Blasting a Wasp Nest with Dynamite?

[PDGood]

I carried two basses to practice today. I only took one out of its bag. We went over three CCM songs that were all half and quarter note root notes in the first position. This is my only gig. What is the point in caring about gear so much if don’t actually need it for what I get paid to do? I guess some perspective does not hurt.

Part of it is just the joy of looking at, shopping for, talking about, owning and playing nice instruments. The other part is enjoying envy - like a guy driving down the road in a '64 Vette Stingray or Porsche356 knowing that others will wish they had the same.

 

[g-dude]

I wish Buddhist temples had contemporary worship music. I could get off my ass for that.

It would definitely sound more musical than chanting in Pali.

Well, just imagine the music you currently hear...now picture a bassist who is clearly playing, yet inaudible.

That’s sort of what it’s like.

 

[Phlipper]

LOL. Yeah, that would suck.

Do you guys have volume wars in Christian churches? Or that one guy who wants to run everything and sucks the fun right out of playing?

I dated a Christian chic for a couple years who sung in the band at a large contemporary Baptist church in Lillington NC. The ministers wife and band leader, who had this horrid vibrato opera voice ran the sound guy off cuz she was always asking to be turned up. She eventually ran the rest of them off, too, cuz she was a nutty control freak.

Until then I always figured church bands wouldn't have typical band problems. lol

 

[Ronzo]

LOL. Yeah, that would suck.

Do you guys have volume wars in Christian churches? Or that one guy who wants to run everything and sucks the fun right out of playing?

Not in my Church, but everyone who plays is aware of the need for a balanced mix. And it’s a friendly environment amongst the musicians, for the most part.

I’m the chair of the Worship committee, which includes music. The buck stops with me.

 

[Raulplaysbass]

Since I started gigging (a few decades ago) I’ve always taken a backup bass and have never needed it. After the kids were grown and gone and I could afford it, I took a backup bass And amp... same thing, I have never needed them. But if I did, I was covered and it was worth the peace of mind.

 

[knadles]

Pardon me for saying this, but the CCM I've been exposed to has been among the lamest, least inspired, crustless white bread I've ever heard. Very surprising, given the goal of the message. If I must listen to religious music, give me an old school gospel choir any day.

Peter

 

[Col Mustard]

I carried two basses to practice today. I only took one out of its bag. We went over three CCM songs that were all half and quarter note root notes in the first position. This is my only gig. What is the point in caring about gear so much if don’t actually need it for what I get paid to do? I guess some perspective does not hurt.

Before the pandemic shut us down, there were bassists I knew who would play Blues on Thursday nights, Country on Friday nights, Rock an Roll on Saturday nights, Sacred music on Sunday mornings and Jazz on Sunday Afternoons.... Now most of us are sittin' home, but once a majority of us get our shots and the pandemic isn't so dangerous, the people will want to party like it's 1999. So I believe that there will be a demand for the low notes again. So you may have a simple gig right now, but let's be optimistic, and let's be ready for the roaring twenties to recur once it's safe again.
>True enough, a guy with talent could play all those genres with just a Fender PB & J... And bassists are usually not as OCD as guitarists when it comes to collecting gear. But we don't need to let guitarists have all the fun.
One thing about being a gearhead is seeking inspiration.
I'm for that.

 

[YokaiUmibozu]

For some folks, playing roots isn't enough. Yet, they're not interested in spending untold time learning new techniques and skills, just to continue playing roots after all that effort. So, gear fills that hole, gives them something to focus on that's fun, and keeps them interested.

That's my guess. The truth may be something entirely different!

 

[g-dude]

LOL. Yeah, that would suck.

Do you guys have volume wars in Christian churches? Or that one guy who wants to run everything and sucks the fun right out of playing?

I dated a Christian chic for a couple years who sung in the band at a large contemporary Baptist church in Lillington NC. The ministers wife and band leader, who had this horrid vibrato opera voice ran the sound guy off cuz she was always asking to be turned up. She eventually ran the rest of them off, too, cuz she was a nutty control freak.

Until then I always figured church bands wouldn't have typical band problems. lol

It’s usually the opposite of volume wars - the goal seems to be to have amps as quiet as possible, or even have the entire stage be quiet, with amps hidden away or everyone going direct.

The one guy who wants to run everything is usually called the Pastor of Worship, or the Worship Leader - they’re usually on staff and paid, so they are literally hired to run everything. How much latitude they give musicians to play what fits varies.

 

[g-dude]

Pardon me for saying this, but the CCM I've been exposed to has been among the lamest, least inspired, crustless white bread I've ever heard. Very surprising, given the goal of the message. If I must listen to religious music, give me an old school gospel choir any day.

Peter

You are absolutely correct. That is why I try to at least come up with basslines that make musical sense, and aren’t just whole notes, or playing root notes eight to the bar.

I do get told to “just play the root” on a fairly regular basis, as well as “play that note an octave lower”.

 

[g-dude]

For some folks, playing roots isn't enough. Yet, they're not interested in spending untold time learning new techniques and skills, just to continue playing roots after all that effort. So, gear fills that hole, gives them something to focus on that's fun, and keeps them interested.

That's my guess. The truth may be something entirely different!

Learning to play the upright and doing a lot of work on jazz standards has really improved my bass guitar playing. Then again, it seems like so many people don’t ever try to develop past where they are now on a variety of instruments.

 

[Hillcapper]

I’m still wrapping my head around paid musicians in church. Not judging it, just trying to understand it.

 

[g-dude]

I’m still wrapping my head around paid musicians in church. Not judging it, just trying to understand it.

I get the idea of paying a choir director or head of worship. That can literally be a full-time job if done correctly.

