Strangest debate EVER

[DrSmaggs]

So. I was reminded of this very true event that happened to me some time ago.

I figured I'd share it and see if anyone else has ever run into something similar.

I guess the appropriate setup for the story is to keep in mind that the person I'm having the upcoming debate with used to play bass, yet knows nothing about where notes are or how tunings work.

Anyway... I was playing a four string bass and to appropriately match the guitar melody, I was playing the 10th fret of my E string, which would bring me to a D.

After doing this for months, I get a phone call from the singer I was jamming with. I was asked to play a lower D and not to play that high of a note in that spot.

Believe me, I spent a long time trying to explain that there is no lower D note without detuning the bottom string. I also tried to explain where notes are on a fretboard on each string and that only a detuned bass or a five string could reach the note and octave he wanted. (I was also not allowed to play a five string bass in the band) The phone call escalated to me getting screamed at to the point where I couldn't even hear the person on the phone with me clearly. I remember standing there, holding the phone away from my ear... hoping some sense might kick in at how silly this argument really is. I even explained that I picked the 10th position on my E string, because I liked the bottom of that area, rather than using the A or D string for the same note, but you all know how that goes!

I stood my ground, only because I can prove my point and was promptly "fired" from the band for being "an idiot". Imagine that.

Funnily enough, the person who did this to me was a singer. That's it. It's always a singer or someone who never plays a pitched instrument or if they have, they have little to no actual experience with any sort of theory and don't even know the minor scale.

Has anyone else ever run into someone so stubborn that clearly doesn't know what's up?

I'm a firm believer that my cup is never full and I'm always looking for new ways to do things, not just musically, but in life as well.

I hope my silly story has made at least one person smile

[Basshappi]

You're better off without them.
Not "allowed" to play 5 string?! I wouldn't waste my time with such fools.

[DrSmaggs]

I know... but some people are "purists" and/or lack basic education... also some people's cups are just full.

Now that I've had a long time to process this situation, I wonder if that particular fellow just didn't like me and really did know what I was talking about.

I never got that kind of flak from the other guys, just the lead singer.

Lead Singer Disease!

I have to say, my current lead singer has skills and doesn't pick at pointless stuff. We all get along awesomely!

[phatbass]

When an idiot fires you, he/she is doing you a favour...

[DrSmaggs]

I thought the same thing. I literally never looked back or even tried to justify the situation. I just thought sharing my old story might bring out a good laugh to any readers

Words of wisdom, though! LOL

[Darkstrike]

Should have said "sure thing, no problem" then at next session air fret where the D would be at the third fret, if the bass was a fiver, and of course air pluck the B string.....

[drunkenrobot]

Wow, that's ridiculous. I have to agree with him that low D's tend to sound better (IMO) than the octave higher, when playing in a band anyway. Having a low D is the only reason that I would consider having a 5 string or detuner. Not letting you play a 5 string is ludicrous though. Sounds like he was a little jealous that you know more about the instrument that he used to "play".

[sandmangeck]

i had a similar situation, except the guy that had the problem was our opener. we were playing dead or alive by bon jovi. the intro is a d for the bass. i had a 5er at the time, and really liked the way the d sounded on the b string. so did our band. when i started in with the duh duh duh. duh duh duh, the opener walks up to the stage and is like "it's a d, play the d!" and i smiled at him, and said i was playing the d. and he was like no here. and i kid you not, i plucked the string, while he played the d on the a string. someone took pictures. it was so awesome, the crowd thought that it was a gimmick of sorts. the opener never got the call back.

[dave64o]

So there are two possibilities here:
1) He really is that big an idiot that he didn't know what you were talking about
or
2) He really is that big a jackass to pretend to get into that kind of argument over ONE NOTE in ONE SONG and claim that's the reason for firing you.

Either way, that kind of behavior will eventually catch up with him. At least I sure hope so. Just for kicks, where is this idiot now? What kind of band situation is he in? What happened to the rest of the band members? Etc?

Wouldn't you have loved to have been in the room when he got into the same argument with the new bass player!

