I know this doesn't apply to all out guitar brothers,but my current guitarist has let some real zingers go recently. My favorites are:
"All Stratocaster players tune down 1/2 step"
"All blues player tune down 1/2 step"
"Everybody in Nashville tunes down 1/2 step"
And the real kicker
'I don't like playing that because it's not on the fret markers".

This coming from a guy that has supposedly been playing fo 20+ years. Anybody else got an Einstein like mine on guitar in their band? This should be interesting.

Hi.

I was kinda hoping this would come up...

Song structure:

IntroAABABAABA

"There's only two chords in that tune? I think I hear more, but I can't change the position that fast"

Well... :rolleyes:

Coming from a guy that's been playing guitar 25+ years. I might add though that the timing for the intro to Smoke On The Water is still beyond his capabilities. :D :D

And yes, he started out with that. Now that's what I'd call a learning curve.

Regards
Sam

A guy I know who plays guitar told me that if you want to sound good on guitar (I also play guitar. It's what I started on.), I just need to play on the fret markers. That's kind of true since you'll get most of the notes on an Em pentatonic on the fret markers, but come on...

Hi.

I was kinda hoping this would come up...

Song structure:

IntroAABABAABA

"There's only two chords in that tune? I think I hear more, but I can't change the position that fast"

Well... :rolleyes:



Hahaha, :D

My guitard friend said "I think Fender Are the only ones that put that metal rod in the neck" refering to the truss rod after i asked where his guitars truss rod was.

my rythem player
"man my fretting speed is up, my double picking speed is up, I just dont know where to go once I've started"
me "learn your scales and modes, dude"
him "Na, they take to much time to learn, I just wanna know where I can go on the fret board"

My lead tells him the same thing and we both tell him on a regular basis thanks to his repetative questioning. He's good if you want chord rock or the Beatles, but we are a metal band and he's having a hell of a time following. But to defend him at the same time, this band wasnt supposed to be a metal band either, it was supposed to be along the lines of Down, Crowbar, Corrosion of Conformity, heavy sludge type sound. Well when he ran out of ideas they looked to me for songs, I can play about any style you throw at me, not saying I'm an expert at all fields, I can catch on and follow pretty good, but anyway I shall continue. My main background influence's consist of Cliff Burton, Geezer Butler, Steve Harris, David Ellefson, metal monsters of their time. So when they looked to me for music the first thing that came from me was metal at it's finest in my eyes. Well my drummer liked it, rythem liked it, so we went with it. So turning a beatles type player into a metal player has been interesting.

My guitarist: "Dude, turn your rig down! All I can hear is bass and your making me sound out of tune!"

Me: "But I'm not even playing! That's the rhythm guitar player!"

or like my friend last night
"its only got 4 strings it should be easy"
if he wasnt in detroit on the phone i might have smacked him

My first guitar buddy on the subject of Yellow #5 and "male shrinkage":

I've been drinking Mellow Yellow since I was 6 and I haven't noticed any change!

:rollno:

He plays bass now so hopefully he's noticed enough of a change to compensate for all the Mellow Yellow.

My first guitarist:

"I don't want to learn the names of the notes, it will stifle my creativity"

***?

Guitar player: "What is happening is that your bass amp is sucking all the electricity out of the wall and not leaving enough for my amp, I can totally hear my amp sag when you play a loud note."
Bass Player: Eyes are rolling...

it's worse when they refuse to accept any sort of criticism ... based ont he fact that they "know" more than you or some crap

[QUOTE=73jbass;4165372]I know this doesn't apply to all out guitar brothers,but my current guitarist has let some real zingers go recently. My favorites are:
"All Stratocaster players tune down 1/2 step"
"All blues player tune down 1/2 step"
"Everybody in Nashville tunes down 1/2 step"
And the real kicker
'I don't like playing that because it's not on the fret markers".

I love the general blanket statements.

Hi.

This one didn't end up playin' any instrument (obviously) so I don't know if this qualifies but,

"I've heard that You have to learn only three chords to play ROCK, which ones You would suggest to be easiest to learn? I'd so looove to play ROCK"

:confused: :eek: What would You say? I was speechless.

Regards
Sam

A teahcer at the welding school i attend called me in for a monthly progress report. And then asked to see my bands homepage. Then we started discussing great guitarplayers and wondered over to bassplayers.... and he dropped the most standard and ignorant line ever "bass is easier to play cause it has 4 strings".

Getting annoyed i prompted him that "sure it's only got 4 strings, but that's what makes it harder"

Ignorant ass

While auditioning lead guitarists for a classic rock cover band, one candidate said "I don't need to play the hooks as long as I fill the same tonal space."

uhhh...NEXT!

So we walk into a room and he asks me to start a jam. So I start playing and he says "I think your basslines have too many notes in them, slow down and play less notes":eek:

Well I played with a guy that could play chords and sing.This was Beatles, The Eagles, various 70's rock and some current hits from the ensuing decades.

He could take upon any request from the crowd and then sing it.

But honestly the guy could not play single note lines to save his life.

I played a little bass solo and he was amazed.

I was amazed at his ability to sing brilliantly. Thats why its called a band.

I've been drinking Mellow Yellow since I was 6 and I haven't noticed any change!

Awesome...:D :D :D :D

Ian

Well, I play with some pretty talented guitar players (think like playing since they were 5) But one guitar player makes me want to scream:

"Your line is more complicated then the rhythm's, bring it down a notch so it sounds like its supposed to"

"Your too loud, I can barley hear my solo!"
"I don't play during your solo.."

"Just play the roots of my chords and it will sound amazing"

or my favorite:

"Make it sound like this: POP BOOM BOOM POP BOOM BOOM. That would be amazing!"

So we walk into a room and he asks me to start a jam. So I start playing and he says "I think your basslines have too many notes in them, slow down and play less notes":eek:

Maybe he was right.

i used to tech for a guy who was like eric johnson and jeff beck rolled into 1. that was until i got fired [long story]because i got into with his bass player for making VERY innapropriate remarks to 2 friends of mine, who were minors at a gig one night. anywho, not the point:
the dumbest thing this guy ever said was :"crap dave ,i forgot my pedal board. can you go get it?" sure i say give me your keys [thinking it's in his truck]. uhhhhhhh no. he left it at home 50 miles away. we went on in less than 1/2 hour.

also : oh crap, one of my 12 ax7 tubes blew. walks up to the mic and asks if anyone has spare tubes....and seriously waits for an answer.

him: i dont understand why you wont be at the gig on suchandsuch a date.
me:i'm best man in my best friends wedding.
him:cant you come afterwards
me:it's in dallas,tx
him:you need to get your priorities straight dave. which is more important?

i got a million of 'em

ME: yo man im researchin on a new amp ill be there soon...

Guitarist: Dude who cares all bass amps sound the same


...............................

My rythem player "I would rather lose money to bring in an out of town band and under charge the door to gain fans than charge a worthy fee for a good show" My stint in this band will not be much longer.

On the too many notes thing, umm dude. Steve Harris, Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, ect why do we love these guys? LOTS OF NOTES AND COMPLEX BASSLINES :bassist:

But they don't play too many notes. That's another reason we love those bassists. I'm saying it's possible you were playing too many notes and didn't realize it. There is such a thing.

The current guitarist in my band has been playing guitar for almost 20 years and can't change his own strings. :rollno:

Hi.

Aah, strings, thanks tlwaps for the reminder. The guitarplayer I was talkin about earlier in this thread (song structure = chords) said a thing or two about the strings also.

