How accurate is this article to you? I can totally relate to most.
12 Things All Bassists Hate - Rock My World
12 Things All Bassists Hate - Rock My World
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12 Things Bassists Hate
- Thread starter capnsandwich
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Too accurate to be any fun...
What's your opinion about the fact that bass has a steeper learning curve? I never heard about that before.
What's your opinion about the fact that bass has a steeper learning curve? I never heard about that before.
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Useless rant to me.
I don't recall the order so I'll do my own.
1) Yep, the gear is heavier. But guitar amps can't shake walls or put butts on the dance floor. Give me an SVT and a fridge over some rinky dink 30W 1-12 combo any day.
2) Boring? That's up to you. Put on a show that will leave no doubt in their minds that you are not boring. Stand there doing nothing and you prove them right.
3) It's easier/faster to START on bass than it is guitar. But mastering either is equally hard. It all depends on how far you want to go. Steeper learning curve? What is that guy even talking about?
4) I have met just as many bassists who have no idea how chord structure works as I have guitarists.
5) Drum fills? Talk to the drummer, not the interweave.
6) Price for strings? I would imagine that unless you like incredible lyrics bright tone, or play stupid hard like me, your strings will last so much longer than guitar strings the costs balance out.
7) The fish meme? OK, I'll give him that one. Even I'm tired of it.
8) Bass gear selection? This is not going to be popular. But, honestly, I find bassists to be much more picky over gear than guitarists. You can't possibly stock enough gear to make most bassists happy. Most guitarists want a Fender (or clone), a Marshall (or clone) or a Vox (or clone).
Show a bass player a 4,500W 3 pound rig that fits in his front jeans pocket and has a tube pre, para EQ, and two dozen other features, sounds like the left hand of God on a thirty foot Steinway......and costs $500.... and he'll spend all afternoon telling you what's wrong with it.
I don't recall the order so I'll do my own.
1) Yep, the gear is heavier. But guitar amps can't shake walls or put butts on the dance floor. Give me an SVT and a fridge over some rinky dink 30W 1-12 combo any day.
2) Boring? That's up to you. Put on a show that will leave no doubt in their minds that you are not boring. Stand there doing nothing and you prove them right.
3) It's easier/faster to START on bass than it is guitar. But mastering either is equally hard. It all depends on how far you want to go. Steeper learning curve? What is that guy even talking about?
4) I have met just as many bassists who have no idea how chord structure works as I have guitarists.
5) Drum fills? Talk to the drummer, not the interweave.
6) Price for strings? I would imagine that unless you like incredible lyrics bright tone, or play stupid hard like me, your strings will last so much longer than guitar strings the costs balance out.
7) The fish meme? OK, I'll give him that one. Even I'm tired of it.
8) Bass gear selection? This is not going to be popular. But, honestly, I find bassists to be much more picky over gear than guitarists. You can't possibly stock enough gear to make most bassists happy. Most guitarists want a Fender (or clone), a Marshall (or clone) or a Vox (or clone).
Show a bass player a 4,500W 3 pound rig that fits in his front jeans pocket and has a tube pre, para EQ, and two dozen other features, sounds like the left hand of God on a thirty foot Steinway......and costs $500.... and he'll spend all afternoon telling you what's wrong with it.
I've always heard that bass is one of the easiest instruments to start on but one of the hardest to master. I can see that. So many different styles, techniques, etc., and the role of the bassist is one that requires a totally different way of thinking than a guitar or other lead instruments.
Yes, absolutely. But he'll do it with better vocabulary and grammar than the guitarist would.Show a bass player a 4,500W 3 pound rig that fits in his front jeans pocket and has a tube pre, para EQ, and two dozen other features, sounds like the left hand of God on a thirty foot Steinway......and costs $500.... and he'll spend all afternoon telling you what's wrong with it.
Eh. Funny list and some of those things get on my nerves after a while, but none of those are worth actually getting upset over (though the groupie thing does sting just a bit). I think that list forgot Paul Rudd's "slappin da bass" line.
Yes, absolutely. But he'll do it with better vocabulary and grammar than the guitarist would.
I can't argue with that.
Seems like bassists are thinner-skinned than other musicians. 
About the learning curve, I could not agree more. I picked up the bass because I was tired of being one of a zillion guitar players out there. The bass seemed easy enough for a very long time, just playing the root and the fifth, but now that I want to really explore the instrument and get good at it... holy sticks there is a lot to know. I could have gone my whole guitar life not needing to know my modes. That does not fly on the bass.
