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Are you really happy being "The Bass Player"

#63
After 21 years of playing, I have learned and accumulated a certain amount of appreciation for the bass and what it contributes. Having seen and heard what can be done with the instrument from those who have gone before or those doing it now - there has been a huge assortment of styles, techniques, and effects that so many have made effective used of. This has led me to feel that I can be happy being "the bass player."

That said, after all of the above....what has made me less than happy to be "the bass player" is not the instrument, its limitations, or even my own - I attribute that to those I've been in bands with. I really find it ridiculous when I find myself having to explain to players of those other instruments that "bass is an instrument!" (i.e. - it has its own needs, sonic range, techniques, approaches, etc.) or dealing with the double standard usually imposed by guitards/keytards.

Yes, I'm aware that there's always another gig, and if you're not happy you should leave. However, it's a bit disheartening when you have to constantly leave what might be an otherwise great band situation because of certain people who just can't figure out how bass fits into the bigger picture. I myself have made the effort to acquire a better understanding of guitar/drums/keys. Is it so difficult for them to do the same?

This situation is my only "complaint" (for lack of a better word) with being "the bass player." Everything other aspect of the instrument has been worthwhile once I had a better understanding of it, sometimes even without that.
 
#64
I do wish that the bass got more attention, but there isn't a person on any dance floor that I'm groovin that's complaining, and that's what I love to see, is someone really digging a line I'm laying out......and then I try to mess with them a little....throw a pop in or something. I just can't leave it alone:)
 
#65
I used to do some vocals when the band was getting started, just to extend our sets, really. Every once in awhile we get someone who remembers this and asks if I will sing again. Now I am very happy laying back and playing the bass, which I feel much more comfortable doing.
And bass is such a powerful instrument, connected with the rythm as much as the melody. That is why so many bass players do the arrangement behind the scenes. For me, bass is the best instrument to play in a band.
 
#66
I've seen this stated, and my own experience bears it out:

The bass player, do to being the glue between the rhythm and the melody, tends to have a more "world view" of the song as a whole as opposed to a "my part" view. Because the bass player must pay close attention to what the drums, percussion and other rhythm section members are doing as well as what the singer, guitars, keys and other melody section members are doing in order to create his/her part, has a more complete picture of the song.

I've been working with a project for close to two years now as bass player and producer. Because of my roles, I not only interact with the whole band when we play, I also interact with each member individually when we track and produce. I have found that each member - the drummer, the guitar player, the keys player and the singer all say the same thing...

"I didn't know that was going on in the song! It's so cool to hear everyone's part isolated and then in context with the song as a whole! Wow! That changes my perspective on what this song is all about and how I am going to approach my part next time we play!"

I feel like I am able to offer them a "bass player's view" of the song and it's always eye-opening to them.

This used to surprise me. How is it that everyone else seems to not be aware of all this? I cannot help but think it's because they don't play bass and don't have to pay that kind of attention to the overall big picture in order to be effective in their role. They can get away with taking the rest of the song components for granted and still be effective. The bass player can't. If the bass player treated the song this way, it would fall apart at the seams.

Now I must give proper respect to the keyboard player's I've worked with as they have all been very skilled and very aware of the melody, harmony and rhythm aspects of the overall song. I was in an extended recreational jam the other day and as the song started to tick past the 20 minute mark, I had to take a leak - but the jam was going so well, I didn't want to drop out. So I walked over the the keys player and asked if he could cover the low end for a few minutes. He did, I got my relief and returned. When the jam was over, one of the guitar players said that he didn't realize I'd left. He notice something changed, but wasn't sure what it was. He couldn't find me, but he still hear a bass line... Kudos, Matt... You are one killer keyboard player!

So, do I like my role as bass player? Hell yes! It's a humble role that appears simple but is really wonderfully complex and it takes a mature, intelligent and rational person to do the job well.

In my opinion, of course.
 
#67
i agree with tzer, bassist listen much more to the overall product than soloists. like to be in a position where i influence the who sound aspect of a song, i'm doing more than just playing a bass line. guitarist tend to have this 'me me me' attitude. i see myself as bassist/arranger in my band and i'm really happy about not being in the spotlight. i also write some stuff, so i'm more than just the root note player.
 
#69
I had an orchestra performance last night, and in my orchestra I play percussion (my first instrumental love). We were going over some spots before the show, and there was this one part where the violins were playing off beat stuff. I turned to one of my fellow percussionists (who happens to teach music) and said, "They have obviously never been horn players." (French horn, by the way.)

So... different instruments and their jobs take different thinking, and we refine that thinking as we play. It's just like a flutist (I hate the word "flautist"... why the sudden extra A?) who gets used to reading ledger lines way above the staff, or the cellist who has to be able to work in bass, tenor, and treble clefs!

I majored in music education for my bachelor's degree, and there were things about aural music theory that didn't work with me. It took becoming a bass player 3 years ago to finally have some of those concepts "click." It was like a whole world opened up.

Yes, I love being a bass player. I think given the nature of this site, you will find few comments to the negative on that question. I also know that while many of the musical things I do are enjoyable, there's a special kind of happiness that I get when playing bass that isn't like what I have doing other things. (And I'm definitely a happy percussionist and singer.) Maybe it's my own version of "bass face" because sometimes when playing I get a smile that just won't quit.
 
