Are you a hack bassist?

[Bigskybassguy]

Me and 1stnamebassist were having some giggles behind the scenes about how seriously some people take their bass playing.

 

[dbase]

I'm self taught and play in two bands and I suck. I think it's comical that I'm still playing. So I must be doing something right. Until I figure what that is how can I possibly be serious.

 

[pacojas]

i'm a closet bassist with friends who need a bass player. sue me!

 

[Bigskybassguy]

sue me!

No way! Bass is what we do!

By the way, while I am definitely a hack, 1stnamebassist is not - he definitely rocks it!

 

[hondo4life]

I can't slap for poopie. I'm a classical guitar player.

 

[DWBass]

I'm no hack and I do take myself serious but I am in no means anywhere near being a virtuoso. I am solid as a rock though.

 

[samson3382]

I'm a hack but I probably compensate with experience.
That, and the fact I'm a "big" fish in a small pond. Or just a fish in a pond full of polywogs.

 

[808P123]

By and large we all play music for pleasure, but when it becomes a profession and by that I mean you derive the bulk of your income from it it's a whole other bag.

 

[jbd5015]

HA!

We're all hacks at one point in our careers. Once money started showing up for gigs, and once I started getting taxed on that money, I realized I should take it more seriously!

Im happy as long as there is improvement over the years, which i believe there has been!

 

[lomo]

My handle says it all...

 

[Remyd]

I might be a hack. Certainly if one restricts it to slapping on BG and DB both, I don't really know how to play at all.

 

[BassmanPaul]

I am self taught. In 1962 there were no “Play Bass in a day” books. Most of my “tricks” are ideas I have come up with by myself. Once I purchased my first bass I looked at it with the logical side of my mind. I started using my little finger on my left hand as it seemed to me more efficient that way. I made up finger excersises to strengthen and add muscle memory. In the first position I would play every note from open E to the fourth fret on the G. I concentrated on cleanly fretting each note. Up and back down. This helped with getting comfortable with the longer stretch between frets. I must have driven my parents bonkers with these repetitive practices.

How did it all turn out. I consider myself a good bass player. When I play out I usually get a few compliments on what I'm doing.

 

[Passinwind]

I'm a special snowflake of a bassist. I am definitely a hack poster though. Link Removed

 

[bb03]

If you can't slap, are you a hack or just serious?

I can't slap.

And I'm definitely not serious.

 

[BurningSkies]

I think that most bass players think they're hacks, or at least 'faking it'. It's one of the things that drives us.

I known I'm constantly going 'back to basics' to refresh, refine and hopefully keep working on improving.

 

[zisme]

i'm a closet bass playing guitar player...

...and a hack

 

[johnpbass]

The Moose Lodge and Elks Club Members think I'm good so I suppose I'm not that much of a hack.

 

[lfmn16]

Some people. Just because they've spent thousands of hours practicing, thousands of dollars on education, years at conservatory and years perfecting their craft, they take their playing seriously. Go figure.

 

[bb03]

"take their playing seriously"

Kinda says it all, right there.

 

[grinx]

I've been playing for 30 years
I know one major scale
I can't talk triads or mixydorianmitochloracondrian jack or anything like that
I'm lucky if I can tell what chord the guitars are playing. if they use a capo, fuggetaboudit

I have no idea how I have managed to spend 28 years in bands in some form or the other
nobody can flog a root and a fifth like this guy

so there it is....