I love bass. Bands? Not so much.

[JeezyMcNuggles]

So I really enjoy playing bass. I love the sound, the groove, the way the instrument moves the soul and the feet. But it is not a solo instrument and only truly shines in a band.

I like to learn new songs. I like to expand my horizions.

But I don't particularly like playing with bands. People. They show up unprepared. They rush tempos or play the parts "wrong" or mess up the mix (too loud) and they're terribly inefficient. It takes them an hour to accomplish 30 minutes worth of productive work.

What about you? Love bass and hate bands?

Then you have that one guy who feels he's the only one who really matters, his opinions are what count, and nobody could play a show without him holding them together. My drummer is pretty damn good. Although, he sometimes fails to realize that without the band, he's just some guy hitting things with sticks. The egos, and differences of opinion are really the only thing about being in a band that gets to me. But, like the rythym falls to the back of the track, I usually just roll with them.

 

[glocke1]

So I really enjoy playing bass. I love the sound, the groove, the way the instrument moves the soul and the feet. But it is not a solo instrument and only truly shines in a band.

I like to learn new songs. I like to expand my horizions.

But I don't particularly like playing with bands. People. They show up unprepared. They rush tempos or play the parts "wrong" or mess up the mix (too loud) and they're terribly inefficient. It takes them an hour to accomplish 30 minutes worth of productive work.

What about you? Love bass and hate bands?

Love bass, have a love/hate relationship with most bands.

Most bands I've been in have been as you describe, and sometimes just not a whole lot of fun to be around.

Current band Im in isn't so bad, but they also only rehearse on weeknights (hour drive one way for me), which is rough, and want to play out more than I want to (Im good for once a month, they want to do 2-3x a month). However it's a fairly high profile band, and they get good gigs that actually pay real money (north of $100.00 per person), so I'm trying to make it work. These guys are fun to be around also, which helps tremendously. There is nothing worse than being in a band with a bunch of sourpusses.

It's been awhile since I've been in a band like this so Figure I'll stick it out for 2018 and than re-evaluate.

 

[gungrog]

Playing with other musicians is like having a bunch of needy girlfriends...

That made me spit coffee....

 

[lbbc]

I've been in many bands over the years and we've always had fun...even if some we're unprepared at times. But I've been in the same band for the last 18 years and we ALWAYS come prepared for rehearsal and work on 3-part harmonies. I may be in the minority, but I like playing in the band with people who are driven to do their best

 

[hrodbert696]

It's definitely a challenge, especially starting out, finding a group of people who get along well enough socially, know what they're doing musically, and can agree on what they want to do in the band. There's always a certain amount of push and pull, the guy who's the weak link or the girl who wants to do something that totally clashes with everything else you're doing. Nevertheless, to me, the magic only happens when you get the gestalt, the moment when everyone locks in with each other and you suddenly burst into sheer joy. The mp3 may be more "correct," but for me the joy of playing isn't how "correct" I can be.

 

[bass71]

I play with a bunch of guys who are all good friends etc but we are a very strange bunch.
Keys, sax, acoustic, and myself are accomplished musicians whilst others barely understand any of it...but after a lifetime of this and that I've decided not to worry too much. Sure its maddening having a drummer who can barely hold his sticks and a git player who is a rank beginner but at my age I'm beyond caring any more cause now and again it actually sounds not bad.

 

[Spidey2112]

But it is not a solo instrument and only truly shines in a band.

I think it depends on who's playing it...

 

[gelinas666]

I've played "Live" and in the studio with many bands over 35 years.. I'd file each adventure under separate columns.Each column has a name. The Good ,The Bad and The Ugly.. Would I join another band? Of course.. It's part of the musical experience.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Why would I ever not want to do this?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Nothing beats playing with a good drummer. If I couldn't do that, I'd play piano.

 

[gln1955]

I wanted to pick the first two options. Bands keep me playing. If I had to just play alone, I'd have quit years ago. I'm in what I'd call a good band now in that they are mature adults who are easy to get along with and can play well enough. It's still not ideal, but I've learned to reign in my expecations and enjoy what I've got. Reading all of the band drama threads on here reinforces that.

