What are your personal pro's and con's as a bassist?

bolophonic · #1 01-14-2011, 08:38 PM

Mine:

Pro's - I am reliable, punctual, motivated. I help everyone in the band load in and out of a gig. I can learn almost anything by ear if I put my mind to it and I have a nice, thick, burly style. I can fill in a lot of space in a song, but I know that silence and negative space are crucial to effective songwriting. My bass lines are inventive and original. I am easy to get along with, but I am not the type of guy who is easy for a club owner to screw over.

Con's - I am terrible about practicing things like scales and arpeggios. I am not good at "jamming" or any type of improvisational playing. I am only good at material that I have rehearsed extensively. Because my grip on theory is more intuitive than academic, I have to spend a lot more time than I ought to remembering a lot of basic information. I fall into ruts easily if not challenged the right way.

michael_atw · #2 01-14-2011, 08:45 PM

Pros - Experience with many different bands, a good decision-making ability when it comes to structuring the instrument personally and structuring the band as a whole, good feel for tempo and song dynamics, can practice for hours and hours, don't have alot of non-music baggage weighing me down from being a bassist, willing to engage and be influenced by many genres and styles, don't have sucky gear and can acquire proper gear for occasions that warrant it.

Cons - self-taught which restricts technical ability, music theory knowledge is nominal...and all the stuff that's related to those issues.

BuffaloBass · #3 01-15-2011, 05:03 AM

Bolo, I am almsot exactly like you! Deep pocket, super at "hearing" basslines to songscomposed by others,( my greatest skill actually), but a technical ZERO.

Workin' on the ZERO part.

Joe.shaffer · #4 01-15-2011, 05:07 AM

I pretty much line up with michael on this one.

Atticus · #5 01-15-2011, 06:52 AM

Pros: Know plenty of theory, good sense of groove, play multiple instruments (so I can both talk shop with other players and can help writing on most parts), can read music, capable of simple improvising, capable of wide range of techniques, professional attitude (but still fun), good equipment

Cons: Lack of field experience, poor ear training, not a speedy player, not a good singer (so no lead/backing vox)

oldcatfish · #6 01-15-2011, 07:09 AM

Pros: I am very reliable/dependable, am a good technical problem solver (solving eq or feedback issues,etc.), can transpose on the fly, can improvise lines fairly well, and can usually lock in the groove with a drummer.

Cons: Speed--I take a lot of rehearsal to get fast songs down up to speed; also, without enough rehearsal, I tend to forget lines, and have to improvise.

Codymb · #7 01-15-2011, 08:54 AM

Pros- I have a strong handle on all kinds of techniques. (Finger style, pick, slap&pop, touch style, etc.) I have a pretty good understanding of all things theory. I can hold my own in pretty much any genre of music. Diversity is a big thing in my book, I like to be a sort of "jack of all trades."

Cons- I don't know any songs. I just don't do covers and I don't learn other peoples stuff. I prefer to write my own stuff or to improvise. Any songs I've learned over the years I've long since forgotten. So I find myself having the following conversation a lot.

Other musician: "Hey do you know ____ ?"
Me : "No."
Other musician: "What about ____ ?"
Me : "No."
Other musician: "Or how about ____ ?"
Me : "No."
Other musician: "Do you know any songs?"
Me : "No."

AciDBatH666 · #8 01-15-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolophonic

Mine:

Pro's - I am reliable, punctual, motivated. I help everyone in the band load in and out of a gig. I can learn almost anything by ear if I put my mind to it and I have a nice, thick, burly style. I can fill in a lot of space in a song, but I know that silence and negative space are crucial to effective songwriting. My bass lines are inventive and original. I am easy to get along with, but I am not the type of guy who is easy for a club owner to screw over.

Con's - I am terrible about practicing things like scales and arpeggios. I am not good at "jamming" or any type of improvisational playing. I am only good at material that I have rehearsed extensively. Because my grip on theory is more intuitive than academic, I have to spend a lot more time than I ought to remembering a lot of basic information. I fall into ruts easily if not challenged the right way.

