bass player additude - does it exist?

[tjontheroad]

Including the bass, I play several instruments. When I'm called on for a gig, I try to always carry myself in a respectful and professional manner regardless of what instrument(s) I'm asked to play. Over the years when working with another bass player, I've noticed with some of my fellow lowenders have what I call the "I play bass and therefor I'm in demand so this better be good or I'm out of here right now" attitude. Sometimes this comes across even before any playing begins. Hey... At least have the decency play through the tryout and express your interest afterwards.

Ok so, I can agree that no one wants to play with a bunch of "underachievers". I've been working my craft for 25 years so I myself am not concerned about how good I am. My experience also tells me it can take time for a group's sound to come together. Understanding each others tendencies, musical influences and likes/dislikes just doesn't always happen in a couple of jams during an audition. It's more likely to happen at the bar afterwards

I guess what I'm asking is there a lack of professional courtesy within the bass player lot? Discuss...

[Alex]

I don't know about the bass player attitude, but there seems to be some sort of spelling deficiency disease that is prevalent in bassists.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by Alex

I don't know about the bass player attitude, but there seems to be some sort of spelling deficiency disease that is prevalent in bassists.

As well as an abundance of spelling/grammar Nazis on the intArweb.

As far as the "attitude" thing... I've never seen it- although I have had bands "audition" for me- not because I was a bass player, but people being familiar with other bands I'd been in.

One thing that is easy to notice (especially paging through forums) is that bass players tend to "take pride" in playing bass and things related. Take that for what it's worth.

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

As well as an abundance of spelling/grammar Nazis on the intArweb.

+1

i have never felt like bass players are a real in-demand job, i haven't had people fighting over me being in their band...that might be more of the fact that i am kinda geeky though...i don't really have the rock-n-roll look although i can play it well

[evan_phi]

i see where you are coming from, especially the "underachievers" part.

with the "this better be done right" bit... when it is expected of people to be serious about sometihng and have a reputation of getting things done on time and correctly, and these don't get done with a professional attitude, that pisses me off.

I may only be 18 years old, but i hate playing with people that are unprofessional and don't know how to shut the fu*k up.

i find it very difficult to play with people who tend to screw up alot too. i mean, everyone does... but when you do it alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the time... kind of annoying.

i encourage inexperienced players and try to be a role model, but i couldn't be in a band with them.


bad attitude? nah.

[d8g3jdh]

Yes, there is a bass player attitude. There is also a guitarist attitude, and a drummer attitude, and a singer attitude. They all tend to blend together though, so really we are just talking about the musician attitude. Which is many things. Stupidity, arrogance, snobery, among others.

[jeff_bass28]

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

As well as an abundance of spelling/grammar Nazis on the intArweb.

I'm not an official Spelling-Nazi party member, but we do fight for the same cause...

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by tjontheroad

Ok so, I can agree that no one wants to play with a bunch of "underachievers". I've been working my craft for 25 years so I myself am not concerned about how good I am.

That speaks volumes right there....

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by Pacman

That speaks volumes right there....

I guess it depends on how you take it.

I took it to mean "I've been playing long enough, and I'm good enough that I don't have a need to impress anyone."

Of course, there's other interpretations as well...

[Bluez Dawg]

Here is my 2 cents worth. and please no spelling Nazi's OKs lol.


Anyways when I first started playing the bass I was looking for an amp so I thought I would go to best buy and see about buying a powered sub woofer with an 1/8th inch jack "out". an while I was in the home theater section of Best Buy I met a friend of mine Joe from a local band and I told him I wanted a sub woofer to power my bass, so we started talking about playing bass and mybe jamming together when I get good some time, then he said Throw my name around at Marshall's "a guitar center clone type music store" I said cool thanks Joe. and he said no problem we are bass players its our creed to stick together "then we do the hommy hand shake the fists thing" and that was that. so I got to to say Yes Bass player has aptitude and from what I saw very cool one.

[tjontheroad]

Originally Posted by Pacman

That speaks volumes right there....

