Can you dance?

[Lowner]

I was just thinking about something my old guitar teacher who taught bass also, told me when I first thought of switching from guitar to bass. He said, if you can't dance you will never play bass well. Dancing requires rhythm and if you can dance you will have the timing to be a good bass player. So if you can't dance then stick with guitar. I dropped him as my teacher for other reasons then 9 months later switched to bass and have been teaching myself ever since. He actually turned me off to serious study of the guitar and got me even more curious about the bass when he made comments like that.

[IotaNet]

Originally Posted by Lowner

... He said, if you can't dance you will never play bass well.

I doubt that being able to dance is mandatory for becoming a good bass player. On the other hand, the thing that makes one a good dancer (i.e. an innate or developed sense of timing/rhythym) is probably helpful.

FWIW, I hate it when people make "absolute" statements like that. That's far more discouraging than encouraging and it only creates artificial limits for people.

IMO, That was a crappy (and borderline irresponsible) thing for him to say to a student.

BTW, Yes, I can dance!

[SuperDuck]

I know several ballroom dances, but started them after I began playing bass. I think that any musical practice will help when developing a new one. Any exposure to ryhthm will be a boon! I don't think that one needs to be a good dancer. I've seen enough awkward shuffling and bobbing coming from darn good bass players.

(I have to say, all those exercises in 3/4 time helped when it was time to learn the Waltz! )

[BassChuck]

No doubt that the co-ordination to dance will help with bass playing. So what. Being able to play piano and drums will help too. Being able to read music is useful.

I agree that blanket statements are useless, especially when communicating with students. Having the desire to do something well is probably the best gift (skill).

[Matt Till]

I hope your teacher was joking. I consider myself a fairly rhythmic individual as a bassist, I work polyrhythmically and I really focus on the drums... not only can I not dance, but I can't play the drums.

My point: Rhythm comes in many forms.

[Dave Martin]

The last time I danced was at my wedding, 25 years ago. So the answer is, no, I don't dance.

[Maverick Blues]

Originally Posted by Lowner

He said, if you can't dance you will never play bass well.

What a crock. There is absolutely no connection between being able to dance and being able to play bass.

Look at me, I can't dance worth poop, and...

Oh... wait...

'rick

[threshar]

I'm going to disagree with the "teacher" there.

I know a couple ballroom dances I learned for my wedding, but beyond that I was hopeless. They were trying to get me to do these other moves that involved moving my hips (latin stuff) and it just didn't work.

However I can groove with no issue on the bass. And during the lessons I knew when I was supposed to do stuff (since I can follow the beat & groove of hte music), I just couldn't physically do it.

[labgnat]

i'm actually quite anti dance, and dont' believe you need to be able to dance to play bass, just tap your foot in time and your good, and in no way is tapping ur foot dancing

[keb]

I think that was an irresponsible thing for that teacher to say.

But some musicians get really set in their ways and believe their opinions and "way" to be 100% universal fact. I've come across enough of those jokers in my life.

[Diggler]

Originally Posted by Lowner

Can you dance?

According to my wife... no. She tells me to stop if I start to.

She says I have some weird backwards rhythm to me, almost like the Axl Rose off beat thing he does. Where it is a rhythm, but not the rhythm you'd expect.

Doesn't bother my bass playing though.

[groov'ster]

Nope I can't dance to save my life or bring down rain .
But it has nothing to do with how well I play and will learn to play this contraption called the bass guitar.

[tZer]

I think your teacher is rather poorly spoken. However, I think his intent was not too far off.

I can't 'dance' like you see the kids do these days, however, since I discovered 'letting the music move me' while I play, I inadvertantly end up 'dancing' - in that I am physically, rhythmically representing what I feel the music doing while I play. And, yes, it does help.

Now calling what I do 'dancing' is insulting to dancers. BUT technically it is dancing. Since I have allowed myself to be moved physically by the music and have dropped the inhabitions that previously prevented me from 'giving in to the groove', I now CAN go out of the dance floor and move as well as any of the other guys out there - even better because I have more of an intimate relationship to the music. I am not just listening the the drums and the words, I know what the bass player is doing and can dance in a way that show it. So yes, does help my playing (and playing bass helps my dancing) a great deal.

We had a jam session the other night and I was moving and groovin' the whole time. Not only did it help me really find my way into my part - it also help others. My 'moves' visually help orient others to where I am in a phrase or riff. If I stomp down hard on one, boy is that a clear sign where the down beat is... If I shimmey and shake in a middle part, the drummer knows I am doing something cute, musically and can join in...

Dancing while you play is a really great way to learn more about the music and about yourself as a player. I highly recommend it.

I have always said that I regret not dancing more when I was younger. I was intimidated - afraid I was not 'good enough' - but really I was just scared of what other people would think. The sooner you get over being intimidated by what you think others will think - the more fun you have. The more fun you have, the more people around you have fun. It is infectious and dancing is one of the best ways to spread the infection. eeewww....

But - it is not a requirement to be a bass player. Your teach was full of it.

[canopener]

I'm not sure if I can dance or not, but I don't.

[Precious]

Silly teacher! Everyone can dance INTERPRETIVELY! Precious dances like Dr Evil.

[steve21]

I dance at armenian weddings/birthdays and i do decently at the bump&grind deal type thing... I guess... and I'm okay at the slow dancing stuff.

But I suck at bass. ***.