Is a bass player really necessary?

[MDBass]

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.

Even for TalkBass, this is a pretty weird thread.

 

[Lowendtech]

No, it's not.

Also not really necessary:
-fast cars
-Prime Rib endcuts
-television
-saxophone solos
-saxophones

View attachment 3191577

Wait..... does the Prime Rib endcut come with Yorkshire pudding drizzled with gravy?

 

[Ric5]

Is a bass player really necessary?

 

[richntiff]

Nope. I’m completely unnecessary. I actually stopped hauling my amp to gigs. Great weight savings there. I now function merely as ‘eye candy’. Sometimes I juggle while standing on my head, while the guitar player plays Eruption and the lead singer yodels. It’s a tough gig but someone has to do it.

 

[Magthegrate]

You sound like a drummer who should be fired.

 

[YaPeL]

No, don't worry, you are going to sound great, now child, you must fly away from this forum, and never ever, come back

 

[BillyBA]

People rag on this kind of thread but they give dudes like you a chance to post vids like this - which may be the single greatest vid I've ever seen.

I'm pretty drunk right now...

 

[motoman]

Without the bass player who will take the ugly friend of the hot girls group home.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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.

All you need in any sort of decent successful band is bass and drums. Literally nothing but bass and drums. Rythym and timing. Everything, EVERYTHING else is simply just filler. Melody, lyrics, ambiance = filler. Rythym and timing makes it music. Even acoustic guitar and vocals, with nothing else, is rythym and filler, or pointless noise. Oh, and bass sounds exponentially better than a guitar hitting low notes. Guitars sound like trash after low B. And it never gets close to the fullness. No matter how you tweak your amp settings, pedals, etc.

So in conclusion,
Yes, a bass player is half the important parts of a band. And no, you are not important at all.

 

[br1qbat]

 

[CallMeAl]

BASS.IS.IRRELEVANT

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

.......Who is this guy?........ This guy oughta join TalkFlute. And NO!, the answer is NO!

 

[Herrick]

This is true. Bass guitar as an instrument is not necessary. Bass as a frequency range and a function in a band is pretty vital, whether it comes from a tuba, a keyboard, or one of these:
View attachment 3191574

What is that?

 

[lz4005]

What is that?

Bass harmonica.

 

[Herrick]

Bass harmonica.

Cool I'm gonna look this up.

 

[bobalu]

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.

You do know that this is a bass forum, right?

 

[lz4005]

Cool I'm gonna look this up.

Be ready for sticker shock.

 

[fretlessbass]

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.

Well, he may have a point...after all, Prince did tracks without bass, such as "When Doves Cry".. but let's not spread that around okay!

 

[blue4]

I had the opposite thought. It seems like guitar is becoming the unnecessary instrument. I think they subconsciously agree, seeing as how half of them keep trying to reach the bass spectrum of notes without admitting that they like bass.

 

[Element Zero]

Five bucks says the eight string guitar player is downtuned so he can display his mad 1 finger wonder skills.

Ahem... Animals As Leaders... ahem ahem.

You should check em out.