Why the hate towards guitarists?

Electricblue · #1 05-30-2011, 06:09 PM

Ok, so through months being on talkbass, I've seen and heard a lot of abuse towards guitarists...Why?

Is it because you need more power than them? Is it because they are more in the spotlight than you?

I'm intrigued.

the byronic man · #2 05-30-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

Ok, so through months being on talkbass, I've seen and heard a lot of abuse towards guitarists...Why?

Is it because you need more power than them? Is it because they are more in the spotlight than you?

I'm intrigued.

that has always bothered me. coming from a guitar background(i still play just as much as i do the bass) it makes no sense to me. not all guitarists are mindless idiots with no knowledge of theory or technique.

bassingeorge · #3 05-30-2011, 06:14 PM

Usually "guitards" as many fellow bass players call them have this more egocentric, or arrogant personality because of the fact that they are generaly more in the spotlight than us bassists...I think it's because of the fact that a guitar sound and guitar shape overall is more popular with non-musicians than bass guitars and players. As many of us have encountered in gigs and what not....people asking why is that guitar only have 4 strings, why is it bigger than the guitarists...mm..guitar...and etc.

I haven't had any problems with guitarists....only singers....aaaaargh! And a bad case of drummer's rage...haha

Epitaph04 · #4 05-30-2011, 06:15 PM

I'm pretty sure it's because there are a lot of guitarists that are just completely dumb when it comes to their instrument. It's the same with any instrument you can play, but there seems to be a lot more "guitards" out there than good guitarists.

Rockmusician · #5 05-30-2011, 06:15 PM

I started out on guitar as well. In my experience I have found that there are just as many jerks playing bass as there are playing guitar, drums or singing.

behndy · #6 05-30-2011, 06:19 PM

ignorance and low self-esteem mostly.

guitard is an asinine phrase. whether they're dinks or not, holding a guitar doesn't change that.

**jmattbassplaya** · #7 05-30-2011, 06:26 PM

I hate the term guitard that's thrown around here.

the byronic man · #8 05-30-2011, 06:34 PM

i understand many guitarists might not have a decent grasp on theory etc, but i see more local bands with terrible bassists that have no idea what they are doing than i do terrible guitarists with no idea. it is absolutely a two way street(3 if you count awful drummers, 4 singers and so on..).

kreider204 · #9 05-30-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I hate the term guitard that's thrown around here.

Word.

I've never had a problem with any guitarist I've ever worked with.

Now, singers, on the other hand ...

Dirty G.I.T · #10 05-30-2011, 06:38 PM

Yeah, I've hated that part of this community ever since I first signed up. I'm pretty much against any form of stereotyping and prejudice, which the assumption that anyone holding a guitar is a "guitard" clearly falls under.

**jmattbassplaya** · #11 05-30-2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the byronic man

i understand many guitarists might not have a decent grasp on theory etc, but i see more local bands with terrible bassists that have no idea what they are doing than i do terrible guitarists with no idea. it is absolutely a two way street(3 if you count awful drummers, 4 singers and so on..).

You sure they're actual bassists and not a friend of the guitarist/drummer/singer who's told just to hold a bass up on stage? I've met and heard more people who fall in that line than I've met actual bassists. It like the old saying that a decent guitarist is a dime a dozen, but a decent bassist is worth his or her weight in gold.

sethlow3 · #12 05-30-2011, 06:40 PM

I like good guitarists. Some I've met don't care about rhythm or theory at all which is a big no no in Nashville. The best ones I've met care tremendously about being tight with rhythm which is a lot cooler than "lead guitar" IMHO.

The simple fact that there is one on every street makes the odds greater that there will be more dumb ones though. Just simple statistics.

Savage_Dreams · #13 05-30-2011, 06:45 PM

honestly i dont take it all too seriously. im sure guitarists say just as much about bass players and all around between every instrument and another. some people are just having fun, no big deal. some people are serious.... ignore them.

gumtownbassman · #14 05-30-2011, 07:02 PM

Some guitarists percieve a Bass player as a drop out wana-be guitarist who is too dumb to have knowledge of music theory.
Just because you have four strings and only play one at a time, you must be retarded in some way.
That is the experiance i have had from only a few guitarists, but then you get them to play Bass and they just got no bass mojo at all, all melody and no rhythm or timing.

Spaldo · #15 05-30-2011, 07:04 PM

I have to say that there are certain individuals who play instruments that are definitely not on my christmas card list....and yes, some are guitarists.

There are some I have a good deal of respect for, but the ones that annoy me are the ones who play with my EQ at gigs and then tell me how to play. Ugh.

Then again, just because one guitarist is a wanker, it doesn't mean that they all are.

the byronic man · #16 05-30-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

You sure they're actual bassists and not a friend of the guitarist/drummer/singer who's told just to hold a bass up on stage? I've met and heard more people who fall in that line than I've met actual bassists. It like the old saying that a decent guitarist is a dime a dozen, but a decent bassist is worth his or her weight in gold.

so a guitarist who doesn't play guitar very well and is just doing it to be in a band/help out is a "guitard", but a bassist in the same situation is just a dink on stage and not a bassist at all?
i've played with more terrible bassists as a guitarist than i have guitarists as a bassist. and in nearly every situation, the person in question considered themselves a bassist/guitarist/etc. every instrument has its hacks.

flowlikeocean · #17 05-30-2011, 07:08 PM

I wouldn't say that ALL guitarists deserve the hate, but there are quite a few guitards who ruin it for the rest. This is unfortunate, I myself am a guitarist in my off time, and I know a lot of good people who are mislabeled.

Epitaph04 · #18 05-30-2011, 07:10 PM

Just about every guitarist I've played with has been some sort of "guitard" one way or another, from inability to play on time, sloppiness, and general cluelessness. I hate the fact that the term is a blanket statement for EVERY guitarist. I know damn well there's some good guitarists out there. I know I have very bad luck with running into those types of guitarists.

SactoBass · #19 05-30-2011, 07:15 PM

All I know is, no matter how many times I've tried to put a band together comprised only of me on the bass and no other musicians, it just doesn't come out sounding right......as if something is........................missing.

I have discovered that guitarists, a drummer, singers, and a keyboardist are also needed (for the style of music I play) to sound good.

I therefore do not use the word "guitard" in my vocabulary. I can't imagine the mentality of slamming someone just because of their choice of instrument. I'm thankful those other musicians exist, otherwise I would just be on stage by myself with my bass, and that's not the scenario I want.

bassdog · #20 05-30-2011, 07:17 PM

maybe it's because most play too loud, only listen to themselves and don't understand that the bass is more important to the group.