Said guitarist had been playing the same set of strings in his Stratocaster for God knows how long. Those strings didn't sound too good and eventually one broke. That was the end of the rehearsal as he didn't have a spare. :rolleyes:

At the next rehearsal the sound of his guitar was rather strange and I asked whether he chaged the strings or not.

Him: Nope, just the one that broke. There's no need as the others are just fine.
Me: What :eek:
Him: Yes, they're just fine and changing all the strings takes over an hour anyway.
Me: WHAT :confused:
Him: Yes. You see, in stratocaster, You have to take the tremolo string cover off, insert the string through the bridge, measure the correct lenght for the string, cut it, place it in the hollow shaft in the tuning peg and carefully wind it around the shaft. Usually it's too long so the string touches the bushing and You have to start all over again.
Me:WHAT THE F*** Bro, what the hell are You talking about?:confused: :confused:
Him: Come here and take a look, see? The end of the string in the hole.
Me : Take a look at my tuning pegs, same?, Yep. String end in the hole, nope. Wrapped differently, better perhaps? Yours are wound 3-8 times around the shaft, problems staying in tune?
Him : No, not really. (horribly out of tune)
Me: Why do You do it that way, to keep it neat? To avoid hurting Your hands on the ends? Or what?
Him: When I bought this guitar 15 years ago, the strings were done that way, I've just done it the same way ever since.
Me: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Now I know that some of You will disagree about this, but I see no advantage other than looks for the "string end in the hole".

Regards
Sam

Hi.

Aah, strings, thanks tlwaps for the reminder. The guitarplayer I was talkin about earlier in this thread (song structure = chords) said a thing or two about the strings also.

Said guitarist had been playing the same set of strings in his Stratocaster for God knows how long. Those strings didn't sound too good and eventually one broke. That was the end of the rehearsal as he didn't have a spare. :rolleyes:

At the next rehearsal the sound of his guitar was rather strange and I asked whether he chaged the strings or not.

Him: Nope, just the one that broke. There's no need as the others are just fine.
Me: What :eek:
Him: Yes, they're just fine and changing all the strings takes over an hour anyway.
Me: WHAT :confused:
Him: Yes. You see, in stratocaster, You have to take the tremolo string cover off, insert the string through the bridge, measure the correct lenght for the string, cut it, place it in the hollow shaft in the tuning peg and carefully wind it around the shaft. Usually it's too long so the string touches the bushing and You have to start all over again.
Me:WHAT THE F*** Bro, what the hell are You talking about?:confused: :confused:
Him: Come here and take a look, see? The end of the string in the hole.
Me : Take a look at my tuning pegs, same?, Yep. String end in the hole, nope. Wrapped differently, better perhaps? Yours are wound 3-8 times around the shaft, problems staying in tune?
Him : No, not really. (horribly out of tune)
Me: Why do You do it that way, to keep it neat? To avoid hurting Your hands on the ends? Or what?
Him: When I bought this guitar 15 years ago, the strings were done that way, I've just done it the same way ever since.
Me: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Now I know that some of You will disagree about this, but I see no advantage other than looks for the "string end in the hole".

Regards
Sam

The easiest way i have found to string my bass using the "holes", if you have a 4x1 headstock run the string through the bridge and stretch it as tight as you can. If you are doing the E string, cut the string off at the A string tuner, stick the end of the string in the hole and bend it over and tune it up. Do the same for all the strings. Now when you get to the G string, depending on how long you headstock is on the end, cut the string off at the end of the headstock and finish stringing like the other strings.

him: i dont understand why you wont be at the gig on suchandsuch a date.
me:i'm best man in my best friends wedding.
him:cant you come afterwards
me:it's in dallas,tx
him:you need to get your priorities straight dave. which is more important?

I'm just speechless at that. I'd tell them where they could go stick it. In a blender at full speed probably ;)

Friends, especially good friends, will always come before the band for me. Even though all the members are all good friends of mine :)

Hi.

Yet another one, now from the other (actually the only one at the moment, since Einstein quit) guitarist.

We were discussing about the possibility to find a female lead vocalist as our recent singer has some reliability issues. And while me and the drummer agreed that she should be able to sing well, she should also be nice enough looking to improve our overall appearance. ;) (Fullbearded biker, bald biker, average joe at the moment)

Now the guitarist was pretty silent, a remark every now and then, but came up with the killer:

"Shouldn't she be at least strong enough to help loading and unloading the gear?"

Well said.:D

Sam

heres one

we were playing a song we had made (well i composed everything for it) i gave the rhythm guitarist the chance to make his own line for it. and what does he do? plays pinch harmonics the whole bloody time! this is how the conversation went:

Me: Justin(rhythm), what the hell are you doing?
justin: playing the rhythm part..
Me: yah, but it sucks
Justin: yah, so its rhythm , it won't be heard above you and the lead
Me :rolleyes:...wow
Justin: just let me do my own thing
Josh(lead): justin you fail at guitar!
Justin: Josh, its rhythm!
me+josh: rhythm doesnt sound like ass!
Justin, ITS RHYTHM! ITS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE HEARD OVER BASS+LEAD!!
Me: you have to be kidding
justin: NO, its RHYTHM!
Me:. Justin, go home please. you fail.

needless to say...he sucked
*Edit* Nearly forgot! we were playing smoke on the water one day cause we were bored. same rhythm guitarist couldn't play that. I offer to show him what how to play it, and guess what he shouts? you guest it, "CORBIN, ITS RHYTHM! WHY DON'T YOU GET IT!'' .....that was the final straw. we kicked him out.

Josh(lead): justin you fail at guitar!


I find it funny that every rippin guitarist I know says that way more than he should...

its only funny cause justin actually does fail at guitar. smoke on the water is too much for him :(

On the too many notes thing, umm dude. Steve Harris, Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, etc why do we love these guys? LOTS OF NOTES AND COMPLEX BASS LINES :bassist:

It depends on what you're playing. I play blues and if I had a dollar for every time I went to a blues jam and heard a bass player play too many notes but not hold the bottom down I could take a really nice vacation.

I was at a small private jam and was one of two bassist there. Talking to a keyboardist friend who was also there, The take on the other bassist was that he was too loud and played too many notes and wasn't saying anything with those extra notes.

The bottom line in playing in a band is that the most important thing is that the song and the band sound good. Individual virtuosity should always be secondary.

My guitarist: "Dude, turn your rig down! All I can hear is bass and your making me sound out of tune!"

Me: "But I'm not even playing! That's the rhythm guitar player!"

LOL!! That's happened to me, too.

So my band got threatened with a lawsuit from another band of the same name. We sat around and were brainstorming new names. Me, the singer and the drummer were all throwing out tons of random names thought up off the top of are heads, some good, some decent. Our guitarist is just sitting on the couch staring off into space. After about 5 minutes we're all just watching TV and the guitarist snaps out of his daze, jumps up and shouts out...

SEPTIC TANK!!!

Me: 'what the f*** are you talking about?
Guitarist: 'That's our new band name. SEPTIC TANK!!!
Drummer: 'Leave the creative stuff to us man, you just concentrate on guitar.'

So my band got threatened with a lawsuit from another band of the same name. We sat around and were brainstorming new names. Me, the singer and the drummer were all throwing out tons of random names thought up off the top of are heads, some good, some decent. Our guitarist is just sitting on the couch staring off into space. After about 5 minutes we're all just watching TV and the guitarist snaps out of his daze, jumps up and shouts out...

SEPTIC TANK!!!

Me: 'what the f*** are you talking about?
Guitarist: 'That's our new band name. SEPTIC TANK!!!
Drummer: 'Leave the creative stuff to us man, you just concentrate on guitar.'