That's to say that I'm not thinking of myself anymore as much I'm thinking if there's some magic with this group or gig. More over, I know I'm not the greatest player. And, I really don't care. I guess I get a little frustrated when I see someone not willing to give something a chance.

BTW, what's up with the spelling bee. How do I get in on that

[ster]

The band I am in now auditioned a bassist who bragged about his $3000 amp, custom made bass and his wonderful tone. After hearing all of this the band didn't even care how good he was, the just wanted him to leave.

The "attitude" exists in all types of players, unless you're desperate,you should turn them away because compatible personalities is a big part of a good long lasting band.

[Hookus]

OTOH, you usually know right off the bat if there is any kind of chemistry going on.

I have to say I am guilty of that attitude. I am very busy with work, family, all sort of things. I can noodle around and have fun playing bass by myself, or just jamming along with freinds. But for me, being in a working band, I need to feel like there is commitment and potential, to avoid wasting time. There are millions of musicians, there is no need to play seriously with people that lack ambition, don't have a "group" mentality (this is my song, it's as good as it will get, be damned with your constructive criticism), or don't have a marketable sound.

Just depends on what you want your group goals to be. A successful band needs to have the whole package, enough talent, some sort of target audience, the right attitude, and each member must have similar goals.

That being said, for me, and audition is a two way interview. I can show you what I can bring to the group, but you need to assure me that we can accomplish something.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by tjontheroad

More over, I know I'm not the greatest player. And, I really don't care.

That's the part that got me. I'm not trying to be disrespectful here, but I want to play with musicians who are dissatisfied with their playing and are working (hard) to get better. NOBODY can say they've reached the place where they really don't need to worry about their playing.

I have the same problems with people who claim to get "bored" with instruments. I find that more often than not, they're pretty talented people who can gain some facility with instruments pretty quickly. However, when they reach a place where improvement gets tough, they "get bored" and move on. The phrase "jack of all trades, master of none" springs to mind.

[MysticMichael]

I've rarely met a bass player who wasn't at least pretty cool. And a lot of 'em are actually very cool. And I'm not saying that just because we're all bass players...

I think there really is a bass player attitude, but to me it's not really an arrogance thing. It's more of a quiet confidence that comes from really knowing what you're doing on the instrument - and feeling so secure about it that you don't need to impress anybody. Sort of an attitude of "...So you need someone to lay a solid foundation and really make this thing groove, do ya? Well, that's what I do. Allow me..."

MM

[tjontheroad]

Originally Posted by Pacman

That's the part that got me. I'm not trying to be disrespectful here, but I want to play with musicians who are dissatisfied with their playing and are working (hard) to get better. NOBODY can say they've reached the place where they really don't need to worry about their playing.

I have the same problems with people who claim to get "bored" with instruments. I find that more often than not, they're pretty talented people who can gain some facility with instruments pretty quickly. However, when they reach a place where improvement gets tough, they "get bored" and move on. The phrase "jack of all trades, master of none" springs to mind.

Interesting how through the written word these two phases didn't come across as I intended;

"I've been working my craft for 25 years so I myself am not concerned about how good I am."

"More over, I know I'm not the greatest player. And, I really don't care."

Allow me to say it this way... Over the years, I come to the point that I'm happy with my overall playing. I don't try boasting about it. That's 'cause I know there will always be someone who can do the job better. For better or for worse, I now just compete with myself. I let others tell me if they like what I'm doing. (Warning!!! Shameless plug here) Anyone is welcome to here me play on my site and judge for themselves where I'm coming from.

Guilty I am about being a jack of many trades. It's not because I've become bored with playing bass. I wanted to explore how to interact with other instruments/instrumentalist and gain a better understanding of the whole band. It's through that knowledge that I offer respect to those who try their best at whatever they play.

I certainly, like many of us, have gone to an audition and felt like I wanted to run not walk out of there. Yes, I've got some stories to tell Still, I feel that if they are willing to here me, I should be good enough to do so in kind.

Thanks for the replies. My faith is not a total loss. Rock on

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I've rarely met a bass player who wasn't at least pretty cool. And a lot of 'em are actually very cool. And I'm not saying that just because we're all bass players...

