How to Be A Better Bass Player

[Freakapotamus9]

Originally posted by john turner
wow - how can anyone argue with a guy who's nickname is "rock" ?

yet another dumba$$ who thinks he knows what every other bass player in the world ought to do.

"unless your name is flea, don't pop?" i can think of many bassists who should be "allowed" to slap and pop before flea.

how about "if your name is flea, stay off the damn fretless".

how about "if you're not playing sports, leave the doofus-looking sports jerseys at home."

or "unless you're trying to hide something that you're embarrased by, don't wear your bass around your knees."

or "playing with a pick is for dorky guitarist wannabes."

or "the neck of your bass is not your penis - don't wrap your hand around it. keep your thumb on the back of the neck - if you can't than your bass is too freaking low. if the reason why you "rock" is only to look cool, then don't waste your time learning how to play, just go be a dj, or play punk music."

wow, this is fun.

LMAO!!

i just imagined JT beating this guy with the doubleneck while yelling those things in a state of anger.

 

[VoodooChile]

i'd pay to see that.

 

[Mike]

I hope his views are not representative of all Canadian musicians. I only live a few miles from you guys. I might have to drive North a few miles and kick some ass.

 

[john turner]

Originally posted by paleale
I hope his views are not represenataive of all Canadian musicians.

i hold geddy lee up as proof that that is in fact not the case

 

[Mike]

Originally posted by john turner


i hold geddy lee up as proof that that is in fact not the case

Maybe Geddy could just kick his ass for me.

 

[PanteraFan]

I really think he's taking the piss. The fine people at Kappa - how sarcastic can you get? This seems like just a joke, albeit with bad hand position and a bass to hide his crotch.

Damn, I play with a pick JT. I better accept that I should buy a guitar right now.

 

[CanadianBassGuy]

Originally posted by jbandbabyj
It sounds like he was the worst guitar player in the band so they made him play bass.


If the dynamics of your band are so narrow that there's no room for using all four stings... put the 2 that you do use in the middle and leave the rest off. If thier "sole purpose" was to provide string tension, why do so many people play 5, 6, and 7 string basses?

I'll be sure not to grab a Matt Good Band CD any time soon.

On the new CD they just put out, he actually does use all 4 strings (as far as I can tell), and I think the notion of not buying a MGB cd on the sole basis of that little article is a tad.... stupid. Remember, even though we are all proud to be bass players, music is not just about bass playing.

EDIT: And I play with a pick too, so should I go buy a small guitar with 6 skinny strings on it too?

EDIT 2: His views aren't representative of all Canadians, I in fact like using the D and G strings. And I wear my bass as low as he does too. But he does have a point with being on time and being in tune. And I am sick of the damn bass player jokes....

 

[BehindTheMoon]

or "playing with a pick is for dorky guitarist wannabes."

I hope that is sarcasm JT, as finer players than you or me have wielded a pick.

If that article is not sarcasm I'll eat my boots. No, scratch that, I'll eat HIS sharp-looking Kappa boots.

 

[jazzbo]

Originally posted by dancehallclasher
oh come on, he's obviously messing around.

I actually read this thinking it was a satire on the stereotypes associated with bassists, from the point of view of other musicians. I can't believe he's serious.

 

[beermonkey]

That's either a joke or the guy is a flaming dufus... probably a combination of the two.

The real way to be a better musician:

1. Be on time to gigs, rehearsals, whatever
2. Be prepared
3. Don't complain, especially in the studio or sidemen-type of gigs. You won't get called again.
4. Be professional

The above list assumes that you know your theory, how to read, blah blah blah... you must know something about playing before you get called, so once you get the call, don't screw up.

 

[john turner]

No..,I...Meant...Every...Word...I...Said...About...Pick...Players.


thank god you guys don't play extended range instruments too. if i got my panties in a wad that tight everytime somebody called me a "Dorky Guitarist Wannabe" i wouldn't be able to breathe right now.

paranoia is the hobgoblin of little minds.