Was the doobie done being passed around when he jumped up?:hiding:

That's similar to an idea our guitarist had. He wanted to start a second band with me to do acoustic covers, and he wanted to call it "Drunk Tank."

Needless to say that project never got off the ground.

One day, the guitarist from my old band said:
"Bass is so much easier than guitar, you only play one string at a time"
To this I responed:
"Try making one string at a time sound as effective as three"
To this he responed:
"Good point"

...and it was on this most historical of days that a guitarist saw reason

On a guitar forum I post on, some kid posted wondering if it'd be ok to remove the D, G, B, and E strings from his guitar because all the "real" bands like Blink 182 only use the two "thick ones" for power chords. We were confused...about several things...

He later imparted the following wisdom (after someone pointed out the range of having ALL of your strings):

"Solos are for old hippies."

...and it was on this most historical of days that a guitarist saw reason

... and I wasn't there to witness it. :crying:

the guitar player in my band never practices or learns scales or anything like that so when he solos he basically chooses a string and starts playing eight notes fishing for notes that fit on the one string, it's hilarious to watch. logically he never solos at a gig, and he told me to stop playing so much like a lead guitar player and stop taking the fills. to which i responded maybe if you knew how to play scales and could solo i wouldn't have to take responsibility for what you can't do and i could play less...frikkin' idiot

the guitar player in my band never practices or learns scales or anything like that so when he solos he basically chooses a string and starts playing eight notes fishing for notes that fit on the one string, it's hilarious to watch. logically he never solos at a gig, and he told me to stop playing so much like a lead guitar player and stop taking the fills. to which i responded maybe if you knew how to play scales and could solo i wouldn't have to take responsibility for what you can't do and i could play less...frikkin' idiot

yeah the guitar player in our former band was like that, well actually when he gets back from austrailia he says he wants to be in a band again, even tho he hasnt layed guitar at all in a year....anyway, he would come up with really good songs on the guitar and he is very open minded and lets me be as creatve as i want as i do with him, but the only problem is he doesnt know the notes, doesnt know any scales or anything, if he would just learn his fretboard that would be awsome...but aw well

On a guitar forum I post on, some kid posted wondering if it'd be ok to remove the D, G, B, and E strings from his guitar because all the "real" bands like Blink 182 only use the two "thick ones" for power chords. We were confused...about several things...

He later imparted the following wisdom (after somehow pointed out the range of having ALL of your strings):

"Solos are for old hippies."


Pff, who cares what you play when your focusing on jumping up and down on stage like Blink 182 :P

I think what's funny about this thread is that probably most of the statements are true it's just that bass players are defensive.


Four strings are easier to play than six.
Most bass amps do sound the same.
The bass should play root notes during a guitar solo unless it's arranged.
If the bass is too loud it will make the guitar sound out of tune because your intonation is probably off.
Bass players do play too many notes and most of them are not Steve Harris or Geddy Lee, you only think you sound like them if you play too many notes.

Four strings are easier to play than six.


Four strings is easier, because you have to shift your hand around more? I don't know about you, but I find playing melodies on a guitar a lot easier than on bass, and I don't even play guitar. And no, I'm not saying that guitar is easer than bass, I think that playing technique wise they are both pretty easy, almost as easy as the piano.

I read a thing in Guitar Player years ago by Barney Kessel who was auditioning a bassist and the guy was just all over the neck, filling up every available space.

Barney quit playing and said;

"Listen man, I think we both need a bass player."

Most bass players aren't playing melody, if so than yes, it's harder to do that on a bass I guess.

I should say:in a typical band setting it's easier to play bass than guitar because: 1) chords 2) solos.

Edit: all you bass chord soloists out there, I mean thee no offense.

Most bass players aren't playing melody, if so than yes, it's harder to do that on a bass I guess.

I should say:in a typical band setting it's easier to play bass than guitar because: 1) chords 2) solos.

Edit: all you bass chord soloists out there, I mean thee no offense.

So it's not the bass that is easier, it's the material that the bassist plays that is easier (in a typical rock setting).

Hmmm. I suppose. But I still think the nature of how the instrument typically played (one/two notes at a time) is generally easier than haveing to play 4/5 notes at a time that a guitarist has to.

Muscially I wouldn't say that the material is necessarily easier. It's kind of like saying a violin is inherently easier to play than an guitar, and I'm not sure that's true.

Ok here's my thinking about this. Guitar players can pick up a bass and fill in the parts of a bass player, I don't think the reverse is true for most bassists (including me even though I know how to play guitar sorta).

Guitar players can pick up a bass and fill in the parts of a bass player, I don't think the reverse is true for most bassists (including me even though I know how to play guitar sorta).

I know a few pretty (technically) good guitarists who that really doesn't apply to. Fret buzz, horrible timing (not necessarily due to a lack of a sense of time, but coping with the different feel of the instrument)... I'm sure playing guitar will help with picking up bass (and vice versa), but I've never heard a guitarist just pick up a bass and actually play it well.

I disagree with you on the "gutiarists make better bassists than bassists make guitarists" thing. Most times I've ever seen a guitarist pick up a bass, he make it sound like crap. Fret buzz left and right, attempting to play chords, terribly timing, etc. Most bassists have at least a basic understanding of music theory and can at least play a basic guitar part. That is my experience, anyway.

Hi.

IMHO a guitar player that just picks up a bass and starts to play it, sounds just like that, a guitar player playing a guitar, only an octave lower, a fish out of the water :rolleyes: .

He/she plays the bass with a similar touch and feel as they would play a guitar and while the sound somewhat resembles the bass, the rythm and feel don't, those resemble guitar.

IMO it's much better the other way around, a decent bass player makes a fairly good and versatile rythm guitarist. And quickly too if needed. But then again, who would need more guitarists? :confused: ;)

Just my 0,02€
Sam

This thread delivers the laughs.........for the most part. :D

I went with a friend to a rehearsal studio to hang out while his band practiced. One of there songs was pretty good - it started with bass and drums, bass player stayed on one note (d -1/4 notes) and the drummer had a really cool beat. What was pretty unconventional about the song was that my friend (rhythm guitar) "walked up" to the d note (c-c#-d) every measure until the verse started.

I noticed that every time he dropped down to c to walk up to d dropped at different times. So I chimed in...

me: Hey man, you have to drop down to c on the same beat every time.
him: what to you mean?
me: You keep dropping down to c on the wrong beat.
him: No I'm not, I'm just counting different than you.

him: No I'm not, I'm just counting different than you.

That's good. I like that.

I'm not trying to start a fight, nor saying that guitarists are better musicians or any of those silly things.

All I said was four strings are easier to play than six. you know it's true.:ninja:

I had no idea when I strated this thread,that it would get this many responses. Funny,funny stuff! Keep'em coming!

As a bass player that plays guitar, I have to say that I think the whole playing chords/more strings point is a bit silly. It's not that hard to make a few shapes and strum a chord and it becomes quite automatic quite quickly. Especially the basic open chords. Infact I think that it's harder to learn a chord via its arpegiation as a bass player would learn it. Chord shapes on a guitar seem to be based more around muscle memory than anything else. Having to learn arpegios and applying them effectively as a bass player requires a deeper understanding of the music and the theory behind it.

As for solos, I really think that depends on the person regardless of instrument. However bass players generally don't practice soloing. If thats all we did then we'd probably be better soloists. How many rhythm guitarist are great soloists?

