Do you think it's a good time to be a Bass player

Little G · #1 09-05-2003, 06:18 AM

I know there was all the funk and such in the 70's and such.

I think the bass is coming more and more to the forefront commercially and getting recogonition as a solo instrument as well as the foundation.

I mean look at Marcus Miller. The first bass player ever to be awarded a grammy for an album soley based around the bass.

I even heard they are planning a film on Jaco.

Seems to me like bass players today are becoming like the Steve Vai's, Eddie Van Halens etc were in the 80's.

Do you think it is an exciting time to be learning and playing bass?

Bruce Lindfield · #2 09-05-2003, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Little G

I even heard they are planning a film on Jaco.

And we've had Jamerson in SITSOM - but all these things just speak to me of a nostalgia for an earlier time - when most music was made by real bands and not pre-programmed tracks with corrected singers who are chosen for their appearance rather than any musical talent...

Little G · #3 09-05-2003, 06:46 AM

Valid Bruce

I mean though as well as the big commercial players more and more up and coming bass players seem to be releasing thier own solo cd's

wulf · #4 09-05-2003, 07:29 AM

Any time is great to be a bass player

However, as well as the definition of 'bassist' being much broader than it was in the past, the Internet (and particularly sites like Talkbass) really help networking between the 'low end crowd' (and other specialist groups) in a way that was never possible before.

Wulf

Howard K · #5 09-05-2003, 09:12 AM

Do you think it's a good time to be a Bass player?

Well, since we cant travel back or forward in time we've gotta make it a good time to be a bass player!!

Personally, I dont think it has anything to do with genre, technology, music, the industry, anything - I think it's down to the individual.

You have to seek out the music you want to play and play it.. and say bollocks to everyone else.

Quote:

And we've had Jamerson in SITSOM - but all these things just speak to me of a nostalgia for an earlier time - when most music was made by real bands and not pre-programmed tracks with corrected singers who are chosen for their appearance rather than any musical talent...

Blimey O'Riley... cheer up Bruce, it's not that bad!

Twenty years ago we wouldn't have had drum & bass grooves to play with

**rickbass** · #6 09-05-2003, 09:18 AM

In terms of gear, I think we're in a "Golden Age". Great luthiers love to build our instruments because bassists seem to have no boundaries.

In terms of the recording industry and rock, it's a very sad time with slugs getting by who seem to think the B string and the first 5 frets are all there is to playing bass. But the same could be said of detuned 7-string guitarists, too.

Bruce Lindfield · #7 09-05-2003, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickbass
In terms of gear, I think we're in a "Golden Age". Great luthiers love to build our instruments because bassists seem to have no boundaries.

In terms of the recording industry and rock, it's a very sad time with slugs getting by who seem to think the B string and the first 5 frets are all there is to playing bass. But the same could be said of detuned 7-string guitarists, too.

I agree with that - I have access now to far better gear than I could have bought in the 80s or before!

But I agree with your assessment of the music scene - I used to hear inspiring bass lines everywhere - radio, TV ,clubs, discos etc - even if I didn't like the music - nothing at all nowadays - in fact it is very rare to even hear a bass line that wasn't sampled, programmed or digitally enhanced somehow.

Howard K · #8 09-05-2003, 09:33 AM

Quote:

in fact it is very rare to even hear a bass line that wasn't sampled, programmed or digitally enhanced somehow

Does that mean it cant be inspiring then, the fact that it's sampled or digitally enhanced?

Little G · #9 09-05-2003, 09:35 AM

I totally agree with you guys about the music industry but I have found some great resources in some dance music.

I collect a lot of the Hed kandi range and there are some fantastic bass lines in some of the funk and latin issues

Figjam · #10 09-05-2003, 01:31 PM

I think any time after the 70's (cough, Led Zeppelin) is a good time to play , bc you have all those goddamn awesome songs to play

(yes, im in a band that covers Led Zeppelin

)

c-ba55 · #11 09-14-2003, 07:50 PM

I think it's a good time to be a drummer. Lots of music in various popular genres has the drummer going ape**** these days.

Wrong Robot · #12 09-14-2003, 08:28 PM

I'd say as long as there is a shortage of bassists(that is the ratio of bassists:guitarists is something like 3:1) then it will be a good time for bassists.

the_kev · #13 09-15-2003, 08:16 AM

It's a good time for bassists right now. But it's an even better time for bassists who play complex basslines like pastorius' because, unfortunately, 8/10 bassists nowadays use a pick, read from tab and would rather play four note punk music than learn something challenging and worthwile, (I'm pretty angry on this matter, if you haven't guessed already)

DriveThruEmoKid · #14 09-15-2003, 02:21 PM

Quote:

It's a good time for bassists right now. But it's an even better time for bassists who play complex basslines like pastorius' because, unfortunately, 8/10 bassists nowadays use a pick, read from tab and would rather play four note punk music than learn something challenging and worthwile, (I'm pretty angry on this matter, if you haven't guessed already)

I agree with all of that. One exception, however, is i usually read from a tab, because if there is one thing i HATE to do, is to transcribe music when i don't have to. When im switching from piano to bass/guitar and vice versa, then yes. But if i can find it in tab, I'd rather not spend the time transcribing.