I like Basses, I like women, as long as they go together well I am happy.
Don't ask me which one I prefer more though
Don't ask me which one I prefer more though
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Female bassists and your thoughts...
- Thread starter Zekkis09
- Start date
Skills, attitude & personality, image. In that order, regardless of gender. The only instrument where image might make more of a difference is with a vocalist, as they tend to be the representative of the altogether image of the band.
Here in Helsinki, a female metal musician (apart from keys/vocals) seems to be a rare sight, at least in my experience. Metal has more or less always been a male-dominated genre, and I believe the overall genre is currently living the age of pioneers - globally there are loads of awesome female metal musicians and I expect the scales to even out at some point.
It's probably also about the subgenre. In my eyes, *core is a lot more image-centered than for example tech death, prog metal and even modern black metal, and thus the latter are more about the actual skills & musicality than gender/image/whatnot. Usually the latter are also a lot more interesting music-wise
Just keep doing what you're doing, don't give up. Create your own band if there aren't any viable positions in existing ones or the existing ones are full of douchenozzles. You're bound to find like-minded people sooner or later.
A quasi-related story: An acquaintance of mine (female) is probably one of the best DM vocalists I've ever heard and is a Musician with a capital M. She has an interest in brutal death metal etc. and has awesome technique for it - she'd probably scare the living s*t out of you on stage and outperform most male rivals, while adding great potential with clean vocals. Here's her problem: She's 150cm (~4'11") tall, blonde, cute as hell. In a genre where the audience more or less expects a brutal-as-f*k group to deliver an experience of "we'll devour your soul and then proceed to copulate with your innards with a chainsaw", the contrasting image is simply too hard to market - or at least often seen as such. Respect to Angela Gossow etc. for succeeding there.
Here in Helsinki, a female metal musician (apart from keys/vocals) seems to be a rare sight, at least in my experience. Metal has more or less always been a male-dominated genre, and I believe the overall genre is currently living the age of pioneers - globally there are loads of awesome female metal musicians and I expect the scales to even out at some point.
It's probably also about the subgenre. In my eyes, *core is a lot more image-centered than for example tech death, prog metal and even modern black metal, and thus the latter are more about the actual skills & musicality than gender/image/whatnot. Usually the latter are also a lot more interesting music-wise
Just keep doing what you're doing, don't give up. Create your own band if there aren't any viable positions in existing ones or the existing ones are full of douchenozzles. You're bound to find like-minded people sooner or later.
A quasi-related story: An acquaintance of mine (female) is probably one of the best DM vocalists I've ever heard and is a Musician with a capital M. She has an interest in brutal death metal etc. and has awesome technique for it - she'd probably scare the living s*t out of you on stage and outperform most male rivals, while adding great potential with clean vocals. Here's her problem: She's 150cm (~4'11") tall, blonde, cute as hell. In a genre where the audience more or less expects a brutal-as-f*k group to deliver an experience of "we'll devour your soul and then proceed to copulate with your innards with a chainsaw", the contrasting image is simply too hard to market - or at least often seen as such. Respect to Angela Gossow etc. for succeeding there.
- Jun 28, 2012
- 131
- 2
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Luna Guitars, Ashdown Engineering, Cactus Picks
There aren't many female musicians around where I live unfortunately. It seems strange and somewhat saddening.
Or at least female musicians who can do something besides singing, piano, three chords on a guitar or half a note on bass :scowl:
Or at least female musicians who can do something besides singing, piano, three chords on a guitar or half a note on bass :scowl:
One of my favorite bassists is Mary Huff of Southern Culture On The Skids (SCOTS). It's a 3 piece somethings 4 piece band playing twisted "roots rock and roll'. Two guys and a chick, sometimes 3 guys and a chick. She's been with them for 25 years more or less.
The chemistry works!
I think good bands are a mysterious combination of personalities that bond and function. I think the gender thing has nothing to do with it. Bands are people that click.
YMMV
The chemistry works!
I think good bands are a mysterious combination of personalities that bond and function. I think the gender thing has nothing to do with it. Bands are people that click.
YMMV
My favorite local band in college featured my best friend's youngest sister on bass. She rocked out pretty hard. After that band broke up she started her own band with her on lead guitar and vocals. She is one heckuva musician and even my slightly misogynistic lead guitarist praises her guitar skills.
