Musician, or Bassist? (Or, if you're cheating, both!) - Page 2

nbw · #21 01-13-2008, 03:28 AM

Musician.
Victor Wooten has explained in many different times but this was the easiest to emidiately quote.

"When you talk, your mouth is your tool, but no one focuses on your mouth. Their attention goes way past the tool to the meaning and emotion of what you’re saying. If I do things well enough, I can make you forget about the bass and focus on the music."

Of course this is not to say I have any apprehension for laying down the bottom, the rhythm, the bounce and some tangle with some elligent and simple walking lines.

the JT · #22 01-13-2008, 04:03 AM

Probably bassist more than musician. It is not that i dont care about the music, i just dont write. Nevertheless, i consider the music in my interests more than the bass when i am playing.

Inflin · #23 01-13-2008, 07:12 AM

I play several instruments, so most people would call me a musician, however I would see myself as a bassist, it's just the instrument and style of playing that suits me and I can always visualize. I can't always instantly visualize a guitar or piano part in my head, for example, but I'll groove with the bass in my head to my turn signal.

Saying that in reality most people call me a producer and don't even know what I play

Deluge Of Sound · #24 01-13-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I understand what you're getting at. But the way you've defined it really does present a false dichotomy. Because at least IMHO, if you consider yourself a bassist yet have little focus on the complete context of what you're playing, then not only are you not a very good musician, you're probably not a very good bassist either. Because there's a certain degree of essential musical sensitivity & awareness that's missing there. And no amount of technical ability, raw chops or inherent "feel" for the instrument can compensate for it...

Possibly a more precise dichotomy would be between "artist" and "technician". As much as I love playing the bass guitar, I try to always write, listen and play for the overall picture - bearing in mind that my part is usually just one of several. At the end of the day, I don't think there's any other way - if you want to do it well...

Musician.

MM

Feel free to define the semantics however you wish, all I'm concerned with is your perspective.

peter G · #25 01-14-2008, 10:20 PM

bassist, if I didn't play bass I wouldn't make music.

Fuzzbass · #26 01-15-2008, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I understand what you're getting at. But the way you've defined it really does present a false dichotomy. Because at least IMHO, if you consider yourself a bassist yet have little focus on the complete context of what you're playing, then not only are you not a very good musician, you're probably not a very good bassist either. Because there's a certain degree of essential musical sensitivity & awareness that's missing there. And no amount of technical ability, raw chops or inherent "feel" for the instrument can compensate for it....

I agree with what you're saying. I also vehemently disagree with those who argue that "musician" is reserved for those who can read sheet music, write songs, play more than one instrument, etc. Bassists are musicians... and despite all the jokes, so are drummers!

That said, I refer to myself as a bassist and not a musician out of modesty. I'm a semi-pro hobbyist with semi-pro skills, but I know a number of semi-pro hobbyists with pro-level skills, and I don't want to put myself in their category.

Steelers Fan · #27 01-15-2008, 10:44 AM

Musician who plays bass

, trumpet(years ago), keyboard and drums....

billm · #28 01-15-2008, 12:55 PM

I love making music, and consider myself a musician. When I was (much) younger I played piano, then cornet. Guitar when I was going through my folkie phase. Bass now. Through it all I've sang... lead, harmony, choir, doo-wop, barbershop. Last Saturday I spent 5 hours jamming with friends and never picked up an instrument. Had a ball singing and improvising harmony with a rotating cast of 3 people on guitar and 5 or 6 others on voice. We made music. Not guitar music, not bass music or vocal music, just music.

billm

WayneS · #29 01-15-2008, 01:05 PM

To me, most of the time, the song I'm playing and my instrument are equally important. There are exceptions though, where the song means crap. I write and record music, so I would consider myself a musician and a bassist.