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is there a "bassist" character archetype?

#21
I think it's the other way around- you have to be a chill kind of person if you want to play bass. Well of course there're exceptions and all, but generally since bass is the "underappreciated instrument", if you're not cool and laid back, you won't be able to play this instrument or you wouldn't want to pick it up in the first place.

The stuck-up keyboardist thing is probably because

And bassists knowing the most styles of music is probably because honestly, it's a lot easier for bassists and drummers to pick up general knowledge of different styles and fake it. I play classical stuff, guitar, bass and drums, and of all these, honestly speaking I find I easily got quite passable on different genres for bass and drums, but with any of the others you really have to focus much harder if you want to get anywhere. Not to say that bass is an easier instrument to play, but it's easier to sound acceptable than other instruments.

Low Sound Love said:
As far as I see it, the bassist is the guy/gal who supports everyone else around, making sure everything goes smoothely and everyone is happy, without taking much credit for it or wanting the spotlight.
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I do that in any band I play in regardless of what instrument I'm playing :P

Gunnerhea86 said:
and all drummers i know secretly want to play guitar and or sing. these are my observations of my local music scene
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:D I was a drummer, but I got really bored of sitting in the same place all the time so I play bass now.
 
#23
Bassists seem to be the quiet one in the band. Even the in your face ones usually have much worse guitarists in the band. But I think you'd prefer to annoy a guitarist than a bassists any day. They seem to have a long fuse, but will really explode if you push them too far. They are usually the most intelligent, although I know so many guitarists that have more intelligence than I. But the intelligent guitarist is also more relaxed like a bassist. That's just what I've noticed in most people anyways.

EDIT: Drummers seem to think the world revolves around them. Every drummer I've had in my band seems to really want to push me. =P A lot of drummers I've met are like this too. But again, I also know a lot of intelligent and calm drummers.
 
#26
As one of the most stereotypical bassists of all time once said:

"We're very lucky in the band in that we have two visionaries, David and Nigel, they're like poets, like Shelley and Byron. They're two distinct types of visionaries, it's like fire and ice, basically. I feel my role in the band is to be somewhere in the middle of that, kind of like lukewarm water."
 
#28
pklima said:
As one of the most stereotypical bassists of all time once said:

"We're very lucky in the band in that we have two visionaries, David and Nigel, they're like poets, like Shelley and Byron. They're two distinct types of visionaries, it's like fire and ice, basically. I feel my role in the band is to be somewhere in the middle of that, kind of like lukewarm water."
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+1 :)
 
#29
There is a difference between those who pick up bass and those who keep playing it.

It takes concentration, you make the most of it if you study theory, at one point of another, and also if you are dedicated, not only to the instrument itself, but also the well being of the band.

So, yeah, we tend to be easy going, a bit smarter and reliable.

On the flip, we tend to be too much into it for the music and we end up not thinking about the individuals playing the other instruments, which is something I have adjusted over the years.
 
#31
TSkills said:
IME bassist are usually the "music nerd" of the group. We usually know the most theory and listen to the widest range of tunes...
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Yeah that would be me....

I keep telling my guitarist that the progression to 'I will survive' is the circle of fifths every time he forgets it. He still can't remember it and still doesn't know what the circle is all about.

I'm the only one who listens to anything that's not on the radio/not a metal song from the 80's. despite being the youngest by leaps and bounds.
 
#32
Being a bass player means that You are the guy in the band who is laid back and generally has their head in the right direction. Most of the time, we are the tye that binds the band together and keeps things going (rhythm, groove, and band business as well). I know that we all cut up about generalizations of what the other players do, it is very stereo-typical but usually rings true (all in good fun). Here is what I have found most bass players have that the other instrumentalist or vocalist cant usually get a grasp on.
Bass players typically Have:
A) a place to live
B) a car
C) a job
D) PA equipment
E) Multiple instruments, spare back-up everything
F) A level head, and fair to good people skills

Just a few things that came to mind, and I am sure I left something out so please add on as needed..........
 
#33
Qvist said:
I feel the same way! That's true about the paramedics as well, you guys are there in the really crucial moments between life and death for many.
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I always figure that the guys who keep the fire extinguishers filled & ready save a lot more lives than the guys who ride around on the big red truck, with lights flashing & sirens blaring.

Guess who gets all the attention, though!
 
#34
I have found that bass players are generally more of artists. For example, Shavo is the bass player for System of a Down, directs videos, paints, etc... I agree with the laid/back relaxed vibe. That seems to be a standard for bass players.

But, above all, the archetype for bass players is simply this: Awesome.
 
#35
Bassists are down to earth.

We have day jobs to pay for maintaining our vehicles that transport our excessively large gear.

We are conflict resolvers because we're naturally used to working with both the melodic goals and the rhythmic goals of our bandmates, no matter how disparate they may be. It also means we've gotta know some theory in order to sort those out, so we listen and read about everything, not just get sucked into the instrument we're playing.

We're not ego driven spotlight seekers like guitarists and singers, nor were we raised by wolves like drummers. Our parents likely had the reasonable good sense to not buy us a drum kit, and that has contributed to our overall stability and even keel. In fact, many of us probably picked up a bass because someone needed a bassist and knew we were easy to work.

We're not leaders, necessarily, but we're the ones who keep everything from falling apart. Can you imagine if the rest of our bandmates were left to their own resources?:D
 
#36
TortillaChip520 said:
Donald~Dunn.jpg
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Whammy!
 

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