Do you feel you need to justify your instrument?

[cv115505]

Anytime my guitarist friends raz me about my instrument being easy I just point out the fact that, at the end of the night, we all get paid the same amount and apparently I had to do a lot less work for the same money, so maybe he should take up bass... No matter what, you're always going to have to deal with peoples' misconceptions on everything, not just music... don't let it effect your playing and remember that the notes you don't play are just as important as the ones you do

 

[el murdoque]

Easy...?? Then why is singing whilst playing bass so much harder compared to singing whilst playing guitar or drums??

I Guess that has to do with the rhythm you're playing is often not the same as you're singing.
I noticed it's hard for guitarplayers as well as soon as they have to play in a rhythm that's working against the singing part.

 

[bassdude51]

Easy...?? Then why is singing whilst playing bass so much harder compared to singing whilst playing guitar or drums??

I would think that playing drums and singing would be most difficult! Each arm and leg are doing something different and then trying to sing too! Also drummers have to hold their head in one place for the mic as their bodies, arms and legs are moving about.

Perhaps doing chords on guitar and singing might be easy compared to singing and playing bass but doing lead work on a guitar and singing would be just as difficult or maybe more so than bass and singing. IMO

 

[Mystic Michael]

The old 'less is more' adage and 'make every note count' philosophy in no way apply to my technique.

Before I address the essence of your question and your issue, I really need to correct a very common misunderstanding here - for your sake, as well as for the numerous other players who may read this:

Playing style is not the same thing as technique. Style is a matter of what you play. Technique is a matter of how you play. These two concepts get conflated on a regular basis around here, and it causes unnecessary confusion. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated TalkBass forum labeled: "Style". Apparently that's why matters of style so often end up in the "Technique" forum.

But always in the back of my mind, regardless of the style of music I'm playing, I feel I have an obligation to prove to everyone in the audience that bass is an instrument just as sophisticated as any other. It's as though I'm having to defend the honour of bass players everywhere every time I play.

Does this resonate with anyone else here?

Yes, I'm sure that there are many other players who share your perception and your feeling about this. I've gone through it myself. But I would submit that this has less to do with the instrument itself, and more to do with the apparent insecurity you have regarding the instrument, which you are projecting upon the instrument.

For the most part, this is a characteristic of younger and/or more immature players. Good players with extensive experience, those who have been around the block a few dozen times, rarely feel the need to "justify" their instrument - or themselves - to anybody. They know what they can do, and they know that value is apparent, and appreciated, by everybody who really counts.

When you reach this point, where you can get out of your own head and transcend ego, self-consciousness and insecurity, then you'll be freed up to serve the actual music - and ironically, you'll then be a far better musician than you ever could be while you were still stuck in ego mode.

MM

 

[lfmn16]

As I have gotten older, I have found it is best to ignore most people.

+1

In my old age I try to please myself. If I'm happy with my playing and my band is happy with my playing that's all I really care about.

If someone wants to think there is something special about playing all root notes, have at it. If someone wants to challenge themselves and push the envelope, more power to you. If someone doesn't like the way I play, don't listen and don't bother telling me because I don't care.

 

[mancefine]

I've always told people that while guitar is kind of a gradual incline- in other words, you progress at a pretty gradual rate in terms of skill and go from beginner to intermediate to advanced to super advanced to Jimmy Page to Steve Vai- bass is a lot different. With bass, it seems to be pretty easy to pick up, and then you hit a wall, and it takes a really good and dedicated player to get over the wall and learn all the techniques and become a really good bassist. The bass has alot more techniques and styles that can be applied to it than guitar does, so that's why, to me, alot of bassists are either Ok or awesome.

 

[karl_em_all]

Bass, or any other instrument, can be the easiest thing in the world depending on the song. Or is it because we hear simple hits being played by pros who make it sound easy? I remember years ago watching a video by Springsteen (Dancing in the Dark I think) and thinking what a boring and easy song it is for the rhythm section. And then I was like "That's Max Weinberg" playing that regular, impeccably flawless 4/4 beat on cruise control when he's quite capable of lighting his kit on fire at the drop of a hat. But straight 4/4 is what the song calls for and he does it perfectly.

