Things bassist hate, Part 2

**j-raj** · #1 10-24-2011, 09:02 AM

This is the continuation of this thread.

gumbynotpokey · #2 10-24-2011, 05:45 PM

in no special order
1) +1 on the "bass synth" thing from the synth guy
2) piano players and organ players taking over everything below middle C
3) Percussion (not drummer) and keys stealing the bass line -- "Geeze. Figure out your own line."
4) The whole band other than the rhythm section and the whole house taking the bass totally for granted, and not noticing its role or sounds.

soulman969 · #3 10-25-2011, 04:02 AM

Drummers who can't keep the tempo. (The slutty blond smiling at you from the bar will still be here when we break)

Keyboard players who insist on playing conflicting bass lines with their left hand. (That's my turf pal, don't interfere)

To much guitar in the monitor. (I can hear your half stack without it)

Singing an under harmony to the main melody. (try picking those notes out with the bass amp in your ear)

punkinfantry · #4 10-26-2011, 09:22 AM

guitarist bass knobs cranked to eleven

improper use of feedback

guitarists blowing obscene money on boutique gear and asking me how to use it

Mendry37 · #5 10-26-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulman969

Singing an under harmony to the main melody. (try picking those notes out with the bass amp in your ear)

Good...I'm not the only one in this boat.
-Chad

theretheyare · #6 10-26-2011, 09:35 AM

Non-bass playing musicians telling bass playing musicians what "the bass" is "supposed" to do.

The saddest part is when bass players actually believe this and put up with that cr*p. (like I did for many years....

)

punkinfantry · #7 10-26-2011, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theretheyare

Non-bass playing musicians telling bass playing musicians what "the bass" is "supposed" to do.

The saddest part is when bass players actually believe this and put up with that cr*p. (like I did for many years....

)

"don't play chords, they're too distracting"

scottfeldstein · #8 10-26-2011, 07:43 PM

Sorry I'm late to this party! I'm sure some of these have been mentioned...

Forty pound guitar combo amps that, when turned up to 11, require you to push 500 watts into a half stack 410 just to be heard.

And the guitarists who use them that way, utterly obvious to the strain on the bass players back and wallet.

Front of house engineers who think that the kick drum is the totality of a band's low end sound.

Guitarists who, after showing up with a couple of riffs ideas for a new song, turn to you and say "just play what I'm playing."

Anyone on stage who says "I can't hear you at all" but when you ask if you should turn up they say "nah, it's cool."

Guitarists who don't know the meaning of the word "rest" with regard to their music.

**Gladowsky** · #9 10-30-2011, 10:02 PM

I'm enjoying this thread. Here is my list of pet-peaves albeit some repeats:

1. Band mates who do not play dynamics ("It isn't good if it isn't loud). Duh! Since when does loud = musical. I've been to many concerts where it was "stupid loud". I'm not deaf. Is everyone else? No, loud = painful = future hearing loss = less enjoyable music when I'm older.

2. My own mistakes. Sometimes repeating the same ones even after practicing very hard... urrrr!

3. Pianists who play the walking bass line the same time as I, destroying any creativity in my line (forcing me to stick to the poorly written sheet-music - often written by a pianist, not a bassist).

4. Fellow band mates who show up consistently late and do not practice their parts: "Oh, I'll go over my part at our next rehearsal."

5. Keyboardists that walk all over my part. Why am I even playing?

6. Orchestrations that are for "rhythm". Again - usually written by a pianist - and on a grand staff. The result: a song that could be 3 pages is now 5 pages long because it has every part instead of bass only.

7. Most slap style playing. Marcus can do it. Many - including myself - cannot make it sound musical (I'm struggling at this point). It is as non-musical as rap (typically rhythm only). Where's the melody, harmony, etc.

8. "Guitard". As someone who also plays guitar this term is offensive although I understand the frustrations from band situations This is often attributable to the individual and not the instrument. Many great bassists were/are guitar players: Carol Kay & Tal Wilkenfeld come to mind. It is a great way to expand the chordal knowledge.

slawie · #10 10-30-2011, 10:11 PM

I really dislike when the guitarist comes up and tries to change the settings on my amp then my bass to get the sound he likes to hear.
This happened recently at rehearsals.......... I left the band

slawie

soulman969 · #11 10-30-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mendry37

Good...I'm not the only one in this boat.
-Chad

LOL....No I guess that's why Randy Meisner and Timmy Schmidt got all the top harmony lines in Eagles.

MaxSBM · #12 10-31-2011, 01:09 AM

When the pianist insist on playing. ALL THE TIME.

I try to create space for other instruments, Including the drums, and I do appreciate it when the other band members back off for my "space". But the pianist. If anyone else is playing, he is too.... -.-

lowfreq33 · #13 10-31-2011, 01:21 AM

This should be the all keyboard complaints thread. I played with one last night that did everything mentioned so far.

dlenaghan · #14 10-31-2011, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gladowsky

1. Band mates who do not play dynamics ("It isn't good if it isn't loud). Duh! Since when does loud = musical. I've been to many concerts where it was "stupid loud". I'm not deaf. Is everyone else? No, loud = painful = future hearing loss = less enjoyable music when I'm older.

Ugh. THIS. x1000.

Shadow123 · #15 10-31-2011, 11:46 AM

Keyboard down in your space, it traps you into playing the exact same line or it sounds like mud.
When you write a part for a song and the guitar player isn't good enough to play it.
Sitting in a studio filled with supposed musicians and saying, "that chord doesn't work," and apparently being the only one who cares.
A drummer who complains that the bass is too loud, then when you turn it down he can't hold the tempo because you were actually doing that for him.
Anyone who complains the bass is too loud on stage, when you walk out front you can barely hear it half the time.
Punk music bass lines.
80's rock bass lines.

BassPlayer900 · #16 10-31-2011, 01:41 PM

Not having a good amp to play through.

scottfeldstein · #17 10-31-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassPlayer900

Not having a good amp to play through.

So true. Or maybe just not having a big enough rig to achieve the tone and volume you want. That's a crappy way to get through a gig or a rehearsal. Sounding like crap and/or not being able to hear yourself properly.

addylewis · #18 10-31-2011, 01:54 PM

Being told to keep it simple
Being told "just play the riff along with me"
Being told how to sound during rehearsals
Being told to use a pick
Not being plugged into a PA
Having to play to backing track with bassline already on it with no attempts to re-eq the bass out of it
HAVING to turn your 550 watt amp to 10 on both gain and master to hear yourself over the drummer
Having a guitarist turn your amp down because you hit the A on the E string and it booms uncontrollably
Keyboardists left hands...

bannybassman · #19 10-31-2011, 01:59 PM

The weight and cost of bass amps compared to guitar amps
:/

VisualShock · #20 10-31-2011, 02:03 PM

When the venue manager says "What do you need monitors for?!" As if I'd asked him for something totally ridiculous like a space to park our private jets.

When the "promoter" has ranted and raved about how great a show will be and all they have done is post the same 50 words on the facebook pages of everyone they know.

When the same "promoter" insists that playing on a cramped stage (designed for acoustic acts) will have a much better atmosphere (because it wont look at empty).

Generally I've not had a problem with sound guys. A lot of the time I get gigs in venues because I know the sound guy, and I can therefore persuade them to do things just the way I like.