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bassist or bass guitarist?

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by MacheteJames, Mar 4, 2004.


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  1. Mar 4, 2004 #1
    MacheteJames

    MacheteJames

    Aug 11, 2003
    Lowell, MA, USA
    Now I realize that these are just words, so before anyone can call me on that, I'll admit it myself. I'm sure some will still roll their eyes at this thread anyway.

    With that said.. is "bass guitarist" a generally accepted term for musicians that play the bass guitar? I did a search on Yahoo for "bass guitarist" and got a ton of entries. The term has never really sounded right to me. I've never referred to myself as a bass guitarist, always as a bass player or a bassist. There's just something about it that I can't quite pinpoint. Maybe it's the "guitarist" part of it, that implies that the instrument is just a low-tuned, large guitar (which I suppose it is, at least in the most general sense), but I'm not sure it describes our function within a band quite right, either. When I see the word guitarist, a vision of someone with a small 6 string guitar playing chords and leads pops into my head.

    What does everyone think?
     
  5. Mar 4, 2004 #2
    Wrong Robot

    Wrong Robot Guest

    Apr 8, 2002
    Well, wouldn't 'bassist' imply that you play (at least) upright as well?

    Bass guitarist is more specific, if you only play bass guitar, then you're a bass guitarist. :meh:
     
  10. Mar 4, 2004 #3
    MacheteJames

    MacheteJames

    Aug 11, 2003
    Lowell, MA, USA
    Does "bassist" really imply that, though? A bass viol is a bass... a bass guitar is a bass.. an electric upright is also. So isn't one who plays any of these instruments a bassist?
     
  14. Mar 4, 2004 #4
    JSCHRO7376

    JSCHRO7376 Commercial User

    Feb 23, 2004
    Los Angeles County, CA
    Owner, Schroeder Cabinets
    I've been playing all my life (37 years so far), upright and electric. I quit the Symphony 20 yearsa ago, so does that make me now an "Electric" bassist?

    It's the same thing when someone asks me "do you play anything else besides bass"?

    Well, I've studied music years ago, and it's mandatory in Germany to study also piano. Besides this irrelevancy, I always respond in kind "no, I play bass".
     
  18. Mar 5, 2004 #5
    canopener

    canopener

    Sep 15, 2003
    Isle of Lucy
    Bass player? :bag:
     
  22. Mar 5, 2004 #6
    JSCHRO7376

    JSCHRO7376 Commercial User

    Feb 23, 2004
    Los Angeles County, CA
    Owner, Schroeder Cabinets
    Bass virtuoso?




    :bassist:
     
  26. Mar 5, 2004 #7
    canopener

    canopener

    Sep 15, 2003
    Isle of Lucy
    If a pianist strokes the ivories, and a drummer beats the skins, then what does a bassist do?
     
  31. Mar 5, 2004 #8
    Wrong Robot

    Wrong Robot Guest

    Apr 8, 2002
    Yeah, that's what I said(note the use of "at least" implying that there are more bass instruments) :meh:
     
  35. Mar 5, 2004 #9
    JSCHRO7376

    JSCHRO7376 Commercial User

    Feb 23, 2004
    Los Angeles County, CA
    Owner, Schroeder Cabinets
    How about "Master of the Low End"?


    :bassist:
     
  39. Mar 5, 2004 #10
    odie

    odie Supporting Member

    Mar 12, 2000
    Minnesota, Earth, Milky Way
    MJ- even though this isnt a direct music thing I am going to move it to MISC.

    Off we go!!!
     
  43. Mar 5, 2004 #11
    DrDrill

    DrDrill

    Dec 28, 2001
    Jist Ootside Glasgow, Scotland
    Neither...I 'spank the plank'. :bassist: :bassist: .

    Oooh wait a minute!, the bass playing smilie is called 'bassist' so i've decided i'm one of those now. :hyper:

    To be honest it's never really bothered me, although i'd probably opt for bass player.

    I doesn't really matter, as it's plain for all to see that we Low End Groove Meisters are far more cool than the rest of the rabble. :cool:
     
  47. Mar 5, 2004 #12
    MMSterling

    MMSterling Guest

    Feb 19, 2004
    Leicester, England
    I generally say that I'm a Bass Guitarist, I just feel that bassist has more conatations to upright bass, which I have next to no experience on!

    So Bass Guitarist for me :bassist: (even though that smilie is called 'bassist' :()

    Andy :p
     
  51. Mar 5, 2004 #13
    Wrong Robot

    Wrong Robot Guest

    Apr 8, 2002
    Actually, that smilie is called 'guitarist.gif' the vB code to use it is : bassist :

    but the image itself is a guitarist!
     
  55. Mar 5, 2004 #14
    BustinJustin

    BustinJustin banned

    Sep 12, 2003
    NYC, LI too
    you can call me Al....












    :bag:
     
  59. Mar 5, 2004 #15
    ONYX

    ONYX

    Apr 14, 2000
    Michigan
    Any minute now, someone is going to jump in and type: "Do a search , this topic has been covered before!!! ". ;)

    Now, that being said, I consider myself a "Barse-ist"! :smug:
     
  64. Mar 5, 2004 #16
    puttz buster

    puttz buster

    Sep 8, 2003
    Darwin, Australia
    Logically, Bassist or bass player for generalization.(for upright or electric) then if you wan't to specify further, do so. I guess. anyway, enough already.
     
  68. Mar 5, 2004 #17
    Josh Ryan

    Josh Ryan - that dog won't hunt, Monsignor. Supporting Member

    Mar 24, 2001

    ^Yes. Either term is correct. Everyone get over yourselves.
     
  72. Mar 5, 2004 #18
    Matt Till

    Matt Till

    Jun 1, 2002
    Edinboro, PA
    Frankly I'm sick of this discussion.
     
  76. Mar 5, 2004 #19
    Fo' Shizzle

    Fo' Shizzle

    Aug 28, 2003
    I am a Bassist. As one who plays piano or cello is a pianist or cellist. For no reason other than it makes me sound like I'm a better player than I am.
    Fo'
     
  80. Mar 5, 2004 #20
    Sundogue

    Sundogue

    Apr 26, 2001
    Wausau, WI
    check sig...
     
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