I also get the idea of paying a church organist if there is a proper organ in place that requires more skills than just being able to bust out some some southern rock on the Hammond.

If there is nobody who can play an instrument, I can get behind hiring a piano player and paying them.

When it comes to paying people to staff up a rock band, that's sort of where I would draw the line....BUT....

Given that some people will make their church decision on the basis of music, it can be a wise investment in terms of return on investment.

 

[luciens]

Ordinary gasoline kills the entire nest instantly, no ifs ands or buts. But it'll peel the siding off your house. Oh, and the explosion hazard too, so there's that. But if it's a huge nest in a shed or something where everything's ruined, a 5 gallon tank of regular unleaded in a pressure sprayer will do the trick.

Don't forget the PPE and gas mask tho....

L

 

[mjm666]

I carried two basses to practice today. I only took one out of its bag. We went over three CCM songs that were all half and quarter note root notes in the first position. This is my only gig. What is the point in caring about gear so much if don’t actually need it for what I get paid to do? I guess some perspective does not hurt.

It is fully possible to play bass, and even an interesting line, with a stick with a single string and a pickup, but no one really does it these days.

They make 1-string Sticks now? I thought they only came in 10 or 12-string.

Sometimes takes 2.5 hours to cover those 3 songs with all the messing around. I would only ever take one bass. Traveling light makes the suck less imo.

My last "band" was like that: started a cover band project with a couple of friends, and would meet once a week. Most times, we'd quickly run through 6 or so songs, but would spend most of the rest of the ~3 hours on just 2 or 3 (and often, still not get them really solid).

For that band, i would only take 1 bass per practice, but i made a game out of bringing a different one each time -- i have around 50 (i also enjoy collecting, and agree it's a different and (nearly) equally-valid interest as playing music). Sadly, that band didn't outlast the collection. I hope someday soon to get into another band situation and get through them all.

The gigs will return, eventually. Real gigs, where a backup bass will be appropriate.

I can't wait.

 

[mjm666]

For me, I have multiple interests... which means I have a bunch of gear that I've acquired to fulfill those interests... I like to collect basses, I like to play live, I like to experiment and tinker with my tone, etc.

Exactly, same here.

But... when playing live for me it's not time to tinker or collect. So, while I do have a mess of gear, I only take what I absolutely need to the gig.

Well, it depends on the nature of the gig -- sometimes playing live *can* be the right time to tinker or experiment with different basses. Like, practicing for a cover band that's starting out, when we're still figuring out the songs, finding our footing with each other, etc. If we ever got to the point of getting the songs more polished, and maybe gigs were on the horizon, that's when i might start to pay more attention to zeroing in on the "right" bass/gear/sound for the situation.

 

[TDR1138]

Given that some people will make their church decision on the basis of music, it can be a wise investment in terms of return on investment.

I’ve played in several churches. Some paid, some not. In one where I was paid, we had at least two of each instrument (guitar, bass, drums, piano) and people would come for the music (at least it weighed heavily into their decision). We also had 4 services per weekend, so having to fill all of those slots was a part of it too. It’s one thing to ask a volunteer to play one service, but to get someone to consistently play 3-4 a week is another thing. At one point, the pastor decided that the music should be all volunteer (except the music minister), so we were all let go and told we could continue to play if we wanted. I stuck around for a few months after that, but the music quality definitely degraded and typically 3 of the 4 services were just the music minister on piano. Attendance suffered. I got frustrated and left, but not because of the money.

 

[OpposableThumbs]

When met with simple songs with simple bass lines think something along the line of WWLD. What would Leland do? I have watched videos of Mr. Sklar playing the most basic bass part imaginable but instead of phoning it in he plays each note with passion and feeling. I know that CCM can be kinda boring for the bass player but I’ve found that playing the simplest part with all the ability and passion that you can muster is sometimes best. Also, it’s easy to forget how great a blessing it is to be chosen to play in church. I was a P&W musician for many years but had to retire due to health issues. I miss it incredibly and wish that I had concentrated on enjoying the experience more when I was able to play in that setting. You don’t know what you got until it’s gone.

I play in church too, and the simple bass parts allow me to praise while I play. But I am not above suggesting some more complex songs to the band leader. I suggested a song from the 80’s (Petra) and the congregation loved it. Some of them even knew the words!
Don’t lose heart. If God gave you a gift then you are honoring Him by developing it. Plus there is bound to be someone in the congregation that is watching you and is being uplifted by what you do.

 

[Jack Deth]

Being able to play at all brings me happiness. Life forced me to set it aside for years (many years), and now I’m blessed to be able to fumble around again. You are blessed my fellow bassist to have the problem.

 

[g-dude]

I’ve played in several churches. Some paid, some not. In one where I was paid, we had at least two of each instrument (guitar, bass, drums, piano) and people would come for the music (at least it weighed heavily into their decision). We also had 4 services per weekend, so having to fill all of those slots was a part of it too. It’s one thing to ask a volunteer to play one service, but to get someone to consistently play 3-4 a week is another thing. At one point, the pastor decided that the music should be all volunteer (except the music minister), so we were all let go and told we could continue to play if we wanted. I stuck around for a few months after that, but the music quality definitely degraded and typically 3 of the 4 services were just the music minister on piano. Attendance suffered. I got frustrated and left, but not because of the money.

Yeah, that’s an excessive amount for volunteers.

Frankly, when we did 2 rehearsals and 3 services (plus a traditional that I didn’t play at), once every 3-4 weeks was often enough. I mean, the time commitment ended up being 16 hours a week - plus any at home practice. Saturday afternoon was totally shot between mid afternoon and dinner time.

Since we dropped to two services and got rid of one of the rehearsals before the pandemic even started, playing twice a month is fine...which is a good thing, because we are down some musicians.