What do you do for slow songs?

[jmlouie]

I always find slow songs difficult, because I never know what to play other than the root with the rhythm following the drummers bass drum. I try other things but it just never sounds too good. What do you do?

[SenorPapaCabasa]

I just try to get a good plucking pattern, and just tweak it til you get the right timing. I just listen... with practice, you should be able to just hear it

[groover]

It's all about feel. Try listening to some recordings of slow songs and see what the bass player is doing. Play along and try to get a feel for what he's doing. It's not difficult to play slow songs, it just takes a little time and practice to learn how to control your instrument.

If I'm having a problem finding a pattern to play, I just play whole notes or play at the chord changes and hold the notes until I start to get a feel. I'll start then to add some rythm components and articulations.

Hope this helps.

Peace!

[JT]

I typically do more in slow songs than in fast ones. What I really like to do, if the chords lend themselves to it, is to play a low note on the E string, then let that ring while I play around on the G string.

I also like to start in the higher end of the fretboard, and come in with some big fat low note partway through the song.

[Jam4theLamb]

It depends on the song. There are times when throwing a lot of low-end fretwork into the mix can make everything sound really cluttered. For the most part, if there isn't too much going on vocally, find a groove that works with the main guitar/keyboard riff and fall in with the drummer. Even if you lay back on the verses, there's usually plenty of room in slow songs for some nice fills around the chorus.

[Jzak]

You can have a field day on slow songs! I love them! A slow song will definitely separate the men from the boys! There’s a lot of room to work and you can really enhance the song.

Here’s what I generally do. Hit and hold the chord root with your index finger and use your other fingers on the 3rd, 4th, 5th or high octave (2 frets up, 2 string down). During cord transitions work on soft high-end licks, and slides into the next root note.

Go to it and have fun! Experiment! But remember one thing …. Don’t over play it. There is a fine edge there, and there is nothing worse then over-stuffed bass line on a slow song.

[DavidAM]

Usually you don't want alot of thump and punch on a slow song. So, I try to soften the attack by playing with more of the pad of my fingers, intead of the tip, and play closer to the base of the neck than the bridge.

[Reuel]

what do you do for slow songs? fall asleep! lol:D kiddin..you slow down.;)

[MuchAfraid]

put the capo on 2 or 3 and pick and finger. works ok, especially on praise and worship with another guitaris.

dave

[frankthebass]

hey,
slow songs are always a problem, cause you dont want them to seem crowded. there's nothing wrong with just hanging back and just polaying around with the root, but it can get a bit boring... try learning about scales and modes, and you could maybe come up with some better stuff...
also, jsut because a song is slow, doesnt mean it can't groove. Try getting together with the drummer and displacing where the accent comes in the bar, so its almost slightly shuffled rather than just playing straight on the 1 and 3 of the bar.
any info, questions etc.... email me on
r_wand@yahoo.co.uk

[LWatford]

Never forget the power of not playing...







...Or sitting out a couple of verses, and coming in strong for the chorus...

[Jzak]

Hey, MuchAfraid, you mentioned something here that I’m curious about and it would make an interesting topic.

Do you use a capo on the bass? I’ve never seen anyone do that.

I’ve used them on my guitar when I’m striving to reproduce what some else has recorded, and can’t find the sound with alternate chord positions. But I’ve needed to use one on the bass.

Who, out there, has or does use a capo on the bass?

[DavidAM]

I use a cap now and then when my worship leader does, and if he does not have bass sheet music. I just capo where he is, and follow along like normal.