How many here would consider themselves a blues bassist?

[Youngspanion]

I'm trying to see how many people on these board are real blues bass players?

I consider myself a blues bass player. I primarily play blues music with and without people. Although I do play other music, I consider the Blues my favorite style. I'm not a pro either. I've never gotten paid to play and I rarely play out as of now. But there is a world of information to be had. Lets share.

[Billnc]

I'm a bassplayer who's played a hell of a lot of blues. The genre has been very kind to me.

[CapnSev]

The majority of my bass playing career has been blues. I played it in bands pretty consistently since I was 17. It is always the genre with the least rehearsal and biggest payout for me (a winning combination in my book). I even had the chance to play a few tour dates with John Lee Hooker Jr. in 2005.

[5StringBlues]

Me

[Youngspanion]

Found it.
Blues Bass Players Club

[Revvv]

I am a blues bassist. Gotta love the blues.

[hbarcat]

I dig the blues and I could play it every day and never get tired of it. I would consider myself a "decent" blues bassist outside of the Chicago region where I live.

Within the region - Nooooooo waaaaaaaaaaaay.

[Dogbertday]

Originally Posted by hbarcat

I would consider myself a "decent" blues bassist outside of the Chicago region where I live.

Within the region - Nooooooo waaaaaaaaaaaay.

This pretty much applies to me too. I know that if I really wanted to dive in I could, but too many other styles peak my interest. I'm currently mentally putting together a plan to learn a few styles REALLY well over a few month time period each.

I consider myself a solid blues player in that I wont F up a 12 bar and I can keep/know most if not all blues grooves

[Lichtaffen]

I love the blues and would love to be a solid respectable blues bassist someday soon. What is the best way to learn? Let me guess:

1. Listen to the greats and cop their lines (who are the greats?)
2. Play blues jams at bars
3. Explore Jazz to get tastier ideas
4. Explore R&B, Funk and Soul styles for similarities and new ideas

Any other ideas from the masters here?

[Youngspanion]

learn one song at a time. Start with Albert Kings, "Born Under A bad Sign". Then check out Creams version of it. And learn it.

Listen to Cream. Stevie Ray Vaughn. Alot of the Allmn brothers. "Trouble No More" and "One Way Out".

Check out Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Robert Johnson.

[standupright]

i love playing blues in a live setting. sitting around a practicing it alone is damn boring. if you know the constructs and theory, the only thing left is the nuances of the tunes you are playing, and even they change from gig to gig.

[basslinejam]

Blues has been good to me too. And if you're good, you're good. There is no faking it.

Plus, what Cap'N sez --> there are no practices to worry about!

[acubass]

Me

[jwbassman]

I wouldn't classify myself as a "blues bass player", but I do end up playing a lot of blues. I'm the house bass player at an open mic blues night every week. But I'm usually all over the board. For instance, this week I played two church masses on Sunday. I've been playing a tent revival Monday, Tuesday, and Tonight as well. Then Thursday is the Blues, and Friday I'm at the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston for the Kenny Chesney Pre-Tour Party. That gig is country. So I'm all over the map! Everything from Christian to Country to Blues.

But for about 3 years I played blues gigs almost exclusively 2 to 3 times a week. I love the Blues and I never get bored playing, and the reason is the Blues has SOUL! And you never get bored with it as long as you put you soul into it.

[Blueszilla]

What do you think?