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Does bass appearance matter for genre?

How do you barely know a C major scale? :eyebrow:

It was just my way of saying I'm a novice. I've played sax for many years but am relatively new to the bass and where all the notes lie on the fretboard.

Aye. Anyone who doesn't know all the scales, let alone the C major scale, has no business giving any music-related advice.

Really?

All scales?

If knowing all scales was a requirement before posting an opinion/advise, the participation in these forums would diminish rather drastically.

Here's the OP: If you're playing in a classic rock cover band do you need to be playing a vintage style instrument? I have a Peavey Millennium Plus which is definitely a modern looking bass but I can get vintage sounding tones. Would it be acceptable to play it in a classic rock cover band?

My suggestion was that if he were to have a Fender, he wouldn't need to be concerned with whether or not his bass was accepted, as Fenders seem to fit into most, if not all, genres.
 
It was just my way of saying I'm a novice. I've played sax for many years but am relatively new to the bass and where all the notes lie on the fretboard.



Really?

All scales?

If knowing all scales was a requirement before posting an opinion/advise, the participation in these forums would diminish rather drastically.

I don't think it's too much to ask that a musician know their major and minor scales. If he/she doesn't know that much, it's probably not worth my time to play with that person because I won't be able to communicate with them, or at least not easily.
 
A couple things.

First, I've been playing bass since 1981. While I won't go so far as to say that I don't know my scales, there are times that I can't identify the scale used even though I can play it. I didn't go to school to learn music, I studied at the bar. I haven't been turned down for an audition in over a decade.

Second, your bass is fine. As others have said, it's the kind of bass that just works for lots of different genres. Just be able to play the songs and you're good.

I got lucky, myself. I play mainly P-basses.
 
For those who say that looks don't matter, my father is 80 years old. Could he play bass in a punk rock band? Looks don't matter...? What if he's a really good bass player?

It's ironic (to me at least) that punk, which was born to fight against conformism...would be used as the yardstick for how conforming we need our looks to be.

To answer your question: I think it would be awesome for a punk band to have an 80-year-old "really good" bass player. It's the ultimate middle finger to all the posers out there.
 
It's ironic (to me at least) that punk, which was born to fight against conformism...would be used as the yardstick for how conforming we need our looks to be.

To answer your question: I think it would be awesome for a punk band to have an 80-year-old "really good" bass player. It's the ultimate middle finger to all the posers out there.
I think punk stopped being punk when they all got upset with Green Day for being popular and for that "September Ends" song.
 
Few musicians know "all scales".. That would be ridiculous.

Knowing 11 major scales and 11 natural minor scales doesn't seem like too tall an order. That was required of all 2nd year band students when I played trumpet in jr high. It's even easier on stringed instruments due to moveable box patterns.
 
The Peavey would be fine in any band situation short of a tribute band where image is part of the show.

I've performed with a Fleetwood Mac tribute band for almost a decade now and when I started I played a six-string Alembic and over the years have also used a MM Stingray, Kubicki X-Factor and most recently F Bass BN-5. I sold the BN-5 and the next gig I'm called to play with this band I'll probably be using an Ibanez GVB36 which is a six-string with 14 mm spacing. To me it's about playing the correct notes and not what bass I'm using to achieve this.

Wally
 
Few musicians know "all scales".. That would be ridiculous.


Knowing 11 major scales and 11 natural minor scales doesn't seem like too tall an order. That was required of all 2nd year band students when I played trumpet in jr high. It's even easier on stringed instruments due to moveable box patterns.

Uhhhh.... you are aware there more scales than that.

Don't forget 5 tone scales, eastern music, so on and so forth.

I would go so far to say no musician knows all scales. Go pick up a copy of the Bassist's Grimoire and see how many you know.
 
I play in a classic rock band. I used to play a Fender P. Now I play a Schecter. I love the bass but it does not fit as well in photos as the P did.

I ain't changin' soon, but I think if we were a corporate band I would. Just like I would wear a tux if it fit.

Of course the $$$ would have to be there.