Annoying kid with annoying criticsm...

[Randy13]

Alright so, this kid at my school won't leave me alone about my technique (which he shouldn't have the right to do anyway since he doesn't even play bass). He keeps calling me the "p" word (not sure if you can say it on TB) because I play with a pick and not my fingers. I tell him that I play with both but I just get a clearer sound with a pick so it's what I play with and practice with normally. He then tells me that true bassists never pick up a pick in their life and use nothing but their fingers and that I should give up on bass. I ignore this and walk away.

The next day, he bugs me again. Only this time, he comments on the songs that I play. He says that the stuff that I play is the "s" word (again, I'm not sure if this can be used on TB). That I shouldn't be playing stuff like Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, and other punk rock songs, and that I should play "real" and "harder" bass stuff. I tell him that playing bass isn't about playing "hard" bass lines but instead playing your favorite songs and enjoy playing all together. He tells me calls me a "p" word yet again and tells me that I play "s" word bass lines by "s" word bass players.

In short, this kid won't leave me alone about how I play, what I play, and why I play it.

And my question is, do you agree with him or am I right about how I play? Just want some opinions on the subject.

 

[Joe Nerve]

A bass bully!

Hit him with a garbage can.

 

[Chebass88]

What, in his definition, is "real bass stuff"? I want to know if what I am practicing meets muster from some punk in NH.

 

[Randy13]

Um, he didn't really give examples. He only mentioned Red Hot Chili Peppers, which, in my opinion, aren't that great of a group.

 

[Twnty1inRF]

Play him a copy of 'Roundabout' by Yes (Chris Squire) or 'For The Love Of Money' by The O'Jays (Anthony Jackson) and THEN ask him if playing bass with a pick is for p*****...

Then ignore him.

Tony Levin occasionally plays his bass with drumsticks attached to his fingers (he calls them Funk Fingers).

 

[bassteban]

Tell him he's right. I bet he'll go away if you don't argue or disagree. Then go play what you want.

 

[olaff421]

There is two camps in bass playing (well 3 really.) Finger players, pick players, and then the hybrid ones. If you look around on here you will see some pretty heated and pointless debates about this topic. Both sides have thier ideas of what bass playing should be. I myself use what is right for the song and for me playing the song. If I'm doing a lot of big chords I'll use a pick, if I was a laid back, rounder feel I'll use my fingers. Do what's right for you.

As far as your music choices it's up to you. There are millions of music listeners and players out there. It is the diversity of those people that makes music interesting. If we all played the absolute hardest bass lines then, IMO, it would be kind of boring. Play what you want. Period. It might be fun, and helpful, to learn some of those harder lines, but that's up to you.

If this kid isn't a bass player, ask him to play some songs from Rush or some old Cliff Burton Metallica with his fingers and see how easy he thinks it is. I wouldn't even pay any attention to him.

 

[erochelle77]

Tell him to buy a bass and then he can play what he wants

 

[Fishbrain]

Um, he didn't really give examples. He only mentioned Red Hot Chili Peppers, which, in my opinion, aren't that great of a group.

he said rhcp is real bass stuff? does he not know that flea is known to use a pick every now an then? does that mean it isnt real bass stuff anymore?

 

[bassteban]

A bass bully!

Hit him with a garbage can.

Priceless- my new sig! Con permisso, Mr. Nerve?

 

[pstyle]

Here's what you do:

He'll stop buggin you

 

[Joe Nerve]

Priceless- my new sig! Con permisso, Mr. Nerve?

Absolutely.

I wonder if that girl above knows yet how famous she is. I crack up every time I see a new pic with her in it. Now she's TRULY priceless!

 

[Jazz Ad]

Why even answering ? Tell him to go fornicate himself and do your stuff.

 

[Randy13]

As far as your music choices it's up to you. There are millions of music listeners and players out there. It is the diversity of those people that makes music interesting. If we all played the absolute hardest bass lines then, IMO, it would be kind of boring. Play what you want. Period. It might be fun, and helpful, to learn some of those harder lines, but that's up to you.

I do occasionally learn some of the harder stuff (such as Nirvana, Metallica, and Ozzy) but he tells me that I'm not truly playing it unless it's with my fingers and not a pick.

 

[Funkus Barfucal]

Tell him, "AS soon as you can out play me, then we'll talk. Untill then, shut the F*ck Up"!

 

[enigmabass]

ask him to play something for you, while he is playing hit him with a fish, or a garbage can as was mentioned earlier.

 

[bassteban]

Garbage can, filled w/fish(dead, smelly rotten ones)over the head, then go fornicate himself(also classic, Jazz Ad). OK, scratch the last one- don't want this closed.

 

[cosmicevan]

simply say "thanks for the feedback, duly noted"

if he continues to bother you ask him what his obsession is with you and why he cares? seems pretty odd that someone would comment on your playing at all, let alone someone who doesn't play the instrument.

 

[Jim Breece]

Rise above it. Don't play his game. He probably has self esteem issues he's working out on you. Pity him and move on. If that doesn't work for you, tell him his mama dresses him funny.

 

[erochelle77]

Absolutely.

I wonder if that girl above knows yet how famous she is. I crack up every time I see a new pic with her in it. Now she's TRULY priceless!

Yes. Her parents were actually filing lawsuits in her behalf with ever website that they could find with that picture. Ofcourse, when word of that got out, the internet exploded with it, and there were simply too many sites to deal with.