*rant* Stupid idiots..! %£%&"!!!

Fassa Albrecht · #1 01-11-2009, 05:14 PM

Seriously, what gives people the right to tell me how to play?

A few days ago I was at a party, and a load of the host's musician friends came round, guitars and all. They started messing about on their guitars for a while and then one of them asked me if I wanted to have a go.

So I started playing my Shergold and began to play some random worship pieces. I got THREE notes in when one of the other guys starts getting all 'iffy' and arrogant to me. This is a rough conversation we had:

Me: *gives count-in* (starts playing)
Guy

sshhhh you call that a bassline?
Me: (sarcastically) Oh yeah, all three notes of it!
Guy: Well you've OBVIOUSLY not that good if that's how you play!
Me: OK smart*** tell me what I'm doing wrong!
Guy: Well......*gives long list of trivial things*
Me: Well what do you want me to play then?
Guy: Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
Me: I don't know any Zeppelin...

We then got into a pathetic argument about how I should learn X Y and Z bassline and know this, that and the other, especially Zeppelin cause I listen to them.

Eventually I just ended up storming off. This guy wasn't even helpful but just ended up ranting at me over daft stuff.

How to deal with idiots like this?

tplyons · #2 01-11-2009, 05:18 PM

Grow a thick skin and ignore them.

MikeyFingers · #3 01-11-2009, 05:40 PM

^Word. OR just turn it up really loud and play the most brain-smashing bass line you can muster.

stflbn · #4 01-11-2009, 05:44 PM

You were looking for them to adapt to your preference, and them you to theirs.

Sounds like each were looking for reason's to be pissy. Play, don't react... move on.

Personally, I avoid non-controlled and planned events like that like the plague just to avoid crap.

DeliriumTremens · #5 01-11-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

How to deal with idiots like this?

Learn Whole Lotta Love; it'll take as long to learn as it does to listen to the song

sobie18 · #6 01-11-2009, 06:46 PM

I always pack a baseball bat in my bass case to deal with rude folks...

Dertygen · #7 01-11-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Grow a thick skin and ignore them.

I remember hearing a phrase that went, "... musicians are temperamental, sensitive creatures."

I find that true in any player, although some have differing levels of denial regarding that fact.

BellBottomBlues · #8 01-12-2009, 03:20 AM

I'm surprised you couldn't pick out the bassline for whole lotta love in about 25 seconds. Its also about 3 notes.

The sign of a good musician is being able to play along nicely with others, even if you don't know the song. Unfortunately, you play bass, and its a lot easier for many people to follow a guitar riff than a bassline, unless you can write some really catchy grooves on the spot. Worship music in my experience doesn't have them.

David1234 · #9 01-12-2009, 03:33 AM

Do you normally combine playing worship tunes with swearing at people?

Fassa Albrecht · #10 01-12-2009, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

I'm surprised you couldn't pick out the bassline for whole lotta love in about 25 seconds. Its also about 3 notes.

The sign of a good musician is being able to play along nicely with others, even if you don't know the song. Unfortunately, you play bass, and its a lot easier for many people to follow a guitar riff than a bassline, unless you can write some really catchy grooves on the spot. Worship music in my experience doesn't have them.

That wasn't the point though- not knowing one bassline out of millions doesn't make me any worse than the next bassist.

EDIT: One thing I should have added was that I DID try and show him some of the other things I can play, such as New Order, Muse and Queen. But because I was wearing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt he wanted to hear me play Zeppelin.

Fassa Albrecht · #11 01-12-2009, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David1234

Do you normally combine playing worship tunes with swearing at people?

No, but I wasn't sure whether TB allowed me to use the term 'smartass'. I guess I'll find out now.

Bruce Lindfield · #12 01-12-2009, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Guy: Well you've OBVIOUSLY not that good if that's how you play!
Me: OK smart*** tell me what I'm doing wrong!
Guy: Well......*gives long list of trivial things*

I think that music is about playing with other people and listening to them, responding, collaborating - if you are just going to play what you want regardless - then that's not playing music!!

If you want to improve as a player then you have to take on board what other people think of your playing and not just dismiss it out of hand.

If you work together and discuss this kind of thing, rather than just rant - I think you would find the way forward.

Continue to ignore all advice/comments and you will never improve - guaranteed!!

Baryonyx · #13 01-12-2009, 04:02 AM

How can you not play "Whole Lotta Love"? It has to be one of the easiest tunes ever! Even a three year old could nail it in one take!

You should have hit the guy with your sick stained bass though, and told him to stick his Led Zep where the sun don't shine, before proceeding to rip out some Weather Report and show him how a real man plays bass.

**Howlin' Hanson** · #14 01-12-2009, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

But because I was wearing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt he wanted to hear me play Zeppelin.

Yes, I really hate it when people ask me to sing like Brian, Carl and Al when I wear my Beach Boys t-shirts.

But sometimes I try....

Jools4001 · #15 01-12-2009, 06:15 AM

Should've told him that you don't know any Zeppelin but you can play the victim...you're really good at that.

Baryonyx · #16 01-12-2009, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jools4001

Should've told him that you don't know any Zeppelin but you can play the victim...you're really good at that.

Oh man, what a burn.

mjolnir · #17 01-12-2009, 07:58 AM

...Seriously?

Chill. Best way I can say it right there. People can be critical, and people can be misunderstood, and people can be anything and everything. To be honest, nobody needs to be getting all worked up when they have a bass in their hands and all that unexpressed groove that goes with it. Just take what he says with a grain of salt and move on with your life.

lamonica78 · #18 01-12-2009, 09:07 AM

Instead of storming off, take the challenge. Sure, the guy could have been less abrasive about it, but the only way to become a better musician is to play with many people and many styles. Maybe he WAS right. Maybe what you were playing didn't fit the style of what they were jamming on. Instead of being sarcastic or defensive, ask what they have in mind.

I went into the studio a few weeks ago to record on a friend's track. She told me it was a bluesy number so I went that route. However, the producer envisioned more of a laid back reggae type line. He challenenged me to get out of a certain mind set and honestly I learned a lot from that session and gained some new tricks in my repetoirre. Don't be stubborn. You might just learn a thing or two from other people

Phalex · #19 01-12-2009, 09:10 AM

One thing I've learned as I've gotten older: Idiots Abound

I think Peter Tosh said it best: "I was not born to live up to your expectations."

Shake it off, and keep on keepin on.

**funkybass4ever** · #20 01-12-2009, 09:17 AM

tell them this is my stage, step off, I rule here and if they don't listen then challenge them to a Ralph Machio/Steve Vai bassguitaroff on whatever instrument thay play

seriously though have patience and understanding of their views but you don't have to agree and submit to them. You know your understanding and talent on the bass, if they want to steer you in a direction you are uncomfortable with or not knowledgeable about and they are not respectful about it then I would get out some music paper and tell them- you want a particular bass line? Write it for me and I'll play it!