Things only WE notice

[dougjwray]

If you've ever spent time in a cover band, have you been amazed by how many times people -- even bandmates -- compliment you on something you've played, as though it was your idea, when actually it's a hugely conspicuous element of the original bassist's part?
One example: the tritone lick in the verses of Robert Palmer's "Doctor Doctor." When I recorded a demo version of that, the engineer said, "I really like what you're throwing in there!" Me: "It's in the original... I didn't come up with it." Him: "Huh. I never noticed it. Huh."

Okay, this post is a lot about nothing. But this phenomenon always reminds me of how much bass playing goes unnoticed, even by fellow musicians.

[plankspanker13]

Amen.

Preach on, brotha!

[Richland123]

Originally Posted by dougjwray

If you've ever spent time in a cover band, have you been amazed by how many times people -- even bandmates -- compliment you on something you've played, as though it was your idea, when actually it's a hugely conspicuous element of the original bassist's part?
One example: the tritone lick in the verses of Robert Palmer's "Doctor Doctor." When I recorded a demo version of that, the engineer said, "I really like what you're throwing in there!" Me: "It's in the original... I didn't come up with it." Him: "Huh. I never noticed it. Huh."

Okay, this post is a lot about nothing. But this phenomenon always reminds me of how much bass playing goes unnoticed, even by fellow musicians.

While the Robert Palmer cover version of Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) has that bass part in it, the original version by Moon Martin does not.

MOON MARTIN: BAD CASE LOVING YOU - YouTube

[Bochafish]

Our college band had been playing our most popular song every gig for a year before we recorded it. While our band was sitting listening to the final mix, our singer turns to me and says, "Wow, I never realized how much you are doing for the song." Best compliment you can receive imo. But he never noticed over a year of playing the tune...

[Trooper1911]

My cover band's setlist includes Trooper by IM. So on one practice, while i was explaining the singer when exactly to jump in, i played gallop. And lead guitarist was like 'Wow, i never really heard that bass sounds so good in this song'

[DerTeufel]

I have something that is completely opposite of what you guys are talking about. One of the songs on my band's set list is "Hide your love away". During the chorus, after the initial walk-up, there's a bit where the chorus hangs on "away" and the bass goes back and forth from D to A. The drummer (who really is a fantastic drummer) doesn't like it when I do that, even though I told him that it's like that on the original track.

[Hankenstein]

Mostly playing bass is likely being an offensive lineman in football.
People only notice you when you mess up.

[tangentmusic]

Things only WE notice:

"Squier" on the headstock

[Turock]

Originally Posted by tangentmusic

Things only WE notice:

"Squier" on the headstock

I don't know about that; seems a lot of us notice it as Squire.

[tangentmusic]

Originally Posted by Turock

I don't know about that; seems a lot of us notice it as Squire.

Or at least spell it that way!

[Beersurgeon]

I have to admit that I didn't really hear the bass line of most songs until I became a bassist myself. Best part though, I feel that I have been listening to only half of music prior to this and so now I feel that I get to hear songs for the first time. My mom listen to Motown as I grew up and now when I listen to Motown, I hear such beautiful music!!!

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by Bochafish

Our college band had been playing our most popular song every gig for a year before we recorded it. While our band was sitting listening to the final mix, our singer turns to me and says, "Wow, I never realized how much you are doing for the song." Best compliment you can receive imo. But he never noticed over a year of playing the tune...

I've heard the same thing even recently... and we've been together for 4 years... and we're a trio.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by Turock

I don't know about that; seems a lot of us notice it as Squire.

LOL!! +1

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by Beersurgeon

I have to admit that I didn't really hear the bass line of most songs until I became a bassist myself. Best part though, I feel that I have been listening to only half of music prior to this and so now I feel that I get to hear songs for the first time. My mom listen to Motown as I grew up and now when I listen to Motown, I hear such beautiful music!!!

I understand what you're saying. I started playing guitar in 1963 at age 13. Now, when I need to learn a new old tune it's like listening to it for the first time. I usually say, "I've played it before, or heard it, but never knew what the bass line was." I wasn't a full-time bass player in a band (outside of playing upright in a philharmonic) until 1988.

[Wyatt]

Originally Posted by Beersurgeon

I have to admit that I didn't really hear the bass line of most songs until I became a bassist myself. Best part though, I feel that I have been listening to only half of music prior to this and so now I feel that I get to hear songs for the first time. My mom listen to Motown as I grew up and now when I listen to Motown, I hear such beautiful music!!!

I'm the same way as well. I always listened to the songs in what I have always called "vocally". Songs I have listened to for years, I have to go back and listen to then in a different way now.

[Nugun]

Originally Posted by Hankenstein

Mostly playing bass is likely being an offensive lineman in football.
People only notice you when you mess up.

THIS!!!!! THIS SO HARD. When I played ball in high school (this past season was my last as I'm graduating) us linemen had a saying that I think transfers to bass fairly easily.

All blame, no fame.

[cvsurg]

Originally Posted by Hankenstein

Mostly playing bass is likely being an offensive lineman in football.
People only notice you when you mess up.

Seems to be a consistent theme in my life- I played center in football, catcher in baseball, goalie in soccer (once); and of course, I play the bass. While there's no glory, you and those that really understand know that if you don't do your job, it all falls apart.

[Nugun]

Man how many linemen/former linemen are here on TB anyway? We should make a club or something.

[Bochafish]

Ha, I played OLB/CB. Similar on defense being a corner. Shut your guy down, and you did your job. Get beat deep, you are the goat.

[droo46]

I played Center.