A guitarist that gets it

PaulMacCnj · #1 12-04-2010, 01:43 PM

At last night's jam with the guys, I asked to play the first few songs on guitar instead of bass (what I usually play). The guy that usually plays rhythm guitar, took over the role of bassist. After about a 1/2 hour, he blurts out, "Playing bass is hard! There's a lot of responsibility to keeping the song going. On guitar, I can be lazy when I want to!" He also said, "My fingers are killing me." With that, I took over playing bass for the rest of the jam session.

It was good to hear someone that plays guitar finally admit that bass playing isn't easy.

mowburger · #2 12-04-2010, 01:48 PM

nice, about time huh? good to have others realize that even with 4 strings we bassists have our hands full!

kcole4001 · #3 12-04-2010, 03:30 PM

I suppose, especially in a 2 guitar band, that they can lay back to a certain extent, while we don't really get that opportunity. We have to be pumpin' the whole way through every song, all night.

My band's guitarist has a very good appreciation of what it takes to play bass, and what it means to the band as a whole.
My previous band's guitarist always said that bass is a very powerful instrument, meaning I suppose that you have the power to drive the band and lead it in subtle ways, and that the groove makes or breaks a song.

It's very nice to play with guys who 'get it'.
They're real musicians, not just players.

audiomitch · #4 12-05-2010, 03:50 PM

Bass - easiest to fake, the hardest to master.

Mayers · #5 12-05-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomitch

Bass - easiest to fake, the hardest to master.

Hahaha I like that one !

puddin tame · #6 12-05-2010, 04:25 PM

I read this thread before a jam last night with my guitarist buddy. Got me noticing how much he would just stop playing, such a luxury!

touji · #7 12-05-2010, 04:28 PM

I get it too, I swear! I stopped playing bass a couple of years ago to pursue guitar because I hit that hump on bass. I just wasn't getting any better and I was just stuck. Frustrated, I became a guitar player and I have no problem calling myself a guitar player now. But I'm a bassist at heart and I'm BACK!! But I get it, because I still suck

xxfaux_punkxx · #8 12-05-2010, 05:31 PM

my guitarist was playing my p-bass at a jam session (I wasn't there but I leave my pbass with my rig because I only have 1 gig bag). Anyway I found out he'd been playing it because the strap was on backwards (I asked and he addmitted to playing it)... Shows how little a guitard knows about bass playing lol.

Sartori · #9 12-07-2010, 04:24 AM

My guitarist is very appreciative of my bass lines.

Bassman7PM · #10 12-07-2010, 04:31 AM

During a production rehearsal this past weekend for a play (Scrooge The Musical) the director yells out to the band pit, "I only want to hear the bass during the next few scenes, no keyboard or guitars just bass."

GtenderG · #11 12-08-2010, 08:41 AM

Ha, the best I can get from my guitarist is to say that he wouldn't want any bassist other than me for any project..

Probably more for my pro attitude than pro-chops....

I am a goaltender (ice hockey) and that position has the same rep as bass playing.... People think it's the easiest postion and that I must be a frustrated center (I was good center once). But, like (the bass player) if the goalie doesn't show or has a bad day no one has any fun....

Sartori · #12 12-08-2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GtenderG

Ha, the best I can get from my guitarist is to say that he wouldn't want any bassist other than me for any project..

Probably more for my pro attitude than pro-chops....

I am a goaltender (ice hockey) and that position has the same rep as bass playing.... People think it's the easiest postion and that I must be a frustrated center (I was good center once). But, like (the bass player) if the goalie doesn't show or has a bad day no one has any fun....

+1

If the goalie doesn't show up, things get very difficult very fast.

But yeah, I'm not the best player technically. I'm not very fast, my technique can be a little sloppy at times. But I do put a lot of effort into thinking up bass lines that add to the song, and into arranging and such, and I think that's what my guitarist really appreciates.

Johnny Crab · #13 12-08-2010, 06:55 PM

Congrats PaulMacCnj !

In a 3 piece bass is CRITICAL.
In a 4 piece, little difference.
If your drummer has timing issues, it can be a chore playing "anchor bass" where one has to slow down an off-to-the-races song or nudge the tempo in a song that has become a funeral march....
Still wouldn't have it any other way.

Pollinator95 · #14 01-02-2011, 11:59 AM

My guitarists know the importance of bass, specially since I stopped playing in the middle of a song (rehearsing, of course).

Samsound · #15 01-02-2011, 12:03 PM

I thought this was going to be a video of someone getting punched in the face...on to the Chicks at Shows thread...

mussla · #16 01-02-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulMacCnj

[..]It was good to hear someone that plays guitar finally admit that bass playing isn't easy.

I have to try this with my keys player sometime. I have heard the current keys player in my band and another keys players on different occasions say: "bass has to be the easiest instrument to play".

I guess they think so since they can "do it with their left hand" ....

ksandvik · #17 01-02-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mussla

I have to try this with my keys player sometime. I have heard the current keys player in my band and another keys players on different occasions say: "bass has to be the easiest instrument to play".

I guess they think so since they can "do it with their left hand" ....

Give them your bass and say: "OK, you try it now." Keyboard players easily think they could take over the whole band, that's how many of them also play.

fretlessman71 · #18 01-02-2011, 01:35 PM

See, I get the guilts sometimes... I recognize that for all of my responsibilities as a bassist, it's still "one note at a time", and that I wonder if my pianist feels cheated that she has to split the check with me when we play duo gigs. Thankfully, she doesn't feel that way at all, and would rather not take a gig than find a sub if I couldn't make it.

mussla · #19 01-02-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksandvik

Give them your bass and say: "OK, you try it now." Keyboard players easily think they could take over the whole band, that's how many of them also play.

The current keys player in my band is ok now but he did all the usual stuff in the beginning. One time he even asked me to play something one octave higher so that I wouldn't interfere with his playing...

Anyway, should he pull the 'bass is easy' again I'll be sure to hand over my bass to him

Krispy · #20 01-03-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mussla

The current keys player in my band is ok now but he did all the usual stuff in the beginning. One time he even asked me to play something one octave higher so that I wouldn't interfere with his playing...

Anyway, should he pull the 'bass is easy' again I'll be sure to hand over my bass to him

You could also politely ask him to "stay off your sonic property and do something else more productive with his left hand"