Female Bassist Threads

[Dr. Cheese]

I just want to say that many of us who post on TB are older and we probably notice women musicians more because they were comparatively rare when we were coming up. That said, whenever I go on YouTube, I see more and more great female musicians (it is remarkable how many men follow cute female musicians.) I wonder if there is any real merit distinguishing between male and female musicians anymore? I mean, our gonads do not offer any advantage when it comes to musical ability as far as I know. Maybe the time has come to just call a great player a great player?

 

[Jeff Scott]

We don't usually say "male bassist" so I never understood separating out females. To me we're all bassists, period. Well, except for those males who have admitted on TB that they are just bass players (which goes right along with those who say they are bass players and would never consider themselves a musician).

 

[two fingers]

I see a pro as a pro. Female pro musicians are no longer rare.

I don't see Gale Ann Dorsey as "good for a chic". I see her as a side musician who takes anyone she's playing with to the next level. I see her as a person I wish I could groove and sing like.

So I might join in a thread in praise of a particular female player. But I'll just discuss their playing/singing, not their body parts.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I see a pro as a pro. Female pro musicians are no longer rare.

I don't see Gale Ann Dorsey as "good for a chic". I see her as a side musician who takes anyone she's playing with to the next level. I see her as a person I wish I could groove and sing like.

So I might join in a thread in praise of a particular female player. But I'll just discuss their playing/singing, not their body parts.

For most of the 1990’s MeShell Ndegeocello’s Plantation Lullabies was CD in heavy rotation in my car and apartment. It was not because I was turned on by MeShell, well actually I WAS incredibly turned on by her playing, song writing, and production/band leading skills. In that way, my MeShell period was similar to my constant listening to Stanley Clarke from 1975-1986.

 

[LBS-bass]

I just want to say that many of us who post on TB are older and we probably notice women musicians more because they were comparatively rare when we were coming up. That said, whenever I go on YouTube, I see more and more great female musicians (it is remarkable how many men follow cute female musicians.) I wonder if there is any real merit distinguishing between male and female musicians anymore? I mean, our gonads do not offer any advantage when it comes to musical ability as far as I know. Maybe the time has come to just call a great player a great player?

If I am putting an ad up to find work as a bass player I don't specify that I'm female. Frankly, if that matters to you one way or the other I don't want your job.

As a vocalist, it's important due to range and repertoire, so if I'm advertising that, I do mention it.

 

[rutrho]

Oh I'm gonna get my popcorn out for this one

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Oh I'm gonna get my popcorn out for this one

What is your take on the subject?

 

[jerry]

Greatness knows no gender in my book.

 

[Mushroo]

The Grammy Awards dropped their gendered categories in 2012.

 

[ruju]

There should be zero distinction between male and female musicians. That said a few of my favourite musicians happen to be female. Grace Potter, Norah Jones and Sharon Jones rip to name a few.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

I get you. We had a great year when half the tuba section at my uni was female. Recently that has become more common and that's as it should be. Personally whit relation to music, I think gender recognition has something to do with perception but not as much as it did. It is still something to celebrate but not something to distinguish between musicians. Hell, soon it'll be a curiosity that all 71 genders are represented in bass playing. Play the darn instrument and don't worry what parts you were born with or without.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

music is gender fluid

 

[Paulabass]

Until the day I die, I will hear- She's good ....for a girl. I can't even get annoyed any more. At least it means someone noticed there IS a bassist in the band.

 

[Jokei]

I just want to say that many of us who post on TB are older

Yeah, probably/possibly correct there.

We probably notice women musicians more because they were comparatively rare when we were coming up.

In my case, not especially - unless the playing is exceptionally good/bad.

That said, whenever I go on YouTube, I see more and more great female musicians (it is remarkable how many men follow cute female musicians.)

I believe the term is "Incel"

I wonder if there is any real merit distinguishing between male and female musicians anymore? I mean, our gonads do not offer any advantage when it comes to musical ability as far as I know. Maybe the time has come to just call a great player a great player?

*SARCASM, lots of it - I can't believe they're allowed to vote. *Sarcasm end.
As maybe a younger man, born '77, raised by a woman who had a job, to support a family because the "father" was absent, I find your attitude thoroughly retrograde and somewhat disgusting.

The fact you even have to ask the question in this day and age labels you as an outlier. The get outs of "It wasn't a serious question", "I just wanted to stir the pot", "took a contentious position for the sake of engendering discussion" may have been relevant ~30 years back.

I'd like to think that as musicians, we're a bit better, more open-minded. Hopefully, you're the exception that proves the rule.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Yeah, probably/possibly correct there.

In my case, not especially - unless the playing is exceptionally good/bad.

I believe the term is "Incel"

*SARCASM, lots of it - I can't believe they're allowed to vote. *Sarcasm end.
As maybe a younger man, born '77, raised by a woman who had a job, to support a family because the "father" was absent, I find your attitude thoroughly retrograde and somewhat disgusting.

The fact you even have to ask the question in this day and age labels you as an outlier. The get outs of "It wasn't a serious question", "I just wanted to stir the pot", "took a contentious position for the sake of engendering discussion" may have been relevant ~30 years back.

I'd like to think that as musicians, we're a bit better, more open-minded. Hopefully, you're the exception that proves the rule.

Did you even read the OP? He did not make the distinction to make it, he made the distinction to point out that it no longer has merit. He was saying that we should just make a great musician a great musician, not point out gender or follow them because we are dirty old men (an even more prevalent stereotype these days). Let's not grind our axes, but (to use a stereotype of my history) 'bury the hatchet'.

 

[LBS-bass]

Yeah, probably/possibly correct there.

In my case, not especially - unless the playing is exceptionally good/bad.

I believe the term is "Incel"

*SARCASM, lots of it - I can't believe they're allowed to vote. *Sarcasm end.
As maybe a younger man, born '77, raised by a woman who had a job, to support a family because the "father" was absent, I find your attitude thoroughly retrograde and somewhat disgusting.

The fact you even have to ask the question in this day and age labels you as an outlier. The get outs of "It wasn't a serious question", "I just wanted to stir the pot", "took a contentious position for the sake of engendering discussion" may have been relevant ~30 years back.

I'd like to think that as musicians, we're a bit better, more open-minded. Hopefully, you're the exception that proves the rule.

I don't think you understood the original post. As someone with far more right to be offended than you (assuming you're male) I took away none of that from his post.

 

[Jokei]

Did you even read the OP? He did not make the distinction to make it, he made the distinction to point out that it no longer has merit. He was saying that we should just make a great musician a great musician, not point out gender or follow them because we are dirty old men (an even more prevalent stereotype these days). Let's not grind our axes, but (to use a stereotype of my history) 'bury the hatchet'.

I addressed that point, it should really be a non-argument/discussion in this day and age.

Depends where the hatchet gets buried

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

I addressed that point, it should really be a non-argument/discussion in this day and age.

Depends where the hatchet gets buried

Are you sure you addressed what his point was? You insulted him and claimed that he was the problem when Dr Cheese was trying to say that it shouldn't be an issue. He was on your side...

The old quote means that we bury a symbol of our anger under a tree. When the tree grows around it we have a stronger tool to use for rebuilding.

 

[Paulabass]

Girls can do anything guys can do except piss on a campfire. This conversation should end right about....HERE.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Girls can do anything guys can do except piss on a campfire. This conversation should end right about....HERE.

Well that depends on the size of the campfire and the bravery of the woman (sorry, that's the wifey's joke...I take no responsibility).