Why don't people notice bass guitar?

[Skel]

IMHO, the average music listener doesn't hear the bass guitar. They are focused on the singing and then in 2nd place is the lead guitar (yea I know, it could be a sax or whatever).

But why? Is it something to do with the nature of the instrument's octave range and the human ear?

I ask this because when I really got serious about bass guitar a few years ago, it's like every song I ever heard was new because I would zero right into the bass line...and be simply amazed at what I had been missing.

[peaveyuser]

It's true as bassist I can't understand how people can not hear it, I hear it all the time. I mean to us it must be pretty obvious, I actually can't comprehend how you can't hear it in some cases

[El Barbero]

In the main it's to do with the frequency range of the instrument and these frequencies being outside the main hearing zone of the human ear.

But they soon miss it if you turn your sound off.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by El Barbero

In the main it's to do with the frequency range of the instrument and these frequencies being outside the main hearing zone of the human ear.

But they soon miss it if you turn your sound off.

Ok so it is a phyisical scientific phenomenon. Didn't know that. And sure - I know exactly what you mean about what happens when the bass is all the sudden gone. Huge bummer for even the average listener. The solution then obviously being that the bassist wears a t-shirt that says "It's me that quit playing" on the back, gets into a deep groove, stops playing, turns around and stands there for 10 seconds.

Then the chicks just flock to you like they should.

[David Lansen]

How many average music listeners / non-piano players notice what a pianist is doing with their left hand? People don't notice the bass when it's played in the role of accompaniment, which is like, most of the time.

[El Barbero]

Originally Posted by Skel

Ok so it is a phyisical scientific phenomenon. Didn't know that. And sure - I know exactly what you mean about what happens when the bass is all the sudden gone. Huge bummer for even the average listener. The solution then obviously being that the bassist wears a t-shirt that says "It's me that quit playing" on the back, gets into a deep groove, stops playing, turns around and stands there for 10 seconds.

Then the chicks just flock to you like they should.

Keerrrrching!!!!!

[mike phillips]

i reckon i was born to play bass. as a child i remember hearin roger glovers bass line in smoke on the water wonderin what that awesome sound of thunder was. then i found out it was a bass guitar, but not just any bass guitar but a ric. i was 9 at the time. for some reason i have always been able to zero in on the bass line. i even like when a geetardist plays on the low e string. now my wife and young un cant hear a bass line in a song even when you play it for em before hand.

[BassChuck]

If you think people don't notice.... just stop playing mid song and see what happens. Its all a part of the mix and people who are not musicians don't know how to listen and know what all the parts are doing.

But then, I'm not a football player (American football that is) and when I watch games I don't notice what the corner backs are doing.... I just keep my eye on the ball.... and thats pretty much like a non-musician only noticing the lyrics

[Xed32]

Originally Posted by mike phillips

i reckon i was born to play bass. as a child i remember hearin roger glovers bass line in smoke on the water wonderin what that awesome sound of thunder was. then i found out it was a bass guitar, but not just any bass guitar but a ric. i was 9 at the time. for some reason i have always been able to zero in on the bass line. i even like when a geetardist plays on the low e string. now my wife and young un cant hear a bass line in a song even when you play it for em before hand.

+1. I always remember hearing the basslines of songs, even before I took up bass. In fact, thats why I quit piano at 12 to take up bass. Alot of times I dont even hear the singing, just the bassline.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

If you think people don't notice.... just stop playing mid song and see what happens. Its all a part of the mix and people who are not musicians don't know how to listen and know what all the parts are doing.

But then, I'm not a football player (American football that is) and when I watch games I don't notice what the corner backs are doing.... I just keep my eye on the ball.... and thats pretty much like a non-musician only noticing the lyrics

Yea we pretty much discussed your point earlier. But I really like the football analogy because I noticed recently that I really like sportscasters like *that one guy that won't fly on Monday Night Football" because he'll really emphasize a play that was great because of what the left tackle did.

[absolutezero]

Originally Posted by Skel

Ok so it is a phyisical scientific phenomenon. Didn't know that. And sure - I know exactly what you mean about what happens when the bass is all the sudden gone. Huge bummer for even the average listener. The solution then obviously being that the bassist wears a t-shirt that says "It's me that quit playing" on the back, gets into a deep groove, stops playing, turns around and stands there for 10 seconds.

Lol, that's ingenious . Something that might actually work for bass upliftment

[ryan06]

People hear the bass without noticing, mistaking it for the bass drum or even the guitar

[sarcastro83]

because we as bassists, walk with an air of quiet dignity, not unlike Atticus Finch. We're not ego-maniacal like singers, show-boaty like guitar players or charmingly-retarded like drummers...

At least that's what another bass player told me once...

[Skel]

Originally Posted by sarcastro83

because we as bassists, walk with an air of quiet dignity, not unlike Atticus Finch. We're not ego-maniacal like singers, show-boaty like guitar players or charmingly-retarded like drummers...

At least that's what another bass player told me once...

LOL! The drummer description...I'm relating way to well.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Skel

IMHO, the average music listener doesn't hear the bass guitar.

I think they do. No one really notices me playing at gigs but if I stop for a couple notes, you can see people with a "huh" look on their face. They don't really know what's missing, but they know it isn't the same.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by SteveC

I think they do. No one really notices me playing at gigs but if I stop for a couple notes, you can see people with a "huh" look on their face. They don't really know what's missing, but they know it isn't the same.

True. I think I meant that they don't "listen" to it.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by sarcastro83

because we as bassists, walk with an air of quiet dignity, not unlike Atticus Finch. We're not ego-maniacal like singers, show-boaty like guitar players or charmingly-retarded like drummers...

At least that's what another bass player told me once...

"Sarcastro- fighting crime with the bitter sting of sarcasm..."

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by sarcastro83

because we as bassists, walk with an air of quiet dignity, not unlike Atticus Finch. We're not ego-maniacal like singers, show-boaty like guitar players or charmingly-retarded like drummers...

At least that's what another bass player told me once...

I couldn't agree more!

[DeanT]

Because, traditionally, the bass was meant to hold down the bottom end and remain in the background. There was nothing flashy about it. It just blended into the music and grooved. Of course that's changed somewhat with soloists and such as we have nowadays.

[morf]

People hear the bass, thats just not what they listen for. Take someone's favorite song and take out the bass, have them listen to it, they wont like it as much. That my friend, is our super power