Are bassists underrated?

[Hevy T]

 

[two fingers]

bassists can get the ladies too ya know.

Welcome to TalkBass!!!!

We're a sarcastic bunch. And you asked a question that begs for sarcastic answers. I didn't even read through them but I would bet they were pretty snarky.

But stick around. We can actually be pretty helpful too.

 

[osonu]

In my (admittedly limited) experience, there are only 2 times people notice the bass- when you "oops!" and when you get lost and quit playing for a second (I told I was limited, right?). Doesn't seem to matter how good you play when you get it right, but boy do they miss you when you're not there.

You would think noticing how weak it sounds when you're out would make them appreciate you, but noooooooooo! The only satisfaction is the knowing that YOU are actually (as has been said) the LIFE, the GROOVE, the very HEART of the music!

So what if the lead singer, the lead guitarist, and the drummer all think the same thing?

 

[Thumpin6string]

No, I believe that it is guitarists and vocalists that are underrated. All major artists and rock stars are bassists.

 

[Top 40]

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.

Right On!!!! That's it!!!!

 

[DavetheDude]

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

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I have no idea who that is.

 

[DavetheDude]

Right On!!!! That's it!!!!

I played a concert with Marshall from New Model Army, he's a very genuine and sweet guy!

 

[beaglesandbass]

Underrated? No

Undervalued? Yes

 

[Herrick]

It depends on the genre.

 

[baxter_x]

It depends on the genre.

Very true!

Also, if bassists are underrated, the firsts responsible are bassists themselves. They are the firsts to accept this situation and also tend to behave that way: "I'm just the bassist", they never have any gear when getting onstage, they chose that instrument by default, not much commitment in learning and improving......
I never accepted that and battle every days against such mindsets.
Bass is an awesome instrument, not to say the best!!

Cheers
Franck the Gent for Hell of a Ride

 

[catcauphonic]

I have no idea who that is.

That's Chris Squire from YES, one of the handful of first pioneer gents who (along with his almighty Ric) brought bass to the forefront of the stage

This is a bit self indulgent. Get in the shed and stop whining. Or get a different hobby.

Relax fella... she's 13, & just joined here on Wednesday. Happy Freakin New Year to you, too Now lets just fugeddaboutit, ya?

Edit to add: Welcome to TB, young lady grasshoppa They're not underappreciated in my band... if I was, I wouldn't be there, and they'd NEED another one to do what we do!

 

[Teijo K.]

My drummer friend told me about a gig he had some years ago at a hotel bar. They were told to set up in a corner of the room, but at that corner just happened to be a huge cactus in it. My friend said that they can't setup with the cactus in there, someone needs to move it away. Receptionist said, that "but we can't put it out there among humans ".

 

[Whippet]

Underrated, no. Undervalued, yes.

underpaid. wait that was another thread.

 

[Joybass]

It is like how people appreciate the foundation of their home. They never think about it until it starts to sink or slant. My wife seriously does not understand why my band skip practice when I am sick or otherwise engaged. "Why do they need your bass?" she says... Other than that she's a real darling.

 

[40Hz]

Welcome to TalkBass!

I think it’s not so much they’re underrated. More like it’s just they’re less noticed.

Except by the ladies.

Well…some of them anyway.

 

[DiMarco]

I do not care. I love my instrument and its role in music, tied both to the rhythm and melodic part. I make the drummer enjoy his playing more, make the guitarsts riffs come out stronger and the crowd either jump or shake their butts. I emphasize rhythms and play little songs within the song to bring it more to life. I do this for me myself and I and am having a blast while at it!

I did notice however how in some bands the bassist is quite often looking like a total goofball standing still in some dark corner of the stage. Those guys should stop to think "why am I here" and start working on their guts, clothing and stage presence.

 

[BassAndReeds]

That's Chris Squire from YES, one of the handful of first pioneer gents who (along with his almighty Ric) brought bass to the forefront of the stage



Relax fella... she's 13, & just joined here on Wednesday. Happy Freakin New Year to you, too Now lets just fugeddaboutit, ya?

Edit to add: Welcome to TB, young lady grasshoppa They're not underappreciated in my band... if I was, I wouldn't be there, and they'd NEED another one to do what we do!

Ah. I didn't know. I guess I always assume the posters on these boards are men above 18.

Edited: to be fair to myself, the OPs first statement is "bassists can get the ladies too ya know". I'm a bit skeptical on the validity of the age/sex of the OP. But my first post has been edited with that age bracket in mind.

 

[Space Pickle]

Very true!

Also, if bassists are underrated, the firsts responsible are bassists themselves. They are the firsts to accept this situation and also tend to behave that way: "I'm just the bassist", they never have any gear when getting onstage, they chose that instrument by default, not much commitment in learning and improving......
I never accepted that and battle every days against such mindsets.
Bass is an awesome instrument, not to say the best!!

Cheers
Franck the Gent for Hell of a Ride

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you sir are quite the ham

 

[Deleted member 165050]

An album I recently played on got the keyboard and guitar players listed fairly high in some annual prog specialist polls. The guitarist is still bragging about it on fb of course. I went to see who scored high on the bassist poll, and there isn't one...

 

[Nunovsky]

It all depends on the point of view. Of course, for people just watching sometimes they don't easily identify the bass playing, specially when you have 2 guitarists or keyboard and a lot of stuff hapenning on stage. They don't listen to a band like most musicians do and they tend to connect to vocals or whatever takes the lead visually or sonically.
But there have been times when I finnish playing and some folks in the audience come by and compliment me for the playing. Some folks actually are listening to what you're playing and apreciate what you bring to the music.
When it comes to fellow musicians and bandmates, I think they never underrate the value of a bass player unless they suck at playing and only listen to themselves. Like someone said above, it's more common for a band to cancel the rehearsel when the bass player is not available than otherwise. And I'll never forget the best compliment anybody ever gave me, that was the guitar player of one of the bands that I play with when I couldn't make some gigs because I had other stuff schedueled and when I returned to play with them he told me he was glad that I was back because he played better when I was around.
The bass player is the element that glues the band together, the one that most guys look to to see here they're at in the music, and if you're giving a solid playing the other band members have the ground and security to go where they want to.