BASSISTS AND ETHNICITY

Hmmmm...... Where'd I leave that 10 foot pole??

 

Pop music in America and the West largely comes out of Black culture, either African American or elsewhere as in the case of reggae. Since African music is very rythmn based, it shouldn't be a surprise that African descended people are prominent as rythmn section players like bassists.

As for a lack of Black guitarists, that is simply another stereotype. There have been dozens of very influential r&b, jazz, blues, and rock Black guitarists. As far as I know, all of the reggae and Afropop guitarists are Black.

 

Why do you note these players as exceptions? Unless you know their inspiration for playing, what music they grew up listening to, etc. Why would they be exceptions, as opposed to musicians?

Just pondering the point of the question/thread more than anything.

 

Im just going to go ahead and say it. Yea i feel that african-americans have a better feel for groove. Dont know why. Most white people just cant feel it.

 

No.

 

perhaps it can be attributed (to a certain degree) to a culture that largely handed down its' history through group participation, chant and rythm as opposed to written word.
or, perhaps these impressions are just the stupidity of listening to popular culture.

 

Dude, I don't know if you're african-american, european-american, asian-american, mexican-american, martian-american, or what, but that's an awfully racist thing to say.

 

who on "these boards"? and what media?... comedy central?... the onion???

if it's a bad example then why refer to it?
trey parker and matt stone have this much influence over you? so much, in fact, that you really need to ask if their satirical cartoon scripts are factually justified?

your observation skills are quite lacking! you poor poor person!

uhhh no.

:scowl:



where is the ignorant smiley?

 

You named 4 white people and 5 black people and are calling the white people exceptions - huge exceptions no less.

I don't think it's true that any one of these guys plays better than any of the others, they all play using different styles in different styles of music.

What about all the great black guitar players too? Holy crap, like BB King, Albert King, Jimi, Muddy Waters, Charlie Christian, I can go on and on for a long time.

:scowl:

 

These kinds of stereotypes are nothing new, so I kind of disagree that this is recent trend. I would add that, it isn't necessarily true, and that discussing it as though it were reinforces the stereotype. No 'great' AA guitarists? C'mon, maybe Hendrix? No white bassists' with feel? Can you say Rocco? It's an urban myth to a degree, but most myths have some truths in their origins. Someone said look at the cultures for these origins and that is a good take, IMO. But we don't need to perpetuate the stereotypes because they certainly don't seem as valid as they once might have, as we have many examples now that reject them.

My $0.02.

 

Somebody better tell bassists like Rocco Prestia that they don't have a good feel for the groove because they aren't black.....:scowl:

 

may i ask what book your reading that says "African Americans are better bass players then Non-African Americans"?????

pls provide a link!

 

+1, and it looks like I was beaten to the punch.

 

Another thing, 'better' bass or guitar is not defined the same for everybody, pretty subjective, so the argument is moot even before it starts, IMHO.

 

Starting any thread like this is sort of asking for it. This is the same sentiment as ... I'm not racist/homophobic/sexist/etc. I have [fill in minority] friends.

Either way, ... there are good musicians and there are bad musicians. I think it comes down to what you grow up listening too along with natural talent. If you grow up listening to western classical music and you try to play funk ... it's going to sound a bit square.

 

Taking this to the "non-stellar" level, I went to a high school that was 95% black in the 80's. We had a killer music program that included two jazz bands, a marching band, symphonic orchestra, concert bands, etc...

Of the 4 years I was there, 3 of those years had myself and another white guy manning the bass chair in both jazz bands.

So, in my experience, ethnicity took a back seat (really bad pun - sorry!!!) to hard work and diligent practice.