Thanking a guitarist!

tom_vass · #1 06-10-2007, 05:28 AM

Never in my life have i experienced arrogance towards bass from anyone. While reading threads here I was amazed with some of the stuff that came up.

Recently a friend of mine who started playing guitar a year or two after I started bass asked me to go to open stage night at a local bar, and from the way he spoke about himself i thaught why not. We do a set of a couple of acoustic songs, i was just there to fill when necessary. During this whole set his timing was horrible and he doesnt have the ear to follow the bass so i was constantly chasing him and shouting across the stage.

A few days after my friend tells me that hes angry we didnt win the open stage night. I told him I was considering taking my band next week and playing a few of our originals.
Thats when it all went ugly.
He starts complaining that he wont win if i come with a full band and that the only reason i wont go up alone is because bass sounds horrible alone and I'm not good enough to pull it off. I just stared shocked and told him "think what you want".

I would never attack this friend of mine about his playing, hes far too sensitive. To a certain exctent he was right...I'm not what you would call an amazing player, but i keep time and do what i need to do with my band and they all appreciate it.

A week or 2 ago my other friends start telling me he has been saying that he can do whatever i can on bass and for some reason this really got to me.

For the past week I've been practicing intensly, as I also study theory and have a good knowledge of what notes sound good where i could concentrate on some things that really never bothered me, slapping tapping etc.

I've picked them up quite fast and my playing has improved a lot. This is why i wrote this thread because its not in me to complain.

I want us all to thank these guitarist who insult us and use their insults as fuel to encourage us to improve ourselves as players!

(to top it off i met the guy who manages open stage night, he told me how he pitied me to be on stage with my friend and asked me to join his band).

Sorry about the long post...and excuse any spelling, its early morning hehehe!

T-Bird · #2 06-10-2007, 07:11 AM

Hi.

Well said, and IMO that story applies to a lot of self taught musicians regardless of the instrument.

Why is the timing so overlooked in the practicing process? Granted, it's easy to play by yourself and not worry about the timing, but if one plays with someone else, or god forbid with a band, the result is horrible to say at least.

The worst part is that those players/singers whose timing is way off, don't realise it themselves and if someone mentions about that, all hell breaks loose.

I've found a solution to that problem in music, and it's multitrack recording. That reveals everything in a sec, and leaves no room for ifs and buts. It's radical for sure, but saves a lot of grief in the long run.

FWIW, in my opinion, Your approach to any criticism (inprovement) is the only correct way to deal with it. I've been criticised and I have criticised on numerous occasions and the outcome hasn't always been constructive.

Just my 0.02€
Sam

tony909 · #3 06-10-2007, 08:49 AM

i can defianately see where your coming from.

a guitarist saying "bass is so easy." just makes you want to learn something that would really make that guitarists jaw drop and most of the time it does make you go out and learn that piece. so i agree, guitarists insults are a good way of pushing us into achieving the best we can.

though i would like to have met the first guitarist to say bass is easy and give them a good thump on the head

Muusers · #4 06-10-2007, 09:00 AM

whenever someone says to me he can play bass as good as i, i challenge him/her. i play a real easy slap lick. then they play it and they'll have all the strings ringing. then i laugh and walk away

Higgie · #5 06-10-2007, 09:33 AM

I've never really had them "bass is easy" comments from anyone I respected, so I tend to ignore them

tom_vass · #6 06-10-2007, 10:23 AM

In actual fact, I instantly lose respect for those who tell me bass is easy now!

seanm · #7 06-10-2007, 11:23 AM

I never respond to "bass is easy" comments. It is either being said to upset you (as in the OPs case) or it is said in ignorance. Either way, arguing is not going to help.

rap138 · #8 06-12-2007, 04:09 AM

I'd just say, yeah, it is easy. and get on with my life as happy as ever.

Lazylion · #9 06-12-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgie

I've never really had them "bass is easy" comments from anyone I respected, so I tend to ignore them

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom_vass

In actual fact, I instantly lose respect for those who tell me bass is easy now!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rap138

I'd just say, yeah, it is easy. and get on with my life as happy as ever.

If the person saying it has just watched you play, take it as a compliment. You've made it LOOK easy!

tom_vass · #10 06-12-2007, 08:26 AM

That must be the problem...Ill have to squirm and break a sweat next time I play to make it seem more demanding to me!

If im feeling really cocky ill ask for CPR from the local cowgirl waitress!

mikebass188 · #11 06-12-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom_vass

I want us all to thank these guitarist who insult us and use their insults as fuel to encourage us to improve ourselves as players!

Tis a good feeling when the tell us we "just play bass". Then just go out there are shred (the good kind) their face off : ]

tom_vass · #12 06-12-2007, 10:04 AM

As I'm no good at shredding...I'd only get "the bad kind"

but the look on the face of a guitarist who doesnt know the world beyong chords and covers is great when you hand him a bass.

SpecialG · #13 06-12-2007, 10:07 AM

I remember when a friend got me to first pick up the bass (since it's so easy). The last time I went to his place to jam, he was still having trouble with fret buzz (he has about as much control over his fingers as a tweaker with cerebral palsy).

I honestly just let the comments go right over me. Well, I don't even really get comments anymore, because whenever I get done playing, my friends' remarks usually are something like "Hmm, maybe I should practice more."

It might be the fact where I just go on my bass for hours and hours a day, just for fun, and they see their guitars as some drudgery they have to master.

tom_vass · #14 06-12-2007, 10:39 AM

I'm in a very good band situation where there are two guitarists who appreciate bass, and give me my moments of the spotlight too.

But the specific person i was talking about is a self thaught (and in his head) natural talent. I just smile when hes strumming away at hotel california and suddenly one of the bars only lasts 3 beats instead of 4.