Am I missing out, by not knowing cover songs?

[Whil57]

I knew a couple of people who couldn't jam or play cover tunes. Nor could they really get people to easily understand their original music. I taught them some fundamentals, and it castrated them. They went from writing/producing stuff i'd never heard and felt was different, to crap. (I feel really bad about it to this day). I'll never teach someone who has 5 or 10 years of self taught and written songs again. I feel i did them a disservice.

 

[MrLenny1]

YES!

 

[Blueinred]

You are what you eat.

Musically, physically, intellectually, politically, philosophically, etc., etc.

(Even if you're force fed.)

 

[wraub]

No.
...well.., maybe.

 

[logdrum]

Why is everyone assuming that because the OP is not playing covers that he is lacking compositionally or technique wise than the middle of the road bass player?

Unless you are doing Frank Zappa covers or Steve Reich or new classical music or Ornette or late Coltrane, I think there are only so many chord changes 95% played in comfortable keys in 4/4 and covers will only get you so far. Specially if you are limited to very few genres, the once that pay so to speak.

Most music played for entertainment is familiar and relatable to the non musician audience. The lyrics are what people really connect with or beats they can dance to. In popular music, you can cop many styles, but writing lyrics that is something else and probably is the differentiator of a "composer" these days.

So without knowing the OP, hearing his music, knowing his audience, goals and his support/fan base my answer is just one word.

"Depends"

 

[IamGroot]

Go to a local jam session, get on stage, and find out for yourself.

 

[BassiklyAC]

“Am I missing out, or worse, hurting my development, as a bass player??”

YES

 

[mambo4]

My gut would say no, but my experience has taught me otherwise.

Agreed 100%

No matter how good your own original music is, you simply have no idea what you do not know. Creating your own music is a powerful way to learn, but one of the biggest mistakes you can make is the assumption that you have nothing to learn from others.

 

[bbh]

After being a hobby guitarist for decades, I became an avid bassist about 6 years ago, and am loving it. Now, because it's a hobby for me (albeit one I take quite seriously), I am having an absolute blast playing in three different original bands. And yet...

...I don't know a single cover tune. Many on here seem to advocate how much your playing can improve and inspiration can rise, if you study and play other bassists parts. However, being in three original acts, and being a composer as well, I just can't find the time.

Am I missing out, or worse, hurting my development, as a bass player??

Yes you are missing out. Not to worry, you have the rest of your life. You’ll get to it at some point. Maybe on the tour bus...

 

[CoffeeLove]

For me, yes, definitely missing out. I have learned so much from playing a wide range of cover tunes. In essence, it gives you a bigger vocabulary from which you can speak. However, if your happy, it's all good.

 

[bbh]

I always eschewed covers for the most part (I was in punk and post-punk original bands for a long time, and the emphasis was ALWAYS on originals, with maybe a random and very rare cover) until I was in my 40's. Now I wish I spent more time learning other peoples' songs when I had more time to do both that and write original stuff. Now it's often a challenge to play ANYthing on a given day. I can't say what's best for you, but my advice would be to learn some of the songs you love.

Yes. I have a few friends who can’t jam because they only know their originals.

 

[JimmyM]

I think there's a lot of good to be had in learning covers, especially if you're a writer. You can learn how good songs are constructed and arranged, you get ideas you may not have thought about, and a whole lot of great songwriters have a background in learning covers. A lot don't, too, though, and some claim it gives them a unique perspective, which I get. Too many of them think they're doing something very original by not having any background in doing covers, though, and a lot of them are simply reinventing the wheel and calling it new.

 

[hardtop]

After being a hobby guitarist for decades, I became an avid bassist about 6 years ago, and am loving it. Now, because it's a hobby for me (albeit one I take quite seriously), I am having an absolute blast playing in three different original bands. And yet...

...I don't know a single cover tune. Many on here seem to advocate how much your playing can improve and inspiration can rise, if you study and play other bassists parts. However, being in three original acts, and being a composer as well, I just can't find the time.

Am I missing out, or worse, hurting my development, as a bass player??

I'm with you man. I know almost no covers. Started playing originals, albeit terrible ones, from day one. Ive learned a few over time, even recorded a couple, but quickly forgot them. they are so few and far between that they absolutely do not inform my playing whatsoever. I've never had time to sit down and learn stuff while I was writing, playing, working, raising a kid, etc. I'm 12 years in now and I have even less time to learn anything but what's going on the album.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Don't bother if you're this far along with originals. Besides in a few years live cover bands will be very few and far between.

 

[glocke1]

Am I missing out, or worse, hurting my development, as a bass player??

Yes...

Learning covers can help you in a couple of different areas.

Ear Training: Learning and transcribing whats played in a recording will help your ears get better.


Creativity: Learning what others have done, and how other bass players have approached making up basslines to progressions will give you ideas on how to come up with better basslines.

Honestly, other than what I had to play for songs that various bands were playing, I never really put much thought or effort into learning bass lines of tunes that weren't in rotation in a band i was in. I still don't due to time constraints but I will put some effort in once in awhile to learn a bass line to a tune that isn't being played by a band.

I think it's helped me become a stronger player.

 

[TreySonagras]

Would a writer benefit from studying literature other than his own?

 

[interp]

If you can bear with me there’s an old Russian/Soviet joke that addresses this issue perfectly.

A member of the Siberian Chukchi tribe, traditionally the butt of jokes in Russia (think Polish jokes), applies for entrance to the prestigious Russian Writers Guild. It requires passing an interview on knowledge of Russian literature.

Interviewer: Have you read any Tolstoy?
Chukchi: Chukchi not read Tolstoy.
I: Are you familiar with Turgenev?
C: Chukchi not read Turgenev.
I: How about Dostoevsky? Surely you’ve read him.
C: Chukchi not read Dostoevsky.
I: What can you tell me about Alexander Pushkin?
C: Chukchi never read Pushkin.
Interviewer: Well, if you’ve never read any Russian literature how can you expect to be admitted to the Russia Writers Guild?
Chukchi: Chukchi not reader, Chukchi writer.

 

[Flamingo21]

You should omit everything that takes you five minutes to learn and concentrate on those songs that feel unnatural to play.

+1

 

[lfmn16]

Is this a serious question? What you are really asking is can you learn anything from the greatest bass players of all time.

 

[bassplace]

Well you can absolutely learn a ton from studying the greats. That being said, everyone has a slightly different path.

If you get a call to play two or three sets of covers, you will then be tasked with learning other peoples' parts. This is fun too!

I just played my first pick up gig last night. Had to learn 3 sets in a week. One rehearsal. I did this as an opportunity to play with other musicians and as a challenge because I'd like to play more.

I found it most valuable to play with others than just learn covers.