#71
Wanted to be a bass player the first time I heard Kiss Alive and saw the pic of Gene in the middle of the record...

Then I saw the Rush Moving Pictures tour and it was all over.

Been playing bass for 28 years...noodled with a guitar just to say I could do it in the mid 80's...but found it to be a little fragile bastard in my hands.

Bass is what I do...it is who I am!

And besides...bass players get the hottest women:cool:


Read some posts about bass players not getting attention, especially playing AC/DC tunes and the like...

Well...When you are riding hard, holding down the line...if you aren't looking and feeling like a sexy assed low end ground shaking monster, you are doing something wrong.

Attitude gets attention...

And if holding the biggest, baddest, most rumbling, grooving instrument on the stage and spanking the hell out of it doesn't give you attitude...well....


A bass is like a great woman...the little light touches make her hum and moan...the steady rythmic groove makes her girate and sing....and the harder you spank and drive her...the louder and more intense her screams!




.
 
#76
So we all seem to agree: Bass doesn't suck! lol I guess we are all in the right place, then. :D

I've never regretted my choice to play bass. It suits my personality much better than any "front man" role, and there is plenty of demand for bassists, so I expect I'll continue to make my living primarily from the bass for the rest of my career.

But I've come to realize that it's very useful to play other instruments too, perhaps even necessary at a certain point for continued musical growth. I've spent 25 years studying the bass, and most of the challenges that interest me now are probably better addressed using other instruments: arranging, composition, denser harmony, orchestration, etc.
 
#77
I know what you mean. It cracks me up when we're warming up (as a band) and I start playing the bassline to one of our original tunes, and our singer/guitarist/chief songwriter says, "Hey, that's really cool." I say, "Thanks; it's the bassline from [insert one of our originals' song name here]," and he says, "No, are you serious?" haha

It does kind of bother me that soundguys never seem to appreciate the bassist (at least, amateur ones). It's rare to see a soundguy who realizes there's a bass solo going on and pump up the bassist, rather than only noticing guitar solos and turning those up. It bugs me when soundguys take 15 seconds to make sure the bass has a signal, then spend 45 minutes on the drums and 20 minutes on the guitar tone. And of course, during photoshoots, or when it comes to photography at live shows, there are 250 pics of the singer, 50 of the band, 20 of me, and 1 or 2 of the drummer :rollno: Not to mention press photos... They are usually of the singer alone, IME.

But as far as my role in the mix, yeah, it's home to me. I think bass players tend to gravitate toward the bass in the mix more as a personality thing than necessarily just the tone or the musical parts - My nickname is "Mama" because of the way I oversee everything - I do the website, most of the booking, the accounting & paying the bills, design all the posters & flyers, coordinate everything, do the driving, not to mention own the PA and the van... I really am the "glue," on & off the stage.

Does anyone else have that experience?
 
#78
I switched to bass from lead guitar, because my band at the time couldn't find a decent bassist. Playing a short scale, being inspired by Paul McCartney, and coming straight from being a shredder, I started out scooting about all over the place. But I always saw myself as a guitarist first and foremost.

Until I realised that the bass player is the most important member in ANY band. And that largely, you're in a range all of your own, without other basses fighting you for sonic space. Once I "got it", I knew I was a bassist and not a lead guitarist any more.
 
#79
Dave Muscato said:
I know what you mean. It cracks me up when we're warming up (as a band) and I start playing the bassline to one of our original tunes, and our singer/guitarist/chief songwriter says, "Hey, that's really cool." I say, "Thanks; it's the bassline from [insert one of our originals' song name here]," and he says, "No, are you serious?" haha

It does kind of bother me that soundguys never seem to appreciate the bassist (at least, amateur ones). It's rare to see a soundguy who realizes there's a bass solo going on and pump up the bassist, rather than only noticing guitar solos and turning those up. It bugs me when soundguys take 15 seconds to make sure the bass has a signal, then spend 45 minutes on the drums and 20 minutes on the guitar tone. And of course, during photoshoots, or when it comes to photography at live shows, there are 250 pics of the singer, 50 of the band, 20 of me, and 1 or 2 of the drummer :rollno: Not to mention press photos... They are usually of the singer alone, IME.

But as far as my role in the mix, yeah, it's home to me. I think bass players tend to gravitate toward the bass in the mix more as a personality thing than necessarily just the tone or the musical parts - My nickname is "Mama" because of the way I oversee everything - I do the website, most of the booking, the accounting & paying the bills, design all the posters & flyers, coordinate everything, do the driving, not to mention own the PA and the van... I really am the "glue," on & off the stage.

Does anyone else have that experience?
Click to expand...

I am right there with you! You could call me Grandma LOL! I do it all too and own al the gear. I even own the DW drumkit and the 65 Amps guitar rigs (2 of them)! There is no end to it. I LOVE IT though!!

Peace,

T
 
#80
i know how you feel, i saved one band at a huge show at an intersection once when they're current bassist quit the band the night before the show. we all got press coverage from the local papers and tons of pictures... but i wasn't in any of them and after the show, i got paid and never got much else (i think i know why he quit) :hmm: i really think i should off told them to screw off. i mean you can pick any of your favorite songs; there's a going to be a bass in it and without that the music sounds extremely empty :hmm:
 

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