Are we a dieing breed?

Kippa-Dee · #1 03-01-2007, 04:12 PM

Greetings folks.

I'm just slowly having a look around MelBand forums (for our overseas friends, thats a forum dedicated to Melbourne Musicians, classifieds, equipment, gigs, etc.) and noticing a distinct lack of bass players around.
Extending this - a number of artists I've noticed have been struggling to find bassists, often calling in session bassists or friends to do recordings, and then searching for a replacement.

Now, with all of this, I've begun to question why the demand for us is so high? I mean, yeah, any fool on guitar can pop out some mighty bass-solos; any rhythm or lead guitarist can throw out some pretty chunky lines - but the actual BASS skill, the ability to groove and perform as a BAND MEMBER; is anyone finding this is lost? I know gear is so expensive, but is it the expense, coupled with the perception that 'four strings is easy/boring/no glory' that's killing the profession off?

Don't get me wrong, I love that we're in demand, but it appears we still don't get the recognition that goes with playing our instruments.

Opinions?

bassist15 · #2 03-01-2007, 04:31 PM

Music back in the 60's and 70's was definetly more centered on the bass being the center of the music. Its not so much that way anymore. Now you have producers simply plucking along for hip hop and pop music. Lenny Kravitz talked about this awhile back in a bass magazine. He said you jsut dont have bands that give much attention to bass anymore. I dont think bass will die away . There are still a big following in bands with really good bass.

The Lurker · #3 03-01-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist15

Music back in the 60's and 70's was definetly more centered on the bass being the center of the music. Its not so much that way anymore. Now you have producers simply plucking along for hip hop and pop music. Lenny Kravitz talked about this awhile back in a bass magazine. He said you jsut dont have bands that give much attention to bass anymore. I dont think bass will die away . There are still a big following in bands with really good bass.

i disagree.....though I'm on the other side of the planet....bassists have always been scarce here, relative to demand... and from what the old-timers around here have told me, that was as true in the 50s as it is now. Regardless of musical fads, there's just never enough to go around.

At the same time....not having bands that give much attention to bass? that might be true for the mindless pop stuff... but...we also have zillions of jam bands, jazz bands, live hip-hop guys like the Roots, stoner bands like Clutch and the Melvins, etc.... bass gets plenty of attention there. So... I don't really see what Lenny Kravitz is talking about.

heck, we have enormous websites, magazines, international conferences, movies about the Funk Brothers, virtuoso tours, all devoted to bass.... bass is probably more important, overall, than it has been since the 70s.

pbass2 · #4 03-01-2007, 05:17 PM

I feel like there's lots more young players picking up the bass than ever before. I'm one of those guys you mention who gets hired to do sessions, and gigs for hire, often while the band is searching for a permanent player. I haven't noticed a shortage of bassists so much as players who are limited in scope--they may learn to play and sound like their favorite rock star, but don't stretch out and learn how to play other styles and get other tones. I don't mean learning to be a flashy extended range soloist or whatever(in fact, I most certainly don't mean that!), but learning how to play reggae, country, soul, r&b, etc. properly and get the authentic sounds. If all you do is cop Fieldy's vibe, what are you gonna do when the producer says, "do a Stax thing here" or what have you? The top guys who get the coolest gigs--Pino, JMJ, Chaney, and so on--they can morph to almost any style, and still inject their own thang.
As for the state of the industry, I think there's a real trend with producers in hip hop and RnB towards live bass in particular, which is a nice thing to see.

bassman1185 · #5 03-02-2007, 10:41 AM

I think it all has to do with the fact that bass is not a "glory" instrument. It's the instrument that you play if you don't really care about being noticed, although that is changing.

badstonebass · #6 03-02-2007, 11:11 AM

Bassists have always been scarce...at least here. Most bassists(myself included) around here are guitarists that needed a good gig.

In my younger days it was always a task to find someone who even OWNED a bass.

That's why I always tell guys if you have a BASS and a AMP you are good enough to join a band.

bassist15 · #7 03-02-2007, 01:55 PM

Lurker .I had to finish typing in my last post and failed to mention LEnny Kravitz ment the bass is less focused on in pop music. He mentioned Motown , Led Zeppelin and a few other groups who were acually "pop" music of the time and now pop producers simply play a keyboard or pluck roots for pop music of this age.

