In this essay I will be evaluating and reflecting upon my work with my project band. Outlining my creative approaches to composition, as well as my artistic influences in which both combined to help me build ideas for bass lines. I will also be evaluating and reflecting upon how my experiences performing live and working collaboratively with peers in a rehearsal setting has taught me valuable skills that has allowed me the opportunity to grow as a bassist and understand the role I play as a part of the rhythm section.
When I first started working in a project band, I felt out of my depth and unsure of how to even approach coming up with bass parts to compliment ideas other members had. In order to start building my skills regarding improvisation I would watch YouTube videos, one that I found helpful from a channel called ‘Lessonface’ gave 5 tips that helped me gain the foundations of knowledge of how to approach composition – avoiding open strings, never sacrifice the beat for a fill, keep it simple and consistent, start on the root note, keep it “down” (the neck of the bass). By adding these tips into both my daily practice and rehearsals I was able to control my tone, have fitting and punchy bass lines, which therefore better supported the songs. I also shaped my approach to composition by thinking of the bass as a bridge between rhythm and melody. By keeping this in mind when listening out for and identifying key harmonic and rhythmic patterns, I am much more able to complement the existing elements.
During rehearsals, me and the drummer would spend some extra time together to tightly align our rhythms to ensure we curate a cohesive groove that elevates the song’s feel. Again, in my spare time I would watch videos to understand what elements I could add to my practice in order to work better alongside a drummer and in a band as a whole. ‘OnlineBass guitar’ had a very useful video, which I began to incorporate into my practise, such as working on my sense of time with a metronome, listening to the bass and drums as a unified instrument to maintain stability in the rhythm section, as well as keeping in mind texture of the bass and drums, by acknowledging what the listener is meant to be focusing on during each section of the song, and altering myself to fit that.
In the process of working with my band, I would often get a general idea and feel of the songs in rehearsals, then work on them at home, often over complicating a lot of my basslines. Being open to feedback from my peers massively helped me evolve as a bassist, I was able to edit my ideas to better work within the songs rather than overpower them. However, in one instance I had done the opposite, and made a bass line too simple, the song was a cover of ‘misery business’ by Paramore in the style of Portishead. I originally played roots and octaves, but with feedback from my 1-1 bass teacher I realised that a slightly more interesting bass line would fit better. I used inspiration from ‘Rio’ by Duran Duran to make a bass line like John Taylor, adding in fifths, dead notes, therefore creating a better overall groove that worked for the feel of the song.
My role as the bassist in the band’s performance can be measured by my ability to complement and enhance the songs, by providing the foundational backbone. I also hope to engage with the drummer to create a compelling and memorable rhythm section that can contribute to the structure and mood of the songs.
An example of where I believe I fulfilled my role as the bassist, is in one of our more upbeat songs, ‘nobody Knows’ by queens of the Stoneage in the style of Meshuggah my bass line provided a syncopated groove that propelled the song forward, supporting the drums whilst also following the melody of the guitar. This groove became a defining element of the track, creating the heavy metal element of the cover. In contrast, for a slower piece, ‘habits’ by Tove Lo in the style of a cover by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern jukebox, I went for a simpler approach, with deeper and more sustained notes to enhance the more technical and intricate guitar lines.
My creative process of composition starts with recognising the techniques used by iconic bassists and drawing inspiration from them, such as James Jamerson and Flea. Jamerson’s use of syncopation and counter-melodies has deeply inspired my practice and led me to investigate bass lines that provide an additional melodic layer without overshadowing the primary song structure. Similarly, Flea’s ability to combine funk, punk, and rock has inspired a lot of my basslines especially for funkier songs.
Furthermore, a lot of my playing is built from classic finger playing style with my technique continuing to improve through my one-to-one tuition, where I am learning how to apply larger muscles to smaller movements to have more fluidity and ease when playing. Stylistically however, I am currently working on improving my ability to incorporate slap into my playing, again utilising tutorials on YouTube to aid my learning.
Upon reflecting on my work within my project band as the bass player, I am able to evaluate both the process and final product of the band group and the part I play as the bass player. The product, the performance, showcases my ability to make basslines that fit within each genre of song played, hold stable and rhythmic grooves and contribute to the feel and energy of the songs, with help from online tutorials and peer feedback. In the process of making each bass line, I learnt a lot of key factors through collaboration and trial and error, of what makes a good bassline. As well as honing my ability as a bass player by taking inspiration from famous bass players, like John Taylor.
Bibliography:
Source 1: Lessonface (2018) 5 Tips That Will Make You a Better Bass Player [Video]. Available online: https://youtu.be/kyMkeyAZdVo?si=XLyGEgGAnqqxGr4M [Accessed 13/05/2025].
Source 2: OnlineBass Guitar (2019) Bass And Drums Relationship – 3 Things You MUST Know! [Video]. Available online: https://youtu.be/RkIg1ft37lE?si=1YqhTibmPaTazv9n [Accessed 13/05/2025].
Source 3: Dan Hawkins Bass Lessons (2019) How To Play (a bit…) Like James Jamerson – MOTOWN Bass Lesson [Video]. Available online: https://youtu.be/wEl3xfj3YoY?si=LB3_Rf9umH3Yjn13 [Accessed 13/05/2025].
