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And suddenly... two bassists?

E

Em_K

Oct 16, 2011
19
0
Scandinavia
#1
I'd like to ask your opinion (and perhaps experiences) about the following matter. This is a tricky situation and it bothers me a lot at the moment.

I have been playing bass in a punk band for almost two years now. I replaced the former bassist who moved abroad.

I have practiced a lot, spent quite a lot of money and been very much involved to all things concerning the band. We are approaching our biggest gig yet in a very high-profile club, and we all have been very exited and making a lot of plans.

I don't want to sound like some arrogant Ms. Know-It-All, but I have the best knowledge in music in our band. I've been practicing music since I was a child and kept it going to my adulthood. I studied guitar, music theory and orchestration in a music school for several years and then had a private teacher. My band members all played some instruments for few years as children, but then quitted in their pre-teens.

But few days ago it hit me. I couldn't take part to the last rehearsal due to an important family event and afterwards I heard that they had decided to invite the original bassist from abroad to play with us in the gig! Their idea is to have two bass players on stage. I think it sounds cute for them being sort of "loyal" to their old bassist etc.

But...

I have to say I am a bit frustrated since I've practised so hard, and I'm even investing to a new bass before the gig.
It feels like I've done all the work and suddenly someone else comes and eats the whole cake for me. It feels like that even though they said there will be two bass players. I can't help it.

But what do you think? Is it a good idea to have two bassists in a punk band? We play melodic punk. I think that there just aren't enough elements in our music to have two bassists playing it. I'm afraid that the lower section will sound too fatty. I'm originally a guitarist and a saxophonist, and because of the latter I'm very familiar with improvising. But when I've tried to use some variation in my playing (in other words , playing other than roots) the other members disallow me to do this and want me to play exactly the sounds that the guitar is playing (we only have a rhythm guitarist). I think this is exremely ridiculous, since it kind of waters down the meaning of the bass in the band. I've tried to explain all this, but they think I'm wrong and should just listen to them because they form the majority with their opinions. They just want to be "safe" all the time without wanting to take risks with trying out new things.

I'd like to have some advice from some more experienced band players. How do you handle situations like this? I don't want to lose my band, but find it very hard to go on when we cannot discuss or they don't ever give value to my opinions, even when they concern myself.
 
#2
For a start: Make sure they're not just doing this to push you out so their friend can re-join the band.

With only one guitarist you could have room for two bass players, but one will probably have to take a role which is not really a 'bass player' role. It will be more of a guitarist role, really.

If your guitarist doesn't like the bass doing anything interesting, then I don't know how he expects to fit two bass players in his band.

It could work, but it would be a compromise for everybody involved and you will all need to be very open minded about what the bass is required to do.
 
#3
Not sure if you’d really want to do this, but since you also play guitar, tell them that if they bring the other bassist in, you’re going to play guitar.

Or if you don’t like that idea, let the other bassist cover the bass lines, and you can play the “other than the root notes”, which is what you kinda wanted to do, anyway. Might be fun.

Is the old bassist available to gig now?
 
#4
I wouldn't like it either, and based on your account would probably leave if they go through with it. It just sounds like there's not much there to keep me interested in tolerating their crude behavior towards you.

Em_K said:
I don't want to lose my band, but find it very hard to go on when we cannot discuss or they don't ever give value to my opinions, even when they concern myself.
Click to expand...

This is the bottom line to me. I'm sorry, but I don't see how you're going to get any satisfaction and also stay in the band.

This is going to sound harsh, but unfortunately you have very little negotiating capital in this situation. Not only has your band marginalized your position prior to this second bassist issue, but now they're exhibiting that a replacement is readily available (assuming the old bassist is back from abroad to stay).

At this time they don't accept your input, and probably won't be persuaded by a threat to quit.

So it seems that your only recourse would be to politely ask them not to do this out of respect for you, then either accept their decision and their future behavior, or quit.

You'll be fine, something better will come along. I'm sure that where I live a female Scandinavian bassist could get a band in about... 2 seconds. :D

Good luck.
 
#5
Like Kev says, make sure this isn't some ruse to jettison you.

Do they understand how dual bass players are supposed to work? One sticks to the low end while the other usually plays on the D and G string (preferably with some distortion)?

It's quite an unusual sound so maybe they are keen to take some risks after all. What sort of thing were they turning their nose up at before? It might just be that they think improvisation and punk don't really go together very well. I would agree with that personally.