[wickedmrrogers]

haha ive had some experiences with people like that. A few years ago i was playing in 2 bands, both very different styles (one was a pop rock group with a female singer/songwriter/piano player and the other was an experimental/indie band) and both very different levels of professionalism (the chick singer had a pro cd + manager and shows booked, the indie band was constantly changing drummers + no singer, no shows etc). The chicks band would have regularly scheduled rehearsals at a professional studio/practice space and i would leave my amp there a lot of times to make life easier on myself. One day the lead guitarist of the indie band called me up spur of the moment to try and get a practice together. I explained that I didnt have my gear because i left it in the studio the day before and would rather get together when i could have all my equipment and a proper sound instead of basically being another guitar competing for space (there were 2 guitars in the band playing leads) playing out of a guitar amp with no low end.
He chewed me out and called me "a dime-a-dozen, sellout, MTV wanna be, bass player"

[ausf]

I guess I met a budding singer yesterday. About 6 years old. Very loud.

I was getting ice cream with the wife and kids, I walked up to the table and my youngest asked if what I had was Pistachio. Before I could answer, this kid, from 3 tables away starting yelling..'Mustachio, that dude called him Mustachio! How stupid is that! What a jerk! How dumb could you be, Mustachio!"

There was no breath taken, just this shrill onslaught. We all burst out laughing. His parents didn't say a thing, didn't correct him, didn't seem to care.

I should have asked for his name, that he'd be a true talent in 12 years.

As far as your ex-band, sounds about the same as when my wife and I fight. It's rarely about what we are fighting about, it's pent up grievances. Besides, no one is entitled to tell you how or what instrument to play. Best to move on.

[GtenderG]

If it were me I would have just showed up with the 5er and if then even noticed I would have told them 'my other bass is in the shop - do you want to play or not?'.
Beyond that, I don't let anyone yell at me. (Maybe my wife once in a blue moon). That means people I work with/for or people I play music with. You need to nip that S*** in the bud when it happens or else folks think that its acceptable to you. You let them know in a civil tone (that makes their behavior stand out). As for your former band your better off without them.

Go find another gig and have fun!

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Should have said "sure thing, no problem" then at next session air fret where the D would be at the third fret, if the bass was a fiver, and of course air pluck the B string...

I was thinking at the next gig or rehearsal play the D at the 5th fret on the A string, and I'll bet $100 the singer would have said "Yeah, that's much better"

[Yakob]

Sounds less like "lead singer" syndrome and more like "ignorance". You'll find people like this no matter what instrument they play.

[wake & Bass]

Yeah, I got a stupid one. I got 'let go' because I played my bass to high (on the strap). Yep.
Actually, I play my bass in a somewhat 'normal' mid way position, but they wanted me to 'sling it real low and play with a pick!' (ala Ben Sheppard or Duff). I said well....I just don't play like that, and play in a position that I am comfortable with. I'll play with a pick, but I'm not playing real low. They didn't like that answer....oh well. (It all stemmed from the guitar players girlfriend and how SHE wanted some sort of image thing.) I just took it as they were trying to weed me out. Sure enough, they let me and the drummer go. Silly situation and the band wasn't all that, and never went anywhere. I laugh about it now

[blendermassacre]

If I was you, I would have opted for playing open on the 3rd string, so you weren't playing so high up, surely this would have confused him into thinking that you weren't playing such a high note. Also, as a matter of clarification, why in the hell would you want to play for a band who truly gave a **** about what bass you were or were not playing, as long as it gets the job done?

[AltGrendel]

I'll bet he wouldn't have the nerve to yell like that to your face.

What an Idiot.

[Spinal Tapper]

eh, if you got fired over that, they were probably looking for a way to put you out anyways...I've been there

Count your blessings and move on - they did you a favor

[DrSmaggs]

Yeah, I definitely wasn't offended. I already had other plans that were stable.

It's pretty amazing that you can get corrected for strap height, what position you play a note on or even how many strings your instrument has.

Perhaps there are just too many control freaks out there.

[caeman]

I imagined this conversation in my head and it made me chuckle, mostly at the ignorance of the singer for not getting it, for not understand that your E-tuned string cannot play a D, no matter how one wishes it.