"Bassist" vs "Bass Player"

[2saddleslab]

when folks ask me what i do/did, i've always said: "i'm a musician."

them: "what do you play?" me: "bass."

them: "oh."

Kinda the opposite for me. When asked if I'm a musician I reply "no, I'm a bass player."

 

[scuzzy]

is this like the difference between a pitcher and a thrower?

 

[frankie5string]

For me "Bassist" is what English musicians call me. "Bass Player" is what American musicians call me.

 

[frankie5string]

is this like the difference between a pitcher and a thrower?

Aha ... I remember that argument. "Pitcher" is supposed to be someone who strategizes every throw and is part of the "machine" of the game. A "Thrower" is someone who goes out at the beginning of the game and "throws" the first pitch...

 

[jdjk7]

I don't make a semantic distinction between the words. I find it to be odd when people do. I use whichever one sounds better coming out of my mouth in a given situation.

 

[dtripoli]

'If you buy a flute, you own a flute. If you buy a camera you're a photographer.'

A flute player is called a flutist or flautist
As for camera, paparazzi or as many people with cameras call themselves, art or media designers.
Most new cameras do video extraordinarily great along with single photos

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

In a "Bassist" vs "Bass Player" competition, the one who plays bass is the winner.

 

[Jeff Scott]

As for camera, paparazzi or as many people with cameras call themselves, art or media designers.

That's one interpretation, fur shure. I am a photographer (I can tell by the way I ....)

 

[JRA]

kind of 'heady' --- but the sentiment is appealing....

 

[Bob Deluce]

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 pl

No real distinction for me.

A bass player complements a band. A bassist thinks he is the band.

 

[Aussie Player]

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".

John Entwistle stated a third, he was a bass guitarist. And, that he surely was.

 

[pb9717]

Bassmeister general, Bass-o-tron-omous, Bass-o-Rama-lama ding dong. Bass-om-otrist, Purveyor of Bottomness, Crotchrumbler, Bootie mover, Wall Shaker……..BEHSPLAYA.

 

[woodyng2]

How about “Thud Merchant”?

 

[Formula73]

I am a former guitarist who enjoys playing bass more than guitar because it helped me get away from 80s metal covers and write more originals (though stoner rock is pretty derivative-sabbathy riffs taken to different extremes).

I play bass and sing lead because I’m in a 3pc and the other guys can’t do both. I write all my riffs/songs on bass and guide (not force) my guitarist to do what I think fits best for my songs and I do what he thinks best for what he writes.

I’m just a guy in a band.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Never really thought about it. When asked what I play I usually answer "the bass player."

I can't recall ever being referred to as the bassist.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I treat them the same. If I had a business card for music, I'd probably put bassiolygencist.

 

[jd56hawk]

Bass Player = A Role, which can be filled by anyone willing to take that place in a band or musical setting. Example: He's actually a drummer, but in this band he's the Bass Player.


Bassist = Being a musician primarily focused on playing Bass Guitar first and foremost. You could play guitar in a certain band, but you're always going to be a Bassist at heart. For me it's more of an identity.

Thread winner.

 

[DCErik]

Usually 'bass player' unless I'm wearing this: Front Page, Bassists Against Racists

 

[Iristone]

Now that I think of it, I prefer to be called a "researcher" than a "scientist" in my non-music career. For some reason the latter sounds a bit... amateurish to me?

 

[Guitalia]

The Mediocre Bassist thread wins this thread.