At the end of the day you and the other bass player are going to have to work closely together otherwise it could be a disaster. It's going to be fairly pointless if you both play the same thing.

I'm surprised they didn't ask if you minded first though. I would be kinda pissed off in your situation for that reason alone. It's pretty rude, do they not take your opinions/feelings into account at all?
 
#6
It sounds like you're being pushed out and it is the best thing they could have done for you. They tell you what to play and don't listen to your opinion. What are you doing playing with them anyway?

Have some self-respect. If you are a good player with good ideas, you should be part of the band, not an afterthought.
 
#9
ChrisB2 said:
You'll be fine, something better will come along. I'm sure that where I live a female Scandinavian bassist could get a band in about... 2 seconds. :D

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks! :D

Actually their justification didn't come from the quality of the sound that two bass players are able to produce together, but from the fact that the stage is so large that they think it looks better to have more things going on it it! And I guess they want to get the old bassist occupied when visiting home. But I think that when you pick a new member for your band, he/she has to be a permanent one, not just some visitor that can be replaced and taken back whenever it feels like it.

I have asked about participating with a guitar or my saxophone, but they say they don't want to take the risk. I find this even more offensing, cause they know that I've been playing both instruments for years. They make it sound as if I can't play anything.
 
#10
I did a fill-in with an old-style full big band (like in the '40s). Cool gig, but pages were always missing from the book, bass and guitar books. At the gig, the leader thought it would be nice to invite another bassist and guitarist to play as well, like that would make up for all those missing pages. Sheez, what a mess. I played one set and quit, telling the other bass player (a young cat) it was all his.

Another big band rehearsal had me and another bassist reading charts, except he was only following the changes and not reading the notes like I was. Another mess. I never went back.

That's my take on it. Two basses just don't work.
 
#11
I've once played a few songs with another bassist (I was leaving the band and he was taking my place). It was seriously cool. But if this is the way you feel about it, confront them. If they can't see you're side of things, consider leaving the band. After all your bass playing is not going to get any better playing with this band?
 
#12
We won't have much time to practice with the old bassist, two evenings max. Our singer is absolutely confirmed that two basses will produce "a nice thick punk sound" but she doesn't have any experience of using two basses in the same band. She doesn't even play bass herself.

I find it very hard to negotiate with them, since their main arguments are "practicing two different bass lines is too complicated and a huge risk, just play the same notes simultaneously" and "two basses playing the same notes = nice raw punk sound".

How can I make them realise that havig two bassists isn't exactly a safe choice when the goal is to avoid all risks?
 
#13
Em_K said:
I have asked about participating with a guitar or my saxophone, but they say they don't want to take the risk. I find this even more offensing, cause they know that I've been playing both instruments for years. They make it sound as if I can't play anything.
Click to expand...

Why do you want to play with such control freaks that obviously don't value your opinion or talents?
 
#15
My bandmates have been very nice so far, but now that the gig date is getting closer they suddenly turn in to berzerks. Their latest idea is to ban me from using any other notes than roots in my basslines. The singer made it clear that she won't allow me to take the risk of playing thirds or fifths! I guess that they are pretty unsure about themselves and their ability to play and they think that we are all in the same situation. If they'd just stop fussing and let me do my job without interruptions! I don't say anything about their playing so I hope they'd do the same for me.

They also push me to buy a new bass. I am a student and don't have much money. I have to check many options and find one that fits me both musically and financially. The seem to think that buying an instrument is bit like buying milk from the grocery store - you just take the first one that comes in to your sight.

But now I've told them what I think about them making decisions behind my back. If they still say that I'm not entitled to my opinion, it's sayonara then.

Finding a new band where I live isn't easy. Especially if you are a girl. I've noticed that so many guys think female players are cool, but don't want to play with one. :D And girls don't want to play at all! It is suprising. The band where I am at the moment had very hard time finding a female bass player. Being in a band has been my dream since I was a teen, but I couldn't find one till I was in my twenties. Metal is a huge phenomenon here in Scandinavia and there are so many bands playing it, but it is not exactly my cup of tea.
 
#20
A "band" that makes ultimatums and dictates your parts to you as if you are an employee is not a band at all.

Get out of there. Your bandmates sound like a bunch of idiots. Start your own band with people who are a little more sure of themselves.

If you do decide to play the show (I wouldn't!), +1 to Ned's Atomic Dustbin. Also check out a band called Dos. Ignore their dictation and play what you want to play on the bandstand. It will be a good way to announce your resignation!
 

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