Why do guitar players get bent about a "Bass player" teaching them a song?

JMac4strngr · #1 03-24-2010, 02:19 PM

Throughout my time playing bass I have allways dabbled with playing some guitar. Guitar was actually kind of my starter instrument but I moved on to playing bass a couple of years in as it interested me more.
As I have noticed, (and this is an on going thing) anytime I have ever tried to help a guitar player learn a song they get all bent out of shape with me. Maybe it is just me? In my mind I feel like I am not trying to insult their playing ability, I am just trying to be helpfull and in a band situation where we would be learning a cover song I feel it helps move things forward a little faster......
Has anyone ever experienced this fretted neck envy or is it just me? Heck, I have never got really bent about input from guitar players as long as it is productive with the greater outlook of the band.

Maybe?

MNAirHead · #2 03-24-2010, 02:27 PM

are you doing this in front of a band?

WayneS · #3 03-24-2010, 02:29 PM

I teach both of our guitar players songs... nobody gets offended.

tZer · #4 03-24-2010, 02:29 PM

You may be reading more into it than what's there.

I find that a lot of people don't want help learning something. They learn it their own way and if you're there trying to tell them 'do this, now that, now the other' you're just getting in the way of they're process.

If they ask for help, that's a different story - but I personally cannot stand it when anyone starts that "Ok now one fret down - over a string - try this, try that" when I'm perfectly capable of figuring it out myself.

Ya dig?

sirmike75 · #5 03-24-2010, 02:37 PM

MatticusMania · #6 03-24-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmike75

ego

This.

JMac4strngr · #7 03-24-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

are you doing this in front of a band?

No, not that I can recall. I have just got that from a few guitar players that I have known or played with over the years. The guitar player in the band I am in currently is a very open minded guy and asks me about certain things in songs that he may be having trouble with, and sometimes I will ask his 10 cents worth on stuff I cant nail down. I would go as far to say he is probably the best all around guitar player I have ever been in a band with. I guess, to me it just boils down to being a good open minded player.

JMac4strngr · #8 03-24-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

You may be reading more into it than what's there.

I find that a lot of people don't want help learning something. They learn it their own way and if you're there trying to tell them 'do this, now that, now the other' you're just getting in the way of they're process.

If they ask for help, that's a different story - but I personally cannot stand it when anyone starts that "Ok now one fret down - over a string - try this, try that" when I'm perfectly capable of figuring it out myself.

Ya dig?

I can understand what you are saying. I am a bit of an over-thinker. However, I dont ever try to come across as a Know-it-all jerk who is shouting fret numbers and strings.

lunarpollen · #9 03-24-2010, 02:57 PM

I've never had this occur. Maybe it's because most guitar players I know also play bass, and vice versa, including myself. I would be totally grateful if someone in a band were to teach me a song we were trying to do, especially if I'm not playing it right.

Herbie 80's · #10 03-24-2010, 03:18 PM

Depends on the guitarist. This happens to a lot of musicians, not just guitarists. I've had the same feeling as well, but you know, whatever, right?

Ric5 · #11 03-24-2010, 03:23 PM

Why do guitar players get bent about a "Bass player" teaching them a song?

I know more songs than the guys in my band ... and I learn songs faster than they do as well.

jnuts1 · #12 03-24-2010, 03:26 PM

i have a hard time with a guitarist i know teaching me songs. he just does it backwards & makes it difficult on me. he gives me a piece of the tune & then another & then another & i never get to actually hear the tune at all, just short segments of licks that never start on the one. & then after showing me 5 licks he says thats the song! maybe that is what he thinks you are doing.

rimtism123 · #13 03-24-2010, 03:30 PM

The title of this thread reminds me of my last practice when I pointed out that when you try to teach a really good guitar player something, they don't like to look at your fretboard..but instead they close their eyes and try to "feel for it". haha

Eublet · #14 03-24-2010, 03:35 PM

I think this is most prevalent in rock settings where the guitarist is supposedly the cock of the walk. Can't say I've seen this happen anywhere else.

Bob C · #15 03-24-2010, 03:43 PM

It's an ego thing and an indepenence thing that we are all probably guilty of, to different degrees.

I like to figure things out myself - kind of the "men don't stop to ask for directions" thing.

Also, a guitar player probably thinks "How dare a bass, keyboard, drum, etc player think they know more about MY instrument than I do?!"

This is flawed thinking, perhaps especially so when that other musician may also know how to play guitar. But it is just something that is in their/our makeup or personality.

duff beer · #16 03-24-2010, 04:57 PM

The guitar player in our band is very good. I teach him songs all the time and he appreciates it. Of couse, right after I show him the song he proceeds to play it better than me, lol. Also, if someone in the band is playing a part wrong, any one of the others have no problem in speaking up and pointing it out.

Maybe it's because we work well as a team and ego is not an issue.

MNAirHead · #17 03-24-2010, 05:00 PM

I've only had this happen once.. guy was offended that I nailed his part (and he was struggling)

I then asked his coaching .. handed him my 7 string fretless.

He quit -- solved our issues.

Tim

BigOldHarry · #18 03-24-2010, 05:08 PM

my guess is that you are talking about a *young* guitar player...

Stinsok · #19 03-24-2010, 05:08 PM

How dare you!!

bassplayer8953 · #20 03-24-2010, 05:18 PM

When I set out to learn a song, I usually sit down with a guitar, to learn the story line, ie: rhythm part. I've found (and it's been pointed out by others) that I have a pretty good ear for doing so. I then transfer the chording sequence to bass, adding fills and such as I fine tune my playing to suit the needs of the song: simple if called for, more "busy" if needed to fill up empty spots, etc.

Our lead guitarist (don't have a rhythm guitarist, our keyboard player is rhythm) learns his parts, most of his practice time is consumed learning solos. If he has a rough time with a chording part or whatever, he doesn't dwell on it; he knows I'll provide it for him. At the same time, I don't waste a lot of time learning involved picking sequences, he'll provide them to me.

In short, we work together, no "my" part or "your" part. The goal of learning a cover tune is to get it as accurate as possible, as quickly as possible, rehearse it until it is gig-worthy, then move on... ...any lack of cooperation or additional "ego" is counter-productive. Both of us have seen enough "ego" in previous members to know that.