A burden to be the band bassist?

[natselection]

I find in bands that the bassist usually is less open to suggestions than everyone else. I also find that during shows, guitarists make themselves louder than they would normally play. I quit those bands that act like that, and now i'm settled into one that appreciates a good bassist. Anyone have similar experiences?

[chaosMK]

I overpower my guitarist, if it comes down to it.

Bands that like their bass player... yeah, that's good.

[Warwick19]

I find drummers are the least receptive to suggestions, bassists are often the most compromiseing, we must be or 3/4's of us wouldnt be playing roots in rock music .

[thebassclef]

There are bands that LIKE their bass players? Where? Can I Join?

[rebelbass]

I play in boothill express,southern rock tribute band. two-to-three guitars,keys,bass,drums and up to four people singing at the same time! I also run our sound system. I have found this:
3 singers use in ears monitors,our wedge level came down and so did the geetars! When hes 8 feet from his 50watt amp (off axis) and standing on top of a properly aimed wedge with 400+ watts of power,guess what he hears more?
My amp (bass guitar) sounds ok where I stand...but if I move next to Mr.loud guitar (opposite side of stage) I hear a muddy,droning bass (depending on club;if I'm in a corner it reinforces low end.its called a standing wave.) Guess who turns up his amp and adds more high end than needed to cut thru my muck?
we work together to sound great as a band. I'm always asking am I too loud/too much bottom? These guys WANT to hear the bass,but I make adjustments (a little eq or moving-aimimg my amp) so everybody can hear and be happy.

[Matt Till]

Well in my band I'm a composer and play a bass heavy genre, I get my props.

[aesir6]

In my band I usually write and make all the ideas/songs. I never let the others overpower, im not a communist its just the stuff they come up with isnt very good. But they still of course have input on the stuff I write and im open to see what theyd like to change about it.

[Dirty Dave]

Originally Posted by natselection

I find in bands that the bassist usually is less open to suggestions than everyone else.

It's always been the singer in the bands I've been in.

[Aughn]

I must be lucky, the drummer doesn't talk all that much, but loves to get into bass and drum jams... the singer is also a bass player, and the guitarist asked me to learn bass because it was too hard for him to learn(so I did)

[Winemule]

Try this some time, preferably in rehearsal (although in extreme cases it may be necessary during performance): In the middle of a tune, stop playing and see what happens.

Everything comes to a halt.

You don't need to be "appreciated." The music doesn't happen without you, and that's plenty.

Bass is all about power.

[fod]

I find that the bands dont care as long as you dont do anything to radical from the genre your playing. And if they dont like it then they say something, anyways I am just trying to play the given tunes well enough before I try anything new on them.

[TheEmptyCell]

If I'm going to try forming a band, I'll always pick two or three songs for everyone to learn. We get together, shoot the, erm, poop for a while, and then jam. We force our way through all the songs, one take. Then I'll ask everyone what they thought. I don't settle for good. There are always improvements to make.

If I'm being auditioned myself, I just come out right away and tell them that I won't settle for being buried under the guitar, shoved in the corner, and told to play the root. If they listen, cool. If not, eff it. I've met a guitarist locally who's just the perfect fit... now we just need a singer and drummer.

[natselection]

yeah about that whole playing n then stopping...i have a simliar situation. i was in a great band and i couldn't stand the drummer (annoying and immature) so i left. the singer (rythm guitar as well) and the lead guitarist followed me into my new band.

[wwittman]

so are YOU "less open to suggestion" than the rest of your bands?

Sounds a bit like you have trouble dealing with bandmates