Do you agree with this statement?

froglips · #1 02-12-2009, 05:21 AM

I was at "Studybass.com" learning more about music theory, and more specifically, about the bass itself, and I came accross this statement.

"Bass is often one of the most over-looked instruments in a musical group. Many audience members have no idea what a bass even is. Despite this fact, bass is probably the most critical instrument in a group. It is rare to find a performing band without a bass player. As a budding bassist, you should be happy to know there is always a high demand for bassists—especially good ones."

It is not that I find this hard to believe or anything like that. I was just wondering if it is true overall though. If it is that is great, because I just started playing bass like a week ago now (Been playing guitar for like 15 years though), and it would be great if playing bass makes it easier to be able to jam with other humans (I never really have before).

Also, is the core part of playing bass really as easy as just "Groovin" within the roots and octaves of them, while sprinkling in a 5th, 6th, and/or a b7th here and there?

Thank you for your time!

jdieh1 · #2 02-12-2009, 05:36 AM

I would say it is true. I only have 3 bassists that I know of in my school of over 1500 kids. And in my music class alone about 5 or 6 people play guitar.

A bassist is always in demand and without a bass most pieces of music just don't sound right. Some mores so than others of cause.

The other part of your question I cannot help you with though. I suck at music

#3 02-12-2009, 06:23 AM

Yes. And even rarer is a bass player who can play but isn't desperate to show how complicated he can make everything all the time. If you are a bass player who can make the whole group sound good, enhancing the music without treading on anybody else's toes, then you're going to find musicians will be eager to play with you and sorry to see you go.

Because most bass players that decide they're going to play well and learn theory end up buying 5 or 6 string basses with big scary active pickups and preamps then insisting on playing the major seven in every major chord and learning to double hand tap chord extensions which sound pretty lame and self indulgent by yourself and usually crap in the context of a band. It's the sort of bass player where you're listening to some bland as hell bassline and then all of a sudden you hear 'PANK' as the bass player plucks a random pop because he's damned if he's not going to come through in the mid range just so that people know he's there. Also vests are common. Then you have bass players that make up needlessly complicated lines because they think this is more creative than a simple one, then wear sarongs on stage and flounce around like a glastonbury hippy round a camp fire so everyone will look at them, as they defy their bandmates to have the courage to tell them they look like an attention seeking ****.

If you avoid these common pitfalls, and just do what sounds good but know your stuff, then your pretty rare as far as bass players go. Bass frequencies are already very powerful, you don't need to chuck them around all over the place.

Having said that some genius bass players play fast, but these are usually jazz aware guys that really really know their stuff, rather than the fore-mentioned vest wearing dilettante.

Thunderthumbs73 · #4 02-12-2009, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afromoose

Also vests are common. ...rather than the fore-mentioned vest wearing dilettante.

Yes, the discussion of vests has long been a regular and very important component and measure of bass playing greatness in a majority of TB discussions. Thanks for reminding us.

smogg · #5 02-12-2009, 06:35 AM

Wish I knew about the vest thing sooner. Now I have to get one. I guess the real question is leather or silk?

But all kidding aside, a solid bassist will always have work. The better you are the better people you can surround yourself with.
Enjoy the journey.

Krowser · #6 02-12-2009, 06:37 AM

I never play my bass without a vest.

#7 02-12-2009, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderthumbs73

Yes, the discussion of vests has long been a regular and very important component and measure of bass playing greatness in a majority of TB discussions. Thanks for reminding us.

I'm glad you agree. I like to bring the finer points to a discussion.

Thunderthumbs73 · #8 02-12-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froglips

I was at "Studybass.com" learning more about music theory, and more specifically, about the bass itself, and I came accross this statement.

"Bass is often one of the most over-looked instruments in a musical group. Many audience members have no idea what a bass even is. Despite this fact, bass is probably the most critical instrument in a group. It is rare to find a performing band without a bass player. As a budding bassist, you should be happy to know there is always a high demand for bassists—especially good ones."

It is not that I find this hard to believe or anything like that. I was just wondering if it is true overall though. If it is that is great, because I just started playing bass like a week ago now (Been playing guitar for like 15 years though), and it would be great if playing bass makes it easier to be able to jam with other humans (I never really have before).

Also, is the core part of playing bass really as easy as just "Groovin" within the roots and octaves of them, while sprinkling in a 5th, 6th, and/or a b7th here and there?

Thank you for your time!

I'd say the studybass.com statement is generally true, but there can be exceptions, as there usually are to statements this generalized. Kudos to you for taking initiative to learn more about the bass.

You will likely find that there will be opportunities to jam with others, as there are not as many bass players, but jamming (at least jamming well) while playing bass isn't easier than jamming other instruments, just different.

Your last paragraph of what the core of what bass playing is, really depends on the song. It is likely you'll play roots and octaves most often, but playing a great-sounding bass line is often more than just making sure that your approaching it as you've outlined. And sometimes is is less than that, even.

Context is king.

HogieWan · #9 02-12-2009, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froglips

Also, is the core part of playing bass really as easy as just "Groovin" within the roots and octaves of them, while sprinkling in a 5th, 6th, and/or a b7th here and there?

