Keyboard Bass Ray manzarek

brent · 01-27-2006, 04:12 AM

How do i play keyboard Bass?

Whats the difference between Keyboard bass VS regular bass players?

Like Ragtime bass lines use alot of keyboard bass

I see Ray manzarek from the Doors use alot of keyboard bass what kind of
alternating or approach is keyboard should be doing ?

Madaxeman · 01-27-2006, 10:34 AM

Well, here it goes...
Ray Manzarek played bass lines on his keyboard with his left hand, because live they didn't typically use a bass player. So this means, rather than playing chords like other pianists, he would use the lower register of the keyboard to play bass lines.
Now, in the 80's, keyboardists took this to another level by using synthesizers to play what a bass guitarist would...which really hurt gigging bass players. Lots of this used in New Wave bands.
How do you play keyboard bass? Well, find a song or band with some good bass playing, and play it on a keyboard. Examples include, but are not limited to, Weather Report, Stanley Clarke, Guns 'n Roses, early Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Billy Sheehan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica (master of puppets), the Doors, Aerosmith (pump) (toys in the attic) (rocks), RUSH...the list goes on and on.
Listen closely to any bass lines, and try to use some examples between chords when keyboarding along.

Madaxeman · 01-27-2006, 10:38 AM

Listen to "Crossfire" by Stevie Ray Vaughan...great rhythm going there with bass, drum, and keyboard (piano?). This would be a fantastic example.

brent · 01-27-2006, 07:34 PM

I thought keyboard bass was different than regular bass guitar phrases?

Keyboard bass phrases are different than bass guitar phrases?

Spino · 01-27-2006, 08:48 PM

That's probably because they're two different instruments ,
ya dig ?

brent · 01-27-2006, 09:16 PM

The keyboard bass phrasing the left hand keyboard bass phrasing is different
like ragtime and others its different than bass guitar

whats the difference?

Madaxeman · 01-28-2006, 01:33 AM

The phrasing will be different because the keyboard is a keyboard, and it will sound different than a bass just by that fact alone. Having five fingers able to play notes simultaneously is going to sound different than four fingers that are limited by string/fret positions.
Please clarify the exact difference you are talking about, if this is not it. As far as phrasing, it will be different for each player, even if everything else is the same. For example, if I set up my guitar and amp and effects, it will sound like me when I'm playing...like Eddie Van Halen if he played it...like Zakk Wylde if he played it. That is phrasing...how each person adds his human element to the instrument.

brent · 01-28-2006, 01:36 AM

Walkingbass, boogie woggie, rag time, stuff like this is keyboard bass

Walking Keyboard bass is different than walking guitar bass do u know what i mean?

Its the phrasing

Madaxeman · 01-28-2006, 01:41 AM

As far as I know, a walking bassline is a walking bassline. If phrasing is the difference you mean, please re-read my last post. Different styles (as well as the same style on different instruments) will be unique.

01-27-2006, 04:12 AM	#1
brent Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 559	Keyboard Bass Ray manzarek How do i play keyboard Bass? Whats the difference between Keyboard bass VS regular bass players? Like Ragtime bass lines use alot of keyboard bass I see Ray manzarek from the Doors use alot of keyboard bass what kind of alternating or approach is keyboard should be doing ?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Phaser bass solo	satch_master	Bass Technique	2	10-04-2005 11:05 PM
crazy bass	clanner	Bass Technique	5	03-18-2005 10:20 AM
Learnin BASS!! (TIPS APPRECIATED)	LuisSavesTheDay	Bass Technique	15	03-12-2005 07:03 PM
sort of new to bass	Lexavier	Bass Technique	2	01-26-2005 04:37 PM

01-27-2006, 10:34 AM	#2
Madaxeman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 544	Well, here it goes... Ray Manzarek played bass lines on his keyboard with his left hand, because live they didn't typically use a bass player. So this means, rather than playing chords like other pianists, he would use the lower register of the keyboard to play bass lines. Now, in the 80's, keyboardists took this to another level by using synthesizers to play what a bass guitarist would...which really hurt gigging bass players. Lots of this used in New Wave bands. How do you play keyboard bass? Well, find a song or band with some good bass playing, and play it on a keyboard. Examples include, but are not limited to, Weather Report, Stanley Clarke, Guns 'n Roses, early Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Billy Sheehan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica (master of puppets), the Doors, Aerosmith (pump) (toys in the attic) (rocks), RUSH...the list goes on and on. Listen closely to any bass lines, and try to use some examples between chords when keyboarding along.

01-27-2006, 10:38 AM	#3
Madaxeman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 544	Listen to "Crossfire" by Stevie Ray Vaughan...great rhythm going there with bass, drum, and keyboard (piano?). This would be a fantastic example.

01-27-2006, 07:34 PM	#4
brent Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 559	I thought keyboard bass was different than regular bass guitar phrases? Keyboard bass phrases are different than bass guitar phrases?

01-27-2006, 08:48 PM	#5
Spino Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 255	That's probably because they're two different instruments , ya dig ?

01-27-2006, 09:16 PM	#6
brent Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 559	The keyboard bass phrasing the left hand keyboard bass phrasing is different like ragtime and others its different than bass guitar whats the difference?

01-28-2006, 01:33 AM	#7
Madaxeman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 544	The phrasing will be different because the keyboard is a keyboard, and it will sound different than a bass just by that fact alone. Having five fingers able to play notes simultaneously is going to sound different than four fingers that are limited by string/fret positions. Please clarify the exact difference you are talking about, if this is not it. As far as phrasing, it will be different for each player, even if everything else is the same. For example, if I set up my guitar and amp and effects, it will sound like me when I'm playing...like Eddie Van Halen if he played it...like Zakk Wylde if he played it. That is phrasing...how each person adds his human element to the instrument.

01-28-2006, 01:36 AM	#8
brent Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 559	Walkingbass, boogie woggie, rag time, stuff like this is keyboard bass Walking Keyboard bass is different than walking guitar bass do u know what i mean? Its the phrasing

01-28-2006, 01:41 AM	#9
Madaxeman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 544	As far as I know, a walking bassline is a walking bassline. If phrasing is the difference you mean, please re-read my last post. Different styles (as well as the same style on different instruments) will be unique.