 

[brianrost]

Originally posted by Oysterman
Please tell me it's a joke!

Seems like dancehallclasher is the only other person who picked up on the humor in that article. It's obvious to me anyway it's not to be taken 100% seriously.

 

[Oysterman]

Originally posted by brianrost
Seems like dancehallclasher is the only other person who picked up on the humor in that article. It's obvious to me anyway it's not to be taken 100% seriously.

Well, in a world full of goons and morons, you can never know for sure. Things like that should never be printed in a magazine without the big "WARNING: IRONY" stamp on the page - they just beg to be misinterpreted, which we can see proof of here!

 

[surf_slave]

That was a joke for sure. Too many stereotypes in one 10 item list to not be a joke.

Wasn't a ROFL joke, but it couldn't have been serious.

Or could it?

No, it had to be sarcasm. Had to be.

(Wanders off muttering under breath, something about the state of humor these days...)

 

[jbandbabyj]

To CanadianBassGuy: I make purchasing decisions based on all kinds of stupid reasons... thanks for pointing this one out. I'll make a special point to hit thier website and give a listen before I shoot my mouth off next time.

And if it is a joke - I sure feel dumb for missing it!

 

[Jeff Moote]

Well, I've loved MGB for over twice as long as I've been playing bass, and I still like them. I was (by coincidence) listening to their new album when I read this.

Their bass player sucks but I still like them. As for the article I couldn't reach it.

 

[air_leech]

joking or not, this guy really stirred up a debate (flaming war?) over that article.

I don't know that band myself, but I guess he is either joking about other famous bassists (such as Fieldy) or he himself is one of those bassists who get money to endorse all sorts of stuff (such as Fieldy).

either way, I feel pitty for that guy...having to bear that rediculous haircut...

 

[Zirc]

Yup, what an idiot

 

[JOhnk]

i vote the title of the article be changed to "how to play bass like me"..

 

[fleabass89]

LOOK AT THIS! this is a conversation i had with my cousin who also plays bass, and i sent that site to him...

bassburner015: question
bassburner015: why is that a joke?
bassburner015: i think that it is very true
JarOfFlies15: did you read it?!?!
JarOfFlies15: ***
JarOfFlies15: LMAO
JarOfFlies15: youre sh!tting me right
bassburner015: no
bassburner015: i agree with alot of it
JarOfFlies15: that guy is an ass!
bassburner015: youre a punk player
bassburner015: im not
JarOfFlies15: im not a "punk player"
bassburner015: the majority of the stuff you like to play is punk now adays
JarOfFlies15: you agree that you shouldnt play the D and G strings
JarOfFlies15: ?
bassburner015: the d and g sound like sh!t if you play them...theyre too high
bassburner015: they sound right sometime
bassburner015: but other than that, i like the darker, bassier sounds
JarOfFlies15: how bout do not pop
bassburner015: i dont agree with that
JarOfFlies15: there are plenty of other players besides flea that are "allowed" to pop
bassburner015: but im not a big popper...i like the slap better
bassburner015: but some of them suck and just wanna do it to do it
bassburner015: i remember
bassburner015: that at six string (a talent show at his school), a kid made up a 'bass solo' with pops and slaps just because it got people attentions and girls went crazy
bassburner015: he SUCKED
JarOfFlies15: if the G and D were just there to provide tension across the neck, why arent therre 2 string basses
bassburner015: some people just shouldnt do it........and it depends on the song
JarOfFlies15: and why are there 6, 7, 8 etc string basses
bassburner015: cause those people are fxcked up
bassburner015: thats why
JarOfFlies15: hahahahahahhahahaha
JarOfFlies15: youre saying im fXcked up for playing the D and G strings
JarOfFlies15: why are there even frets there... why are they tuned in intervals if they're not to be played
bassburner015: who cares!?
bassburner015: i dont
bassburner015: iti dont feel like arguing
JarOfFlies15: lol ok


i think he was dissin you JT
my cousin is an ass