Guitarists looking down on bassists?

[TJL]

I'm sure this sort of thread has been done a billion times before but as a multi-instrumentalist who's a member of a guitar forum I always sense a certain snobbery against bass players. As someone who's played both lead electric guitar and filled in on bass I can tell you that the later is harder; even at a meat and potatoes level. As a bassists filling in you ALWAYS gotta be on the money. A monkey can pick up a Strat, plug into a Deluxe Reverb and go to town over a backing groove lol...

"Always gotta be on the money".....how true!
I filled in on a gig recently with a band of egos who expected perfection, but who could not be bothered to send me a set list, or even to call out the keys before starting a tune. When I got to the gig and they saw I was white, they made a ton of assumptions, and the band leader said "well, we can just play a lot of blues tonight". I told him to keep the set full on funk and R&B as he normally would. Other than having to ask what key we were going to play in, the gig went pretty seamlessly despite their self sabotage. Granted they did not know anything about me or my 42 year history as a professional bassist, but what really pointed out what a bunch of losers these guys were was when at the end of the night, the band leader came up to me and said "Just keep woodshedding and you will get their some day". Bassists never get any respect from hacks. The true musicians always know how important the bass is to the music.

 

[BBassBassington]

Rhythm guitar is what I have the most difficulty with!

Want a groovy bass line? Done. Need drums that are way too loud? Hit me up. Lead guitar? It's just noodling, let's do it! Rhythm guitar? Uh... wat do?

 

[IamGroot]

Rhythm guitar is what I have the most difficulty with!

Want a groovy bass line? Done. Need drums that are way too loud? Hit me up. Lead guitar? It's just noodling, let's do it! Rhythm guitar? Uh... wat do?

Its about time,
Its about space,
Its about the whole Fender Bass

 

[bassicmike]

I look down on my whole band

But I'm about 4" taller than any of them.

I'll show myself out.

 

[IamGroot]

I look down on my whole band

But I'm about 4" taller than any of them.

I'll show myself out.

OK, but are you taller than Ron Carter, Paul Chambers or Pino Palladino.

 

[Hypercaffium]

Yes. I disagree. I think every player has a place or role in their band or situation. Just because you and I play the same instrument it doesn’t mean we have the same role or place.

I've never said that every bass player should have the same role or place, you just misenterpreted what I said. Sorry if it wasn't clear. What I wanted to say is that every instrument is equally important and have its own place in a musical context (which can vary of course).

I also believe any instrument can fit almost anywhere. It’s up to the player to make it fit. And there are multiple fits.

Again, you misinterpreted my message.

 

[Gluvhand]

I've never said that every bass player should have the same role or place, you just misenterpreted what I said. Sorry if it wasn't clear. What I wanted to say is that every instrument is equally important and have its own place in a musical context (which can vary of course).

Again, you misinterpreted my message.

Ok.

 

[Road Hat]

When I was 11 and wanted to learn guitar, my church music leader advised against it. He said that there are a million guitar players, but that if I wanted to play regularly, every band needs a bass player. Sage (and much appreciated) advice.

 

[turf3]

The types of guitar player I have encountered are Clapton guy, Metal guy, EVH guy, Chicken Picker guy, Classic Rock guy and Acoustic Capo guy.

Hmmm...

The guitarists I've played with over the last few years include "Django meets Leon Rhodes guy", "Can play any song in any key and sing at the same time guy", "Plays trad jazz on a flat top acoustic and sounds like Joe Pass, unless he wants to sound like Lester Flatt guy", "knows every pop song of the last 80 years and will call out the chords as he plays to lead you through them guy", "can read the flyspecks on the wall at MM300 and then crank out a screaming Hendrix-style solo guy", and a few others like that.

I suspect you need to play with better musicians.

 

[SmokinJoe992]

Hmmm...

The guitarists I've played with over the last few years include "Django meets Leon Rhodes guy", "Can play any song in any key and sing at the same time guy", "Plays trad jazz on a flat top acoustic and sounds like Joe Pass, unless he wants to sound like Lester Flatt guy", "knows every pop song of the last 80 years and will call out the chords as he plays to lead you through them guy", "can read the flyspecks on the wall at MM300 and then crank out a screaming Hendrix-style solo guy", and a few others like that.

I suspect you need to play with better musicians.

I am not going to disagree with that.