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An audition requires you to play with a pick. Why?
- Thread starter JaneBass1
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I think there might be some dissention from the OP's post, because there seems to be a discussion between being paid to play for a band as opposed to joining a band.
Here's how I see it (Naivety included!)
If you're paid to play for a band, you play whatever the band leader asks you to. If you get paid to work in a factory and your boss tells you to put 4 items in a box, you don't put 8, smile and say "look, I'm doubling up! isn't that better?" You do what your boss says.
if you're joining a band, IMO, thats an entirely different animal. If you voluntarily join a project, I would expect that the rest of the band looks to you to craft your bass playing yourself, rather than standing around waiting to be told what to do.
My two cents, but I think the OP was talking about joining a band, not a paid gig.
round three, FIGHT!
Here's how I see it (Naivety included!)
If you're paid to play for a band, you play whatever the band leader asks you to. If you get paid to work in a factory and your boss tells you to put 4 items in a box, you don't put 8, smile and say "look, I'm doubling up! isn't that better?" You do what your boss says.
if you're joining a band, IMO, thats an entirely different animal. If you voluntarily join a project, I would expect that the rest of the band looks to you to craft your bass playing yourself, rather than standing around waiting to be told what to do.
My two cents, but I think the OP was talking about joining a band, not a paid gig.
round three, FIGHT!
why wouldn't it be? it's the band dictating your sound by what they want, rather than what you can bring to the table. it's the same thing as saying "only pick players" because your rig and bass are a huge determining factor in how you sound, much the same way as playing with a pick, slapping, or fingerstyle is.
sorry if my post was a bit vague.
It just gets deeper and deeper.
For all any of you know the people who placed the ad could be into the Dixie Dregs and Yes. The ASSUMPTION that you'd have to play roots is ridiculous... and fits in perfectly with this thread. You'd choose to ASSUME it because it MIGHT happen. Beats actually finding out.
Wow.
+1. Wow. Even after DOZENS of level-headed, mature responses, there are STILL shortsighted and NARROW-MINDED posts on page 5.
God help us. This thread was over on post number 3. There's your answer.
Recap: NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AD. They're looking for something specific, it's their right. Don't play with a pick? Move on and quit embarrassing yourself.
For the record I would not care if a bass player used a pick, fingers or both. All I would care about is if he can play and his tone.
I will admit that I can be a little biased towards pick players. I have seen way to many failed guitarist playing bass in bands. The bass all the way down to their knees playing the root all night.
Recently I saw a band with an awesome pick player. Awesome skills and tone. He was playing a P bass with flats.
I will admit that I can be a little biased towards pick players. I have seen way to many failed guitarist playing bass in bands. The bass all the way down to their knees playing the root all night.
Recently I saw a band with an awesome pick player. Awesome skills and tone. He was playing a P bass with flats.
It wasn't vague. I just disagree with the premise. Still do.
But, honestly, I also see nothing wrong with someone having an ad that says, "Must play Ampeg SVT and PBass."
That's the thing. There isn't anything wrong with that, although a request like that is a little odd...
James Brown told his bass players they had to use down strokes or he'd fine them. Of course, he was James Brown. Are these guys equally famous?
On a contract job, they say pick, I play pick. If I think it sounds better with fingers, I wave the pick at them and sneak in the fingers (Tommy Tedesco would be proud).
Otherwise, every band situation is negotiable. If you are a hot shot player, you have more room to dictate your terms. But remember, in reality, there are musical ignorantia out there that will think "you are JUST the bass player".
Actually, what really pisses me off about the CL is when they say you have to be 18-30. I guess they wouldn't dream about saying I had to be white, or protestant, but excluding someone by age instead of talent is OK.
On a contract job, they say pick, I play pick. If I think it sounds better with fingers, I wave the pick at them and sneak in the fingers (Tommy Tedesco would be proud).
Otherwise, every band situation is negotiable. If you are a hot shot player, you have more room to dictate your terms. But remember, in reality, there are musical ignorantia out there that will think "you are JUST the bass player".
Actually, what really pisses me off about the CL is when they say you have to be 18-30. I guess they wouldn't dream about saying I had to be white, or protestant, but excluding someone by age instead of talent is OK.
oh, ok, fair enough then. I was trying to make a metaphor, and admittingly maybe reached a little too far.
Also, I hate having my guitard tell me to buy ampeg when I get better, more verstile, and dirtier sound (IMO) from my trace...
but anyway, yeah, I think this thread is pretty much dead. whatever the band wants to put on their audition post, they can.
I think there might be some dissention from the OP's post, because there seems to be a discussion between being paid to play for a band as opposed to joining a band.
Here's how I see it (Naivety included!)
If you're paid to play for a band, you play whatever the band leader asks you to. If you get paid to work in a factory and your boss tells you to put 4 items in a box, you don't put 8, smile and say "look, I'm doubling up! isn't that better?" You do what your boss says.
if you're joining a band, IMO, thats an entirely different animal. If you voluntarily join a project, I would expect that the rest of the band looks to you to craft your bass playing yourself, rather than standing around waiting to be told what to do.
My two cents, but I think the OP was talking about joining a band, not a paid gig.
round three, FIGHT!
It really doesn't make a difference. It's surprising that some people don't even get that. In this case you act as if there's one way to join a band.
So when you post your craigslist ad, you can specify that. that has nothing to do with this.
They're probably playing because so many bassists show up with their heads up their ____.
[sarcasm]Sorry![/sarcasm]So when you post your craigslist ad, you can specify that. that has nothing to do with this.
Personally I would love to be auditioning some of these people. I would do it as a panel too, get my velvet late and wear my best scarf....sit back and shout out "NEXT!" every time one of them tries to argue about me wanting them to do a certain thing.
[sarcasm]Sorry![/sarcasm]
It's okay... it's not entirely hopeless. Eventually this stuff can start making sense.
I saw Rhonda Smith on an interview once saying that Prince makes her play a 75 Fender Jazz bass.
When you go through a passive house DI, what's the audience going to hear? Playing style is #1 when it comes to sound. Tool wouldn't sound like Tool if it was played with slap or fingers. A band wants the sound of a pick. Maybe they play punk, maybe they play metal, maybe they play jazz fusion. Your guess is as good as mine. They want the sound of a pick, it's their band, they want it to sound a certain way. Let it go. This has no effect on your life. What's next are you going to complain that a band wants someone in their age group? Do you think singers get in a hissy fit when an ad requests an alto singer or singer of a different gender than them? Pick is a different "voice" of the same instrument. If I were forming a death metal band and I needed a singer, "only growlers need apply" would be right in the title. It wouldn't matter how soulful your blues voice is or whether or not you have a 5 octave range, because the "voice" I'd be looking for is death metal growl.
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