Four strings are easier than six? What about a six string bass?

harder than a four stringed bass

What if you gave a guitarist a four stringed guitar? Thats alot of their chord shapes and high notes for soloing gone. How would they cope? it's all a matter of what your used to.

harder than a four stringed bass

AHHAHAHAHHOHOH

that got me:D

Heres one for you. My buddy had this guy playing guitar with him in this duo. He allways wanted to walk home from jobs, even if it were ten miles, so he could prowl around. Strange dude. Well a sheriff had pulled some one over and was haveing a heated discussion with them. So this fellow walks by and starts to watch. The sherriff turned to the guitar player and says "move along". To which this fellow replied "you can't tell me what to do" Well apparently he could because the sheriff then pepper sprayed him and tossed him in the car and took to the pokey.
Man I'm cracking up just typing it and it was 15 yeards ago.

Why not just take the highest two strings of a guitar:confused: :confused: :confused:

why would you do that?

why would you do that?

because four strings are easier than six:ninja:

for all you people out there who think the amount of strings is what makes something hard, check out this guy on the ukulele, it has 4 strings, its tiny and it sounds awsome, i really love it, and i couldnt pick up and play that just becouse it has 4 strings, it would take alot of practice


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k


to me, its the style you are playing that makes something hard or not, doesnt matter what instrument you are playing

for all you people out there who think the amount of strings is what makes something hard, check out this guy on the ukulele, it has 4 strings, its tiny and it sounds awsome, i really love it, and i couldnt pick up and play that just becouse it has 4 strings, it would take alot of practice


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k


to me, its the style you are playing that makes something hard or not, doesnt matter what instrument you are playing


Most definetly it depends on style, I've seen that video before and all I can say is that guy can shred that little plinker like no one I'v seen.

That's a good counterpoint you got there. What a great player, very nice- technique and feeling to boot. I think he was in GP this month.

I was just pushing a little bit on the insecurity that many bass players have because many folks starting out hear that "it's easier because it only has four strings" thing. It takes a more mature musician to understand that it doesn't matter at all and the whole argument one way or the other is pretty ridiculous. To say a musical instrument is "less difficult" because of the number of strings is completely ignorant and does not deserve any kind of response nor defensiveness. More likely a guitarist who says such a thing is trying to compensate for their own lack of skill or talent.

But this was fun and we have a nice little thread of why such thinking is off-base.

"Salad tastes like plants..."











I kid you not

"Salad tastes like plants..."
I kid you not

sounds like he could use some more fiber in his diet:rollno:

Maybe it's just me, but here's a couple of recent statements from my band's lead guitar player that left me speechless....

"I just don't think you should play that bassline because it grooves too much."

"The lead guitar is in charge of the rhythm in a song."

:eyebrow:

Maybe it's just me, but here's a couple of recent statements from my band's lead guitar player that left me speechless....

"I just don't think you should play that bassline because it grooves too much."

"The lead guitar is in charge of the rhythm in a song."

:eyebrow:

before he come to the next practice, Restring his guitar in reverse, that'll show him;)

That's a good counterpoint you got there. What a great player, very nice- technique and feeling to boot. I think he was in GP this month.

I was just pushing a little bit on the insecurity that many bass players have because many folks starting out hear that "it's easier because it only has four strings" thing. It takes a more mature musician to understand that it doesn't matter at all and the whole argument one way or the other is pretty ridiculous. To say a musical instrument is "less difficult" because of the number of strings is completely ignorant and does not deserve any kind of response nor defensiveness. More likely a guitarist who says such a thing is trying to compensate for their own lack of skill or talent.

But this was fun and we have a nice little thread of why such thinking is off-base.

This is the first real +1 I've wanted to make of this thread.

to me, its the style you are playing that makes something hard or not, doesnt matter what instrument you are playing

^For this reason.

As was mentioned, a violin isn't easier to play than a guitar, even though it's smaller and has fewer strings.

It's all about the approach and technique you use to play, what fits the music and what doesn't.

It's no the instrument, it's who plays it. I mean, I can proabably learn a simple tune on any instrument within a day. And so can the guitarist. Yes, maybe the primitive bass lines are easier to play than primitive chords, but I can learn them pretty quick and so can the guitarist. But I'd like to see the guitarist play some Ryan Martine/Flea/whoever lines. And I won't be able to play the guitar like Slash/Clapton/Vai.

And as for 4 strings being easier.. Absolutely no difference. The guitarist doesn't have to finger all six at the same time and neither does a bass player.

BTW, There are 6-stringed basses too.

Our former guitarist/vocalist would ALWAYS scream before going into a chorus or back into the verse. We were supposed to be a funk band but his love of distortion knew no bounds. Anyhow, we were going over the chord changes to some tune in F and I said that the next chord was Bb. He stops me and says:

"It's A#, guitars don't have flats" :eyebrow: I had to turn away to conceal my ear to ear grin before attempting to explain to him why it should be called Bb instead of A# and that believe it or not, guitars have flats too ;) All of this to no avail. I tried a couple more times to edumacate him but that didn't work.

Once we added a sax player it was just a matter of time before the conversation would come up again. Sure enough it did and I just concealed my laughter as the sax player spent 10 minutes trying to convince him of the same thing. He was a blues guy primarily and would rarely play anything but power chords and the Bo-Diddley beat when playing rhythm. :rollno:

"It's A#, guitars don't have flats"

Ha ha ha ha ha! This guy's amazing. :cool:

If four strings is easier... and six harder...

GAWD does it take a musical genius to play an 11-string bass.
And don't get me started on pianos or harps :P

I can kind of understand why people are saying that "4 strings are easier than six". It seems that way because well... There's more of them and remembering my first time on guitar I had no idea where to start.

Upon learning about both instruments however, I've learned that those six strings are no harder than 4 at all, because:

- If you want to reach a different octave range on a bass you've often got to travel a longer distance on the neck as opposed to just 2 down and 2/3 across.

- Chords (yes, I use them... sue me) are much more difficult because the strings are further apart

At the same time however, the 6-string guitar player has a different set of expectations cast upon him/her. S/he has to fulfill a different role. This can be easier or harder depending on the particular style of the guitarist and the band in which s/he plays.

"As for guitarists making better bassists..." guitarists can benefit from playing a little bass. It'll teach them about the foundation they're building on and the rythm they're supplementing. Also bassists can benefit from playing a little guitar, because learning chord structures can help us to understand what the guitarist is trying to do. Learning drums can be quite beneficial for all of the above because it helps with timing.

What I'm trying to say is no instrument is harder than another, some people just play harder.

Personal favorite:

Girlfriend, myself, and guitarist(now her ex-best friend, long story) are in the car, listening to Portrait of Tracy

Nick(guitar): Yeah, I do that kind of stuff all the time for fun.
Myself and Girlfriend:....
Nick: What? I do!
Girl: Nick; shut up.
Me: Agreed.

And yeah. He's also smart enough to be "disturbing the peace", while drunk, in the middle of downtown. Needless to say, neither of us like him anymore.

I disagree with you on the "gutiarists make better bassists than bassists make guitarists" thing. Most times I've ever seen a guitarist pick up a bass, he make it sound like crap. Fret buzz left and right, attempting to play chords, terribly timing, etc. Most bassists have at least a basic understanding of music theory and can at least play a basic guitar part. That is my experience, anyway.

I know what you mean. I recently played a gig with this band who I think have split up now. Their lead guitarist is incredible - imagine a cross between John Petrucci, Vai and Claudio Sanchez in playing style and you'll know what I mean. Anyways, for one song he swapped instruments with the bassist, plays this awesome little tapping solo and then proceeds to play root notes for the rest of the next song. I spent the rest of the gig with my mouth hanging completely open. What a waste of talent.