He left out the part about where other bassists really hate to see anyone use different gear than they like.
The only one I sympathized with was having a heavier amp. But the other folks always helped schlep it and I got to have the coolest setup. So it never really bugged me. The steep learning curve is the fun part.
A bassist who doesn't get along with drummers should not be a bassist.
Yeah, and the part where bassists hate to have their instrument called a bass guitar, even though it is a guitar.
Specifically, they hate other bass players who:
Play cheap basses
Play expensive basses
Play Fenders
Don't play Fenders
Use tube amps
Use SS amps
Play with a pick
Play fingerstyle
Slap
Use flats
Use rounds
Play 4 string basses
Play 5 string basses
Play 6 string basses
Play (God help 'em) >6 string basses
...
Eh, Let me analyze this list for a bit.
1. Strings are ridiculously expensive: Yeah, Strings are expensive... that's why I buy the best kind i can find (Rotosound for the win Baby!) I haven't changed my strings in at least 2 years and they still sound better than the cheap ones.
2. No one but other musicians appreciate the importance of the bass: Yeah, well that's to be expected, no one realizes how much work the guy in the back with the 4 string guitar is actually doing, but I know all the ladies love it.
3. That damn Meme: This is an important aspect of playing bass... the fish is the soul source of our sound and truly dictates what we're trying to accomplish... So when I see that meme, I'm proud someone truly understands us.
4. Everyone assumes you're laid back and boring: Well what if I am? Nothing wrong with being chill, and if people think I'm boring they should adjust that nob on their life and not be so damn uptight.
5. Bass Amps are inevitably way heavier than guitar amps: Hahaha, unless you roll with Markbass, then I'm the light weight champion on that. My Mesa Cabs aren't that bad either... Haven't really had to struggle moving equipment due to weight... (unless it's stairs, nothing will beat the annoyance of climbing stairs with your gear, no matter how heavy it is really.)
6. Where's the Bass section?: Okay this one I agree with, but I actually don't mind this, even going to Guitar Center there's just a tiny little room dedicated to bass equipment, and it's never anything that I find interesting. (no Warwick, often times no Richenbacker, no Aria, no Specter, none of the high end boutique basses). No string basses or double basses either, I did find an electric upright there once, and even an old used Hammer 12 string, but it was sold a long time ago, not to me... I wish I could have picked that up, but I like having a limited selection, because I know the best basses are few and far between, and I like rare and unheard of basses that beat the living hell out of any known brand out there, but when someone comes up to me and compliments me for the basses I've chosen, I just feel all warm and fuzzy inside cause it's awesome.
7. Guitarists, the more the worse it is: haha, and that's why I'm the bassist... you don't need two bass players in a band because we can be louder than anyone, and who says I don't like to play endless solos on my bass? Actually having a duo bass section in the band would be awesome, there is really and underestimated appreciation for high end bass work and mix that in with another bass playing low end stuff... ugh it's pure poetry.
8. Guitarists not having any clue what key they're in: If this is an issues I'd really suggest they pick a different hobby. I mean, if the guitarist doesn't know what key he's in, he's not trying to be an effective musical tool. I've had a hard time figuring out the key myself, but at least I'm trying. I've never been in a band where the guitarist didn't know what he was doing, and in fact, I've learned more from studying other guitarist's playing, than I have from bassist because there are never any bassists around to show me what to do.
9. Everyone assumes it's easy to play: Yeah? And sometimes it is, ever hear AC/DC? haha, I'm a Rush and Yes fanatic, difficult baselines are my bread and butter. And actually the simpler it is the less I have to think on my feet (literally) I like a good simple jam from time to time, but that's not always my style. Always love to change it up from time to time.
10. Bloody finger tips: What? This happens? For as long as I've played bass I've never actually seen any blood from my finger tips caused from excessive playing... I've cut my finger on a bread knife before, and still had to play for a rehearsal. I've had skin peel off before, like rubbing from a blister... but I've never actually seen any blood... And I use Rotosound 66 swing, religiously. They literally feel like sand paper on my fingers.
11. Part time sounds techs: Not really been an issues, all of my sound techs have been members of the band, usually the drummer. Usually likes to turn me down a lot... Can't understand why...
