Are bassists underrated?

[Arii Tahamena]

bassists can get the ladies too ya know.

 

[Lobster11]

Some of the best bassists are ladies, ya know.

 

[Picton]

You’re asking this on TalkBass, so I’d imagine you’ll get a number of “yes” responses.

Just saying it’s not exactly a random sample.

 

[JRA]

bassists can get the ladies too ya know.

exactly how many have you gotten? inquiring mind, here.

 

[Grumry]

No.

 

[MordBass]

I say yes for a good reason... for the general public it seems to take a forward bass approach like Flea in order to get noticed..... but for guitarists/drummers/singers.... they are noticed no matter what.
For this reason I would say that we are underrated because the bar for getting appreciated shouldnt be that high (in relativity). I mean.. you dont have to be dimebag on a guitar for casual listeners to notice you rocking the strings lol

 

[Jazz Ad]

Nope. Bass is easy. Get over it.

 

[Plake]

Fieldy isn't.

 

[Kmonk]

It depends. You can look at any instrument and find musicians who are underrated and overrated. I don't think people appreciate what bass brings to a song. The irony is that when people dance, tap their hand, tap their feet, bob their head, they are almost always doing so to the bass line. Bass is the link between rhythm and melody. The bassist has to keep time and be in key even when the bass line is not following the guitar or keys. When non-musicians have asked me about the contributions of each instrument in a song, I've always explained the song as a living, breathing thing. The vocals, guitars and keys are the personality. The bass and drums give the song life. They are the pulse.

 

[hrodbert696]

Dating a Musician? I Recommend Bass Players

 

[delta7fred]

Some are but they usually bring it on themselves.

If you hide in the shadows at the back of the stage and pretend you are not there then you deserve to be underrated.

Get up to the front in the lights, play with authority, enjoy your playing (and look like you are) and you will get a lot more respect. You are putting on a show so put one on*.

The last guitarist who said I was "just the bass player" got a shock when I picked up an acoustic guitar and showed him how to play the lead line he had just bludgeoned, 10 years on and we are still good friends.

*Unless you play in a pit band of course, and I have never played jazz so can't comment on that.

 

[Nev375]

Where's the carrots option?

 

[BrentD]

Underrated, no. Undervalued, yes.

 

[Space Pickle]

the bass player is the loser of the band

 

[SactoBass]

Underrated? Not *THIS* one!.........

 

[Plectrum72]

Musicians are underrated. Now play me a tune song monkey. What do you mean you don't know that one?

 

[socialleper]

A lot of bass players are under rated for both their talent and contributions to music.
Bringing bass players to the fore where they belong would be easier if other bass players weren't so hell bent on tearing down those that don't meet their imagined standards.

 

[jmlee]

I am.

 

[1bassleft]

Some are but they usually bring it on themselves.
If you hide in the shadows at the back of the stage and pretend you are not there then you deserve to be underrated.

Get up to the front in the lights, play with authority, enjoy your playing (and look like you are) and you will get a lot more respect. You are putting on a show so put one on

I saw a pub band once where the bass player was behind a big, floorstanding speaker cabinet. But, from my angle, I could also see that there was a glowing green "Toilet" sign above his head with the arrow pointing down. He let that happen. Even I disliked him.

 

[BassAndReeds]

Edited:
If you're just beginning to play bass, or wondering if you should. It's a wonderful hobby. And don't worry about what anyone else thinks. Just do what you enjoy.