• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Cocky Bass players

#21
I feel for you bro....cant stand those ego tripping arses.

If the band is looking for a good bassist & you know your better, be cool & kick the $#1+ out of it. Play your heart out & have fun.

If you get the gig, bonus, if you don't, move on and know you did your best.

The best player doesn't always get the gig...there's politics, who's buddys with who etc...

Good luck!
 
#23
Go the completely opposite direction - be Mr. Humble and "whatev" about your own skills to this guy...chances are good that over time you'll make him doubt himself. Plus the ladies will love you.
 
#27
bronzehydra said:
One of my peers "Plays" bass. He is unbelievably cocky and full of himself. He is always bragging about his bass is better than mine (His is a Schecter Diamond or whatever and mine is an Epiphone T-bird).
Click to expand...

If it makes you feel any better, my bass is better than yours too.

Whats wrong with playing with a pick?:hmm:

PS: I think you're full of yourself as well. I counted over 9000 "but I'm better than him's" in the OP. :rollno:
 
#28
Just do your best man, and let your bass playing speak for itself! I was in a band with someone that thought she could wipe the floor with everyone, when in reality she didnt know what she was doing! Really the arrogance is just a front for insecurity. Real talent will shine through, and once your little buddy starts playing with some real musicians, they will see right through his ego and he will look like the idiot!
 
#29
Considering the fact that your competitor is "in" with the guitarist, I don't like your chances regardless of how good you are in comparison.

Which begs the question: What do you stand to gain from being in a band with people like this? Chicks? C'mon, man, you're a bassist (reference Murderface's luck with the ladies if you don't know what I mean).

In the end, musicianship shouldn't be a competition any more than presidential elections should be a popularity contest. (This goes for BOTH of you.) If they want your "rival" in the band instead of you, think of the horrors you're missing out on because you want to be a REAL bass player instead of a poser. Chill, work on your skills, and find a band that suits you - then you can "rock, rock on". :)
 
#30
A friend and drummer in our last band told me a story about the selection procedure of members in his first band.
At that time he played keyboards. The drummer and bass player
were in already in. There were three guitar players and only two were needed. One of the guitar players had a mini van, he was needed, so he was in. The other one had acces to a garage where they could practice.
He was in too. The third one just had a fancy guitar and an amp.
He was out, but they were able to talk his amp into the garage.
good hardware.

This tells you that being selected for a band isn't only about instrument value and playing abilities.
 
#34
Lonnybass said:
Go the completely opposite direction - be Mr. Humble and "whatev" about your own skills to this guy...chances are good that over time you'll make him doubt himself. Plus the ladies will love you.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Don't play his game. Don't bad mouth or insult him, and don't try and talk youreslf up too much. Encourage him to do his best, and you do your best. My band told me that when I auditioned, they were impressed that when I was coming in to audition I was friendly and encouraging to the bassist who had just finished auditioning.

Whatever you do, if he gets the gig, don't speak badly about him or the band. When they get sick of him, they may come knocking.

Good Luck on the audition.
 
#35
+1 to most of this advice.

But when Mr. Ego starts mouthing off, I wouldn't waste time on trying to change him - you can't. Simply walk away.

Focus on your own bass playing, and don't worry about his.

And realize that his attitude is the product of immaturity coupled with deep insecurity. Generally speaking, the best players don't go around tooting their own horn - their playing speaks for itself.
 
#36
bronzehydra said:
Thanks guys!

I hope the band members like my style of playing. I'm going to try my hardest, and just be myself while doing it!:hyper:

I'm going to prove to them I'm a better bassist!
Click to expand...

Remember......BETTER does not always equate to FASTER.....there's a pretty fair amount of "tastefullness" thrown in there tto!

Honestly, I consider myself an "average" bass player and there are a few in my area that have skills far superior to mine. Yet I always seem to receive comments and compliments on my bass playing and they're usually along the lines of how "rock solid" my bass work is and how, when one of the guitar players gets lost, they'll just fall back and let me lead them to where they need to be because they know they can rely on me to be spot on and where everyone should be.

Don't sweat it! Give it your best shot and do it YOUR way because for you, that's the right way and the best way. If you don't get the job, you shouldn't have any problems finding another band. Around these parts, bass players don't have much problem finding work. In fact, I'll usually bring a guitar to an open mic session because it seems that, once you show up with a bass, you're not going to get a break for the rest of the evening. I like to playing bass in my band but, I like to use open mics to hone my acoustic guitar skills.

Remember.......play within yourself and your abilities and you'll do fine........we bass players don't get payed by the note so, that leaves you free to play solidly and tastefully.......much more important IMHO.

Good luck :bassist:
 
#37
stylonpilson said:
Agreed. To the OP: what makes you so sure that you are better than him? Have you ever stopped to consider the possibility that maybe, actually, he IS better than you?

S.P.
Click to expand...

Too true. It sounds awfully cocky to me to say that you are better than him. So then, who is actually the "better" bassist?
The fact that you two have to argue about it seems childish to me. I'm just sayin...
 
#38
frankly i kind of got the vibe that you're more worried about what this guy thinks than you should be. you should spend less time worrying about who is 'better' and more time getting better. it sounds like his childish mind games work on you. don't let them. there will always be ACTUAL better bassists than you around, whether or not he is 'better' is immaterial. are you as good as you can be right now?

so just practice and prepare for the audition. if you get it, sweet; if not, then don't sweat it. just keep practicing. because conversations that amount to 'omg i m teh roXors & u r teh suXors LOL PWNED' won't make you a better bassist. but practice will, in a noticeable way.

as to what bass he plays? who cares? as long as it's set up decently, what bass you play is entirely a matter of preference. playing with a pick versus fingers? also a matter of preference. learn to play both with and without, you'll be better for it. why limit yourself to just one style?
 
#39
I can guarantee you that regardless of how good either one of you are there is going to be someone better. You just need to work on what is under your control and let the rest of it go; that includes the little ego tripping you are on as well.
 
#40
bronzehydra said:
He is always bragging about his bass is better than mine
Click to expand...

i stopped reading after this that point

i'd like to point out:

yes i do have a very expensive bass, but i also use a very "cheap" bass (modded out MIM Jazz):

the fact is - the expensive bass doesn't get me anymore gigs or more pay on the gig then my MIM Jazz..

:)

just ignore him, it's amazing what happens when you literally ignore people when they are talking smack.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back