Hellbastard · #8 03-02-2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

I think it all has to do with the fact that bass is not a "glory" instrument. It's the instrument that you play if you don't really care about being noticed, although that is changing.

+1 Here in my city everybody wants to play G$*'%=r because that´s what gets into chicks underwear. So it´s really hard to see someone picking up bass. When I decided to learn how to play bass I had a lot of people telling me to learn fast because they needed a bass player, But as money was a fact at that time I didn´t have any Gear so I got rejected all the time. I see a lot of bands looking for bass players but they always request gear as if it was the most important thing here where everybody goes to a rehearsal room full equipped.
Obviously G$*'%=r gear is cheaper than ours so money could be also a fact for thel ack of bass players, at least here In Cali

thumbin · #9 03-02-2007, 05:16 PM

It sad... There are so many bands around here looking for bass playing... And I very very very very rarely ever see anyone in the bass section at gc anymore...

Zappstorius · #10 03-02-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist15

Lurker .I had to finish typing in my last post and failed to mention LEnny Kravitz ment the bass is less focused on in pop music. He mentioned Motown , Led Zeppelin and a few other groups who were acually "pop" music of the time and now pop producers simply play a keyboard or pluck roots for pop music of this age.

I assume when you're referring to "pop" music of today, you are referring to hip-hop or r&b type stuff.

I agree, that with most of that stuff, the basslines aren't that spectacular. But I think that has more to do with what genres of music are most popular today, as opposed to what used to be (i.e. Zepp, or when funk was more mainstream).

As far as I'm concerned RHCP, Green Day, and Evanescence are all "pop" groups, and there is plenty of bass to be heard in all of them.

Bass for Beef · #11 03-02-2007, 05:52 PM

I think to the people in the industry bassists are essential, but to the unknowing crowd we simply don't receive as much attention as in earlyer years. To the general public we're just pluckin the roots, nothing monumental...if only they knew how important that was.

Jeralya · #12 03-02-2007, 08:44 PM

it isnt a matter of plucking roots or being a good virtuoso, as previously mentioned in the topic, being an excellent bass player is all about being able to assimilate to a variety of styles while slightly giving your own feel to it. i see plenty of wooten wannabes in classic rock bands around here and its just ridiculous- people need to learn about tasteful playing.

TribalEagle · #13 03-03-2007, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbin

And I very very very very rarely ever see anyone in the bass section at gc anymore...

that`s just becoase they are all here at TB..

KYJazzy · #14 03-03-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass for Beef

I think to the people in the industry bassists are essential, but to the unknowing crowd we simply don't receive as much attention as in earlyer years. To the general public we're just pluckin the roots, nothing monumental...if only they knew how important that was.

that may have been the deepest thing ever written on the talkbass walls haha

ALiP BoB · #15 03-03-2007, 01:08 AM

Lets look at this positively.

I for one don't go looking much into other bass forums simply cause it's not as good as Talkbass.

JimmyM · #16 03-03-2007, 06:30 AM

To be honest, I don't care if we're the last of a dying breed or not. If we are, that just makes the supply of bassists unable to meet the demand, which is good news for me. If we aren't, then I guess I'll have to practice harder.

Audiophage · #17 03-03-2007, 07:33 AM

Why don't you see this as an opportunity?

Busker · #18 03-03-2007, 07:57 AM

I've been told that if I get it together on bass, I'll never be out of work. And this is from two different people who have been in the business for years, so they should know. One has had a Rock cover band for many years, the other has a folk/Celtic group with a couple of CDs out (for their latest CD they added a bassist BTW).

Anyway, I look forward to being in demand, one day. That would be nice.

MeYHymN · #19 03-03-2007, 10:33 AM

It's been the same since the mid 80's, atleast what I've personally seen here locally. Everyone AND their brother plays guitar (HEY! I know a G-Major chord...I ROCK!

). Bassists and drummers are a rare commodity. Good bassists and drummers are even more rare.

Gintaras · #20 03-03-2007, 10:42 AM

I am strictly a hobbyist because my business keeps me way to busy to have time to commit to playing in a band. (at least for know) My instructor is constantly telling me how many gigs there are and that I should get out and play as soon as possible. He also mentioned that being a singer is a major plus.