slobake
resident ... something
That comment was made by a drummer.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
In my 40 years of playing I've experienced a different view as to my being the Bass Player:
1. All bands I've been in have built me a special lighted stage that hoovered over the front of the stage
2. Had lasers that spelled out my name and pointed to me as I was playing
3. Had 2-4 Go-Go dancers dancing around me at all times
4. Had my own dressing room, even if it meant that the rest of the band had to change in the alley
5. All band members would bow down and kiss my feet before each show
6. Had a assistant bass player play all my parts off stage so all I had to do is stand there and look good.
7. All my stage outfits were hand made and paid for by the band account.
8. A special couch was placed onstage in case I got tired and needed to take a nap.
9. A path of rose petals were laid out for me to walk out on.
10. At the end of each show I'm carried off stage on the shoulders of my band mates.
.... Being a bass player is rough!
1. All bands I've been in have built me a special lighted stage that hoovered over the front of the stage
2. Had lasers that spelled out my name and pointed to me as I was playing
3. Had 2-4 Go-Go dancers dancing around me at all times
4. Had my own dressing room, even if it meant that the rest of the band had to change in the alley
5. All band members would bow down and kiss my feet before each show
6. Had a assistant bass player play all my parts off stage so all I had to do is stand there and look good.
7. All my stage outfits were hand made and paid for by the band account.
8. A special couch was placed onstage in case I got tired and needed to take a nap.
9. A path of rose petals were laid out for me to walk out on.
10. At the end of each show I'm carried off stage on the shoulders of my band mates.
.... Being a bass player is rough!
I saw a bass with optical pickups the other day. I told the player to put his sorcery back in its case lest it hurt someone.
Then there's this, pinched from another forum:
OP said:
Reply said:
Reply2 said:
So I guess there is a pecking order. I love my acoustic guitar too!
I'm TRYING to imagine a guitarist (or other band member) feeling superior as an instrumentalist to the bassist, in the case(s) of say, Nathan East, Marcus Miller, Chuck Rainey, Anthony Jackson, Abe Laboriel, Vic Wooten, Bobby Vega, and of course many many other great bassists...
Those guys are the pinnacle, but the principle is the same: ANY skilled musician knows that the bass is the foundation of the music, no matter the genre, so anything other than RESPECT!
is stoopid.
If a player does feel that their instrument is superior, its quite obvious that THEY in fact, are impaired!
Those guys are the pinnacle, but the principle is the same: ANY skilled musician knows that the bass is the foundation of the music, no matter the genre, so anything other than RESPECT!
is stoopid.
If a player does feel that their instrument is superior, its quite obvious that THEY in fact, are impaired!
The other musicians in the band might respect you but if something sounds out of tune or off key they always assume its the bass. One of the guitarists I've played with for years, one of my best friends and very entertaining player, is just a sloppy musician. There have been many times over the years where he was playing the wrong riff or chord and was half a step off. Often the singer came to me afterwards about how I sounded out of tune on that song.
Another guitarist I've worked with on two occasions after the bass was already recorded changed the song. Both times he had the audacity to tell me that I played the part wrong. I don't work with that guy any more. The first time it was just a small bridge part and the change did make the song better. I just assumed he forgot to tell me about it, although, no one else knew about the change either. The second time was a big change to the song. One that we had been performing for months. Not just a change to the chords but a change to the rhythm as well. This was a different project with about ten years in between the two events. The first one he was very involved with and the second he was just phoning it in. I'm 90% sure on the second occasion he forgot the part and didn't want to admit it.
Last edited:
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
I am a stupid failed guitarist
Actually I played bass first, play 99% fretless and have done so since the 70s, and pride myself on being able to outplay on guitar most guitarists I play with but prefer bass as it is far more challenging since you have to understand all melodic and rhythmic aspects of the music you are playing rather than just your own ego. Miaow. Or maybe Rzzzzz.