I've met a lot of bass players that are great guys and great musicians. I've met a lot of bass players that are jerks, arrogant, useless, incompetent, lazy, stupid, clueless... It's like anyone you meet.

I don't believe in a fraternal brotherhood of bass players. Do we all have a common bond? Yes. Are we all drawn to playing bass by and for the same reasons? No. I don't believe that I've ever liked or disliked anyone anymore or any less, simply on the basis of what instrument they chose to play.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by Pacman

That's the part that got me. I'm not trying to be disrespectful here, but I want to play with musicians who are dissatisfied with their playing and are working (hard) to get better. NOBODY can say they've reached the place where they really don't need to worry about their playing.

I have the same problems with people who claim to get "bored" with instruments. I find that more often than not, they're pretty talented people who can gain some facility with instruments pretty quickly. However, when they reach a place where improvement gets tough, they "get bored" and move on. The phrase "jack of all trades, master of none" springs to mind.

Pacman, I'm not trying to be antagonistic, nor accuse you of that either... However, I think it's a bit presumptious to say that in light of how many different reasons people play. IIRC, you're a professional musician. Your job is to play many styles of music with a high degree of "technical and tactical proficiency." At the point I'm at in my life, I don't have that overwhelming need to progress. I practice to stay proficient. I practice to figure out songs. I practice to figure out parts for songs. The reason I play is because I enjoy it. No more, no less. My income is not dependent on playing. I only play stuff I want to play, or what my band wants to play-

I'm not saying to anyone to not improve, and not learn new things. Just that where I'm at, with what I've done and experienced, the musicians I've played with, the songs I've played, the songs I've written or had a hand in writing, I'm pretty good at what I do. I'm not "great," but I don't think I suck either.

Do I think I've gotten "lazy?" Yeah. But I think I've got a pretty good ear for things. I think I have an ability to "hear" a song, and come up with a line to compliment it. I think that's a more important skill for what I do than to know a thousand scales, or exhibit Jaco-like proficiency.

Through picking up a bunch of pick up gigs, from being in a dozen or so bands in the past 20 years, from literally dozens of projects I've been involved with- I can honestly say, the only time I learned and played a style of music that was so far away from anything that interested me that I considered I was "whoring" myself- it was a metal band. I ended up approaching it as "how would Tom Petersson do this?" It still ate at me to play music I despised, regardless of how well it appeared to come out. I do not see myself ever playing stuff that doesn't interest me again. I don't want to and I don't have to. I'm only going to deal with people that I like from now on. Because I can. It's not a "bass player's attitude" or anything. It's more like RHIP.

I can also say the only reason I've left bands have been personality/musical differences and the band breaking up. I've never been fired as a result of technical incompetence.

Playing music is fun for me. It's not a competition. It's not a struggle for dominance. I will never be a rock star. I will never be regarded as a virtuoso. I've been a 'bar star' and I've been "that guy." I see myself as a 'musician.' A musician who enjoys the songs I play and what I play within those songs.

[mjolnir]

Wow... You know, I've never heard of that. I dunno, maybe I'm not the best person to ask because I'm not exactly used to doing rock gigs or anything like that. I do the working-stiff-jazz stuff in venues that want a Jazz band on the stage, but generally don't care what we sound like. I guess growing as a musician in that environment has left me ignorant of the whole "I am musician, hear me roar" attitude... It's as my old Jazz director used to tell me when I would ask about a gig: "What, you think they'd give us any hospitality, free food, free drinks, or whatever? Come on, we're just the lowly musicians..."

To top that off, it seems like the place I live in has an overabundance of bass players. We just aren't in demand. It seems like anyone starting a band could just walk out onto the street, stop a random person, ask, "Are you a bass player?" and the person would probably say yes! Now, granted, I am a little more well-rounded than the average bassist in my area because of my musical background (Jazz, blues, etc.) so I can read music and can follow a page of changes ok, but still... with this kind of environment, I find it difficult to believe any bassist could have an attitude about anything.

[whitedk57]

I believe we should add as many bassists to the world as possible.