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How do you describe your role when asked?
- Thread starter Wings
- Start date
"I'm the bass player, so the designated driver who carries the amplifiers and other heavy things..."
From the Dummies book:
While the guitarists move through their aerobic exercises, dripping with sweat and smashing their guitars, you get to be cool. You can join in with their antics if you want. But have you ever seen footage of The Who? John Entwistle was cool. And, if you ever get a chance to see U2, check out their bassist Adam Clayton. He’s one cool cucumber, too. Great bassists are just too busy creating fabulous bass lines to join in the antics of their band mates.
While the guitarists move through their aerobic exercises, dripping with sweat and smashing their guitars, you get to be cool. You can join in with their antics if you want. But have you ever seen footage of The Who? John Entwistle was cool. And, if you ever get a chance to see U2, check out their bassist Adam Clayton. He’s one cool cucumber, too. Great bassists are just too busy creating fabulous bass lines to join in the antics of their band mates.
Reminds me of a joke...
If someone's watching band and the singer is terrible they'll say "Oh lordie, that singer sucks!"
If they see a band with an awful guitarist they'll say "Shoot, that guitarist sucks!"
If they see a band and the bassist sucks they'll say "Man, that band sucks!"
If someone's watching band and the singer is terrible they'll say "Oh lordie, that singer sucks!"
If they see a band with an awful guitarist they'll say "Shoot, that guitarist sucks!"
If they see a band and the bassist sucks they'll say "Man, that band sucks!"
That's the criticism that I get from my GF...how come you aren't smiling or watching the crowd?! I told her, especially playing blues, the BL is giving signals in some portion of the song so I need to watch to make sure that I don't miss them. Eventually, she understood but still keeps bugging me about it.
At the last gig I did, the BL forgot the guitar part of her song but she kept singing and I kept on playing. Had I stop playing, it would have been a trainwreck!
I also use an automotive analogy like Bunk McNulty.
The type of vehicle is the genre of music.
The drums are the engine - setting the speed/tempo,
the bass is the steering wheel - pointing the music in the direction you want to go,
and the guitar is the paint/color of the vehicle - what everyone sees
The type of vehicle is the genre of music.
The drums are the engine - setting the speed/tempo,
the bass is the steering wheel - pointing the music in the direction you want to go,
and the guitar is the paint/color of the vehicle - what everyone sees
I say something similar in an American football analogy. We're the left tackles of the band. Not the flashy quarterbacks or the wide receivers that making the big plays. But If we didn't pick up the blitz from the quarterback's blindside the whole play would fall apart.
I provide the core of the song and the main counterpoint to the vocal melody. Of course it helps that I write most of my bands songs and sing lead. Your mileage might vary.
I've never been asked what my 'role' is within a band
if someone asks "Are you in the band"?
I'll say yes
and if they ask "What do you play"?
I'll answer "Bass"
if they ask "What does the bass do"?
I will answer "Everything that the drums, keyboards, guitars and singers don't"!
if someone asks "Are you in the band"?
I'll say yes
and if they ask "What do you play"?
I'll answer "Bass"
if they ask "What does the bass do"?
I will answer "Everything that the drums, keyboards, guitars and singers don't"!
Try explaining a Euphonium to a non musician
To anyone who has played in a (British) Brass Band or wind Band (American OK but not the same prestige and/or understanding) they know. I always laugh and smirk in an understanding way at the scene in Brassed Off when his wife tells him to play his Trumpet and he - never mind go watch the film it looses a lot in the explanation, just like what is a Euphonium!!!! In brass I'm now playing Tuba and so "Its a BASE, a foundation."
Sorry Americans I'm not knocking but the Euphonium (Baritone) isn't used or played in the same way on your side of the pond
Isn't a Euphonium conical-bore and a Baritone is cylindrical-bore?
I once told an American that a Cor Anglais was just a french horn with less cream sauce... Never mind the fact that it's really not a horn at all.
Are you playing a full size or a micro?
I love those micro-tubas... so much note definition and growl that gets lost in the monstrous orchestral sized ones.
Wow Im amazed by two things
Firstly yes the bores are different
You said that about a Cor Anglais and got away with it.
Yes although theyre different Americans have the (BAD) habit of calling a Euph a Baritone. Im on ful size Eb concert tuba, a Besson. Bought second hand but a brilliant instrument that gives an almost Euph tone and can growl in the lower register. Bit like my MiKro
Wow Im amazed by two things
Firstly yes the bores are different
You said that about a Cor Anglais and got away with it.
Yes although theyre different Americans have the (BAD) habit of calling a Euph a Baritone. Im on ful size Eb concert tuba, a Besson. Bought second hand but a brilliant instrument that gives an almost Euph tone and can growl in the lower register. Bit like my MiKro
Well, it only worked because so many people who were there really had no idea. Most of them wouldn't know the difference between a coronet and a trumpet, either. Many think a trumpet player does something with their technique to make those sounds. The vast majority in an audience simply don't understand.
To tie this in to bass playing, in all the time I've played I think I can count on one hand the number of times anyone has ever commented or questioned my existence or role in a band. There are WAY more "music lovers" than there are "musicians" in the world. We shouldn't get too hung up on their lack of understanding - many of them wish they learned to play an instrument early on. They consider us players "fortunate" even if they don't completely understand what they're seeing.
My electric double-bass has got some odd glances from time to time, but I attribute that more to people hearing with their eyes and being taken aback by the long wooden stick sounding like a double-bass yet not seeing the viol shape.
I like those Mikro basses... Especially with the middle pickup soloed. They're great!
