Your answer to the famous non-bassist questions.

ALiP BoB · #1 11-20-2006, 07:43 AM

I think this is the right forum... Well, I thought this might be interesting..
I want to know your answer to this question-
Why play bass? It's not like you're gonna get heard behind the two walls of guitar and the pounding drums.

And also your respond to this-
You play bass? Oh, bass is easy *thinking: He must suck at guitar if he plays bass*

I find that I always can't find a smart answer for these. So I thought I might find out your responses

Tony G · #2 11-20-2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Why play bass? It's not like you're gonna get heard behind the two walls of guitar and the pounding drums.

You may not hear me, but you'll feel me...

Quote:

You play bass? Oh, bass is easy.

Oh, is it? Here, you show me how easy it is...

ALiP BoB · #3 11-20-2006, 08:42 AM

Still need those answers... Sigh... I wonder why i get tongue tied with this qns...

bassbully43 · #4 11-20-2006, 09:01 AM

No i am always heard...if you dont think so come out when i play and then they will see.

Easy...no guitar was easy for me. I can pick notes and strum chords all day and sing also...but not with bass.

ALiP BoB · #5 11-20-2006, 09:39 AM

lol! Good one!

Spoiled Grape · #6 11-20-2006, 09:51 AM

The only time I was ever looked down on because I played bass, or even made the brunt of a joke, was in highschool. Also my friends got a kick out of the "Kids in the Hall" bassplayer episode. Besides that, I wonder if people *really* get made fun of because of their instrument of choice.

i_got_a_mohawk · #7 11-20-2006, 10:07 AM

You reply with

"You cant hear me, but see those hot girls over there? they've been watching my fingering technique all night"

dhadleyray · #8 11-20-2006, 10:12 AM

who gives a **** what they say? are you happy playing bass? that's all that matters. those kind of arguments aren't worth your time..

Britsie · #9 11-21-2006, 04:49 AM

"If bass is easy, then why aren't you playing bass?"

Festus · #10 11-21-2006, 05:25 AM

The answer could be another question: "Why not play bass?"

ALiP BoB · #11 11-21-2006, 05:27 AM

haha, thanks guys

Tony F · #12 11-21-2006, 05:36 AM

How about - "you'd sure notice the difference if I *didn't* play"

Or if you really want a reaction, try "The guitarists soar, but I am the wind beneath their wings!"

Actually, don't say that - you'll probably get vomit all over your shoes.

Cheers,

Tony

driver800 · #13 11-21-2006, 05:39 AM

"It speaks to me. Don't YOU hear it, too?"

addylewis · #14 11-21-2006, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

You play bass? Oh, bass is easy *thinking: He must suck at guitar if he plays bass*

I find that I always can't find a smart answer for these. So I thought I might find out your responses

I just say "Give us a go on your guitar..." - some of them are like "eh? you play guitar as well?!"

I've always found with the bands I've been in that I'm probably the most compitent guitarist there (I know I'm better than the singer out of my current band...)

I'm REALLY out of practice, but I've been playing guitar since I was 13...I just swapped over to basss when I was 18 - theres no way I COULD piss over some people I've played with - but last year someone told me I was better at guitar than them...and they're a first instrument guitarist on the 3rd year of a music degree! - I gotta say, that was a bit of an ego boost..

ALiP BoB · #15 11-21-2006, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony F

Or if you really want a reaction, try "The guitarists soar, but I am the wind beneath their wings!"

Got Corn?

DEbassist · #16 11-21-2006, 01:01 PM

As for playing and not being heard:
Sadly, this is a true fact in the music industry. We are looked down upon as the red headed step child that should be seen but not heard. There needs to be an industry wide move to displace focus more evenly. I think if people were to take the time to listen to what the bass player is doing, they would realize just how much he is adding to the music.

As for the bass being easy:
You are correct. The bass is very easy to learn. But it is VERY hard to master. Its the difference between a 1st year guitarist and Eddie Van Halen.
It hardly takes an talent at all to play root notes. When you get into the actually theory behind what is being played and get into jazz harmonies and inversion is where the bass starts to get challenging. Not to mention all of the techniques there are to learn....finger style, picking, slapping, tapping, double stops etc...

chaosMK · #17 11-21-2006, 02:32 PM

Just get really good. No one will bother you with that crap.

Salizander · #18 11-21-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

I think this is the right forum... Well, I thought this might be interesting..
I want to know your answer to this question-
Why play bass? It's not like you're gonna get heard behind the two walls of guitar and the pounding drums

I'd say fine stick your ear right against this speaker & see what 500 watts through a 4x10 sounds like when your up really really close.....

GhostLobby · #19 11-21-2006, 02:58 PM

I just tell people it's like being a plumber: If you do your job no one usually notices, except other plumbers perhaps, but if you ****-up, **** backs up all over the place and everyone notices. Besides, it's better to be the power behind the throne, ahem, rather than the one sitting on it.

Baryonyx · #20 11-21-2006, 03:10 PM

If someone made a remark like that to me, I'd be quick to offer the guy a burst mouth and I'd be fully prepared to follow through and panel the guy. No lame fingering jokes, just the bombost of Hamlet's 7th soliloquy.