Is a bass player really necessary?

[GIBrat51]

Really necessary? C'mon, man; do you honestly think I'm going to say "No" out loud? Much less say no HERE??

(well, maybe he's not necessary to change a flat tire, or order pizza...)

 

[Kevin Colt]

I just watched a band this past weekend that used a keyboard player for bass. missed notes, no dynamics, rudimentary lines, took away from his skills as a keyboard player and just sounded lame. if that's your bag, don't count on my presence at your gig. bass rules.

 

[rickbass1]

That’s what my “ex” use to say.

 

[drifter grey]

I don't really understand why this person has a profile on this site.

 

[Dave Neal]

I don't really understand why this person has a profile on this site.

Was wondering the same ... a big time troll if you ask me.

 

[Dave Neal]

In some types of music the Bass player could stop playing and you wouldn't even notice!

Got an example?

 

[Jeff Scott]

Listen to a polka band with a tuba, then listen to a polka band with a bass guitar and then tell us what you like better.

 

[pbasswil]

Bass players: Totally unnecessary when you're prosecuting a lawsuit; balancing a budget; cleaning a garage; etc. But for any style of music where the bottom notes deserve all of someone's attention & care, they can be handy...

 

[Mike Borelli]

I feel like you don't really need one. A guitar is only an octave higher and it can still cover a lot of the notes that a bass guitar does. Also, you could just use an eight-string guitar and tune the lowest string down to a low E. I know that some bands have eight string guitarists as well as bassists and the bassists play the same notes as the the eight string guitar players, but the bass will make the low end sound "fuller" because of how thick the strings are. But I don't think that really makes any much of a difference. I know this question might make me appear ignorant, but this is my own judgement.

not 'might'

 

[fdeck]

I've played in more bands without a guitarist than without a bassist. Just saying.

 

[Starseed]

The White Stripes don't need a bassist and Royal Blood dosent need a guitarist. And they play similar genres. It's all in what you want to do or hear.

 

[artsta]

It depends on the band and the music.

My old Jazz bass teacher, Darcy Wright, successfully gigged for years with his wife, and their band was just One Voice and one Upright Bass. (Wish I got to see them!)

 

[Ian Lewis]

I feel like you don't really need one. A guitar is only an octave higher and it can still cover a lot of the notes that a bass guitar does. Also, you could just use an eight-string guitar and tune the lowest string down to a low E. I know that some bands have eight string guitarists as well as bassists and the bassists play the same notes as the the eight string guitar players, but the bass will make the low end sound "fuller" because of how thick the strings are. But I don't think that really makes any much of a difference. I know this question might make me appear ignorant, but this is my own judgement.

IF you can get your 8 string guitarist to play bass lines, not rhythm, not chords, then you'll have your bass player! He just won't be playing a bass guitar

 

[Monzo]

How many people at the bar with their back turned to the stage while texting with their friends would even notice if the bass was taken out of the mix?

If their backs are turned to the stage, the band probably sucks and are more than likely without a bassist.

 

[merseymale]

I feel like you don't really need one. A guitar is only an octave higher and it can still cover a lot of the notes that a bass guitar does. Also, you could just use an eight-string guitar and tune the lowest string down to a low E. I know that some bands have eight string guitarists as well as bassists and the bassists play the same notes as the the eight string guitar players, but the bass will make the low end sound "fuller" because of how thick the strings are. But I don't think that really makes any much of a difference. I know this question might make me appear ignorant, but this is my own judgement.

RIGHT… time for me to do something useful with my life for once!!

 

[mcclurer16]

Yes, but only if you want your band to sound like a band. Sure, there are singers, songwriters groups, making great music without a bass players. However, a real band has a bass player. I am curious who would post this question on a Bass forum.

 

[StatesideRambler]

C'mon, guys! The troll posted this a week ago and hasn't participated in anything on TB since then. It's time to find something else to waste your time on.

 

[ccfalkner]

I have been contiplating this over the last week. I have come to the conclusion that if every bass player in the world would take a simultaneous moment of silence, every one of Al Gore's inconvenient truths would occur at the conclusion of that moment and all the democrats, Iran, Russia and N. Korea would blame Trump for it.

We are really necessary for human kind to exist.

Now that that was said, we can follow Stateside Rambler's suggestion and close the thread.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have been contiplating this over the last week.

Do you mean you have been contemplating or constipating this all week?

 

[ccfalkner]

Do you mean you have been contemplating or constipating this all week?

Exactly. And BTW, you didn't catch All Gore before I cleaned that one up.