 

[baileyboy]

I chose "Bands are good, but they never rise to my ideal." No matter what band I'm in, someone has to be the weakest link. There's always one member that doesn't put in ample practice time and holds back band progress. In my current band, that would be the guitarist. He's quite good on his feet, but thinks he's way better than he is. Suffice to say, he doesn't regularly practice, just figures he can bring it at rehearsal. Good example of someone that will never be great- has the talent, but little work ethic.

 

[Jimmy4string]

What @two fingers says!
AND Carrots!

 

[Timmy-Watts]

That situation would make me hate it as well and I have been there.

The thing that makes me love playing in a band is the people. You get with with good people who are solid players, then even the worst music can be a lot of fun. Locking in with a solid drummer, guitarist is tasteful, the singer is excellent, etc., and when you get into that group of seadoned pros that can interact and have fun, that crappy computerized lowest common denominator type pop radio cover gig is a load of fun to play.

 

[mikezimmerman]

It's a social group. I only stay in bands with people that I like hanging around with, and bandmates usually become good friends (if they didn't start out that way). When you're doing it for fun and not primarily for money, you have to enjoy the time you're spending with these folks!

And over the past 18 years that had the opportunity to play with some really great musicians and gig a lot more than I did when I was younger, I've grown to really appreciate the musical interactions and to get off on the "performing" side of being in front of a crowd as well.

Not all bands are great, and not all gigs are great, but both are good often enough that I find myself getting back in time and time again...

 

[RickyWoo]

Different strokes, I guess. I love owning a bass, playing a bass, buying new strings, checking out gear, being in bands, playing shows, going to shows and checking out the bassist's gear, talking bass, daydreaming about bass, playing bass alone, playing with musicians who are better than I am, checking out basses online.... I love it all.

 

[Perrygoround]

Playing in bands is the most fun and entertaining part of playing music.
What you can achieve playing with other people sometimes is impossible by your own. Plus, we are a social species, we benefit of the interaction with others.
And I agree that there are a lot of fustrations coming from such interaction with others. We are all different and have different personal circumstances and sometimes is very hard to find perfect harmony in a band because all of that.
But I still think that the benefits greatly exceed the drawbacks. It is a life journey to learn to accept the others and love them even in their "annoying behaviours", but I think it is worth it most of the time.
Also, nobody stops us from having side projects, even solo projects, for those things in which we feel our bands are failing us.
Try to take the most out of being in a band, and if you want to do something your band is not doing for whatever reason, try to get that outside the band. Bands are not marrieages, you can be involved in many at the same time and it is not such thing as infidelity in this context.

 

[BaileyMan]

I'll echo some of the other comments. It keeps me playing and improving. I'm afraid if I stopped playing in bands, I'd slowly stop playing bass. It happened to me once already, for about 12 years. I'm playing with 3 different groups right now, in various stages of gigging readiness. I get together with folks a lot and just jam for the sake of jamming. It's a different scene. Prepping for a gig and being concerned about how everything sounds is definitely work and not always fun, but the end result is worth it. Getting together for a jam session for the sake of jamming is great! It's all about the hang. Like @sacahill42 said, it's kinda like a beer club where everyone has a music problem. No pressure, fun times, improve your chops.

Playing with better musicians is great. Even better, play with musicians who are better than you.

Most of all, have fun!

 

[BooDoggie]

Just remember these simple rules of playing in a band and you'll get along just fine...
Most guitar players have huge egos and are always too loud. Most drummers are always late, lazy, and have poor timing. Most keyboard players are either drug addicts or alcoholics. And Most lead singers think that they are the most gifted people alive. If it weren't for stable bass players there would be no bands...

 

[Wesley R]

Just remember these simple rules of playing in a band and you'll get along just fine...
Most guitar players have huge egos and are always too loud. Most drummers are always late, lazy, and have poor timing. Most keyboard players are either drug addicts or alcoholics. And Most lead singers think that they are the most gifted people alive. If it weren't for stable bass players there would be no bands...

Probably more accurate than I care to remember.

I actually enjoy being in a band, and love being on stage, as well as working as a team to get people dancing.