But yeah, even when rocking out with TEH SHREDDORZZ!!! he just looked awkward, which was unfortunate.

I play in a rock band with two guitarists and a drummer.

Recently, I also joined a part time program at a local TAFE (community) college.

Part of the program involves a jazz ensemble.

...so I was telling my band mates about it, and the lead guitarist comes out with:

"....man - I hate all those jazz guys. They're always playing all of those weird notes and stuff. You're not going to turn into one of them, are you?..."

:hyper:

:rollno:

Guitarist: "dude, just play these root notes while me and mike play this riff"
Me: "no."

Well, this isn't really gaytar player stupidity per se, but it is funny.

We were at a sound check few days back for a music BOTB, and we noticed my wireless was not co-operating. so i was hobbling around the stage , running around like a mad man trying to find the power box for it, and the receiver too, well my guitarist goes on the mic, because at that time, i had made my way back to the sound booth. he shouts on it:

" hey Corbin! you know who you look like? that stupid little elf guy on lord of the rings!"

from the back, i shout out " Oh, that smeegle whats his face?"

He shouts: " no, that stupid bongo baggins. bongo?..is it bongo, no no, bango, BANGO BAGGINS!"

yah, it was one of those 'had to be there' moments. as this guy says the funniest and stupidest things. like ' yah know, that one show, busting myths!'

-flakeh

Hi.

This one didn't end up playin' any instrument (obviously) so I don't know if this qualifies but,

"I've heard that You have to learn only three chords to play ROCK, which ones You would suggest to be easiest to learn? I'd so looove to play ROCK"

:confused: :eek: What would You say? I was speechless.

Regards
Sam

It's called punk. ;)

Last night at band practice we are sitting around shooting the breeze after we had played our set and we were talking about the "almighty" razor cell phone. three of my band members have them. Anyway I was telling them about the voice recognition(sp) on my brothers razor that once the name had been entered into the phone it would automatically say they name so you wouldnt have to program your voice in the recognition. Well after i said that my rythem player looks over at me and say
"ya know that auto voice recognition is probably for deaf people" He was dead serious when he said it for about ten seconds and then he realized what he had just said. Yea it was a good laugh.

I know this guitar player that plays about 10 years or so.
The dude DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE about gutar setup, care, repairs, proper TUNINNG etc.

His regular band practice is a constant series of complaints, and Jan, the bass player(a good friend of mine) gets them all:
"Jan, what happend to my cable!?", "Jan, why is my guitar making noises?!", "Jan, why is my amp aint working?!" etc.

One night he came to the band practice and everything was fine. Leaving him nothing to complaint of, he shouts to the bass player:
"JAN, WHY IS MY GUITAR IN TUNE?!?!"

I think what's funny about this thread is that probably most of the statements are true it's just that bass players are defensive.


Four strings are easier to play than six.
Most bass amps do sound the same.
The bass should play root notes during a guitar solo unless it's arranged.
If the bass is too loud it will make the guitar sound out of tune because your intonation is probably off.
Bass players do play too many notes and most of them are not Steve Harris or Geddy Lee, you only think you sound like them if you play too many notes.


All that stuff is a matter of opinion, so I won't comment one way or the other... EXCEPT for number 4. That's just silly.

I would think it should be self evident that improperly tuned instruments, when played together, sound... well...
uh... out of tune?

This goes in the "Bass players say dumb crap" thread.

In fact, that is even sig-worthy!

Edit:
Hey Blip, I didn't really mean that to sound as harsh as it does, upon re-reading it.
It was intended in a joking manner. (Still keeping the sig tho') ;)

Bass players do play too many notes and most of them are not Steve Harris or Geddy Lee, you only think you sound like them if you play too many notes.


At least some people are trying to get better and improve bass playing in general. The thing I like about guitarists is that most of them are not content on sucking, and simply saying "less is more" when it's brought up.

But, don't let me stop you from being a defeatist pessimist.

I think what's funny about this thread is that probably most of the statements are true it's just that bass players are defensive.


Four strings are easier to play than six.
Most bass amps do sound the same.
The bass should play root notes during a guitar solo unless it's arranged.
If the bass is too loud it will make the guitar sound out of tune because your intonation is probably off.
Bass players do play too many notes and most of them are not Steve Harris or Geddy Lee, you only think you sound like them if you play too many notes.


1: I disagree. Not only because 4 strings make most of the things I play impossible (ok, less likely...) and the fact I do use chords on bass makes it that 6-strings with their closer stringspacing are easier to play for me.

2: This comment is made by either a deaf or stupid person. (or both). I know, I'm into audio-engineering and sure as hell you can tell the difference between amps.

3: Musicians who don't know how to improvise or add to a solo should stick to rootnotes. Those with some ability to play their instrument can improvise or add to the overall sound. (not to say you should do more than root but you're not forced to)

4: Intonation wrong? 1 word: SETUP. If your intonation is off its not my problem.

5: So you've seen a lot of "lead-guitard-players" who think they can play bass. Big deal.

Guitarist in my covers band is in his mid-50s and been playing for more years than I've been alive. He's one of my best buddies but he is such a dinosaur and has no sense of timing unless it is battered into his brain in the shape of a loud backbeat and spends most of a gig in his own little world only noticing the rest of us if we head on a completely different tangeant to what he was expecting (like stopping playing altogether or changing key/song midflow)...

"I change the strings on all my guitars once a year, whether they need it or not."

On using IEMs (with guitar in his mix at full blast and everything else virtually off) - "I can hear everything through them as clear as a bell but I can only hear my guitar coming from my amp."

On FOH mix - "I know how much volume to get from my amp so it sits perfectly with the FOH mix." Followed by stooges in the crowd pointing to everyone but him and giving the universal signal for "you need to be louder."

On using 2 x Mesa DC-5 amps side by side at excrutiating volumes even in tiny venues, both with the same settings even though guitar is mic'd for FOH - "I need it to ensure guitar sound is spread out front."

When gigging with a talented but slightly forgetful dep drummer prior to first song, even though guitarist is well known for lack of timing ability...
Drummer: How fast?
Guitarist (before I can get a word in): 1,2,3,4
Me and Drummer start playing, guitarist stands there like the total numpty he is.

Drummer: How fast?
Guitarist (before I can get a word in): 1,2,3,4
Me and Drummer start playing, guitarist stands there like the total numpty he is.

Awesome :p

I've read through some of the posts, a lot of them are hysterical!
Thankfully I don't have a problem with the guitar player in my band. He's been my best friend for eons, he accepts criticism and is always open to suggestions on songs. Guess I'm lucky lol.

Since I started this thread,you guys have come up with some great lines! Guitar players,ya gotta love'em! I recently left this particular project after the guitar player seriously lost his temper after being asked to turn down. When you tell somebody especially your best friend,to "step outside and settle this like men",then you have some issues.Turns out he did have some serious issues,all of his own doing. I just picked up my gear and left.Haven't been back.I have a very small tolerance for BS at my age,and just don't want to be around it.Turns out this wasn't his first offense.he's done this 2 other times before,so I figure I got out at the right time. So,I'm away from childish guitar players,for now,but out of a music project. Thanks for the responses folks!

I'm surprised I haven't seen this yet but here goes...

Rhythm Guitarist: "I seriously think playing Guitar Hero has made me a better guitar player."

Me: :eek:

...So I start playing and he says "I think your basslines have too many notes in them, slow down and play less notes"

I hope you pointed out it should be FEWER notes.

How about a new Heading "Guitarists ARE The Dumbest Things":D

I think what's funny about this thread is that probably most of the statements are true it's just that bass players are defensive.