This is almost me to a T. My pros are that I'm motivated and I'm a very strong backup guy. In nearly everything I do in life, I'm not a leader, but I'm a very strong supporter and help back up someone else who's willing to pick up that role.

Con-wise, when i picked up the bass 2-3 years ago I almost considered myself a failed guitar player. I played guitar on and off for about 10 years and I never learned scales or solos. And I never had the want for it either. I got good enough to be able to confidently play complicated fast guitar riffs like Lamb of God and Suffocation, but I was never good enough to mess with being the lead.
As a bassist, I LOVE it because I can keep my speed and complicated left hand riffs and not be expected to step up and do anything improvised. I can just keep on truckin and stayin in the pocket and I'm good.

It's also a downside too, but it doesn't bother me much. I do tend to stick to only playing things that I've really learned well tho for practices. I've kind of hit a comfortable medium with my playing and style. Right now I'm just working on technique to be able to execute some tougher stuff on the bass with some new guys I just started jamming with.
I'm not as worried about theory as I used to be. And I'm fine with that.

bassbully · #9 01-15-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolophonic

Mine:

Pro's - I am reliable, punctual, motivated. I help everyone in the band load in and out of a gig. I can learn almost anything by ear if I put my mind to it and I have a nice, thick, burly style. I can fill in a lot of space in a song, but I know that silence and negative space are crucial to effective songwriting. My bass lines are inventive and original. I am easy to get along with, but I am not the type of guy who is easy for a club owner to screw over.

Con's - I am terrible about practicing things like scales and arpeggios. I am not good at "jamming" or any type of improvisational playing. I am only good at material that I have rehearsed extensively. Because my grip on theory is more intuitive than academic, I have to spend a lot more time than I ought to remembering a lot of basic information. I fall into ruts easily if not challenged the right way.

Bingo! Are we Twins? You just said all I could say!

zachoff · #10 01-15-2011, 10:28 AM

pro - I can write, I can sing & play, I can play a bass, I have good gear, I have a good ear, I can generally discern between what is "good" and "not so good", I have a car that can haul the gear, I'm on time, and I'm dedicated, I encourage collaboration, I'm not a "band leader" type, I'm a web programmer & can build/manage that side of things, I can design flyers & stickers, I know a lot about rock music, in general, I support local bands and see a bunch of shows...

cons - I have no theory knowledge or formal training and don't always know "what" I'm playing, I can't read music, I have bad playing habits, I rarely practice, I won't play music I don't like, I'm sometimes brutally honest, I have a family and a day job...

Mike M. · #11 01-15-2011, 02:23 PM

Pros: I also play guitar and I write my own songs..lead, bass, rhythm, lyrics and melodies. (I'm not saying my songs are great, but I can do it). I also play bass at church and will stop at nothing to get the most out of the songs I'm learning and try look for those little extras to enhance things a tad but without toe-stepping. I'm also very easy to work with. While I know there's millions of other players who can do it all better than me I get a lot of compliments when I play at church from the congregation and from the other musicians. (It's my only gig!) But I'm not big-headed at all about it. No need for that. I've also been told I'm a very solid player with a great feel.

Cons: My knowledge of music theory is very, very limited. I know how chords are constructed but that's about it. Scales and things like that I can't be bothered with and because of that I find that I have to "look" for the things that I hear in my head. I don't have much time at all to practice these days but that's because of my job. I work 12 hours a night and I'm also single which means I have to take care of the household things myself. So free time is pretty rare these days. I really should be much better than I am.

Chrisk-K · #12 01-15-2011, 05:23 PM

Pros: Too much knowledge of music theory (I took classical piano lessions for 10 years).

Cons: Too much knowledge of music theory.

oldbassplayergu · #13 01-15-2011, 05:35 PM

pros- I must know over 500 songs easy, r&b,rock,metal,punk, & disco. I can and have jammed improv with the best of them. cons- far too handsom

Alucard817 · #14 01-15-2011, 05:40 PM

Pro's: Good timing, good ear, I can pick up on rhythm easily and I have the urge to learn.

