Are you a hack bassist?

[Blaargh]

Sometimes I think I'm not a hack and then people start talking theory. I know a handful of arpeggios and scales, can't slap or read music. I know what to play for it to sound how I think it should though, so I think I do fine. Just don't ask me to tell you what my hands are doing.

Basically I am a hack, but I'm a shaging superb hack now and again.

 

[Jimmy4string]

I like this BigSkybass guy! Keep putting out the positive big guy. I havent played my bass since Saturday -i got 1 hour between getting home and going to soccer! I should be working on scales, timing and note names. Hell i will probably play rock and roll for the hour
HA HA! Damn i need to woodshed..... : /

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

OK, I'll play!

What's the best hack for metal?


But seriously, or not, for a long time now I've been calling myself a "parrot". I learn the song as closely as possible to the record then repeat it back. That probably makes me a hack.

I've never had a bass guitar lesson but I started on accordion and then took piano lessons for about 7 years as a kid. Then I started on clarinet in grade school, went on to play a dozen other instruments in high school, college, and the Air Force for concert band, marching band, jazz band, rock band, etc. I was a music theory/composition major but did not get a degree. I can read music. I can not slap.

I consider myself an 'old country bass player' these days.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[RichardW]

I've been laughing for a good 5 minutes at the poster who basically said that if you can't read music that you're a hack. That's some funny stuff.

you know, like Paul McCartney.

 

[1stnamebassist]

No way! Bass is what we do!

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

Yeah in the privacy of my home. But at least I have a mirror so I can watch myself!

 

[Fingerpickingood]

Hi,

OK, I'll play!

What's the best hack for metal?

BassCliff

Me.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Only thing I've played is bass, until recently, and I did study bass for a couple years in the beginning reading music and getting into theory. My favorite way to play is just walk in give me the chords or a chart and hear the drums and jam. I'm not a big fan of note for note playing. And I have some nice basses and stuff but I don't take it too serious, especially at my age now. Maybe when I was a teen up until my early thirties, but those days are long gone. Now it's about having fun and enjoying other things in life besides music! Cool thread Bigsky!

 

[Sixgunn]

Spork the false modesty. I'm actually pretty decent My band and I do take pride in doing what we do well but I don't take it overly serious. If it's not fun, it's work and I already work hard enough!!

 

[Wasnex]

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

I used to be pretty good at faking as a professional string bassist, electric bassist, and audio tech. Now I just post on TB and dream about the glory days.

 

[Jughead6]

Oh man, if @BassCliff is a hack then... well... let's say that my reference point for hackiness has just been recalibrated.

I'm not sure I know what a hack is anymore, but I know that I meet all of the (under)performance criteria. And I will wear my Hack Club Member badge with pride.

 

[Fat Freddy]

just don't do like me and work yourself down into hackism.

I always thought that you worked down into hasbeenism

 

[Bigskybassguy]

I don't take it overly serious. If it's not fun, it's work and I already work hard enough!!

That's the attitude. Definitely gunn is no hack.

 

[Helix]

What does hack mean in this case? A bad one?

It means, if your a guitarist or drummer and try to play the bass......especially if you try to play for money

 

[DOMIT]

No way am I a hack!

(I'm not nearly good enough to be called a hack!)

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Ear of the beholder I guess. I'm a mediocre player, (no, *seriously* I joined the club and gotta' number)

The Mediocre Bassist Club

I dunno... the folks I play bass with seem to be cool with my playing... they keep paying me to do something I love to do... I suppose it's possible they're all hacks too.

 

[bassinplace]

I'm trying to figure out how hack relates in comparison to mediocre?
I didn't join the TB Mediocre Bass club because I'm no where near being up to mediocre?
Is being a hack a step below mediocre?
Do I need to pass the hack test before I can apply for mediocre?
There should be a defined priority in levels of bass playing.
Here is my list. I am a 3.
10. Jaco (or other well know superstar of bass).
9. Great
8. Good
7. OK
6. Mediocre (or hack)
5. Hack (or mediocre)
4. Making Progress
3. I'm trying
2. I just started.
1. My first bass is on order
0. Don't have opposable thumbs
-1. Self Appointed Guitar God

I'm a seven! A seven!

 

[Sixgunn]

All I can say for myself is I'm punctual, reliable, and professional (which goes a long way in the music community) and I know my limitations and work within them. I don't do anything special, but I do it well and that seems to be enough to hang with most bar bands (at least in my area).

sounds like the antithesis of a hack to me!

 

[Bigskybassguy]

I learn the song as closely as possible to the record then repeat it back. That probably makes me a hack.

This is no fair! Our thread is being infiltrated by professional bassist "Poser-Hacks"! Hack Wannabees!

 

[physics]

If by hack you mean a mediocre artist who exploits his limited abilities and lack of imagination for fame and monetary gain, then no I am not nor ever will be a hack. I'll just continue to play my bass and try to improve my technique and tone and be satisfied when I can meet my standards of performance for what I think a good bass should sound like. I enjoy listening to players who have good technique and who have a good tone and I try to emulate them.

 

[kbakerde]

Yes, yes I am. Moving on.....