Musicianship: Roger Waters

Something new I wanna try is find out what you all think of the musicianship of certain Prog musicians. No focus on songwriting, vocals, lyrics etc just how they played their instrument. I'm starting with one Roger Waters. What do you all think of his bass playing and occasional acoustic guitar playing? I think as a bassist he was quite original at times and acoustic was kinda standard but not bad.

He knows how to play in 7/8. Makes him a better musician than Gilmer.

For a guy who supposedly picked up the bass for the first time a year or two before Piper was recorded, I'd say he did pretty well.  On the whole though, he's an adequate bassist and okay guitarist.  As someone else said, his vocals and lyrics are really what made him famous, not his instrument skills (or lack thereof).

I think he and Mason sound great together in the Floyd, but I'd also say that in terms of technical skill, they are one of the least gifted rhythm sections in progressive rock.  Just goes to show that technical skill isn't everything.

Competent seems to sum up the views here.  He's much better on the vision side of things than the execution side.

He's certainly not the greatest bass player of all time, that's for sure, but he did also have outstanding moments. Set The controls comes immediately to mind. It was, however, his lyrical and musical visions that set him apart.

Harry Hood wrote: He knows how to play in 7/8. Makes him a better musician than Gilmer.

You do know that the intro to Money was played with both Roger on bass and Gilmour on guitar, don't you? That's the reason it sounds so "fat".

Anyway, I do like Roger's playing, he has a very good sense of timing. 

Nice thread He's a decent bass player and his guitar playing gets the job done. I think he's perfect for a band like Floyd, but if he was in Yes or Return To Forever, I don't think he could keep up with the other band members.

Bass player may not have to be spectacular, but if they are, then it's a great plus. That's what makes Squire the (perhaps) favourite bass player in PA (as far as the polls I've seen go).

He's certainly not a great bassist, but when I saw PF live back in 76 he held his own, including improvising (or so it seemed) some bass lines during an open section in one of the songs.