When Other Bassists Do Cool Stuff

[chaosMK]

These days when other bassists in my scene bust out cool stuff- like say, using a distortion pedal in a way I didnt think of, or more tastefully than I would, or switch up their tone so it sounds really awesome (or similar to mine), I get kind of mad.

Anyone else suffer from this?

[Phalex]

Mad? No.

I saw a band a few weeks back who's bass player uses a Geddy Jazz. I've heard plenty about them, but never actually heard one in action. The tone that he got out of that thing was incredibly thick and beefy. It had a lot more low end than I would have figured. Then they did a couple of tunes that were rather funky, and the slap tone outta that thing was awesome too! I appreciated it very much.

The bassist of another band around town has a style very similar to mine. I really like to see him play, because everything he does makes perfect sense to me. He's actually said the same thing about seeing me play too. When I die I hope my band can convince him to take over for me!!

Every bassist I've ever seen whether they are accomplished musicians, or relative newbies always has something to offer me in the aspect of how they do what they do. I guess I just really dig the whole bass thing.

[Bass Mule]

Originally Posted by chaosMK

These days when other bassists in my scene bust out cool stuff- like say, using a distortion pedal in a way I didnt think of, or more tastefully than I would, or switch up their tone so it sounds really awesome (or similar to mine), I get kind of mad.

Anyone else suffer from this?

Why on earth would you get mad??
So, if someone does something that turns out to be more tasteful than you, or better than you, you get mad? At whom? Yourself, or the other bassist?

If they do something more tasteful than you, learn from it. Absorb it like a sponge. Filter out what you don't like, and use the rest.

If they're copping your tone, be happy. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[gweimer]

It's no different than seeing the stars we admire doing the same.

If it's cool, and I can use it, I steal it. Just like my bass lines.

[basseddie]

get mad??? why, because you didnt think of it??
what you do is to watch and learn, take it home and practice it, then add it to your "tool box" so you can use it sometime where it will fit nice.

Ed

[screamingmonkey]

Given that I'm not very good, I often see bassist doing cool stuff and generally playing better than I can. So getting mad probably wouldn't do me any good....

I just do what any other person might do in that situation...cheer, gape, flash the horns, etc.

[troy2003]

I always glean what I can from other players,I tend to focus on them when I watch a band.Not in the form of "I can do it better" but seeing what they do,how they do it.Always try to seek them out,give em props or talk gear.Almost always they are eager to talk to another low ender,swap gear tips and ideas.

[markjazzbassist]

I dont get mad, i just try to learn from the experience and use it to benefit me.

plus, there are TONS of players out there that are better than me, so it's almost always a learning experience.

[mjolnir]

It's always a treat to see someone better than me rock out on the bass because I see it two ways:

1. Like many others have already said, it's a learning experience to see someone better than you play.

2. I know I'm enough of a bassist to actually APPRECIATE what they're doing, unlike 99% of the other people watching them.

[droskobass]

you need to listen without fear, without thought at all. and you have to let go of your ego. you are not defined as a person by how you play.

[Phalex]

The shoe was on the other foot this past Saturday night. An upright player from the local theater's orchestra came out for our gig. She'd been out to see the Box Bass in action a few weeks back, I let her try it out, but she left before the set was over so I didn't get to talk to her at all. Saturday night she stayed for the whole show. She was very complimentary of the band. I offered to let her sit in on the Ric, but she declined. She said she was playing in the praise band at her church at 7:00am Sunday, and she didn't leave until the fourth set was almost over. I'm still a little dumbstruck that a "real" musician appreciated the work of a self proclaimed talentless hack such as myself.

Bass players have to be the coolest people to meet on the entire planet!!

[lamarjones]

I used to get a mad like feeling. Then I realized it was envy, and I was a complete moron for saying or even thinking that people should only do things a certain way, and even worse, that my ideas were on top.

But this is not just for bass, people have this notion that they got a lot of answers for any given subject, and when they find out exactly how uneducated they are in a field, some of them are interested, and some just strike some crazy chord and act like a total nimrod for no reason.

This happens to A LOT OF PEOPLE in different areas of life, so I wouldn't sweat it one bit. It's things like this that make you understand, other ways are different, and different is fine whether its your bag or not. Imagine how much world issues would simply not exist if everyone truly could just get on with it instead of plopping their own ideas on others every chance they get.

[Naggon]

Don't get mad, don't get mad, don't get mad, get pornography!

[Deluge Of Sound]

I love it when bassists do cool things onstage. It just makes the show exponentially better.

[j.a.e.r.i.p]

I think that seeing cool stuff and ripping it off is the probably the main key to become a better player, after seeing a good show i usually pick up my bass and try to figure out what the bassman was doing. sometimes it's easier than others (i.e. seeing herbie hancock it was difficult to mimic nathan east because...ya)

[Valerus]

I LOVE seeing good bassists. They represent, baby!

I just hope people think the same about me. :P

[StongBass]

I enjoy watching another bassist strut their stuff. And I also don't mind stealing whatever I can use of them... mostly because they probably stole it form somone themsleves.

[Just J]

I only get mad when their suckage screws up a song I like, or they're elitest pricks.

Thankfully most of the bassists I've met have been super cool and helpful. I do know one guy who's a total toolbag... he started on guitar tho... so...

[-Kramer-]

To the OP, do you get mad at them or yourself for not thinking of it yourself? Sometimes I hear a bassline that is simple but fits the song or pocket perfect and I get mad at myself for not thinking of doing it that way before.

[cutthroatmolloy]

i dont see the point in getting mad either.
i just enjoy it, and learn what i can.