Rant: Being Told How To Play

[Old Fart]

I'm pretty self-confident, so I listen to peoples, suggestions and use them if they make sense. Discard them if they do not.

Band was working on Mission of Mercy (The Motels) last night, which is going to be a pretty good song for us. Anyhoo.....the singer and a guitarist were telling me it is a staccato rhythm "Peter Gunn" line and that I should play the A as an open string, not on the fifth fret.....and that I should stroke my pick across the string in only the downward direction. Kinda pissed me off at the time, and then I started noticing the guitarist is one of those guys who rarely if ever strikes strings or chords on the backstroke. I've known guys like this.....just never learned to pick in two directions.

Anyhoo......I got to listening to the song. Yes, it is "Peter Gunn." No, it is not the slightest bit staccato. I am going to KILL that song tonight, and then probably point out that I used ZERO open A string notes and I picked in whatever direction made sense. Nuff said.

Bass players decide how to approach a song. Period, paragraph, end of story.

[giacomini]

Let it out, my friend!

Yep it is annoying. I joined an 8-year old band a few years ago and they kept me telling "how-tos", just because they played this or that in a certain way. They told me to play more open notes because they thought it was "easier", but they wouldn't let me play with a pick unless I learn how to do it in both directions...

Best way is to just ignore them instead of fighting about things. If they say something that you think it's worth doing, then do, but if it is BS, just give no ears.

BTW, pump that grease out in Peter Gunn Theme, no staccatto there, they're crazy.

[rockosocko]

My thing is this: if you're not paying me, then don't tell me how or what to play.

[mwbassace]

From the stories I've read Frank Zappa was known to ask his players to play a notes on certain areas of the neck. But then again he was a musical genius. My personal take on this is you are right, play it how it sounds best to you, and I'd be willing to bet your right and the song will sound great.

[Old Fart]

Thank you for your support. I do apply your strategy, giacomini. I try to take something positive from each suggestion, but I will dismiss the two I got last night.

And frankly, it makes perfect sense for us bass players to make our final decision with complete independence. Nobody else in the band wants to play bass. Heck.....half the bass players out there are guitar player wannabees. There are very few committed, dyed-in-the-wool bass players in the world. It's all I've ever wanted to play, it's all I listen to when music is on the stereo. I look like a bass player, act like a bass player and think like a bass player. Guitarists seem to offer relatively few valuable suggestions. The best suggestions I get are from other folks. Drummers, audience people, etc.

I haven't said anything to this guitarist about his 'issues,' but he's always wishing people would notice and compliment him more. I think that might happen if his tone didn't sound like an friggin' organ. It sounds like an organ with all the bass and midrange stops pushed in. Biting, trebly organ.

Guitards.......

[Old Fart]

Originally Posted by mwbassace

From the stories I've read Frank Zappa was known to ask his players to play a notes on certain areas of the neck. But then again he was a musical genius. My personal take on this is you are right, play it how it sounds best to you, and I'd be willing to bet your right and the song will sound great.

Yes it will. We rehearsed it last night but that was before I had a chance to hear the original song on a decent stereo. Did that last night and again today, and I am going to NAIL that song with a nice, fat, growly tone. It's actually a pretty good song. Good dance tune, driving rhythm. It's all on the bassist's shoulders, as so many key songs are. And it will be familiar to some people, since it was featured in the film The Big Lebowski. It's the song where Maude does the Vegas show thing with the girls who are wearing fans of bowling pins on their heads.

[millsbass5]

Nothing,and I mean NOTHING pisses me off more than when someone tells me how to play. Sure,I can see if I was a "wet-behind-the ears greenhorn". But,that's w-a-y,w-a-y from being the case. I'm good with a little constructive criticisms & suggestions. But damn,enough's enough already!

[Fassa Albrecht]

I try and see any sort of useful information in any sort of comment I receive but sometimes people are critical simply for the sakes of it. And you can gurantee that it's usually someone who doesn't have a clue about bass either.

[countrybass007]

Doesn't bother me a bit. I consider my drummer's and guitar player's suggestions just their ideas of where the want the song to go. I try them, and if they work I play them. If not, I do what I feel works best. Part of working with a band is to be able to give your own input into a song, and sometimes ask another musician to do what makes the tune sound best. After 48 years of playing I'm easy to live with when it comes to telling?asking me to play a certain way.

[Old Fart]

I am 54 years young and pretty relaxed. I love suggestions. The rant was specifically about someone having no idea how the bass works in that song combined with THEIR inability to stroke strings in both directions. Indeed, generally speaking I am starting to become somewhat concerned about the heavy load this band lays on its bassist (that'd be me). Really, I enjoy toting that load but I just wonder why we're acting like a friggin' power trio when we have TWO guitarists. Two LEAD guitarist rockstar wannabees.

[Old Fart]

I am 54 years young and pretty relaxed. I love suggestions. The rant was specifically about someone having no idea how the bass works in that song combined with THEIR inability to stroke strings in both directions. Indeed, generally speaking I am starting to become somewhat concerned about the heavy load this band lays on its bassist (that'd be me). Really, I enjoy toting that load but I just wonder why we're acting like a friggin' power trio when we have TWO guitarists. Two LEAD guitarist rockstars.