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My wife.
It was the bass that got me in the first place.
(it really wasn't. I hate Washburns, and bought her a nice Ibby.)
My wife.
It was the bass that got me in the first place.
(it really wasn't. I hate Washburns, and bought her a nice Ibby.)
Hmm. I play mostly jazz, blues, funk, some fusion and occasionally rock covers, all genres where women musicians are a lot more common. So I have not personally been turned down for a gig because I am a woman. In this area,that seems to happen mostly with the younger bands, mostly metal and related to metal. Some of it is due to image issues, but from what i've heard from younger musicians, a lot of it is immaturity. Besides the kids not wanting to have a female around when they get drunk or stoned or use foul language or participate in other questionable acts, yep, there is still a bit of the 'girls have cooties' attitude in that age group. Don't want no girls in their boys-only club. And if they have girl friends, or are old enough for wives, often those women are young enough to be pretty insecure. Some of those women will, or have, given their SOs h-e-double toothpicks if they even thought about adding a woman to the band. I've seen posts in this forum from guys whose significant others get jealous if some random woman in the audience even seems to be looking at their guy, much less flirting with them; for these women, the idea of their SO actually having a woman as a band mate is their worst nightmare. Not very rational, but there it is. Life isn't fair.
That being said, if any band turned me down just because I was female, I'd leave, thankfully, without a backward glance. If that is the attitude of the guys in the group, then that is a band I have no wish to join, anyway. And that ain't a case of sour grapes, either. If they are that closed minded about that issue, they will be just as closed minded about other things, too.
If it takes a while to find a band you are a good fit with, believe me, it is well worth the wait. Find like minded musicians who care more about how well you play than which bathroom you use.
That being said, if any band turned me down just because I was female, I'd leave, thankfully, without a backward glance. If that is the attitude of the guys in the group, then that is a band I have no wish to join, anyway. And that ain't a case of sour grapes, either. If they are that closed minded about that issue, they will be just as closed minded about other things, too.
If it takes a while to find a band you are a good fit with, believe me, it is well worth the wait. Find like minded musicians who care more about how well you play than which bathroom you use.
- Mar 9, 2001
- 963
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Accugroove Cabinets & MJC Ironworks Strings
As unpopular a truth that men and women are certainly different, when it comes to music I welcome anybody that can play well and with a humble attitude. In the US women are expected to be highly attractive and provocative, but what's that have to do with music?! There are shock entertainers then there are musicians. (Sorry, Gaga, it's true...)
Why judge someone by gender? We are all musicians, therefore we should judge each other by musical ability. Therefore in my eyes, if a girl plays better then a boy, I am choosing the girl. I also believe that there aren't enough female bassists, so the more that there are the better!
Oh and if we are talking about female bassists, Stonefield is an all girl rock band. Their bassist is like... 14 years old I think.
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Holly Finlay. She is a good bassist.
Oh and if we are talking about female bassists, Stonefield is an all girl rock band. Their bassist is like... 14 years old I think.
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Holly Finlay. She is a good bassist.
The last two bands I have worked in had women on bass (5-string cello) and lead guitar (primarily metal style) , my thoughts ... it only takes one woman to balance the energy in an otherwise male band. But the inverse is not true.
Have a female in the band?
No problem, as long as she pulls her weight musically.
Personally, I'd choose seeing a mixed gender band over an all guy band, all other things being roughly equal.
No problem, as long as she pulls her weight musically.
Personally, I'd choose seeing a mixed gender band over an all guy band, all other things being roughly equal.
"a girl in the band just wouldn't look right" means either "we are alcoholics, smoke our brains out and see females only as sexual toys", or "we are too intimidated/embarrased when a girl is around and feels weird acting like normal people instead of farting/burping/scratching/smelly apes"
Kiddin' aside, tell them the following guys would disagree with them: BOLT THROWER, WHITE ZOMBIE, ALL THAT REMAINS, COAL CHAMBER, SONIC SYNDICATE, ILLNATH - to name just a few. If they still don't get it and think "chicks" can't play metal, tell them to listen to: MYTHIC, FRANTIC AMBER, IMBER, or GALMET (this one will really piss them off
