How do you describe your role when asked?

[geets]

We tease around a lot, but as a bass player, when asked, how do you explain your role in the band without sounding like an egotistical jerk?

To make everybody else sound better.

 

[Humbled]

I like the "bass solo" in Slow Ride.


I'll probably think of another one in a while.

 

[Roger Poole]

I've never been asked what my role is, but I always think of bass as the connection between the rhythm and melody.

Exactly what I've always thought! Funny to see someone else express it, "I fill the gap between rhythm and melody".

 

[Jared Lash]

now that is interesting----why do you think it is the connection? I mean- why wouldn't the rhythm be the connection between the bass and the melody? Isn't it an equal three part convergence?

Because drums (outside of steel drums, hang drums etc) don't carry any harmonic information. There are always exceptions but the bass is also rarely the instrument that defines the melody. It can define the chord (by virtue of playing the lowest note) but generally speaking it supports both the rhythm and the melody.

 

[stefancaunter]

I've never been asked what my role is, but I always think of bass as the connection between the rhythm and melody.

i say i tie the drums and guitars together

 

[oddeotek]

For me, it’s always been “bass player/singer”.

 

[missinglink44]

The essence...

 

[Beejay772]

I look after the sound and do backing vocals and some lead vocals. I am the band technician. I am a roadie and driver. In between all this I play the bass.

 

[Wild_Bill_57]

I’m paid an equal share to annoy the drummer

 

[Kevin Colt]

"play bass and vocals"... nothing more to be said. lol(write me a letter instead).

 

[Kevin Colt]

I'm the reason you hit the dance floor
and on the ego side : I'm the invisible thread that holds it all together.
When I am on you don't even know I'm there and when I stop playing everyone knows it.

don't you know it about stopping. lol.

 

[dtripoli]

I'm in the Rhythm Section, the Bass player. We (meaning, bass, drums and/or percussionist) play the supporting role
backing up the lead singer and/or guitarist so they can do their thrills and spills and engage the audience.
We're the glue that holds the songs tightly together.

6 or 7 years ago I had the pleasure to have a jam session with one of the vocalists with the touring oldies group, The Drifters.
"Under the Boardwalk" & "Save the last Dance for Me" Cool old guy with a great sense of timing and great vocal phrasing.
I mentioned the idea that as a bass player we're sort of invisible when performing shows.
He laughed and said, "Yep, until you hit a few bad notes or miss a chord change or modulation then you are exceptionally visible."

Dovetailing into this musical axiom;
"If you go and see a really good band but the vocalist or guitarist is bad, people will leave saying that band was pretty good but the Vocalist/Guitarist sucked.
If you go and see a really good band and the bass player or drummer is bad, people will leave saying, wow, that band really sucked." Period.

 

[rtslinger]

don't you know it about stopping. lol.

yup everyone looks in your direction, at times I like to drop out to give a song some breathing space and I always get the look and sometimes the sound man starts checking the board to see if he muted something ha ha ha