Four strings are easier to play than six.
Most bass amps do sound the same.
The bass should play root notes during a guitar solo unless it's arranged.
If the bass is too loud it will make the guitar sound out of tune because your intonation is probably off.
Bass players do play too many notes and most of them are not Steve Harris or Geddy Lee, you only think you sound like them if you play too many notes.


I agree:

1. I can play pentatonically on a bass and be a hero (in others' eyes), but I just seem like a dullard doing it on guitar (in my own). I can get away without knowing the difference between major and minor chords. I have lots of room to move my pudgy fingers about. I can give it some welly and not break a string...
2. Amps might sound different when nothing else is going on, but play alongside a couple of guitars and drums and all bass is an indistinct rumble to my ear. And that includes mega wealthy stadium bands I've seen who should be able to afford the clearest bass sound available.
3. If "holding it down" is a good thing, then 4-to-the-floor root notes are generally what you want. And that's not that hard, is it? Perhaps #3 is a consequence of #2?
4. I've NEVER been able to get my bass loud enough, so can't comment.
5. I like lots of bass notes (Shy Boy, Roundabout, all the usual suspects), but I also am in awe of the basslines on Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads) and Waterfront (Simple Minds). How you can do so much with so little is beyond me.

I bet more of the world's bass players are of an adequate standard for gigging compared to guitarists (proportionally). But that might be because we're cleverer - see this thread.

I'm surprised I haven't seen this yet but here goes...

Rhythm Guitarist: "I seriously think playing Guitar Hero has made me a better guitar player."

Me: :eek:

Why not? Practicing rhythm is practicing rhythm, and if you are actually playing those songs, it could help with getting to know the song as well.

I'm surprised I haven't seen this yet but here goes...

Rhythm Guitarist: "I seriously think playing Guitar Hero has made me a better guitar player."

Me: :eek:

Guitar Hero does not help you at ALL in your playing technique :scowl:

Guitar Hero does not help you at ALL in your playing technique :scowl:

That's not what he said. He said it helped his playing. Playing is more than technique. For someone who isnt a fantastic player already, any kind of musical play will be helpful. Listening to music, singing, counting and clapping, etc all can help you be a better player, I don't see why GH would be any different. Playing any xbox game can build finger strength and dexterity, which can improve technique on its own.

2. Amps might sound different when nothing else is going on, but play alongside a couple of guitars and drums and all bass is an indistinct rumble to my ear. And that includes mega wealthy stadium bands I've seen who should be able to afford the clearest bass sound available.

That's usually down to awful sound in the stadiums themselves- I would say say live shows have far worse bass sound in stadiums as a rule. I just saw The Police on tour in an outdoor stadium, and all three bands had great, clear, distinct but heavy bass sounds compared to the huge bands I've seen in indoor arenas (The Who with Pino), especially first openers Fiction Plane (with Sting's son on bass and vocals).

Perhaps worthy of a different thread, but hey ho.

I play bass in a wind band. On Monday we were rehearsing a tricky passage and the conductor got me and the drummer to have a go on our own first. Then the conductor said "Right, and now with the instruments..."

Thanks a bundle.

"i hate thoughts"-yours truly
i was actually trying to say that i like that zone where you're not thinking, you're just doing, but it came out that way, and they didn't let me forget it. oh, and i started out as a bassist in that band, but switched to guitar when they realized i was a lot better at it, and the piano player could cover the bass with his left hand.

*When playing a B underneath a G major chord*

"What's that note? It sounds off with my vocals."

"That's the major third."

"It sounds off. It makes me sound like I'm singing out of key."

"It's a major third. You're playing one with your index finger in the chord."

*we try again*

"It still sounds wrong. Can't you just play the root?"

*bassist considers quitting once again*

this one is from my guitarist today at practice:

guitarist-"we don't have prostates, only girls do"
*drummer and I stare at him
me-"yes we do, it's a gland"
guitarist-"ohh, so it's girls that don't have them?"

Hmmm. I suppose. But I still think the nature of how the instrument typically played (one/two notes at a time) is generally easier than haveing to play 4/5 notes at a time that a guitarist has to.

Muscially I wouldn't say that the material is necessarily easier. It's kind of like saying a violin is inherently easier to play than an guitar, and I'm not sure that's true.

Ok here's my thinking about this. Guitar players can pick up a bass and fill in the parts of a bass player, I don't think the reverse is true for most bassists (including me even though I know how to play guitar sorta).

As one who plays both I have to agree that Bass is easier then guitar. When I went to take bass lessons, the instructor wouldn't teach me play bass. He said he would only teach me how to play guitar and when he was done I could pick up a bass and play it. He was right.

I'm learning both, and both have their pros/cons.

Guitar is wicked easy to play single notes. You just touch the string and it's fretted. Want to reach a note 5 frets away? Go for it.

On bass, you actually have to pay attention to fretting properly or else you get lots of buzz and need to think about what position you are playing in more, since you can't just do a 5 fret stretch most of the time.

That said, chords are a pain on guitar. And palm muting. Two things I have the most trouble with. Don't have to worry about either on bass. Well, I've been doing some power chords for Iron Maiden songs, but you can play bass for years without having to have to play a single chord.

But, the main difference between how my teacher teaches me guitar and bass is the roles. For guitar, he'll give me a piece and say "Ok, this is how you can solo over it.", for bass, he tells me how to hold down the bottom end, what kind of rythms, etc. It's very different, but I'm glad I'm learning both because I can apply what I learn to both.

So in conclusion, I don't care which is harder. I enjoy both.

As one who plays both I have to agree that Bass is easier then guitar. When I went to take bass lessons, the instructor wouldn't teach me play bass. He said he would only teach me how to play guitar and when he was done I could pick up a bass and play it. He was right.:eek:
What kind of music do you play on bass? I ask because I take classical guitar lessons. I also play a little bass, but have never taken lessons, but I can do the rock thing. My son takes guitar and bass lessons. I can't play all that funk and Jazz stuff that he is learning. It has given me a new found respect for real bass players.

I know a few pretty (technically) good guitarists who that really doesn't apply to. Fret buzz, horrible timing (not necessarily due to a lack of a sense of time, but coping with the different feel of the instrument)... I'm sure playing guitar will help with picking up bass (and vice versa), but I've never heard a guitarist just pick up a bass and actually play it well.

Yeah, but your talking about familiarity with the particular instrument. That's different then knowing or not knowing how to play it.

If I haven't played anything but my Takimine Accoustic guitar for a month or two and then I pick up my Harmony (classic circa. 1966 or 67) electric, I have to go through a certain amount of "stumble time" just going from one 6 string guitar to another.

I disagree with you on the "gutiarists make better bassists than bassists make guitarists" thing. Most times I've ever seen a guitarist pick up a bass, he make it sound like crap. Fret buzz left and right, attempting to play chords, terribly timing, etc. Most bassists have at least a basic understanding of music theory and can at least play a basic guitar part. That is my experience, anyway.

Ditto my response to Otso's post.

As a bass player that plays guitar, I have to say that I think the whole playing chords/more strings point is a bit silly. It's not that hard to make a few shapes and strum a chord and it becomes quite automatic quite quickly. Especially the basic open chords. Infact I think that it's harder to learn a chord via its arpegiation as a bass player would learn it. Chord shapes on a guitar seem to be based more around muscle memory than anything else. Having to learn arpegios and applying them effectively as a bass player requires a deeper understanding of the music and the theory behind it.