 

[Reddog01]

I have been a musician for many years now, and hopefully, I've learned a couple of things during this time. When I was studying music in college, I realized that there are solo folks and there are ensemble folks. Some instruments, by nature, are primarily ensemble instruments (i.e.: tuba). I have several friends who are tuba players, and yes, they do play solos, but the primary function of the instrument is ensemble playing. The bass guitar is much like that. The ensemble is greatly enhanced by the line that the bass is adding to the group. In an orchestra, one rarely hears the double bass singing out over the other instruments, but rather, it anchors the musical piece being played. The double bass is the father of the modern-day bass guitar, and I can't help but believe that when Fender developed the first electric bass, he had imitating the function of the double bass in mind. Guys like Stanley Clark have elevated the bass status as a solo instrument, but most of us don't play like Clark. It seems to me (take it for what it's worth) that my goal is to become the best ensemble player I can be. That's how I can best serve, and believe me, that alone will give me plenty to work on. Sometimes that may mean playing an oom-pa, tuba-like, musical line, sometimes it may mean playing a blues-progression line, and hopefully I'll get to play some more complexed jazz lines. I've got to be ready to do what's needed.

 

[hrodbert696]

As I have gotten older, I have found it is best to ignore most people.

+1, and...

This. Most people who have the attitude that bass is easy usually have no clue about music.

+1 more, and...

I don't just play the bass. I play music.

+1000.

Bass is not particularly easier to play than any other instrument. A great deal of the music written for bass is easier than a great deal of the music written for guitar, or piano, or whatever. That is not the same thing. How composers choose to use the instrument does not mean there are limits on the instrument itself.

Imagine a simple, root-note bass line, like U2's "With Or Without You" (which, by the way, can be surprisingly difficult to play steadily, error-free, perfectly in the pocket, for four minutes straight). Proves that "bass is easy," right? OK, now imagine playing that same part on the piano. Did the part suddenly become more challenging? Not at all. If anything, it's easier on the piano.

Ok, now think of a common piece of music, like Amazing Grace. Imagine a pianist playing it solo, with chords and the occasional flourish. Would people think, "How skilled the pianist must be to pull that off?" Probably not. If you've learned piano, it's pretty straightforward, lots of pianists of average accomplishment do it every Sunday. Now imagine a bassist playing it solo, with the same chords and flourishes. People are amazed. Why? Because that piece of music is harder to play on bass. So which is the "easier" instrument?

What's "easy" or "hard" isn't the instrument. It's the music you undertake to play on it.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Imagine a simple, root-note bass line, like U2's "With Or Without You" (which, by the way, can be surprisingly difficult to play steadily, error-free, perfectly in the pocket, for four minutes straight). Proves that "bass is easy," right? OK, now imagine playing that same part on the piano. Did the part suddenly become more challenging? Not at all. If anything, it's easier on the piano.

Ok, now think of a common piece of music, like Amazing Grace. Imagine a pianist playing it solo, with chords and the occasional flourish. Would people think, "How skilled the pianist must be to pull that off?" Probably not. If you've learned piano, it's pretty straightforward, lots of pianists of average accomplishment do it every Sunday. Now imagine a bassist playing it solo, with the same chords and flourishes. People are amazed. Why? Because that piece of music is harder to play on bass. So which is the "easier" instrument?

Good points, dude.

What seems to chronically fly over people's head around here is the difference between playing a musical instrument...and playing actual music on that instrument.

The first, more mechanistic, instance presents a pretty low bar: To qualify, you only need be able to generate a sound on it - any sound, not necessarily a musical sound (however you define "musical"). The second instance - playing actual music on your instrument - is obviously a much higher (and more subjective) bar.

I liken it to taking an athletic approach vs. an artistic approach. Focusing on the instrument itself to the point of missing the point of the actual music it can help make, is a form of mistaking the map for the territory. It reduces musicianship to a mere "number-of-notes-per-minute physical performance". Not unlike the correlation between a speed metal guitarist, for example, and a track & field sprinter.

MM

 

[HolmeBass]

I do hear this from time to time from people in the crowd, never really from musicians I play with nowadays because they all realize how much nuance is required to deliver an authoritative bass performance. I always agree. I am not going to argue about how hard bass is to play. I play fairly melodically, and take solos, but also will pound out roots or drop a dub bass line with three notes every two measures. I am really always trying to make it *feel* good.

Two funny stories. We were playing a pre-wedding party for these kids, two acoustic guitars (running through amps) and me on electric bass, playing Dead, reggae, old-time music. People were digging it. During the break we're up in the bride's room (it was a B&B the wedding party had rented, wedding next morning down by the river...) and drinking some whiskey, and a guy started talking about bass. Eventually he said, "Well bass is easier though, right? It only has four strings." I said absolutely true. One of the guitarists took immediate umbrage, but I talked him down, told him it was true bass was simple. The guy was more than a little confused though- the bassist saying yeah, it's super easy, you should play it, and the guitarist saying there's a lot more to it than you might initially think. We played "Wagon Wheel" in the second set and they *loved* it. Went through all the words twice, getting a crowd of them on the mic for the 2nd time through.

