What if you have to play bass without a drummer?

[@phoenixnj13]

Hello John, great story. Yes I did new club hired us and was the first show with our new drummer. Classic rock music 50-70 songs at the time. Bass, 2 guitarist, keyboard and drums. Everyone is there the room is full and no drummer, try to call no answer. Now we are 5 minutes before the start trying to figure out what we were going to do. And I said let’s do it without him we are a tight group and we can pull it off. We rocked the house. And the funny thing was I went in the crowd to ask how it sounded with no drums and I actually had people say there’s no drums? They did not even notice hahaha.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Great story. Love it! Thanks.

[@stephenfoster6940]

I’ve found that if a song is well-known then the audience (perhaps unconsciously) knows where the main drum fills are as well as the melody and lyrics. When playing bass without a drummer, I keep the bass pretty much as it would be if there was a drummer, but I add rhythmic embellishment that mimics the main drum fills, usually using just a single note so that the rhythm is emphasised. Such fills provide a lot of a song’s character. This allows the groove to be maintained but adds some momentum and familiarity without over playing.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Beautifully stated. Give the music what it needs. Thanks, Stephen!

[@ForrestThump]

Love your channel! I got your blues book and I am glad it is different than most blues books. The songs are fun! Helping me learn blues and gets me thinking about theory too. Appreciate you sir!

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Thanks so much for your kind words. Let me know if you have questions or need anything. I’m happy to help.

[@eversmiller]

Jon' that's what I'm talking about! Sweet bass playing, love ur book's and I like that story.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Thanks, Evers!

[@rolandwheeler4842]

I've been playing now for about 6 months and am getting better every day. The other night we were at dinner and a 3pc band was playing (drummer, keyboards and guitar). No bass, but a backing track was used in place of the bass position. I can honestly say that I could have gone up there and replaced that backing track quite easily, much in part to your lessons. Great story too in the video, especially getting that gig after just messing around!

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Thanks, Roland. Great story!

[@juanparedes4053]

hello jon... I played in a band where the guitarist and leader didn't want a drummer at all there was just the guitarist a singer and me on bass we played wicked game ... knocking on the heaven door stand by me .. for example among others ... for the bass it's sure it's not easy to find your way in time without a drummer it was an experiment to try ..... finally he contacted a drummer for the rest have a nice day

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

It feels different, but I can be done. Thanks, Juan!

[@eversmiller]

Cool story, your a pretty good bass player.

[@johalareewi]

When I have been the drummer and bass player, I used bottom strings as kick drum and higher strings as snare and pretended I was a drummer.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

That the next best thing! 😀

[@kimrileymusic]

My bf bassist and I do a duo (sometimes trio), no drummer, he is fantastic ❤

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

It’s actually a great exercise to play without a drummer. You just have to adapt to your current situation. Thanks for weighing in, Kim!

[@ronaldkavanagh7983]

Hi John great story, I am sure you were a happy man to finish that gig. The masks and the heat, tough going. A quick question John could you recommend a reasonably priced bass guitar please as I would appreciate your opinion. Many thanks. Ronnie.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Thanks, Ronald. Have you checked out Sire basses? They’ve gotten a lot of acclaim. You won’t go wrong with an inexpensive Fender. There are a lot of boutique manufacturers too, some of which may be reasonably priced. Let me know what you end up getting. Good luck!

[@gb-tm9vg]

Interesting. Whether you need a drummer I suppose depends mostly on music style. Some of my favorite club shows have been in Jazz clubs. Bass, piano and brass of some sort. John Mayall did a couple records around 1970 without drums. Great records both. Very busy bass lines on both. I personally love busy bass lines. My favorite way of playing. Thanks Jon.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

It’s not that uncommon. It’s just that at the particular “gig” I was describing, it caught me a little off guard. 😀

[@gb-tm9vg]

Understood Jon. Probably the min reason I put down my instrument. I get caught off guard.​@@ForBassPlayersOnly

[@miguelamerico5120]

Stay in the root ii iv V box. Lots of octaves and add a chromatic run iii, IV,bV, V and root.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Thanks, Miguel!

[@Monkeygroover]

I often go for palm muting and then play with my thumb in these situations.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Interesting. Thanks!

[@Monkeygroover]

@@ForBassPlayersOnly this way you have this warm, thicker an a bit more 'bumpy' sound with less sustain. It does not always make me play more busy, often on the contrary. I turn the amp down a bit and pick harder with the thumb. Specially the lower strings have a bit of a nice 'boom' that way, making up a little for a missing kick drum. Now I'm typing this, I realize that In fact it's the opposite of playing with a drummer, where I turn the amp up and pick lightly. Experimenting between pushing the string vertically or horizontally (towards the body) or somewhere in between gives a different response, sound and feel. But of course, the music comes first, if long notes are needed, then long notes should be played. ;-)

[@jameslangford9347]

The question begs so many Drummer jokes…. 🤣

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Let’s be careful now. 😂

[@jameslangford9347]

@ I’m certain they can take a joke even though their heads have been mercilessly beaten with sticks. And besides, some of my best friends are drummers.

[@eversmiller]

@@jameslangford9347 Lol!

[@johncook9983]

Worst gig, as of yet… Summer Solstice Celebration gig last summer and the drummer cancelled the last couple of hours before load-in. With the (2) guitars, a vocalist, keyboard player and myself, we made it work but, it was awful. I opted to keep it simple and grind through as simply a time keeper and making changes as required.

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

I don’t know what day of the week that happened to you, but as we always used to say, “Everything will be fine on Monday morning!” 😂

[@backpackmusician]

Just slap, it’ll sound like a makeshift drum if you slap hard enough

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

Thanks. That is, after all, how that technique started! 😁

[@juhatarkka9867]

You csn always slap...

[@ForBassPlayersOnly]

I suppose that’s the next best thing to a drummer! 😂