This is nonsense except in the case of a guitar player that has learned nothing except how to play chords. A well taught, well instructed guitar player learns every bit as much if not more theory etc. as a bass player. And forming chords only becomes "muscle memory" by having played and practiced chord changes a thousand times, much as a bassist not having to think about playing a blues run after playing it a thousand times. (And I'm not a guitarist apologist; I play bass primarily myself).

Generally ego related issues with Guitarist.
I've heard the "Bass is easier because of less strings".
That's why I have a 6 and a fretless:)
Strip those frets off, then see what they can do.

I do not even bother looking for them, I'd rather hang out with Keyboardist, Drummers, vocalist. Guitarist are a dime a dozen and the easiest thing to find. I've met many that are damn good, both at simple and the complex.

A good vocalist is about the hardest to find though.
That makes/breaks most bands.

Once the band is going well, then look for a guitarist.
Do not put up with any Ego crap either.

They need held the same standards they want to hold the Bassist to. Their part needs to fill in and be right for the music.


Regards,
Tom

Was ever a bass player who could competently (but only) play four-to-the-floor root notes kicked out of a band for not being suitable?

I don't think so. Look at Green Day :hiding:

Was ever a bass player who could competently (but only) play four-to-the-floor root notes kicked out of a band for not being suitable?

Sorry, I meant in this instance "person" not "bass player". I reckon a lot of bands are perfectly happy with having a bass owner, rather than player, in a band. And as I agree with Plantbrain about guitarists being a dime a dozen, it seems the only difficult thing a bass player needs is to do is be willing to pick the damned thing up.

My superhero name is The Grumbler.

Guitarists may be a dime a dozen, but how about those that even know the fretboard. I know only 2 guitarists that can even read notation, or actually play properly. I think I know a total of 12 "guitarists". By the same definition that some people are called guitarists I might as well be called a pianist.

[QUOTE=73jbass;4165372]
"All Stratocaster players tune down 1/2 step"
"All blues player tune down 1/2 step"
"Everybody in Nashville tunes down 1/2 step"
QUOTE]

Gee, I know a guy in Nashville playing the blues on a Stratocaster. Wonders if he tunes down 3 semitones???:smug:

My point is really that many guitarist, not all, act like we are there for them and we should follow them and their ideas muscially.

They expect us to play a certain way like they fantasize about, not like we want to play. They want to be in charge expecting the drummer and I to play along.

I've played all crappy, inappropriate on purpose at auditions for this reason. The jerks never asked me what do I have or like to play. I'm not there for them, I'm there for the music so they need to sit down and think about that some more.

After being frustrated, they give in and ask "what do you got?"
.......Now we are getting somewhere.

A little give and take is nice, especially when they are a dime a dozen. I can simply run the numbers till I find one that is nice, that plays well and does not have an ego the size of a house.

I have one now, but I've seen/played with hundreds that fall into the other category.

Got a great nice drummer also.
Rarely have had issues with them, the keyboardists etc.

Regards,
Tom

My cousin told me that the bridge itself on his strat knock off was a pick-up along with the other three.
Sombody probley said that the switch this way is the bridge pick up and he took it the wrong way.


Huh.

If it's a piezo pickup, then yeah. But a Strat "knockoff" probably wouldn't have a piezo.

If it's a piezo pickup, then yeah. But a Strat "knockoff" probably wouldn't have a piezo.

yeah, i know, but it sure ain't and that peace-o-crap.

* u know u can always be replaced by a keyboardists left hand*


:hmm:




XXL

* u know u can always be replaced by a keyboardists left hand*




ooooooooooooooooooooo :mad: , i hope you hit him round that back of the head for that one...

it's worse when they refuse to accept any sort of criticism ... based ont he fact that they "know" more than you or some crap

The worst scenario is when the guitarist also plays bass. He thinks he has to tell you how to play. OK, if I'm playing a wrong note or he knows an improved riff or something, tell me. Otherwise, here's the bass. Play guitar and bass at the same time.

That's what I want to say anyway. But since I'm the newbie in the band, I try to keep my mouth shut.

my guitarist, playing for 4 years "only" asked me this question a week or so ago after reading a tab for smoke on the water, he goes "how to you tune a guitar to H? i've never gone that low so i wouldnt know" at that moment, i felt that i was close to a real relative of a monkey....

my guitarist, playing for 4 years "only" asked me this question a week or so ago after reading a tab for smoke on the water, he goes "how to you tune a guitar to H? i've never gone that low so i wouldnt know" at that moment, i felt that i was close to a real relative of a monkey....

Hahaha. When I first started playing guitar when I was about 13, I got into a very heated argument with another kid over whether or not the H chord existed. He was certain they were peppered all throughout "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

That's not what he said. He said it helped his playing. Playing is more than technique. For someone who isnt a fantastic player already, any kind of musical play will be helpful. Listening to music, singing, counting and clapping, etc all can help you be a better player, I don't see why GH would be any different. Playing any xbox game can build finger strength and dexterity, which can improve technique on its own.

Why not spend the time playing the actual instrument if you're using it to get better?

"no play this (two notes), over and over again..."
"The bass is too loud, i can feel it"

my guitarist, playing for 4 years "only" asked me this question a week or so ago after reading a tab for smoke on the water, he goes "how to you tune a guitar to H? i've never gone that low so i wouldnt know" at that moment, i felt that i was close to a real relative of a monkey....
H is the German equivalent of B... (dunno why)

I've had the left-hand remark once.. And only once... I started packing and left. Next day the Keyboardist and Drummer called me if I would want to rejoin because the asshat was replaced by the keyboardist-both-hands untill we could find a new guitarist :P

H is the German equivalent of B... (dunno why)



And B is the equivalent of Bb. The reason for this is that you can spell BACH using notes. And also when a note is flattened you add es to it and is when it's sharpened. The reason for this is that you can spell D.Es.C.H (Does anyone know what I'm on about ;) )

Yeah, Bach's signature is 4 different clefs in a cross with one note in the middle.

* u know u can always be replaced by a keyboardists left hand*


:hmm:




XXL

if a guitarist said that to me I'd remind him that I'm the band's keyboardist too. Because I've got 10 years on piano, majoring in piano starting in the fall, and bass is somethin I picked up a summer ago after buying a new ibanez from music mac (which has since gone outta business, stupid pearlridge forced them out) with money from a wendy's job. Yeah that about summarizes it.

Had my seven string into my local stire to have a quick look at a tiny bit of vibrato-ware on the fretboard. They're very nice guys in the shop, and of the three music stores within 30 seconds walk, this one will always get my repeat custom.

Anyway, quick chat, few suggestions and a few numbers exchanged, and the sales guy comments on the bass (apparently it's the only 7 string he's seen up close and in person, and hasn't sene any in Dublin till I appeared!) asking if I ever get "guitar nurds" harrassing me about it after gigs. Strangely, no. How it's tuned, yes, but that's about as a techincally challanging question I've got.

In the meantime, I could hear in the guitar section round the corner the usual squeeling ad nausium the into to Sweet Child Of Mine over and over and over again. Spotty Les Paul straddling 15 year old appears, comes over to the bass in it's open case and asks if it was "one of those Indian banjo things". It's a seven string fretless bass. "You wouldn't actually one of those, would you? It's, like, only for show?". Nope, it does work, and is used. "Oh. Nice colour. Can't see the point of the extra string or taking the frets off though".

Case was closed, I say my goodbyes to the guys behind the counter and left.

FOHBASS,
Man I love your band's sound. Hoping to start a band like this when I go back to school, kinda stuck in a cover funk/blues/soul band right now to get money in my pocket.

