Have you ever received negative comments because you play bass?

[Jean Rodriguez]

Allow me to rephrase the question. Have you ever received negative comments or snide remarks because you've switched over to playing bass instead of something else? I've been a guitar player for 8 years and a bass player for 6. When I first picked up the bass, I basically played as if it were a guitar (to the point where I would try to play blues licks or guitar solos on it and completely disregarded the bass line). That was until last year when I suddenly became far more interested in the bass than the guitar. Suddenly, all I wanted to play were walking bass lines, bass grooves, slap (everything short of soloing on the bass). Even today, I've found myself buying and looking at more bass gear than guitar and picking up the bass far more often than I do the guitar. There's something about laying down the foundation and grooving with a drummer that makes me feel more accomplished than playing rhythm guitar or soloing like maniac (Besides, guitar players are a dime a dozen). Ok, back to the point of the thread. Ever since I've decided to switch to the bass side, I've been receiving crap from my parents, guitar playing friends, bass playing friends and the director at the music college where I used to study in (His comments were one of the reasons why I left the school). So, now I ask; Have you ever received crap because of your choice to play bass or to switch to bass from another instrument? I feel like this is something that has happened to everyone at some point

 

[StereoPlayer]

My McDonalds Manager said bass is lame.
@Cole Louis Allar

 

[Jazz Ad]

Once I became decently good at what I do, I received nothing but praise.
Negative comments regarding bass only come from clueless people so they are easy to ignore.
Musicians know better than to mess with bass players.

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

Once I became decently good at what I do, I received nothing but praise.
Negative comments regarding bass only come from clueless people so they are easy to ignore.
Musicians know better than to mess with bass players.

The most famous and quite frankly one of my personal favorites is "Don't come to me when you don't get a chance solo in a song or get bored of playing only the bassline while the other instruments get to play the melody or solo.". The one that the music director at my college gave (A drummer graduated from Berklee College of Music I might add) was always "Forget about the bass! You're a guitar player and should only focus on one instrument".

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

My McDonalds Manager said bass is lame.
@Cole Louis Allar

Now THAT is an ignorant person.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Now THAT is an ignorant person.

My McDonald's manager said bass is lame.

 

[two fingers]

Nope. But I received a ton of praise for playing "guitar".



(For those of you a little slow on the uptake, that was referring to people who come up to me after the show and say "ErMehgerd! Yer such a really awesome guitar player!!!!".....when I play bass.)

 

[spade2you]

Lots of stupid poeple in the world. I've had a few "easy guitar" comments. That's when I show them an unlined fretless.

My only problem is that a few bands treated me like low man on the totem pole. I've been very picky with bands for this reason.

 

[dalkowski]

Ever since I've decided to switch to the bass side, I've been receiving crap from my parents, guitar playing friends, bass playing friends and the director at the music college where I used to study in (His comments were one of the reasons why I left the school).

I've never gotten heat, or been treated like a second-class citizen, for playing bass, and I find it utterly ridiculous that you should be receiving the treatment you describe. I'm nowhere near being god's gift to the instrument, but over the years I've always felt appreciated, like I make a difference. I've been told as much, and those are bright moments. (My parents were at best indifferent, although Dad DID buy me my first bass.)

It's especially unfortunate that your parents can't find it in their hearts to believe in what you're doing. You're stuck with them, but you can find some real friends. As far as the college guy is concerned, put as much real estate between you and him as you can. Clearly, he's in the wrong line of work.

In closing,

 

[Nev375]

Lessee... I can remember hearing all of the following off the top of my head:

Bass is pretty easy isn't it?
You're almost good enough to play guitar.
You play bass too much like a guitar.
All bass does is go "bomp.... bomp....
Why didn't you take up a REAL instrument
All you have to do is play the root. C, G, and D... got it?
Bass is worthless.
The keyboard can play your part with just his left hand.
I love how you play the "guitar"
You don't even have to know how to play chords do you?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I stopped talking to random people a few years ago. I avoid eye contact whenever possible as well. It really keeps down on the chit chat!

 

[GKon]

I've never gotten negative comments about my playing bass, other than a good ol' ribbing from other musicians just busting my chops.
If anything, I've gotten negative comments about my choice in instruments and equipment.

 

[dalkowski]

The most famous and quite frankly one of my personal favorites is "Don't come to me when you don't get a chance solo in a song or get bored of playing only the bassline while the other instruments get to play the melody or solo.". The one that the music director at my college gave (A drummer graduated from Berklee College of Music I might add) was always "Forget about the bass! You're a guitar player and should only focus on one instrument".

As I tell my sons, if we lived our lives based on what other people said to us, we'd never get out of bed in the morning.

 

[sissy kathy]

Not that I pay any attention to.

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

I've never gotten heat, or been treated like a second-class citizen, for playing bass, and I find it utterly ridiculous that you should be receiving the treatment you describe. I'm nowhere near being god's gift to the instrument, but over the years I've always felt appreciated, like I make a difference. I've been told as much, and those are bright moments. (My parents were at best indifferent, although Dad DID buy me my first bass.)

It's especially unfortunate that your parents can't find it in their hearts to believe in what you're doing. You're stuck with them, but you can find some real friends. As far as the college guy is concerned, put as much real estate between you and him as you can. Clearly, he's in the wrong line of work.

In closing,

My parents do support me musically (Hell, they have bought most of the instruments that I play (Including bass guitars). They just prefer to see their little boy play an instrument that sits in the limelight instead of playing what most consider a background instrument. I usually just tune out all of that crap. Still, the amount of flack that he bass gets as an instrument infuriates me and is something that I simply don't understand.

 

[dalkowski]

They just prefer to see their little boy play an instrument that sits in the limelight instead of playing what most consider a background instrument.

That's not supporting you. That's them wanting the "spotlight" to reflect on them.

They can buy you all the gear in the world, but true "support" means they nurture you to follow your heart with whatever instrument you play.

 

[ZenG]

Yep...my wife.....but she complains about everything anyway.....


Funny you should ask....because that made think of something else....I guess nobody wants to be a bassplayer because whenever I go to my bass/guitar stores there is NEVER anybody in there test driving a bass except me...every time.
Now that I think about it I have never been in the stores ever when there was somebody trying out a bass .

 

[carl h.]

Quite the opposite. I frequently get people saying they wish they could play like I do.

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

Yep...my wife.....but she complains about everything anyway.....


Funny you should ask....because that made think of something else....I guess nobody wants to be a bassplayer because whenever I go to my bass/guitar stores there is NEVER anybody in there test driving a bass except me...every time.
Now that I think about it I have never been in the stores ever when there was somebody trying out a bass .

Oddly enough, that happens to me quite often. When I go to music stores, I always go straight to the bass wall and start trying out as many basses as I can while the other guys test out the same guitars every time

 

[BAG]

Suddenly, all I wanted to play were walking bass lines, bass grooves, slap (everything short of soloing on the bass). Even today, I've found myself buying and looking at more bass gear than guitar and picking up the bass far more often than I do the guitar.

The same thing happened to me (except slap...... still can't do that at all) but it was after 30 years of guitar. How I wish i'd gotten into bass earlier........ and my guitars got completely neglected for the last two years. The only time I pick them up is when trying to show a guitarist how a section actually goes....opposed to what they think it does.