Con's: I suck at everything else.

Jim Dep · #15 01-15-2011, 05:44 PM

Pros: I have no weaknesses

Cons: Failure to recognize and identify my weaknesses

jordy_on_bass · #16 01-15-2011, 05:56 PM

Pros: Good at structuring songs, have been called a 'juke box' by a previous band member as I only have to be shown a riff once, maybe twice, and I have a bassline written almost immediately, albeit a simple one at best. Very solid rehearsing and also have the drive to take on band management type tasks. Also have decent gear and transport - something which tends to be a problem for many muso's I know.

Cons: All the things that go along with being a self-taught player. Although I have a very basic level of theory knowledge, I have found myself playing basslines and people going;
'Oh an arpeggio, nice!'
or
'nice pentatonic scale!'
So, I have an ear for scales and I know I am playing a scale half the time, I just don't know which one lol.

bolophonic · #17 01-15-2011, 06:05 PM

I am definitely going to start working on my scales and arpeggios. Right after I get finished soldering this pickup...

flyingfinbar · #18 01-15-2011, 06:10 PM

Pros- for touring-Strong as an ox for loadin/out. Lots of experience in combat/fight sports, but a friendly, unassuming demeanor. Believe it or not, these things come in handy at times!! I try to play to what the song needs, and nothing more or less. If it's a slap line, or a one note groove, it's what I do. Stage presence, at times to a fault (see below). A decent, functional handle on theory....I'm no jazz phenom, but I can fake my way around a chord chart.

Cons- for touring, I've been known to have a few too many drinks after the performance, leading to a rough day after, but I've improved since my earlier days! I occasionally get caught up in the performance of it, and my playing can get sloppy, also something I've remedied to a certain degree, but there's definitely room for improvement still. There's not enough room here for my deficiencies!

bradjonesbass · #19 01-15-2011, 08:35 PM

Pros - feel, improvisational skills (if I'm leading... more on that later), no drugs, alcohol, or women issues ever, at least a practical knowledge of music theory, stage presence

Cons - never once have I learned an entire song's original bassline. I learn bits and pieces, learn the changes and make up the rest as I go. I have musical ADD so I almost never play the same song the same way twice (could be a Pro too I suppose). My ears are thoroughly shot from too many years of too loud drummers hitting their cymbals next to me without me having ear plugs in and I am starting to struggle hearing subtleties in music - thick and fat in the midrange I'm good, but if the piano starts going up too high I have a hard time hearing what I need to hear. I'm a type A personality so if there is another type A in the band that can be a bad thing, especially if he/she is the lead singer and suffers from "rockstaritis"

DeclanG · #20 01-16-2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolophonic

Mine:

Pro's - I am reliable, punctual, motivated. I help everyone in the band load in and out of a gig. I can learn almost anything by ear if I put my mind to it and I have a nice, thick, burly style. I can fill in a lot of space in a song, but I know that silence and negative space are crucial to effective songwriting. My bass lines are inventive and original. I am easy to get along with, but I am not the type of guy who is easy for a club owner to screw over.

Con's - I am terrible about practicing things like scales and arpeggios. I am not good at "jamming" or any type of improvisational playing. I am only good at material that I have rehearsed extensively. Because my grip on theory is more intuitive than academic, I have to spend a lot more time than I ought to remembering a lot of basic information. I fall into ruts easily if not challenged the right way.

Im very much the above also with a few additions.
For Pros: Always listening to bands with bass players i respect and trying to learn from them. At the moment that would be Muse. Instead of going 90 miles per hour around the fretboard, im happy to write a nice melodic bassline if it fits the song better. Always listen to a new song without playing first to get a good idea what type of bassline would suit and write it in my head before going to the bass.

Cons: Cant go 90 miles per hour around the fretboard. Definately not the fastest fingers in the world by a long shot. Dont know the scales at all! Have all the bass grade books which i planned to use for that but never bothered. Both are things i plan to correct someday!!