I always found my left hand invaluble while playing the box For holding ciggarettes, drinking, making gestures at obnoxious people, paying for drink, all can be done mid tune, at the expence of a note or 2 (honest) But not the bass!!

Only joking, here's my experience, up untill 96 I used to compete in Fleadh Ceoil Na hEireann on the box, one rule being: The bass should be played in time and tune with the melody, which i always thought utter crap, It was this that threw me while competing, as i can play fairly well, but when concntrating on a strict 1 2 1 2 bass fingering, it just f***ed the whole thing up so here is my theory:

I use the bass to emphasise certain notes or bars within the tune, or otherwise not at all, this is the way i like to play, and it sounds good to me, and it sounds good to others! I think Unless your playing strict dance or ceili music, this formal or regimental as i see it backing on the bass notes is not required,

However, there are those that do play that way, and to them i say, all well and good, every man to his own.

Just remember no matter how you play, if you play an excellent tune,
the audience will say, what a brilliant tune, NOT what a briliant bit of bass playing

Comprende my theory.....
Bye bye! :o)