JAL TAGUIBAO (BASS TALKS)

(The BASSISTS Edition)

(Jal Taguibao bassist for Sugarfree)

Another man of solid strings oozing sounds grounded out loud is Jal Taguibao. The same soul with uncompromising creativity. Sugarfree's third of the trio, he hits it low for them. It's double on the side of him. What would sound good for a three-piece band, but a double synergy of each member? That doesn't count him the least.

Catching the other side of the balance when the void's obvious for him to fill-in. “Hmmm. Because no one else was gonna play the instrument,” he commenced. Later, he would conclude things isn't the way as he sees it from a distance, he was taken by it with few inspirations over head. “And then, I realized it was such a beautiful instrument when I heard songs from Jamiroquai, Mother Earth, and Corduroy; Just 4 strings but it provides the “body” of songs; merges the drums/percussions with the vocals and guitars,” he explains.

It's plain on him. Saying less is taking really the base sides of the band. “Hahaha. Just a game face while playing. I really don’t have technique. I have very limited left hand and right hand skills. I guess, you just have to try to stick with the drums for a more solid rhythm section,” he said.

After all, most of the time you'll not only be playing for yourself, but for them taking your goods to heart. He butts-in few more noble tips, “play the correct position. Do not overplay. Think of the band first, your sound, technique and grandstanding should come last,” he elucidated.



BASE TALKS

Who are the bassist/s that you look for inspiration?
Stuart Vender, Sting, Rocco Prestia, Buddy Zabala, Rommel De La Cruz.

On influences, what bass parts were the most fun to reinterpret?
Buddy’s “Alapaap”.

What kept you interested in playing bass?
A lot of Acid Jazz, Funk, Gospel, and RnB. Motown!

What is your primary role as a bass player?
To coordinate vox and guitars with the drums. To imply backing “vocal” notes on the bass during the performances.

What kind of warm-up exercises do you do?
Stretching.

What can you tell about your plucking and picking techniques?
I’m mediocre when it comes to those. People should watch Rommel de la cruz, Buddy Zabala, Louie Talan, Karel Honasan and Myong Pacana for these techniques.

What are some of the things that have influenced your sound?
A few Hip Hop and RnB Beats, Buddy Zabala, A lot of Ambient and Chill basslines, And Motown!

What do you think makes great bass lines?
Melody, Appropriateness and placement of the line, and right hand technique (muting).

Do you play pick?
Rarely.

How do you view the role of the bass in your music?
Complementary to all the instruments in the band and the vocals. You can’t overdo playing the bass. We are a band.

What part of your bass playing are you experimenting with the most?
Melodies.

What's one of your greatest strengths as a bass player?
Hmm…overall arrangement and placement of the lines to stress the dynamics of the band and the other elements in a song.

What have you learned from your years of playing bass?
Ergonomics. Play in the proper position or you’d get injured the way I was injured recently. If you want to play the bass for a long time, start with the correct position.

How has your playing attitude changed over the years?
You get to learn and watch how other people excel in it. Then you get challenged, inspired or discouraged. If you really love doing it, you’d want to keep doing it; learning shouldn’t stop.

Where do your bass lines come in when recording an album?
Depending which track is first recorded; usually after the recording of the drum tracks. But that changed in the last album.

How has your bass style evolved through the course of your band's career?
From simple to “simpler”. As a band, you have to think of the placement in the arrangement of the other elements. Since Sugarfree is “lyrics-oriented” the bass, and all the other instruments should highlight the vocals.

How did your live playing differ from your studio approach?
You get to take time to think during the studio recording. Live, you play by adding instinct to routine.

Which one of your songs gives you the biggest thrill when you're up there on stage?
Tulog na.

What's something you've learned lately, either on the road or in the studio?
Smile. Even when you’re down. On stage and off stage. Smiling, even forcibly, can, to an extent change your point of view more positively.

Is there a certain sound that your listeners have come to expect from your band?
Hmmm I really don’t know.

What musical concepts have you had to learn the hard way?
Consistency of odd time signatures, syncopation and interpretation of songs through arrangement (dynamics)

What non-musical thing inspires you the most?
Food!

What are your preferences when buying bass guitar?
Sound, weight and maintenance issues.

What are your favorite songs from any of you band's albums that incorporate your bass techniques?
Tulog Na.

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