Play the chord: root, 3rd, and 5th, the other notes outside the chord should just tie the chord notes together

froglips · #10 02-12-2009, 06:47 AM

Funny, I thought the vest that came with my bass/gear was just some corporate propaganda from the Guitar Center, as usual. I had no idea it was actually the bassists required uniform. I shall go get that out of the trash right now then!

#11 02-12-2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froglips

Funny, I thought the vest that came with my bass/gear was just some corporate propaganda from the Guitar Center, as usual. I had no idea it was actually the bassists required uniform. I shall go get that out of the trash right now then!

Hey guys, look, I think I should tell you, the idea is to NOT wear the vest.

Vest = Bad

Please, people, have some decency.

PaulWarning · #12 02-12-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froglips

I was at "Studybass.com" learning more about music theory, and more specifically, about the bass itself, and I came accross this statement.

"Bass is often one of the most over-looked instruments in a musical group. Many audience members have no idea what a bass even is. Despite this fact, bass is probably the most critical instrument in a group. It is rare to find a performing band without a bass player. As a budding bassist, you should be happy to know there is always a high demand for bassists—especially good ones."

It is not that I find this hard to believe or anything like that. I was just wondering if it is true overall though. If it is that is great, because I just started playing bass like a week ago now (Been playing guitar for like 15 years though), and it would be great if playing bass makes it easier to be able to jam with other humans (I never really have before).

Also, is the core part of playing bass really as easy as just "Groovin" within the roots and octaves of them, while sprinkling in a 5th, 6th, and/or a b7th here and there?

Thank you for your time!

+1
I'd also like to add that a lot of people are unaware of what the bass players doing because of crap equipment and mixing engineers, just been listening to a live set from 1971 by the faces, it sounded average through my tv speakers, but when I put it through my Hi Fi, wow, it was amazing, like listening to a different song, because the bass was right up in the mix

#13 02-12-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulWarning

+1
I'd also like to add that a lot of people are unaware of what the bass players doing because of crap equipment and mixing engineers, just been listening to a live set from 1971 by the faces, it sounded average through my tv speakers, but when I put it through my Hi Fi, wow, it was amazing, like listening to a different song, because the bass was right up in the mix

ahem... I think that might be because your TV speakers are a bit rubbish.. No offence.

varunkapahi · #14 02-12-2009, 07:12 AM

yes i'd agree

PaulWarning · #15 02-12-2009, 07:18 AM

that was the point, I'm not the only one with crap TV speakers

#16 02-12-2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulWarning

that was the point, I'm not the only one with crap TV speakers

Oh Ok, I thought you were blaming the mixing engineer. I don't even have a TV! But if I did, it would probably have crap speakers too to be fair.

Jake of Bass · #17 02-12-2009, 07:28 AM

I had a situation once where at the time I was in 4 bands, freelance for another 2-3 and one night at the pub had 3 different people from 3 different bands asked me to join their bands - and one proceeded to buy me drinks for the next 4 hours trying to convince me otherwise. You'd never get that playing guitar! (admittedly there was a bit of the 'small town syndrome' going on there too, only about 5 fully actively gigging bassists that weren't exclusive in a population of 100,000)

Everywhere I've gone, whoever I've met, people from around the world, they've all told me a good bass player is sometimes as rare as hen's teeth, and ALWAYS in demand.

Deacon_Blues · #18 02-12-2009, 07:43 AM

I agree on the statement. Few non-musicians actually know what the bass player does to the music. Anyway, I'm sure most people would notice something if there isn't one. More specifically I don't think everyone would know it's the bass player that's missing, but only think "the sound is crap"...

The bad thing with bass is that it is probably the least heard instrument, for the simple reason you need decent speakers to hear it properly. TV's, laptops, alarm clock radios, small portable stereos and even car stereos usually have a rather crappy sound reinforcement systems that won't reproduce the sound of the bass properly. Same if you hear music in a shopping center or something. No bass. I guess people in some way can sense its presence, but mostly it isn't really audible in the way it should be.

You know there's a lot of bassist jokes. Some of them I think is because the best bassists doesn't give an image of they're being anything special. They play what fits, not what shows off their technical skills. This should go for all musicians, but it's probably the most true for bassists. Overplay, and you won't stay for long in a band. Tasteful, solid playing without ego boosting is what get you gigs and make people dancing. Most people might think there's nothing extra to it, but they simply don't have a clue about what it's actually all about. Hence the numerous bassist jokes around...

Jake of Bass · #19 02-12-2009, 07:48 AM

There are some great guitarist jokes though...

JustOpenYourMind · #20 02-12-2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froglips

Also, is the core part of playing bass really as easy as just "Groovin" within the roots and octaves of them, while sprinkling in a 5th, 6th, and/or a b7th here and there?

Thank you for your time!

No in fact it's very simple, you use the Root, octave, and you spring in a 2nd, 3rd, 4rth, 5th, 6th and 7th here and there... Oh yeah, the groove is important.

It's as easy as guitar or banjo...

As for the bass is so important in a band part, I find that, it's not true, most of the time, these phrases seems prefabricated, to give confidence to young bass player that get looked down upon by guitar players. The fact is that bass is just like any other instrument, in the band, you can have a band without a bass, in fact there is a lot of them just like you can have a band without a guitar, a drum or a keyboard. Bass is an instrument not better or worse than any other. As for bass playing, it's as complicated or as simple as you want it to be.