I love all the attention my post is getting. I am a guitarist and a bassist. I love playing both. I respect all musicians, even the ones that suck! I think the one thing that is sad, though, is that people fail to recognize that there is some truth to all humor. The trope of hating the bass player and the associated humor is based on a truth. That doesn't mean it's always true, or even true that often. But I think it reflects how guitarists often are not familiar with what the bass is supposed to do, in addition to what it is capable of doing. There are whole genres of music built around that - that being a lack of consideration for the lower register. I was hoping for a deeper dialogue, but instead it seems that people need validation in themselves and to share that validation with everybody else.
Parse it however you want. Your premise holds no water. There will always be an egomaniac A-hole who thinks they are king sh*t. Happens everywhere, not just bands. Get over it. Great guitarists, drummers, etc. WANT and VALUE a great bass player. Case closed.
Why are you so dismissive of this particular idea, instead of engaging in a dialogue? Why not instead discuss this as if it were hypothetical?
Been on both sides of the respect coin with other musicians... The vast majority have been pleasant, with mutual respect most often. An unfortunate few where one of the folks had a definite idea of what everyone else should be playing during the never-ending leads... one of those was during several sub-gigs with a very good friend who is the groups long-time drummer... I have turned down the last several opportunities for that very reason. I have no idea how my buddy copes in this group!
On the "wrong note must be the bass-player" thing, I've done my time there as well... in my long time roots band, every time, almost without fail, whenever there was a clam, the BL was looking at me. Even after years of playing together and knowing me to be the first to raise my hand when it actually was me! Finally I became kind of immune to it until we got a new drummer in the line-up and he started saying "Uh, that wasn't the bass that was wrong"... still continued until we started recording practices and building a practice library... recordings don't lie. To his credit, I did get a pseudo apology. Great band, but for that (and a few other things)...
For the most part, peeps be cool...
-robert
On the "wrong note must be the bass-player" thing, I've done my time there as well... in my long time roots band, every time, almost without fail, whenever there was a clam, the BL was looking at me. Even after years of playing together and knowing me to be the first to raise my hand when it actually was me! Finally I became kind of immune to it until we got a new drummer in the line-up and he started saying "Uh, that wasn't the bass that was wrong"... still continued until we started recording practices and building a practice library... recordings don't lie. To his credit, I did get a pseudo apology. Great band, but for that (and a few other things)...
For the most part, peeps be cool...
-robert
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I've played bass for over thirty years. Only once have I heard "bass is easy" - when I auditioned for a band a few months ago. Out of five songs I learned for this, I had to teach the lead guitarist the opening riff on one tune, and the entire band the rhythm for the bridge on another.
When they offered me the spot after the audition, I politely declined.
When they offered me the spot after the audition, I politely declined.
So I'm not engaging in a dialogue unless I agree with you? Your logic escapes me...yet again.
Musicians whom I've worked with tend to respect the bassist, especially if they've ever tried to hire one at the last minute.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Most of the jerk guitarists I've met were pretty much without bands. There are a buttload of guitar players out there, and a relative shortage of drummers and bassists. If they can't be nice to the rhythm section, they just end up playing in their bedrooms by themselves
Lead singers, probably lol
Kidding aside, the only time I encountered derision was when a much younger guy who I knew from work seemed to think my choosing to play bass instead of continuing to puruse guitar was giving up. He was barely more than a kid, and had a lot of opinions. He's loosed up a lot in the last 10 years or so haha
My bandmates show respect, and encouragement when I struggle with something. Guitarist is a great teacher and I often ask for his input. Other musicians at gigs we play sometimes compliment my sound. I try to do the same. The camaraderie is nice.
I have played with several guitarists who thought the bass was too loud just sitting in the case, that we were a sub species, only there to help stroke the ego of their god like presence. I see this kind of behavior rarely, but it's always a freakin guitarist when it happens.
Most musicians appreciate a good bassist. Some Revere them. I agree with several posts here, that said to hone your craft, play your role well, and avoid the ********.
Most musicians appreciate a good bassist. Some Revere them. I agree with several posts here, that said to hone your craft, play your role well, and avoid the ********.