This leaves me to another thing though, I can never find a good bass tech... Luthiers are rare in this corner of the world to me, and I don't trust many to take care of my gear properly. and I haven't had the time to learn how to do it myself... I haven't had a set up on a bass in over 2 years... luckily this is why I like Aria, because they really haven't needed any set up for a long time and they still play almost brand new.
12. That Damn Drummer: Right? That *******'s always telling me to turn down and stop noodling between songs during rehearsal time... man, I like to have some fun once in a while.
I also like fills, I wish he'd do more of them, so I can play.
1. Strings are ridiculously expensive: Yeah, Strings are expensive... that's why I buy the best kind i can find (Rotosound for the win Baby!) I haven't changed my strings in at least 2 years and they still sound better than the cheap ones.
2. No one but other musicians appreciate the importance of the bass: Yeah, well that's to be expected, no one realizes how much work the guy in the back with the 4 string guitar is actually doing, but I know all the ladies love it.
3. That damn Meme: This is an important aspect of playing bass... the fish is the soul source of our sound and truly dictates what we're trying to accomplish... So when I see that meme, I'm proud someone truly understands us.
4. Everyone assumes you're laid back and boring: Well what if I am? Nothing wrong with being chill, and if people think I'm boring they should adjust that nob on their life and not be so damn uptight.
5. Bass Amps are inevitably way heavier than guitar amps: Hahaha, unless you roll with Markbass, then I'm the light weight champion on that. My Mesa Cabs aren't that bad either... Haven't really had to struggle moving equipment due to weight... (unless it's stairs, nothing will beat the annoyance of climbing stairs with your gear, no matter how heavy it is really.)
6. Where's the Bass section?: Okay this one I agree with, but I actually don't mind this, even going to Guitar Center there's just a tiny little room dedicated to bass equipment, and it's never anything that I find interesting. (no Warwick, often times no Richenbacker, no Aria, no Specter, none of the high end boutique basses). No string basses or double basses either, I did find an electric upright there once, and even an old used Hammer 12 string, but it was sold a long time ago, not to me... I wish I could have picked that up, but I like having a limited selection, because I know the best basses are few and far between, and I like rare and unheard of basses that beat the living hell out of any known brand out there, but when someone comes up to me and compliments me for the basses I've chosen, I just feel all warm and fuzzy inside cause it's awesome.
7. Guitarists, the more the worse it is: haha, and that's why I'm the bassist... you don't need two bass players in a band because we can be louder than anyone, and who says I don't like to play endless solos on my bass? Actually having a duo bass section in the band would be awesome, there is really and underestimated appreciation for high end bass work and mix that in with another bass playing low end stuff... ugh it's pure poetry.
8. Guitarists not having any clue what key they're in: If this is an issues I'd really suggest they pick a different hobby. I mean, if the guitarist doesn't know what key he's in, he's not trying to be an effective musical tool. I've had a hard time figuring out the key myself, but at least I'm trying. I've never been in a band where the guitarist didn't know what he was doing, and in fact, I've learned more from studying other guitarist's playing, than I have from bassist because there are never any bassists around to show me what to do.
9. Everyone assumes it's easy to play: Yeah? And sometimes it is, ever hear AC/DC? haha, I'm a Rush and Yes fanatic, difficult baselines are my bread and butter. And actually the simpler it is the less I have to think on my feet (literally) I like a good simple jam from time to time, but that's not always my style. Always love to change it up from time to time.
10. Bloody finger tips: What? This happens? For as long as I've played bass I've never actually seen any blood from my finger tips caused from excessive playing... I've cut my finger on a bread knife before, and still had to play for a rehearsal. I've had skin peel off before, like rubbing from a blister... but I've never actually seen any blood... And I use Rotosound 66 swing, religiously. They literally feel like sand paper on my fingers.
11. Part time sounds techs: Not really been an issues, all of my sound techs have been members of the band, usually the drummer. Usually likes to turn me down a lot... Can't understand why...
This leaves me to another thing though, I can never find a good bass tech... Luthiers are rare in this corner of the world to me, and I don't trust many to take care of my gear properly. and I haven't had the time to learn how to do it myself... I haven't had a set up on a bass in over 2 years... luckily this is why I like Aria, because they really haven't needed any set up for a long time and they still play almost brand new.
12. That Damn Drummer: Right? That *******'s always telling me to turn down and stop noodling between songs during rehearsal time... man, I like to have some fun once in a while.
I also like fills, I wish he'd do more of them, so I can play.
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