's worth noting people like Regi Wooten have been slappin' on a six string for many years.
fire engine
Member
I live in an isolated area where it's pretty hard to find people. I play a seven string in Drop A through a regular 2x12 guitar cab and then add in a bass extension cab. Our other guitar player does so in Drop D through a regular half-stack. I think our sound is pretty full, especially because we make it a point to play separate guitar lines much of the time. Some purists might not like it, but that's not a big worry for me. Usually when we play out, I set out the bass cab and the guitar amp and both are mic'd by the sound guy before i even have to explain that both are for my guitar.
But I did play a bassline that was mostly inaudible on our album.
But I did play a bassline that was mostly inaudible on our album.
UV7BK4LIFE
Schecter A7 addict
My band can't find a bass player, so we tuned 6 and 7 string guitars to standard B tuning. I have an 8 string now tuned to F# and I hope the other guitarist will do the same.
We're even getting comfortable with not having a bass player and no longer feel the need for it. We consider getting a third guitarist with a 7 or 8 string baritone. After gigs we get lots of compliments about our full yet clear sound. Sometimes people only find out we don't have a bass player because we tell them, lol.
Where we rehearse, we heard about a bass player leaving his band because both guitarists showed up with 8 string guitars without first discussing it, surprise !
We're even getting comfortable with not having a bass player and no longer feel the need for it. We consider getting a third guitarist with a 7 or 8 string baritone. After gigs we get lots of compliments about our full yet clear sound. Sometimes people only find out we don't have a bass player because we tell them, lol.
Where we rehearse, we heard about a bass player leaving his band because both guitarists showed up with 8 string guitars without first discussing it, surprise !
G_3_3_k_
Probably diddling an Oni
Marten.
But on most of their demo stuff that they send around to each other, they have played most of the instruments themselves. Or programmed the drums. Cause lets face it... Tomas is a god.
jeleopard
Well-Known Member
I play bass in standard (deviating only maybe a half step down). I finding tuning a bass to be cheating. Dick Lövgren does this. He tunes half step down whine Frederik and Martin are in F.
I even have a friend who totally denounces anything other than standard. He transposes anything; he's a fantastic musician.
I even have a friend who totally denounces anything other than standard. He transposes anything; he's a fantastic musician.
JazzandMetal
Well-Known Member
Nothing in music is cheating, IMO. If you make things fake you will pay the price of it not sounding good or not being able to play it live, both of which tend to decrease a band's popularity.
Did anyone see Dick Lovgren and Tomas Haake jam? It is on Youtube. Meshuggah definitely needs their bass player. He really carries their low groove.
I'll agree with that and go a bit further. I think we will really see what 8 strings can mean in a band when more non-metal guys pick them up. Traditionally, metal has not been the bass's domain. I would imagine that in something like R&B, there's a lot more bass territory to cover so an 8 string guitar could be a game changer. In metal, it seems to just add to the guitar's unopposed dominance.