Then there was my neighbor. Kind of a hipster dude, been a hippie for a long, long time. He was talking about the French neo-soul he loved, and how the deep moving bass was so great, and he was going to get a bass and play that. Because after all, bass is pretty simple and he knew what he wanted to play. I was a bit hurt, but decided to not be a tool and encouraged him to do that.

So he did buy a bass, a Dean, and a little practice amp. I visited him and he played a tiny bit, I made some suggestions, which he ignored. I picked up his bass and played some, and told him it was a decent bass and amp. He never really went anywhere with it. Now I just can't help teasing him, every time I see him I ask him how the bass playing is coming along. He uncomfortably passes it off and the conversation continues. He has never again told me to my face that bass playing is easy though, haha!

 

[Sundogue]

I never feel the need to justify the necessity of the bass guitar, be it for simple or complex parts.

I usually just tell people..."Nobody dances to guitar or vocals."

It's importance is relative. Is bass easy or necessary? What is it that is trying to be accomplished? That will give you the answer you seek.

 

[Mvilmany]

As I have gotten older, I have found it is best to ignore most people.

+1

 

[Dakotah]

I've heard it too,do we really need a bass player?And I've also had other members pick up the bass and say it's easy as they destroy a good tune and think they are doing a great job playing. That's if they even know which end is up!

 

[Lownote38]

I feel no need to justify my instrument at all. I like playing it, and I haven't had any complaints about how I do.

 

[u84six]

This, for some reason has become the reputation of bass. I don't think it has always been that way, I think it started in the 60s with rock bass ( 30s, 40s, and 50s bass was seen as quite important to the band). I think with rock music, some players played the bass like a guitarist would. Changing from chord to chord with no real flavor. When a bass is played the way a bass should be played, then it starts to be more important to the band. I've gotten use to the whole "you're just the bass player" thing that goes around because I've taught myself to play in the pocket while creating a nice flow for the song with added tension, resolve, etc. When that kind of thing is missing in a song, believe me, everybody notices.

 

[BassChuck]

So what if some of the parts are easy. That's not the point. Bass is essential.

 

[Flabass]

The three sweet words that will turn any chick on when you whisper them in her ear:

"I play bass."

 

[WashburnAB95]

+1, and...



+1 more, and...



+1000.

Bass is not particularly easier to play than any other instrument. A great deal of the music written for bass is easier than a great deal of the music written for guitar, or piano, or whatever. That is not the same thing. How composers choose to use the instrument does not mean there are limits on the instrument itself.

Imagine a simple, root-note bass line, like U2's "With Or Without You" (which, by the way, can be surprisingly difficult to play steadily, error-free, perfectly in the pocket, for four minutes straight). Proves that "bass is easy," right? OK, now imagine playing that same part on the piano. Did the part suddenly become more challenging? Not at all. If anything, it's easier on the piano.

Ok, now think of a common piece of music, like Amazing Grace. Imagine a pianist playing it solo, with chords and the occasional flourish. Would people think, "How skilled the pianist must be to pull that off?" Probably not. If you've learned piano, it's pretty straightforward, lots of pianists of average accomplishment do it every Sunday. Now imagine a bassist playing it solo, with the same chords and flourishes. People are amazed. Why? Because that piece of music is harder to play on bass. So which is the "easier" instrument?

What's "easy" or "hard" isn't the instrument. It's the music you undertake to play on it.

So allow me to sumerize if I may... Piano is easier to play so when you play you are expected to play more complicated music. Bass is much more difficult to play so you are ussually expected to play simpler music on it.

 

[Skeeter1]

Played both for over 30 years. Was taught on both and to go both ways in some early gigging as a teen. I play certain styles better on the guitar but I hold my own on bass in just about any style of music. I think the first four strings on a guitar are just as easy as a bass.

I played some sit in work with a kid who was your typical 'tard, way to loud, too much gain and no tone, and very sloppy to boot. He ran through some sloppy sweeping and grinned at me and asked "what 'cha think about dat". I told him that to much distortion tends to hide sloppy rhythm, wrong notes and sloppy changes. Also he needed to let me hold on to his distortion pedal for him so he could practice those runs with a clean tone and get some separation in the notes cause as is it sounded like he was playing a jumbled mess. You would have thought I had taken a dump in his guitar case. Oh well, you can try to pass on wisdom doesn't mean everybody will take it

Also bass is the sub frequency that moves people. If some one writes a song and wants people to dance to it, it needs those frequencies. It provides power to any music and defines sections of the songs. Best example is a song like "play that funky music". Everyone knows the opening riff but no one dances until the bass comes in. We are the pied pipers of the pop, rock, country, funk world causing young ladies to get up and shake their money makers on a nightly basis.