[BassChuck]

They can tell me how they want it to sound... but not how to play the instrument. If they find me lacking in that area, then shame on them for hiring me.

[sammyp]

just listened to that tune ...never heard it before .....for that kind of riff i'd be playing mostly off the low E as you are ....i definately would not use open A in that kind of riff!

and i certainly wouldn't use all down strokes! tell them i'm a lead guitar player in love with bass LOL

[Mike M.]

I play at church and on rare occasion I'll get asked to try this or that and that's fine. Doesn't bother me one bit.

But the few times when I aksed if someone can try something it's a differant story. I don't demand, don't come across with a mightier than thou attitude....but they'll look at me like..."who are you to tell me what to do."

Asked the drummer one time if he could come in on an intro with me (like on the record) and he just starred down at the floor. Wouldn't budge. (?!?)

I just don't understand some people.

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by Mike M.

I play at church and on rare occasion I'll get asked to try this or that and that's fine. Doesn't bother me one bit.

But the few times when I aksed if someone can try something it's a differant story. I don't demand, don't come across with a mightier than thou attitude....but they'll look at me like..."who are you to tell me what to do."

Asked the drummer one time if he could come in on an intro with me (like on the record) and he just starred down at the floor. Wouldn't budge. (?!?)

I just don't understand some people.

drummers should always be giving time on intros ....fire that guy!

[dukeisdog]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

I'm pretty self-confident, so I listen to peoples, suggestions and use them if they make sense. Discard them if they do not.

Band was working on Mission of Mercy (The Motels) last night, which is going to be a pretty good song for us. Anyhoo.....the singer and a guitarist were telling me it is a staccato rhythm "Peter Gunn" line and that I should play the A as an open string, not on the fifth fret.....and that I should stroke my pick across the string in only the downward direction. Kinda pissed me off at the time, and then I started noticing the guitarist is one of those guys who rarely if ever strikes strings or chords on the backstroke. I've known guys like this.....just never learned to pick in two directions.

Anyhoo......I got to listening to the song. Yes, it is "Peter Gunn." No, it is not the slightest bit staccato. I am going to KILL that song tonight, and then probably point out that I used ZERO open A string notes and I picked in whatever direction made sense. Nuff said.

Bass players decide how to approach a song. Period, paragraph, end of story.

I had high 90's in band in highschool, and was taking it since grade 7. I was playing bass in the band, and we got a new teacher in grade 11, that could play just about everything except guitar, bass and drums. She continued to tell me what the right way to play was (I picked bass up in grade 6), and I eventually dropped band altogether. I honestly believe music is one of those things that you have to learn mostly on your own - nobody can tell you how to play your instrument.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

I'm pretty self-confident, so I listen to peoples, suggestions and use them if they make sense. Discard them if they do not.

Band was working on Mission of Mercy (The Motels) last night, which is going to be a pretty good song for us. Anyhoo.....the singer and a guitarist were telling me it is a staccato rhythm "Peter Gunn" line and that I should play the A as an open string, not on the fifth fret.....and that I should stroke my pick across the string in only the downward direction. Kinda pissed me off at the time, and then I started noticing the guitarist is one of those guys who rarely if ever strikes strings or chords on the backstroke. I've known guys like this.....just never learned to pick in two directions.

Anyhoo......I got to listening to the song. Yes, it is "Peter Gunn." No, it is not the slightest bit staccato. I am going to KILL that song tonight, and then probably point out that I used ZERO open A string notes and I picked in whatever direction made sense. Nuff said.

Bass players decide how to approach a song. Period, paragraph, end of story.

Some bands treat the bass player like a moron or a 2nd class member ...

[sammyp]

Old Fart Wins ......2 mins in to this vid you can see the bass player is playing it all on the E string .....show this to your crew!

The Motels - 'Mission Of Mercy/Peter Gunn' Live San Francisco Red Devil Lounge 3/25/2011 - YouTube

[JimmyM]

Waaaah! Nobody better tell me how to play! Waaaaaaaaah!

Sorry, but that's unproductive and unrealistic to expect nobody to tell you how to play. In every band I've ever been in, we've all made suggestions here and there to each other to try to improve the songs we're playing. And those who take offense to it are thought of as difficult by everyone else. What if the part you're playing sucks? What if you're missing a note everyone else is playing correctly? What if you come in the next day and find someone else playing bass because they can take suggestions? Get over it.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Waaaah! Nobody better tell me how to play! Waaaaaaaaah!

Sorry, but that's unproductive and unrealistic to expect nobody to tell you how to play. In every band I've ever been in, we've all made suggestions here and there to each other to try to improve the songs we're playing. And those who take offense to it are thought of as difficult by everyone else. What if the part you're playing sucks? What if you're missing a note everyone else is playing correctly? What if you come in the next day and find someone else playing bass because they can take suggestions? Get over it.

I'm with Jimmy on that one. Being in a band is give and take. If I can go to the keyboard player and ask him to play an octave higher, then the guitar player should be able to ask me to play in an other way that I play. Of course if a guitar player is playing only down strokes chords and want me to play only down strokes I might suggest him to refine his technique. But if he want me to play down strokes on a certain part due to some tone requirements, well, it could be a thing to consider. Zappa, well, I guess that if Zappa asked any TB player to play all the song on a open G open E and and a C on the A string, most will just do so.