Bit of Christmas nonsense, but I have been noticing a heavier-than-bandmates trend amongst bassists and thought a poll should shatter this myth once and for all. Er, or not.
Merry Christmas
Davo
Merry Christmas
Davo
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Are bassists heavier?
- Thread starter Davo-London
- Start date
While we all know its perfectly possible for people of all different sizes to play bass. The main reason I started playing bass is because I thought 'I am a big person, with a large hand span, what instrument might I be more adept at playing'.
Which did actually leave me with a lot of options, things like large wind instruments.
However in terms of mainstream instruments it was a choice between piano and bass.
Bass seemed easiest to carry around.
Which did actually leave me with a lot of options, things like large wind instruments.
However in terms of mainstream instruments it was a choice between piano and bass.
Bass seemed easiest to carry around.
I'm probably a bit heavier than the other guys in the band ... but my explanation for that is simply that I'm taller than them. 
I'd say the amount of flab around the midriff is actually about the same.
I'd say the amount of flab around the midriff is actually about the same.
First 40 years of my life, one answer, the rest, the opposite answer. 
6' 1" & 160lbs (i'm slowly getting back up to my high school weight of 195 ilbs)
Does this bass make my ass look fat?
6'2' 180 currently. Back to the gym on a regular schedule after the holiday, though. Need to drop 20 or so. (It's getting a lot harder to keep the fat percentage down than it used to...)
mark beem
Wait, how does this song start again??
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
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6' 0" and 350 going down. (Dropped 20lbs in last 2 months!). One drummer I jam with is 5' 6" and 360...
So I am big but not biggest.
Fwiw my jam friends and I are doing a musical chops build weight loss challenge.
So I am big but not biggest.
Fwiw my jam friends and I are doing a musical chops build weight loss challenge.
Bassists are indeed the heaviest players.
Dude - have you ever heard "that's a heavy vocal line"? Nope.
If they're playing 70s Fenders they're also playing the literally heaviest instrument.
Slilghtly more serious answer - like someone else has already said - it tends to attracts people who think they can handle the size of it and the decisions you make early in your musical journey determine things like what instrument you prefer to play - so, as I've said elsewhere you just don't see too many 12 yr old girls playing bass (upright or guitar) 'cause they can't reach the notes. Doesn't mean they can't (think carol Kaye (not a large lady) or Tina Weymouth (even smaller) but the size scares away many people who might have been fine players.
Less serious - we do a lot less coke and speed than guitarists, drummers and singers, so we burn fewer calories.
More seriously - you can't jump around on this instrument like you can as a guitarist or singer (Flea being an obvious exception) and you're not flailing around like on drums.
I would say that, in general, bassists do tend to be a bit heavyer.
Dano seems to have some of that figured out.
Dano seems to have some of that figured out.
