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Everyone thinks bass is so easy

Originally posted by peteroberts
you tell me what's easier: I Wanna Be Sedated on guitar, or Donna Lee on bass?

Not a fair comparison. You are comparing entirely different genres.

If you think about it, Jaco would have been a really sucky bassist for the Ramones.

The bottom line is both instruments are equally challenging to play well.
 
Originally posted by peteroberts
it is a very fair comparison! genre doesnt matter.

OK how about this: 'Donna Lee' or 'Eruption'?

Compare a fusion guitarist, to a fusion bassist and it will make more sense.

Also, if you are planning on using one of the best bassists in history as an example, compare him to one of the best guitarists in history.

So I choose to compare Jaco to Frank Zappa. Oops. It's a draw.
 
IMO Slap is a very easy technique to impress people with.

All of the slappers I know are not really great bassist, but since the technique sounds special, people assume they are. These guys couldnt hold a groove if their life depended on it, and really have no sense of harmony or melody.

I have met slappers however who are incredible bassist and really just use the technique as an enhancement to halp add variety to their already very special basslines and compositions.


I agree with Jaco. Bass is a very easy instrument, it only has 12 notes.

Its no more dificult than anyother instrument, and I actually feel that the fact that it has only 4 srings makes it more dificult to keep a song moving without being too repetetive.

People will view it as being as easy as you let them.

If they hear you playing these killer grooves with good skill, and taste, then they will think that it is not so easy, but if you just bash the root note all day, then of course they will think its easier, because it is easierto play it that way.

See my sig for more insight.

Peace
Nick
 
Originally posted by jbplayer
Heres what you do. Next time a guitar player runs his/her mouth about bass being easy because it has only four strings, get your side cutters out and cut the B and E strings off his guitar and tell him/her that ''NOW ALL YOUR LEADS PARTS SHOULD BE EASIER FOR YOU TO PLAY!!!''

:D

Now that's funny. :)
 
Originally posted by jbplayer
Heres what you do. Next time a guitar player runs his/her mouth about bass being easy because it has only four strings, get your side cutters out and cut the B and E strings off his guitar and tell him/her that ''NOW ALL YOUR LEADS PARTS SHOULD BE EASIER FOR YOU TO PLAY!!!''

WOW, that actually sounds like good advice!

Peace
Nick
 
Originally posted by jazzbo
Hmm. I don't think the really good bass players ever get this.

Maybe it's you. Maybe you're not playing anything to make them think it's all that difficult.

I have to agree.
I don't know if it's because my musician buddies are getting older with time or because I improved, but I less and less get this comment.
Nowadays, it's more "How do you do that ?" and "What's this strange thing you do with your fingers"
 
just heard this one today :

"so dan, what do you play again?"
"bass guitar..."
"oh, the one with four strings? thats not hard at all"

:mad:

the problem is that no one at school has ever heard me play...ill show them :rolleyes: :D
 
Originally posted by Pharmecopia
just heard this one today :

"so dan, what do you play again?"
"bass guitar..."
"oh, the one with four strings? thats not hard at all"

:mad:

the problem is that no one at school has ever heard me play...ill show them :rolleyes: :D

It's just getting funnier and funier to me how much people get worked up over this.

Common now... If you are really spying on me, you should know what the answer to that sorta thing is... "Yeah, whatever dude."

It's the same thing you might say to someone who says to turn down the bass.

The same thing you say to someone who asks you to play like Fieldy.

The same thing you say to someone who says "help, my hair is on fire!!"

Just remember, "Yeah, whatever dude." That's the key.
 
You make it as easy or as difficult as you want it to be.
Depends on what style you play. Each style has one or two instruments who truly can be the ambassador for that style. Not entirely true, but I interpretate it that way.

Bass is the ambassador for:

funk - jazz/fusion


If you play one of these styles, you're bound to play difficult stuff.

However, if you play blues, you'll have more easier basslines.
 
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Originally posted by Gabu


It's just getting funnier and funier to me how much people get worked up over this.

Common now... If you are really spying on me, you should know what the answer to that sorta thing is... "Yeah, whatever dude."

It's the same thing you might say to someone who says to turn down the bass.

The same thing you say to someone who asks you to play like Fieldy.

The same thing you say to someone who says "help, my hair is on fire!!"

Just remember, "Yeah, whatever dude." That's the key.

yeah, whatever dude






















































:rolleyes: :D :D :D