"Bassist" vs "Bass Player"

[Ostie]

I play the bass, but it's not how I made my living. When I hear "bassist" I associate that with "bassist for the xxxx symphony orchestra, or "bassist for xxxx band." I also play the guitar, mandolin, and percussion, and it's for a band, but it's not a band that any of you have ever heard of, so it would be pretentious of me to say I'm a bassist. Besides, I'm really not that good. Jack of all trades, master of none. I get paid for playing some gigs, but I don't make my living from it. Thankfully, I have other talents that are more marketable. I made my living as a historian. Not just a history buff.

 

[gormsby]

"Bass player" is a function or role in a band; "bassist" is an identity. "Bass players" are more likely to call their instrument a "bass guitar"; bassists more likely to call it an "electric bass."

 

[Bunk McNulty]

If I had a business card, it would read "Dumbass rock'n'roll bass player."
Beyond that, I'd say "bassist" presumes the ability to play any bass, acoustic or electric.

 

[Super Bass]

Actually I am a "talkbass" bass something or other.....

 

[lamarjones]

I don't know about these terms as much as I consider myself an artist. That does imo require enough skill to do several things regarding music except I do almost all of it in bass. If I write melodies, and I do, I do it on bass. Although I got to get I to sound good enough that the other players get what I'm after, this is where tone that isn't traditional bass tone is important for me. That said, I'm good with painting with different colors.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I'm a Bassomatic!

 

[Discount Bassy]

I had to look...

H

Thread 'Bass Player -VS- Bassist'

Mar 4, 2003

I got into a discussion last night with a group of guitarists who have a "band" around town here.

They have the "bass player" by committee angle going - "aw man - I want this guitar solo - you play bass this time". There's 3 of them - so there's lots of switches

Anyway, they're friends of mine & ask me to sit in on a few songs if I'm at their gigs. They (& the drummer - who's not a guitarist) always comment that things are smoother when I play, then when they're hacking away.

My answer to them was to get a bassist & stop with the bass player committee. They couldn't see a...

• HHHolmes
• Replies: 26
• Forum: Bassists [BG]

Has it really been 20+ years since the last discussion about this? I didn't do a thorough search, as I am more of a Googler than a Googlist.

 

[basted]

I prefer basted

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I've answered to both, but "bassist" does kinda' sound like it describes an upright player in an orchestra whereas "bass player" sounds like the guy in a bar / club / private party band playing electric bass, however, I do play upright also…

What makes me kinda cringe is when someone refers to me as a "musician." I suppose I am one in the basic sense of the word, but it generally makes me feel a little "over credited"….

 

[DWBass]

Bajista funky!

 

[KenSmithFan]

Just another way for someone to feel superior to someone else. Total nonsense.

 

[Michedelic]

English can be ridiculous. There are no drummists or drum players, only drummers. Why even make the distinction with bass?

Then are you a basser?

 

[Michedelic]

I’ve been called a basstard.

 

[sdjfoh]

Semantics, meh

It’s like F flat

 

[Topkat13]

C’mon man.

 

[srosenthal13]

I prefer Basstronaut.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Do you make a distinction between the two terms? Interchangeable?

Personally, I reserve the "bassist" term for pros and phenomenally good players, whereas, I am definitely a "bass player".

No I don’t. I think of it more along the lines of if they can do the job or not.

 

[Krisfield]

Both mean the same thing. IST suffix means - a person who does, makes, or practices. ER suffix means - a person or thing that performs an action, has a particular quality, or is associated with something. Lawyer has the suffix ER, and Dentist has suffix IST. I don't think you can elevate one above the other.

 

[ryco]

"What will you do when the label comes off..."
Who Are the Brain Police - F Zappa

 

[Iristone]

John Entwistle makes a difference between "bassist" and "bass guitarist". He seems to call a straight-ahead player "bassist" (or "bass player"?), and His own more melodic approach "bass guitarist".
Personally, I associate "bass player" more with the instrument and "bassist" more with the register. A Bass VI player, upright bassist, tuba player, or bass synthist can be called a "bassist" in a broader sense.