I also understand that, and agree whole heartily. I just disagree with the way he presents himself and the idea. And I 100% disagree with him taking the lyrics, which he didn't write.Tyler Hole said:
Ray
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I just quit my band
- Thread starter Nickthebassist
- Start date
- Status
Ray
Dude, learn to suck it up. So you're not getting many solos. Boo hoo! Learn to deliver a bone-shaking, ass-moving bassline for all of your songs! Have some fun with it. Play in a band first, get some experience, and then when you have the skills, go out on your own and try it out. At this point, it seems that you need your loser guitarist friends. Use this to your advantage.
PS if you wanna solo and don't want to play any rhythm, learn the guitar. Not saying you can't solo at all (I solo lots in my band), but face it, bass is a rhythm instrument.
PS if you wanna solo and don't want to play any rhythm, learn the guitar. Not saying you can't solo at all (I solo lots in my band), but face it, bass is a rhythm instrument.
I will agree it's not the best idea, and no offense to Nick - But the way he presents stuff doesn't always seem right to us, but he has a harder time trying to tell us what he means. And the taking of the lyrics I also don't agree with - Very childish IMO and I think Nick is above that.Bad_Habit_Bassist said:
I agree with a lot of the cats on here about bass as a supportive role. Heck, look under my screen name, "Less is More". It took me a LONG time to learn that.
I say stick with this band. Talk out your differences. As mentioned before, a band is very similar to a marrige and everyone in the band should work out the problems together. But most importantly, DON'T BURN ANY BRIDGES if you DO decide to leave. That's the worst thing to do. I up and quick a band a couple years ago when all they wanted to play was prog/rock after we had been playing jazz and funk for a couple years. A few more years later, they are back into jazz and funk, without me!
And you should involve yourself in as many bands as possible. This way you get to play a little bit of everything and you are more exposed to the music scene. Especially later on in life when you start playing out. Musicians will give you compliments on a great set, give them your card with your contacts on it, and you could be in another band or in a studio in a week? I try to spread my name out here in Cleveland, Ohio as much as possible. The more people that hear me, with wichever band, the more possiblities I might be able to be in a band I REALLY want to stick with.
Sorry for the long post. But I just don't want Nick to regret anything in the morning.
I say stick with this band. Talk out your differences. As mentioned before, a band is very similar to a marrige and everyone in the band should work out the problems together. But most importantly, DON'T BURN ANY BRIDGES if you DO decide to leave. That's the worst thing to do. I up and quick a band a couple years ago when all they wanted to play was prog/rock after we had been playing jazz and funk for a couple years. A few more years later, they are back into jazz and funk, without me!
And you should involve yourself in as many bands as possible. This way you get to play a little bit of everything and you are more exposed to the music scene. Especially later on in life when you start playing out. Musicians will give you compliments on a great set, give them your card with your contacts on it, and you could be in another band or in a studio in a week? I try to spread my name out here in Cleveland, Ohio as much as possible. The more people that hear me, with wichever band, the more possiblities I might be able to be in a band I REALLY want to stick with.
Sorry for the long post. But I just don't want Nick to regret anything in the morning.
There's a difference between one's ROLE in a band and one's place in the mix. If the guitar player said to me next week "Dude, I'm never playing another solo, it's time for a revolution." I'd be like "But...that's something you're supposed to be taking care of...***?" Same with the fact that the bassist is supposed to be covering a certain part of the sonic spectrum.
But volume is another matter, and I can't POSSIBLY imagine why Nick's bandmates (or any bandmates for that matter) would want to silence their bassist. If silencing the bass is their ultimate goal, why haven't they just thrown him out and started playing White Stripes covers or whatever?
No, what I'm reading between the lines here is that Nick has told his bandmates that he's not willing to fulfill the duties they are expecting him to fill. And he's insisting that they should be more understanding of that. I can't say I would be.
But volume is another matter, and I can't POSSIBLY imagine why Nick's bandmates (or any bandmates for that matter) would want to silence their bassist. If silencing the bass is their ultimate goal, why haven't they just thrown him out and started playing White Stripes covers or whatever?
No, what I'm reading between the lines here is that Nick has told his bandmates that he's not willing to fulfill the duties they are expecting him to fill. And he's insisting that they should be more understanding of that. I can't say I would be.
Playing a less supportive role is nothing revolutionary or innovative.
That said, attitude is everything. You know how when you go for a job interview, you're not supposed to badmouth your former employer? The people who are interviewing you might take it as a sign that you don't deal with disagreements too well. Then they might wonder if you might not badmouth them when the time comes.
It's perfectly normal to be disgruntled, but if you try to join another band and tell them about how stupid your old band was and how you ripped off their songs, it might not work to your advantage.
That said, attitude is everything. You know how when you go for a job interview, you're not supposed to badmouth your former employer? The people who are interviewing you might take it as a sign that you don't deal with disagreements too well. Then they might wonder if you might not badmouth them when the time comes.
It's perfectly normal to be disgruntled, but if you try to join another band and tell them about how stupid your old band was and how you ripped off their songs, it might not work to your advantage.
Tyler Hole said:
This is what I was trying to say, you just did a better job of it. I just felt Nick was trying to do a bit much... talking about a revolution and all.
