devnulljp
Supporting Member
Singer in a jazz band I subbed in for said "Your bass is like water in a dry land"
I took that to be a good thing
I took that to be a good thing
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How Do OTHER People Describe Your Bass Playing?
- Thread starter tastybasslines
- Start date
Best bass tone I've heard.
You make that look effortles.
Solid timing.
You really are the backbone.
In my head I'm saying... whaaaaa? ???
Are you deaf
Outside I say thanks everyone else makes me look good
You make that look effortles.
Solid timing.
You really are the backbone.
In my head I'm saying... whaaaaa? ???
Are you deaf
Outside I say thanks everyone else makes me look good
well, you didn't screw things up too badly.
I can "make magic with my fingers" according to our guitar player.
other than that, i've never really had anyone criticize it (for good or bad) and i really never cared to find out what people think of my playing. i just have fun and do what sounds right to me and it works, apparently.
other than that, i've never really had anyone criticize it (for good or bad) and i really never cared to find out what people think of my playing. i just have fun and do what sounds right to me and it works, apparently.
When I was a kid, people used to call me "spider fingers."
One time years ago, I was called to play a 12/8 tune. I had pretty much zero experience with 12/8, so I just walked it like a typical 4/4 swing. After that, I was told I played that tune with "all the feel of a loaf of baloney." No, it wasn't a compliment, but it stuck with me. And it was pretty funny.
One time years ago, I was called to play a 12/8 tune. I had pretty much zero experience with 12/8, so I just walked it like a typical 4/4 swing. After that, I was told I played that tune with "all the feel of a loaf of baloney." No, it wasn't a compliment, but it stuck with me. And it was pretty funny.
How do they describe my playing?
"Here's your check. Can I call you again if we need you?"
You can describe my playing different ways on different nights. I play whatever the gig needs. Tone, technique, style, and even aesthetics. They can all change on a dime when the gig calls for it.
"Here's your check. Can I call you again if we need you?"
You can describe my playing different ways on different nights. I play whatever the gig needs. Tone, technique, style, and even aesthetics. They can all change on a dime when the gig calls for it.
One pretty big-time music director came up to me after the performance and asked, "has anyone ever told you that your bass playing is the best I've ever heard?" I replied, " Well, gee, no." She then asked, " have you ever wondered why?"
OK, old joke!
Actually, she called me her lyric bassist, and she kept hiring me.
OK, old joke!
Actually, she called me her lyric bassist, and she kept hiring me.
One sub drummer said "You're easy to follow."
Audience member said "you're carrying the rest of the band."
On the other hand, our church music director says, "You are not allowed to sing and play at the same time."
Audience member said "you're carrying the rest of the band."
On the other hand, our church music director says, "You are not allowed to sing and play at the same time."
Usually when I'm downstairs playing bass, my wife comes down and says "Why are you playing that? It's not a song....it's just bim-bim-bubba-bim-bubba-bubba-bim.."
The keyboard player in our band once told me that I was the best bass player he'd ever played with. That was great, considering he's been on the local music scene for a long time and has played in several bands in that time. Since then I've worked hard to make him and others keep thinking that.
Most people who have said anything about it say it's unique or upfront.
Except guitarists who hate that I might be encroaching on their "frontman" territory. They call me "loud" and "overstepping my boundaries". Guitarists, man.
Except guitarists who hate that I might be encroaching on their "frontman" territory. They call me "loud" and "overstepping my boundaries". Guitarists, man.
Over the past couple of years I've had a couple of people approach me after a set. First and foremost, I think it's cool when someone you don't know thinks enough of you to approach you and compliment your playing. But on more than a few occasions I've gotten something along the lines of "Hey man, that was a cool set. Your playing was really smooth".
Maybe it's the whole phenomenon of never being completely happy with where you are as a musician. But something about this particular compliment hasn't sat completely well with me. Maybe it's my own hangup. And maybe I'm making some non-existent link between that compliment and the hated genre of "smooth jazz". But perhaps I need to be able to just take a compliment a little better.
Maybe it's the whole phenomenon of never being completely happy with where you are as a musician. But something about this particular compliment hasn't sat completely well with me. Maybe it's my own hangup. And maybe I'm making some non-existent link between that compliment and the hated genre of "smooth jazz". But perhaps I need to be able to just take a compliment a little better.
I've had quite a few people call my playing "solid." And quite a few more call it "tight."
At a gig once, a guy approached me and said: "Man, that was killer. You play bass like a guitar player." I gave him a raised eyebrow, so he added: "and that's a good thing." I still chuckle at that one.
At a gig once, a guy approached me and said: "Man, that was killer. You play bass like a guitar player." I gave him a raised eyebrow, so he added: "and that's a good thing." I still chuckle at that one.
I don't think I've ever gotten any comparisons regularly or repeatedly, or even more than once...
Once someone from the audience came up to me after a gig, shook my hand, and said "Your playing shows you clearly understand the music of Olivier Messiaen!"
And another time the bass player from the headlining act came up to me after our opening set and said "So you've obviously absorbed a ton of King Crimson."
I guess the commonality is that people recognize that my influences and references run deep, are immersive? I dunno.
the things that people say about my playing has evolved over the decades, lol. no matter what they say these days i am still frustrated with my ability. my favorite compliment lately is from a young lady who danced to every song. she said i was very soulful. i was like,... "we're gonna bang"! 
