Is being a good bass player a dying art?

[NYCbassist]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Me too.

I'm to old and have been playing to long to play the "who is better than who game".

" I have good nights and I have nights that I feel like I should hang it up"

Blue

+1 on this. I like Blue for keeping it real. Also after all my years of playing, I still learn new things every day.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by bluewine

There's absolutely nothing difficult about the material or someone being able to play it. The problem might be finding someone willing to do it.

My bass teacher who is a founding member of Leroy Airmaster, a legendary Milwaukee blues band could probably come in and do it cold with no rehearsal. Problem is he wouldn't do it for 2 reasons;

We couldn't afford him.

He's just out of our league.

Then you have a lot of guys that play but aren't even at the basic level we play at.

So, finding a sub is relevant to the level of play and the availability of the pool of players at that level.


Blue

Yeah, but you're looking at the 2 extremes. One one hand you have a local legend, and the other hand you have guys who can't play. Usually there's at least something in between those extremes.

I've done plenty of Blues/Rock gigs for $100-$200 a night that I got some real good players for including guys who toured with acts you have heard of. If they have a day off, most guys would rather make less rather than nothing.

[Pacman]

Understand, I'm really not trying to be a jerk here. I'm just telling you, as someone else said, any moderately accomplished bass player could do the gig. And there's nothing wrong with that. It just doesn't make you 'integral.'

[zachoff]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Understand, I'm really not trying to be a jerk here. I'm just telling you, as someone else said, any moderately accomplished bass player could do the gig. And there's nothing wrong with that. It just doesn't make you 'integral.'

I'd figure any band where the bass player isn't the singer or the main/major songwriter writer could be replaced. Could be said for any member, really... Except the singer, I guess.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by zachoff

I'd figure any band where the bass player isn't the singer or the main/major songwriter writer could be replaced. Could be said for any member, really... Except the singer, I guess.

Depends on the music.

I think you're more right than wrong, but complex or varied repertoire can throw a wrench in things.

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by michael_atw

The Beatles comparison is a bit funny because they were the Justin Beiber of their time. They would have been passed over had they not had their Beliebers for 4 years. Then when Pet Sounds came out and The Kinks started experimenting with eastern music suddenly The Beatles were a new invention.

I don't entirely agree, but I don't entirely disagree. I would just say that if they were the Justin Beiber of their time, they were the first Justin Beiber. Justin is just a generic package of the lowest common denominators of pop music. There isn't a spark of originality in anything I've heard or seen from him; although in honesty I listen and see as little as possible. The Beatles at least spear-headed their movement.

[Jarrett]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Could my band sub another bass player?

Yes, easily. It's good to remember that as well.

Blue, I listened to the clips of your band and have to say your playing has improved. Good job stepping it up a notch.

[theduke1]

I did not read all of posts in this thread, but based on the opening, I would say it depends on your meaning of good. I have found that most players can play the notes, IMVHO players who can and feel the drive to play off the page and play from the heart are all good players, no matter what type of music they play or what they use to play it.
Love & Peace
Happy New Year

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Yes, easily. It's good to remember that as well.

Blue, I listened to the clips of your band and have to say your playing has improved. Good job stepping it up a notch.

My position remains, there are lots of bass players that could play the songs.

Does my band have the resources to find the right sub, I don't know. Which brings me back to my initial answer. I don't know if they could find a sub.

I know we used a sub drummer once and it was a disaster.

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by zachoff

I'd figure any band where the bass player isn't the singer or the main/major songwriter writer could be replaced. Could be said for any member, really... Except the singer, I guess.

True, but finding that sub is where you could run into trouble.

For example what if the band is in an area where there just are not many bass players.

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Understand, I'm really not trying to be a jerk here. I'm just telling you, as someone else said, any moderately accomplished bass player could do the gig. And there's nothing wrong with that. It just doesn't make you 'integral.'

Understood, however being integral is still my opinion on my place in the band.

Yours is that I'm not, your entitled to your opinion.

Happy New Year

Blue

[bluewine]

Off to my 2-6 and then my 9-1 NYE gigs.

I also have bronchitis, I feel like I've been run over by a truck.

My doctor has my prescription for antibiotics ready at the pharmacy. I hope it helps.

Happy New Year

Blue

[Aussie Player]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Depends on the music.

I think you're more right than wrong, but complex or varied repertoire can throw a wrench in things.

Don't agree.

Bad Co did not equal Free
Wings did not equal Beatles
Le Roth was not replaced
Bonham was not replaced but cloned.
Clapton never equalled Cream
BBM never equalled Cream
SRV, Trower et al, cloned Hendrix
Etc, etc.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by Aussie Player

Don't agree.

Bad Co did not equal Free
Wings did not equal Beatles
Le Roth was not replaced
Bonham was not replaced but cloned.
Clapton never equalled Cream
BBM never equalled Cream
SRV, Trower et al, cloned Hendrix
Etc, etc.

Apples and oranges.

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by Aussie Player

Don't agree.

Bad Co did not equal Free
Wings did not equal Beatles
Le Roth was not replaced
Bonham was not replaced but cloned.
Clapton never equalled Cream
BBM never equalled Cream
SRV, Trower et al, cloned Hendrix
Etc, etc.

You're just talking about taste though, and that's the single biggest variable in music.

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Off to my 2-6 and then my 9-1 NYE gigs.

I also have bronchitis, I feel like I've been run over by a truck.

My doctor has my prescription for antibiotics ready at the pharmacy. I hope it helps.

Happy New Year

Blue

Hope yer feeling better there, Blue. I just got over it myself not long ago. Happy New Year.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Russell L

Hope yer feeling better there, Blue. I just got over it myself not long ago. Happy New Year.

Thanks Russell,

Blue

[Seb_VitusFreak]

Originally Posted by Raymeous

I wonder how much of this has to do with the "Guitar Hero" mentality of easy, short attention span, "join the dark side" players. Today more and more "music" is derived from a computer and inserting a loop or "back in the day" sample. Even your basic keyboard music at least requires some ability.

Also, at least within the last century, musicianship has been under appreciated. Think about bands like Rush, Dream Theater, Opeth, or Nightwish. These bands have some amazing players, and some equally amazing compositions, yet outside of Rush you will never hear them on the radio. Well maybe at midnight on Sunday during some metal show or something, but never during the normal schedule. It's not wanted.

Some of this is OUR own fault as too many current players dismiss those that push themselves past the basics with comments like "keep it simple", "less is more", "theres no money past the 5th fret", etc etc.... How many bar bands try to push themselves past the classic bar band covers set list? Very few, because the audience doesn't really want to hear it. If I hear "Brown Eyed Girl" one more time I'm gonna shoot somebody. If I have to play it, it would be the band leader.

The unfortunate truth of it is that only musicians listen to the music, while the average listener only pays attention to the vocals and the "beat", with the instrumentation being merely an after thought outside of the songs signature hook.

I agree with this. Good points here!

[IPYF]

I'm late to the party here, but what I do see a lot of in Australia is hop-overs (ie. Guitarists mostly) who jump onto the bass because of a supposed lack of available bass talent.

I know a lot of top ax players who just jump into the bass role in a band because there's no decent bassists around. In my opinion this is not usually the best way of producing a top result but I can't fault this attitude.

It would be like suggesting to me that I shouldn't play drums in a band because I'm a better bass player than I am a drummer. It's all situational, so don't try to tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing with my time.

I often hear on the grapevine that it's hard to secure a bass player around here, but I don't physically see any evidence of it.

[Caeros]

Connecticut has a wealth of solid/diverse local bass players. And I happen to be friends with a lot of 'em. :-D