Mark2 -> RE: Adding Bass? (Feb. 5 2015 16:17:34)
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Hi Miguel, I've had bass players in my group and I felt for my group, it was very limiting. Since I play mostly rhythm, I have the freedom to extend sections or even do modulations without worrying about other players. The soloists can hear what I'm doing and adapt if need be, but mostly it allows me to build a structure for the soloist in real time. It also allows me to be sort of a conductor, as I have full control over the harmony, and can make changes in dynamics without hoping the bass player follows. Another thing I noticed is that the frequency of the bass really takes away something from the rhythm guitar in a rumba context. To me, what makes the rumba thing work without a bass is the tone of one or two flamenco players playing rhythm. It's really a complete satisfying sound to me, just two people playing rhythm. Add a good soloist and percussion, and it's a full band sound. Adding bass can really work in a concert setting where you have pro sound, but it's harder in a club IME. That said, I think recordings call for bass. At one point we had Pablo Tellez from the Santana band doing gigs with us, and it was pretty exciting. Another time, we had a good bass player doing a gig with us, and I thought he was too loud, so I told him to turn it down. He looks at me and says" I'm not playing!" I was hearing some low register feedback.....so embarrassed. I mentioned it to the other guitarist in the group and he said "Tell him to turn it down anyway!" :-) I would like to try your idea of just one guitar and bass, but as you wrote, you have to really play to make it work. Finally, after playing for dance and having the incredible freedom that that offers, any kind of band situation feels restricted by comparison.
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