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
Staff member
Administrator
Gold Supporting Member
Supporting Member
- May 3, 2002
- 28,948
- 20,935
- Disclosures
- Reviewer: Bass Player Magazine
Just so you know, Nick, they DO have the copyright to the lyrics. Authoring lyrics, a story, creating a painting, etc. gives the creator the copyright. You don't have to send in a form or anything to have the copyright. If they wrote the lyrics and can prove they did before you used them, then they have the legal right to them and could sue if so inclined.
Whether or not it was the right decision to quit is something you have to figure out for yourself.
However, a bassist "standing out" at the expense of the song is just as bad as a guitarist or drummer or singer doing the same thing. In the end, if what you're playing doesn't make the music better, you shouldn't be doing it. That doesn't mean that you can't have your own style, but you and everybody else in the band should be doing what's best for the music. If you feel like your guitarists weren't, then my all means find a new band, but don't find a new band just so you can have a forum to show off your chops.
However, a bassist "standing out" at the expense of the song is just as bad as a guitarist or drummer or singer doing the same thing. In the end, if what you're playing doesn't make the music better, you shouldn't be doing it. That doesn't mean that you can't have your own style, but you and everybody else in the band should be doing what's best for the music. If you feel like your guitarists weren't, then my all means find a new band, but don't find a new band just so you can have a forum to show off your chops.
I think it was a good idea to leave since you obviously werent happy with them.
I think you should work on wirtting interesting supportive basslines though. Something between soloing and root notes is where you find the bass' real pocket.
You have to be able to sit on the bottom and fill out the sound providing a nice rumble and thump but without falling asleep. Toss in some runs and instead of sitting on the root jump around to the notes that harmonize well with it but dont loose sight of it since its important that you keep everyone aware of where the song is.
You have the hardest role in the band. You have to hold down the rhythm, keep everyone aware of the tonic, & play your ass off at the same time. Make sure that you dont do any one of these more than the other or else you'll constantly be looking for a new band.
For all I know, you're already doing this, but I really cant be sure.
Also, dont be a dick about the lyrics. You'll never find another band if you act like a prick to the last guys you played with. Ultimately, they're your refrences. Its also probably a good idea to find them another bassist who will fit their needs. No one wants to play with a prick, and the next guys you offer to play with are going to ask your old band if you were easy to deal with.
Oh yeah, dont play with people bassed on their grade. That only tells you what their technical skills are as dictated by a stiff system. It says nothing for musicality or heart. There are lots of guys who could tear the heads off of formally trained musicians who have never recieved a lesson.
I think you should work on wirtting interesting supportive basslines though. Something between soloing and root notes is where you find the bass' real pocket.
You have to be able to sit on the bottom and fill out the sound providing a nice rumble and thump but without falling asleep. Toss in some runs and instead of sitting on the root jump around to the notes that harmonize well with it but dont loose sight of it since its important that you keep everyone aware of where the song is.
You have the hardest role in the band. You have to hold down the rhythm, keep everyone aware of the tonic, & play your ass off at the same time. Make sure that you dont do any one of these more than the other or else you'll constantly be looking for a new band.
For all I know, you're already doing this, but I really cant be sure.
Also, dont be a dick about the lyrics. You'll never find another band if you act like a prick to the last guys you played with. Ultimately, they're your refrences. Its also probably a good idea to find them another bassist who will fit their needs. No one wants to play with a prick, and the next guys you offer to play with are going to ask your old band if you were easy to deal with.
Oh yeah, dont play with people bassed on their grade. That only tells you what their technical skills are as dictated by a stiff system. It says nothing for musicality or heart. There are lots of guys who could tear the heads off of formally trained musicians who have never recieved a lesson.
C'mon you big bunch of i dont know what's! Sand up for yourselves. Who the hell said bass has to support some puney guitarist who does shred solos? also, where'd you guys get the idea i want solos? I said I wanted more artistic licence, as in make my lines more interesting, and have a distinctive tone. And the idea of the lyrics is to make them worried that I can steal their work...I am not going to go playing someone else's songs. This kinda music isn't what I'd write anyway.
Nickthebassist said:
I think alot of the guys on this board have much more experience than you in music and we're all offering advice and oppinions. If that's what you have to say to musicians, then I won't offer any more advice. Did you expect everyone to agree with you? If you post something like this, and not everyone agrees with what you say, at least give them the respect of their oppinion.
"Do unto others as you would want others to do unto you."
I sincerely hope you find happiness in music.
Nickthebassist said:
Nobody in this thread.
The job of the bass (usually) is to support the whole song, to make everyone sound good.
It's a really bad idea anyway. That sort of thing gets around and somewhere down the line someone is not going to hire you because of it.
Nick, we never said bass has to support some "puney guitarist who does shred solos". We said that you need to be supporting the entire band and song (the role of bass), but that you can still have your own style and stand out. Also, I'm pretty sure - No, I take that back. I AM sure that people here have very interesting bass lines and are at the same time are still supporting the entire song and band. Bass has always been a supportive instrument and from the looks of it that's not going to change soon, but you can still be interesting and supportive.Nickthebassist said:
- Status
