so I had an audition tonight..,

funkybass · #1 01-22-2011, 10:11 PM

For a local rock band. It was going good, and then we took a break. The lead guitar player went on to tell me most bassist are frustrated guitarist who couldn't cut it on guitar. He also said he could out play most bassist on bass. I asked if he wanted to switch spots after break, and he declined.(good thing, i don't play guitar) I got the gig, but declined. Couldn't stand to play with an egotistical guitard. I did have a good laugh though.

Stumbo · #2 01-22-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybass

Couldn't stand to play with an egotistical guitard.

Who also has no social skills.

SMILEYSIXX · #3 01-22-2011, 10:15 PM

That's not lack of social skills, that's lack of common courtesy. I've seen guitarists who believed that, but they weren't that vocal about it.

ashtray · #4 01-22-2011, 10:23 PM

I wonder why we can't find a bass player for our band? I make sure to take the time to personally insult their abilities and downplay their importance in the band. Weird.

EagleMoon · #5 01-23-2011, 01:41 PM

Hard to believe he'd actually say that to you. It's like you telling him that all guitarists are just frustrated bassists and that you could outplay him any day. Bizarre.

Jim Powers · #6 01-23-2011, 05:14 PM

Great call!! You absolutely did the right thing, this guy's behavior would only get worse with time. What a favor he did by showing his true colors early on.

As bassists, its our responsibility to weed out these types and give them no shelter.

James Judson · #7 01-23-2011, 05:23 PM

Good news!!!!! Not all guitards are that stupid.

Frankjohnson · #8 01-23-2011, 06:11 PM

I hear these kinds of stories, and can't help but shake my head.

Like minded people - just don't seem to have these issues. I hope that the next one turns out better for you.

MonkeyBass · #9 01-23-2011, 06:17 PM

I think the term "guitard" is immature... but in this case it applies. Good call.

OleJohnnyMac · #10 01-23-2011, 06:19 PM

I've come to expect weirdness and/or egotism from singers and lead guitarists. If they were modest and psychologically well-adjusted, they'd probably be bass players.

dancedad5678 · #11 01-23-2011, 06:33 PM

same thing happened to me one time as we were doing a sound check before a gig I was subbing - others in the group, who knew me, looked at me when he said it but I didn't respond. After sound check, the sound guy wanted to check the acoustic guitar again and asked me to pick it up since I was still on stage, he knew me

So I picked up the guitarist guitar proceeded to play it and do a sound check with a song in his mike better than he did, sound guy said great, I set it back down and he didn't talk to me the rest of the night - oops

pnut166 · #12 01-23-2011, 06:34 PM

I am working with a really good guitarist right now. He totally understands that just because he`s used to six strings and is more fleet - fingered, he is not somehow better than me. He knows musicianship is more mental, and that as a guitarist, he just doesn`t think like a bassist. He completely trusts me to handle the bass duties and professes his ignorance in the four - string dept. He`s actually a decent bassist, ironically.

DavidE · #13 01-23-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybass

For a local rock band. It was going good, and then we took a break. The lead guitar player went on to tell me most bassist are frustrated guitarist who couldn't cut it on guitar. He also said he could out play most bassist on bass. I asked if he wanted to switch spots after break, and he declined.(good thing, i don't play guitar) I got the gig, but declined. Couldn't stand to play with an egotistical guitard. I did have a good laugh though.

Asshat who obviously does not understand bass. And yes, I'm a guitard.

NWB · #14 01-24-2011, 05:45 PM

I've met this sort of character before. Except in my case he did switch to prove his superior bass skills.

After much agonizing noise, he hands the bass back to me while beaming at his triumphant accomplishment.

I just smiled and left. Obviously, there would have been no point in further discussion. He didn't get it and likely never will.

father of fires · #15 01-25-2011, 10:07 AM

I played in a crazy metal band that had these insane runs that I couldn't play. I had the guitarist convinced they can't be played on bass. All was well until one day after a break I came back to see him playing his guitar parts note for note on the bass. The jig was up. I had to admit I just couldn't play them.

Fortunately, he liked my parts better. They had more syncopation.

My name is Mudd · #16 01-25-2011, 11:04 AM

My first reaction is that the guitard* isn't too confident of his own 'skills' and has to hate on anyone else who do seem comfortable with their skills.

*if ever there was a time to use this derogatory term, this is it...

ezstep · #17 01-25-2011, 10:08 PM

I went to watch a friend of mine on bass. Good friend of mine - with a new band. Same story. Guitarist was talking smack, but no one took the bait.

Someone requested a song, and the bassist asked the guitarist if they could swap positions and instruments for one song. He agreed. So, guitarist played bass while bassist played guitar. The bassist played/sang Michael Sembello's "Maniac" playing the keyboard parts (no keys in that band) and the guitar lead.

Nailed it, too. Fortunately, the second guitarist remembered the song and kept the guy playing bass going in the right direction.

No more pissing contest after that. He had no idea that the guy could play guitar... better than he could.

I know it's wrong to take the bait, but it was hilarious.

prd004 · #18 01-25-2011, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybass

For a local rock band. It was going good, and then we took a break. The lead guitar player went on to tell me most bassist are frustrated guitarist who couldn't cut it on guitar. He also said he could out play most bassist on bass. I asked if he wanted to switch spots after break, and he declined.(good thing, i don't play guitar) I got the gig, but declined. Couldn't stand to play with an egotistical guitard. I did have a good laugh though.

I think there's something too this. Here on TB, we are all bass players who are dedicated to the bass and we love it. Being the bass player, we don't see a lot of what other bands/acts go through to find a good bass player, we are a small minority! I've been in a band or two where I wasn't the bassist, and let me tell you it's HARD to find a good one!

There are indeed a bunch of failed guitarists-turned-bad bassists out there! Perhaps this guy was trying to pay you a compliment, in an awkward way!

Every time my band goes through the audition phase, the no-talent lame players that show up baffle me!!!!!

Joe Nerve · #19 01-25-2011, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

Perhaps this guy was trying to pay you a compliment, in an awkward way!

This makes the most sense to me.

But I'll always argue the fact that bass is in fact easier than guitar. Not that I wanna start this flame war again, but I think it's just pride and ego that keeps most bassists from admitting this. It is infinitely easier for someone to make sounds that are musical and be able to perform in a band and be successful (and excel) on bass, than it is on guitar. And yes, there are billions of bassists that can play bass with more groove, feel, and chops than the majority of guitarists - because it's their instrument, that's what they do, and they've put years into the feel of the bass. Yet, if you had to pick up an instrument for the very first time and perform an 8 song set in one weeks time, your job would be 1000X easier on bass than it would on guitar. There is no arguing that. I mean ya can, but you'd be wrong.

Jim Campbell · #20 01-25-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybass

For a local rock band. It was going good, and then we took a break. The lead guitar player went on to tell me most bassist are frustrated guitarist who couldn't cut it on guitar. He also said he could out play most bassist on bass. I asked if he wanted to switch spots after break, and he declined.(good thing, i don't play guitar) I got the gig, but declined. Couldn't stand to play with an egotistical guitard. I did have a good laugh though.

a'course he could have been joking too....guys in bands often joke to each other like that so much they forget the new guy isn't in on the gag....iirc the banter was constant with the guys i played with.....sometimes i think folks are just too thin skinned.....every band is not going to be a perfect situation.....it's like that at gm too....some of the guys in the break room will be ok,and some not so much.....