Annoyed by people comparing your playing style to other bass players?

[Ephminus]

I always get compared to Justin Chancellor from Tool and it drives me nuts.
I mean, I like some of Tool's songs and we covered two of their songs in my old cover band, but I don't even own one album of theirs. I wouldn't even put him in a list of bass players that have influenced me in the least bit.
I'm influenced by Dennis Dunaway, Mike Starr, & Dug Pinnick more then anyone else I'd say.

Don't get me wrong, I'm honored that I get compared to him, but it makes me try to consciously change the way I write and play bass.
It's kind of causing writers block at this point.

Thanks for hearing out my "bitch fest".
Anyone else have a similar experience?

[Joe Nerve]

Just about any time I've ever been compared to any bass player it was someone who I either never heard, or wasn't a fan of.

Maybe you look like Justin Chancellor?

[bassdoubler]

I don't think I've ever complained being compared to Pino, Wooten, or Jaco....

[Ephminus]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

Just about any time I've ever been compared to any bass player it was someone who I either never heard, or wasn't a fan of.

Maybe you look like Justin Chancellor?

Is Justin Chancellor bald with a goatee? LMAO

[baalroo]

I would take it as a compliment, and I don't really listen to Tool either. People are just trying to say "I was paying attention to what you're doing, and I think you are worthy of being compared to _______" Don't let it affect what you do in a negative way.

[dbassman59]

I once was compared to John McVie of Fleetwood Mac ... keep in mind this was during a recording session by the recording engineer ... It really threw me because I was trying to be myself not someone else.. and my style of playing is largely dictated by the drums ...

All I kept thinking is.... "try not to sound like John McVie ... try not to sound like John McVie ... "

[Ephminus]

Originally Posted by baalroo

I would take it as a compliment, and I don't really listen to Tool either. People are just trying to say "I was paying attention to what you're doing, and I think you are worthy of being compared to _______" Don't let it affect what you do in a negative way.

Well it gets to be a negative thing when you show up to practice with some new song ideas and instantly your singer starts singing Maynard style vocals over everything, and the rest of the band follows suit.

Then I've tried out for bands and I show them some original bass riffs and they say something like, "We really aren't into the whole Tool thing".

That's what leads me to trying to change my playing style.
...and I know how I developed this style.
It came about from me jamming with drum loops for years.

[RobJ]

I've heard more than once that my style is reminiscent of John Entwistle's which may sound good in theory. I've never tried to play like John and get very self conscious of my playing at that point which in turn goes to hell because I'm now focused on trying to figure out why someone would say I play like Entwistle...which I don't...

[stflbn]

May not be the 'style' as much as the sound or tone that's pushing them that direction.


.

[RTL]

A drummer that we recently fired used to tell me all the time "You're the next Pino Palladino". One hell of a compliment, sure, but I never understood why he made that comparison. I don't play a P, and my tone is about as non-Pino as it gets. Plus, I'll never be as good as Pino.

To make it even more confusing, this guy toured with Pino at least twice.

***?

[Swerve]

Thankfully I've never really been compared to any other player, which could be a good or bad thing...

I've written parts that were in a similar style to certain players, but no one with any consistency.
I've had a two people call me Seinfeld for playing slap, both were guitar players.

Sounding like Tool is pretty easy if you play slow or odd time signature riffs in drop D.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, I'd rather sound like Justin Chancellor than try and force myself to play like someone or something I'm not.

[Zombbg4]

I feel you man, people are always like "Dude, you sound like Stanley,Wooten, Jamerson, and Janek put together, but better!!". Makes me SOOO mad!

[HelloJerk]

It is better to be told that you sound like Justin Chancellor than to be told you sound like s**t.

[JFace]

I've been told I play like Geezer Butler. This is from me playing in a hardcore metal band, and I don't think I sound like him. But it certainly was a compliment in my book. He's one of my favorites.

[RobJ]

It could always be worse of course... someone could say I play like Danny Partridge....

[Alan Vorse]

I've been compared to many players over the years. Sometimes its people I definitely listened to. I wouldn't say it bugs me. Its just that sometimes I get compared to players that I don't listen or wouldn't call an influence and its kind of confusing.

As long as someone dosen't say "you've got a real Pete Wentz thing going on in your playing..." I think its ok.

[jaywa]

That's only happened to me once, which was by my main drummer (who has been playing for 35+ years and who I respect immensely) and he compared me to John Deacon (who I also respect immensely), so it's been all good for me as far as that goes.

[Thunder_Fingers]

Nop, Cant say I felt bad when I was told by my drummer that his mat had said "Your bassplayer plays alot like Geddy Lee". Despite me playing a natural explorer bass AND wearing an John Entwistle longsleeve that gig Probaly the same gig as my avatar is taken from.

[shamus63]

Geezer is my main influence on note-bending and digging in, so I get that comparison from those who recognize it.

I'm definitely cool with that.

[Baryonyx]

I take it as a real compliment. I often get people saying to me that I sound a lot like Mark King (since he is relatively well known in the UK) and that is a real compliment since he is a top level player!