Well my brother is the guitar player for our band. He doesn't have an ego at all and is self concious(sp?) about soloing. And when he does solo (which is a rare entity) it sounds amazing and me and the drummer just look at each other and smile.

The thing is is me and my bro pretty much started playing together and we both respect each others roles.

I have been reading some of the stuff that you guys have written and all he says is "what did you write about me?"

Ok here's my thinking about this. Guitar players can pick up a bass and fill in the parts of a bass player, I don't think the reverse is true for most bassists (including me even though I know how to play guitar sorta).

Strange, cos in my band I can play every single guitar part for every single one of our songs, but the guitarist cant play any of my bass line. Stange isn't it?

I'm a really happy man in that case. I play in a bass, guitar, drums band. Guitarist is really great, he is technically superb. He once said: bass is the most important instrument in a band. and I was like yeah man. In our band there are equal number of bars of bass and guitar solo. well could I be more happier :bassist:

This isn't so much a stupid guitarist thing, so much as a funny moment with my drummer (who does play acoustic rather well)

Talkin about Hendrix
Andy (the drummer): Hendrix invented a few chords, didn't he?
Me: Yeah, largely because he played a right-handed instrument upside down
Andy: Do you know any of the chords he invented?
Me: Only one I know is the 'k' chord he invented
Andy: Really??? K???
Me: Yeah, totally (trying not to smirk)
Andy: Ohhh you (expletive to describe one born out of wedlock)

my guitarist, playing for 4 years "only" asked me this question a week or so ago after reading a tab for smoke on the water, he goes "how to you tune a guitar to H? i've never gone that low so i wouldnt know" at that moment, i felt that i was close to a real relative of a monkey....

That's two steps below k

That's similar to an idea our guitarist had. He wanted to start a second band with me to do acoustic covers, and he wanted to call it "Drunk Tank."

Needless to say that project never got off the ground.

I know a local band with that exact name. Needless to say, it's nothing near to acoustic covers they are playing ;)

Hi.

IMHO a guitar player that just picks up a bass and starts to play it, sounds just like that, a guitar player playing a guitar, only an octave lower, a fish out of the water :rolleyes: .

He/she plays the bass with a similar touch and feel as they would play a guitar and while the sound somewhat resembles the bass, the rythm and feel don't, those resemble guitar.



Just my 0,02€
Sam

To add to this...a guitarist mate picked up my bass at rehearsal once and made it sound really good..... and told him so. His answer to this was...."i play your bass and i hear a guitarist playing bass....you play BASS...and I hear a bassist playing it. 2 totally different things"

Needless to say...he is a very good friend......

:)

my jerk ex-guitarest\singer said and i quote "Steve Harris isnt a good pass player he just plays fast" so i kicked his bum out actually he quit but i like to think i kicked his bum out

"Trevor, I'm tired of writing all this **** for the band, why don't you contribute!?!?" (Us arguing about not having any new songs, we write all our songs based on a central lick or riff)

"Okay..."

So I fiddle and find something cool, up the neck...It was kinda Tool esque I thought.

"Pff I can't write **** to that bassline"

So then I try a simple progression (ACFG, common rock stuff, all eigth notes)

"That's too simple"

I'm like *** dude, throw me a bone. Or learn what the notes after the the open strings are called -__-

I can't believe this thread is still going! I have been getting updates from my buddy the keyboard player,and the guitar player who is the subject in my original post,was finally fired after the bands first gig.I left over a month ago,and they found a bass player at the last second for the gig,maybe somebody from here. The guitarist never practiced on his own time,and basically contributed nothing to the band.But was always quick to point out when you did something wrong. One of the last zingers I heard him say was,"that has to be the right key,because it's on the fret markers". Idiot.

Lets zoom into a band I was in a couple months back:

Guitar player: Dude, you've got the wrong key for this song
Me: No I don't, put on the song and i'll show you
Guitar player: No it says here on the TAB that it's like this

/sigh

Also, to the 6 strings are harder then 4: This line of argument leads to Harp players being the greatest musicians ever. No one wants to give them that!

I feel your pain, I play with an idiot lead guitarist with no common sense at all. Got through playing "Simple Man" in C one night and he says, "hey, you know they play it on the recording in B." Damn Sherlock, you think they may have tuned idown 1/2 step to B flat?

"I can only hear myself, you guys turn up" (was he being considerate?!)

Talking about the Ego Booster pedal with the boost up quite high:
Me: "whats that pedal do?"
Guitarist: "it makes me sound louder when I do solos"
Me: "we dont have any solos"
Guitarist: "I know, I just turn it on after you guys start playing"

We hired a rehearsal room for a few hours. Upon opening the door: "I waaaaannnnntttt the Maaaaarshaaaalllll"

Me: "You're not playing in time"
Guitarist: "I like the way off-beat sounds"
Me: "You defy fractions"

me: "i want my sound to be felt"
guitarist 2: "when they FEEL you, they cant HEAR me!"
me: "you're.... nevermind..."

me: "i want my sound to be felt"
guitarist 2: "when they FEEL you, they cant HEAR me!"
me: "you're.... nevermind..."

And that's a problem why?

:D :D :D :D

- Tim

i have the urge to pull the plug on my rythm guitarists amp before a show

"Why would anyone want to play bass? Its dumb." Questioning the importance of any individual istrument in a band is retarded. If I turned round and said, "we don't really need the drums" I'd sound like an idiot. Thankfully I don't play with that guy no more, I have a good guitarist who is open minded (though he does play too loud...)

I guess I"m lucky I get to work with a monster guitar player, monster musician with loads of theory, huge ears and respect for everyone else in the band. I had no idea...


JKT:hmm:

From a guitarist I BRIEFLY played with in a blues band, talking about the Cream reunion DVD:

"I'm glad to see Jack Bruce has mellowed in his old age and is playing fewer notes. I mean come on, the bass is there to play behind the guitar solo."

From a guitarist I occasionally work with in a covers/rock band, talking about Andy Summers from the Police:

Guitarist: "Man, he was a great player, whatever happened to him?"
Me: "Well, he has consistently put out solo albums since after the Police broke up."
Guitarist: "Yeah but aren't those like JAZZ records? Do those even count?"

I must say that the original projects I have been working in for the last two years have been Guitar Free. Have to admit, I've never been happier playing music.:hiding:

ive had comments like: 'intonation... who cares' 'did you hear they make tube amps for bass now you should get one.'
and on one occasion the guitar player in my band forgot his tuner and said to me hey can i have your tuner tonight, ive got more strings to tune and bass dont matter.'

I suppose I'm lucky, the guitarist in my band is good mate of mine and lets me play pretty much what I like.

Some of the things in this thread are hilarious though, and sadly very common...

Hi.

This one didn't end up playin' any instrument (obviously) so I don't know if this qualifies but,

"I've heard that You have to learn only three chords to play ROCK, which ones You would suggest to be easiest to learn? I'd so looove to play ROCK"

:confused: :eek: What would You say? I was speechless.

Regards
Sam

RIDICULUS you need three chords to play SKA not rock, idiot :scowl:

I know a few pretty (technically) good guitarists who that really doesn't apply to. Fret buzz, horrible timing (not necessarily due to a lack of a sense of time, but coping with the different feel of the instrument)... I'm sure playing guitar will help with picking up bass (and vice versa), but I've never heard a guitarist just pick up a bass and actually play it well.

My mate who plays guitar has said things like bass is easier than guitar and bass is for people who have tryed to play guitar and failed!

He jams a lot at school and you wouldnt call him a guitarist playing bass!

But i do know what you mean, ive seen guitarists try to shred on a bass many times!