Reversal of bassist stereotyping question?

Fassa Albrecht · #1 05-07-2007, 04:49 PM

Simple question really. What do you think should be done (or must be done) to reverse the current stereotyping of bassists as a general whole. Your ideas can reflect on any area of bass.
Thanks!

James Hart · #2 05-07-2007, 05:06 PM

Stereotyping? which is this?

Where I stand... as a bassist, I'm at least an equal within the musical equation... more often than not I am the lead and the leader. I am usually asked for opinion AND guidance in the writing process

If you aren't feeling as an equal member of your band, you might need to find a new one.

superbassman2000 · #3 05-07-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Simple question really. What do you think should be done (or must be done) to reverse the current stereotyping of bassists as a general whole. Your ideas can reflect on any area of bass.
Thanks!

get over it?

just about every instrument has a stereotypical player to it, and people joke about it, but thats all it is...if someone bases their whole opinion on someone based on the instrument they play, they are immature.

StanFan · #4 05-07-2007, 05:10 PM

Do you have any particular stereotypes in mind?

Baryonyx · #5 05-08-2007, 03:31 AM

Just get on with it. When all is said and done, it's about the music.

Fassa Albrecht · #6 05-08-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

get over it?

just about every instrument has a stereotypical player to it, and people joke about it, but thats all it is...if someone bases their whole opinion on someone based on the instrument they play, they are immature.

Shame that someone I know doesn't realise that. He is an arrogant, classically trained accoustic guitarist and his entire opinion of bass can be summed up as follows- "Bass is too easy, you're only playing it cause you're too stupid to play guitar. I could play anything on bass even though I've only picked up one once. All bassists do is pluck their strings and stand there. Bass is easier than guitar cause it's only got 4 strings....."- the usual stupid arrogant comments.

Baryonyx · #7 05-08-2007, 04:10 PM

For a classically trained musician he seems woefully ignorant...are you sure he's classically trained, or has he not stopped with the Queen licks yet?

antiseptic · #8 05-09-2007, 03:45 AM

It's more about his attitude, rahter than his musical point if view.
Invite him to this place.

mattblissett · #9 05-09-2007, 04:37 AM

Let it be his problem, and not yours. I know that guitarists might draw the gaze of the crowd, but I bring the groove and hold it all down, and be able to take the music wherever it needs to go.

Yngwie 4String · #10 05-11-2007, 09:41 AM

I kind of liek the fact that the bass is underappreciated, its weird but in a way I like it. I think because a guitarist can play 3 notes of thunderstruck and impress people, but if people are impressed by your bass playing it means youve really done something.

acleex38 · #11 05-11-2007, 09:59 AM

Agreed - and let's face it - on some level, those of us with a chip on our shoulder about the perception of bass playing by non bassists WANT to have a chip on our shoulder about it.

It's like picking your favorite superhero and deciding it will be Aquaman - because NO ONE ELSE would pick him. Yeah - that's me as a kid...and insight into why I fell for the bass. Maybe most bass players aren't that neurotic in their motivations, but I see a lot of folks voicing frustration at the way non-bassists think about the instrument while simultaneously reveling in it as a way to look down on the "uneducated masses" who just don't get how critical we are to the sound.

Again, if I'm selling everyone else short, I'm sorry - I can only truly speak for me, but it seems to be something I've observed in others as well.

Yngwie 4String · #12 05-11-2007, 10:07 AM

I think you hit the nail right on the head there.

blankstare77 · #13 05-11-2007, 06:33 PM

Just don't let it bug you. It is what it is. You can't change a stereotype, but you can, of course, make fun of the idiot who is stereotyping you.

Disco_Gee · #14 05-13-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Shame that someone I know doesn't realise that. He is an arrogant, classically trained accoustic guitarist and his entire opinion of bass can be summed up as follows- "Bass is too easy, you're only playing it cause you're too stupid to play guitar. I could play anything on bass even though I've only picked up one once. All bassists do is pluck their strings and stand there. Bass is easier than guitar cause it's only got 4 strings....."- the usual stupid arrogant comments.

I was going to say that you should hand him a bass and ask him to play Victor Wooten stuff. Or some Jaco. Or some Jamerson. Or some Billy Sheehan. Or some... well... you get the idea. But in the end I don't think that would make any difference to him. The sort of ignorance displayed by someone like him usually needs to be beaten out.

...did I just say that?

BassLand · #15 05-13-2007, 08:07 AM

Bass Stereotype: You are supposed to follow the keyboardist/pianist left hand and he controls the chord quality.

Reality: The Bass Player controls the root (lowest note, other than specifically notated arrangements, in which case the arranger controls that) and therefore the chord. If a pianist is playing the correct chord, a good bass player can take it anywhere he wants it to be (Talking mainly jazz here). If a keyboardist is trying to play bass with his left hand (with me as bassist) he is going to hear an ear full from me on the break!

seanm · #16 05-13-2007, 12:45 PM

In country, many good guitar players like the fact they can play simpler chord structures and rely on the bass to hold down the bottom end. I find I get nothing but support from guitar players. Sure, they make all the jokes, but they don't really mean it.

What do you call a person who likes to hang around musicians? A drummer.
What do you call a person who likes to hang around drummers? A bass player.

SlavaF · #17 05-13-2007, 02:39 PM

Wow... I can honestly say that I've never come across any "bass stereotyping" in my own experiences, but it seems awfully common on this board - I don't get why we bassists like to complain about it so much when we can actually be practicing instead?? I mean you're much more likely to be treated with respect as a bassist if you're worthy of it... maybe that has something to do with it?

IMO The only way to "reverse the stereotypes" or whatever is to be the best bassist you can be and make all the idiots stand up and take notice - honestly, if I knew a guy like the one Fassa mentioned, I'd rip him apart the second he started spouting that garbage!

But that's just me, I wouldn't take that kinda crap from nobody