8 Tips for Playing Bass in a Power Trio
Playing in power trios seems to be a trend in my life. Ironically, I’ve performed in three of them – modern worship, pop rock, and funk rock – and while the genres are different they all have one thing in common: less instrumentation means more responsibility for the bass player. That means you as the bassist have the duty to fill the void that’s created by the lack of the second guitar and keyboard while maintaining your foundational responsibilities.
If you just started playing in a power trio or are thinking about joining one, here are some tips to enhance your contribution to the band.
8 Tips for Playing Bass in a Power Trio
- Don’t be afraid to be creative with your basslines.
- Provide backup vocals.
- Use multiple basses if necessary.
- Use effects pedals.
- Provide plenty of punch.
- Own the stage.
- Communicate with your bandmates.
- Study the greats.
First, what exactly is a power trio? A power trio is a rock band setup containing the following instrumentation: drums, bass, and guitar. That means no keys, second guitar, brass, etc. Although this stripped down lineup may seem bare, some of the most successful rock bands in history have adopted this format – Green Day, Rush, and Nirvana, just to name a few.
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Creative With Your Basslines
Let’s be real – you’ve got an important role as the bass player, but it isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Playing whole notes and quarter notes back and forth between the root and the fifth can be less than thrilling.
However, playing in a power trio is a different story. Fewer musicians means more opportunity for you to paint the vacant sonic canvas. Incorporating chords/double stops, fills, and moving basslines will help support the band and provide an intriguing edge to your sound.
With that being said, shredding at one hundred percent through the duration of an entire song can get old for your listeners. Knowing when to play in unison with the guitar and when to deviate creates a journey for your audience and provides balance to your music.
2. Provide Backup Vocals
I feel a bit hypocritical on this one because I’m not a great singer to begin with, and I’m even a worse singer with a bass in my hands! Multitasking isn’t always easy, but integrating harmonies can make a three piece band sound huge.
If you’re not naturally good at singing and playing at the same time, start small. Trying singing while playing straight whole notes or quarter notes. Or, trying singing a few words here and there rather than an entire phrase.
3. Use Multiple Basses if Necessary
While your power trio might have an overarching sound, chances are good that your set list will differ from song to song: energetic openers, power ballads, and maybe even some acoustic sections mid-set.
Not all instruments are created equally. Strings, electronics, and even the type of wood play a role in defining a bass guitar’s sound and feel. Consider swapping basses between sections to compliment each song in your set.
Check out this video of Geddy Lee’s basses from the R40 Tour:
For example, there are a few tunes in the three piece band I’m currently playing with where a fretless bass would sound really nice, and I’m strongly considering purchasing or borrowing one to match the feel of those songs.
Tuning is another factor to consider. If your band plays in both standard and drop tunings, for example, you might want to change basses between songs rather than retuning your entire bass and risking losing the crowd’s interest by creating a potentially awkward lull in the set.
With that being said, I realize that many of us (including myself) don’t have the budget for multiple basses. If that’s the case, choose your bass carefully. I personally love my Sire P7. Between the P/J pickup configuration and the active onboard preamp I can dial in just about any sound I need. Also, pedals and effects are your friends… more on that below.
4. Use Effects Pedals
What would Muse’s “Hysteria” be without Chris Wolstenholme’s ripping distorted bassline?
There’s no doubt that effects can greatly enhance your tone and help you find your signature sound.
Not sure where to start? Chorus, compression, overdrive, reverb, and octave pedals are all solid choices for the beginner power trio bassist. If you want lots of options, try experimenting with a multi-effects pedal/processor. My first pedal was the Zoom MS-60B and I still use it to this day. It helped me discover what effects I like and which ones I don’t care for. And it’s affordable! You can usually snag it for around $100.
5. Provide Plenty of Punch
As a power trio bassist you want your sound to sit in nicely with the mix… but you also want to stand out a bit, too! As I mentioned briefly in the intro, there’s a lack in midrange presence when you’re missing that rhythm guitar – and it’s your job to bridge the gap! It can be tempting to EQ your bass using the “smiley face” approach. While this is occasionally desirable, remember that the mids are your best friend, specifically the low mids. This is where your bass tone thrives, and cutting your frequency between 150-250Hz can be catastrophic. This will differ depending on venue acoustics, so starting with your EQ flat and adjusting your midrange controls from there is a good rule of thumb.
Some other ways you can provide plenty of punch include:
- An overdrive pedal, especially one that has a low boost/cut. I personally love my Darkglass Electronics B3K.
- Strings can make a huge difference. If it’s been a while since you’ve changed yours, a brand new set of strings will make you wonder why you didn’t change them sooner. My Dunlop Marcus Miller Super Brights always give me a bright, peppy tone.
- Playing with a pick (yes I said it!) doesn’t work in every scenario, but I love the gritty punch I can obtain from it. Give it a try!
- Make sure your amp isn’t holding you back. You can try all of the above, but you’re wasting your time if your amp can’t provide the output needed to be heard and felt! Be sure to invest in a solid rig before hitting the stage. Pushing a small underpowered amp too hard will result in distorted sound and possibly a blown speaker (trust me, those are no fun to replace).
6. Own the Stage
Playing a live show as a three piece band has the potential to be awkward… or maybe I should say it has the potential to feel awkward. Even a normal sized stage can feel like a football field when there are only three of you.
So what do you do with all of that extra space? The short answer: have fun and own it! Let your stage presence be a reflection of the passion you have for the music.
This comes naturally for some of us – others, not so much. This is something I’ve had to work on over the years. I played bass for about a decade in the church I grew up in, using Aviom personal mixers for our monitors. This meant plugging my in-ears directly to the mixer, leaving me tethered and unable to move from my spot. Later I played bass in another church that used wireless technology for monitoring. Although I was no longer chained to a personal mixer and had more freedom to move around, I was so used to playing with the Avioms for years and didn’t know what to do! I was pretty stiff for a while but eventually loosened up.
It’s good to move around and have fun, but don’t force it. Don’t get to the point where you’re thinking “okay, on the chorus I’m going to take a step forward, head bang during the bridge, etc.”
Don’t be robotic. Be authentic and find that sweet spot between having fun and playing with excellence.
7. Communicate With Your Bandmates
If I’m having a hard time grooving with the drummer’s kick pattern on a segment of a song I might ask to play through it a few times – just the two of us – in order to lock in.
There’s a bridge in a song my band has been practicing where the bass and electric guitar play this sixteenth note lick in unison. The first half is an ascending E minor pentatonic lick, which then descends during the second half. The first time we rehearsed this song we broke down this riff into two separate parts, practiced it slowly, and then built it back up to tempo.
You’re literally the middleman in a power trio, providing support for the guitar while simultaneously acting as an extension of the drums. Work through parts one-on-one to successfully bridge the sonic gap between harmony and rhythm.
8. Study the Greats
Les Claypool, Pino Palladino, Jack Bruce… the list goes on. Do your homework and research bass players from famous power trios. What made them great? What set them apart from other bassists?
Playing in a power trio is a fun experience, stretching your musical capabilities and giving you a deep sense of satisfaction. I hope these tips help you dominate your next three piece project!
