Is this a compliment?

[Old Blastard]

It's equal to "I love playing with you," and "you're fun to play with" and "I'll play with you anytime." All are good to hear.

 

[troy mcclure]

My band always says " We are glad you own a PA"...not nearly as nice but makes me less expendable...lol

 

[Brad Johnson]

It's one of the best compliments ANY band member can give you, really. Especially the drummer. My drummer tells me the same nearly every gig (and especially if the band played with a sub on bass last gig), and I say the same to him. I can't imagine why any bassist would think it's anything but complimentary. It means you are "there" when he is, that you listen to what is going on (on the drums, in particular, and the band as a whole) and play accordingly

It's a compliment that I also give when it's true. I've played with people who've "worked with" me and others who seem to be either working against me or in another world. Both of the latter suck on a gig.

 

[Pbassmanca]

When the musicians are low stress it makes the music shine.

Very true words.

 

[pcake]

Yeah. I took it as one initially but as I usually do, I started to overthink it and began to wonder if maybe he was indicating that I'm a simple player.

as others have said, it was meant as a compliment. btw, easy does not = simple, particularly not in the context it was used.

 

[DWBass]

There's a whole lot of 'wankers' in my area. It's definitely a compliment. I play like you. What the song needs and I make it a point to listen to and lock in with the drummer. I embellish very little and don't really like soloing.

 

[Gyver]

Sounds like nothing but a compliment to me.

 

[BassWaffle]

Compliment! Also consider the likelihood that someone you play with would intentionally insult you. Im sure he meant well by it even if it was a more vague comment than it already is

 

[bobcruz]

Yeah. I took it as one initially but as I usually do, I started to overthink it and began to wonder if maybe he was indicating that I'm a simple player. ...

Simple meaning you do what serves the song and don't try to hog the limelight? If so, you're doing fine, and your drummer seems to agree.

 

[Jamvan]

My band always says " We are glad you own a PA"...not nearly as nice but makes me less expendable...lol

That's precisely why I can't fire the drummer in my main band! The guy with the PA rules!

 

[Spidey2112]

So I've had the opportunity to hook up with a couple seasoned players whom I respect for an employee "band" for a work event; specifically a guitarist and a drummer. I really respect the drummer who is well known and well used in the area. After our second practice last week, he told me that I'm incredibly easy to play with. He's a great drummer with good time and a nice pocket for me to play in. I consider my style aggressively conservative in that I play hard but my focus has always been on timing and note choice (I'm not a wanker). I figure, if it's good enough for a pro to play and record it, who am I to think I can improve it? Regardless, I've found myself thinking about it and wondering, what exactly does being easy to play with mean?

As long as he didn't offer you a nice Chianti, along with some fava beans, afterwards, I'd take it at face value...

 

[bound'n'blocked]

I just think it's funny that 'carrots' got four votes!

BnB

 

[oldrocker]

My current drummer tells me "we're Pocketed", I take that to mean the same thing as being easy to play with and I take it as a compliment.

As you would expect I find my drummer to be very easy to play with.

 

[Hand slap]

Optimist: The glass is half full.
Pessimist: The glass is half empty.
Engineer: The glass is the wrong design for the application.

An opportunist, the one who DRANK the glass, while the pessimist & optimist were arguing!

 

[Sam Dingle]

there are two types of people I play with. People who are easy to play with, and people who are hard to play with.

I don't ever call the later for a 2nd gig.

 

[madbass6]

So I've had the opportunity to hook up with a couple seasoned players whom I respect for an employee "band" for a work event; specifically a guitarist and a drummer. I really respect the drummer who is well known and well used in the area. After our second practice last week, he told me that I'm incredibly easy to play with. He's a great drummer with good time and a nice pocket for me to play in. I consider my style aggressively conservative in that I play hard but my focus has always been on timing and note choice (I'm not a wanker). I figure, if it's good enough for a pro to play and record it, who am I to think I can improve it? Regardless, I've found myself thinking about it and wondering, what exactly does being easy to play with mean?

Well it beats you suck to play with! Of course its a compliment Take it and run!

 

[Mike Sorr]

It's a very nice compliment.

 

[Mike Sorr]

The best compliment I ever got was also from a drummer. I was playing in a roots reggae band...as the only non-Jamaican member of the band. They had just hired a new drummer that flew in directly from Jamaica to work with us, so he was weary from travel and not in the mood for nonsense. I walk in with my bass and he's looking past me to see who I'm carrying it in for. He had a look of extreme disappointment when I opened the case and strapped it on. He didn't say anything but just sort of had a look of "let's just get this over with". While we were playing the first song he watched me like a hawk, and had a slight smirk on his face. During the second song he cracked a smile. He was outright laughing during the third song and mid-way through he stopped the band and stood up. He turned to me and apologized for pre-judging me and said to the band in his thick Jamaican accent, "I have to be honest. When him first walk in I didn't expect much, but him play like a Yard mon!" Meaning I play like a Jamaican. That was about the coolest compliment I ever got as a musician.

 

[hsech]

Easy to play with = in sync with the drummer, adaptable and personality is compatible. I would think it's a compliment for sure.

 

[CereBassum]

I'm going against the trend here - not at all sure it's a compliment.

If he wanted to compliment you, there are better ways. "I like the way you locked in with me" or "We put down some really good grooves".

"Easy to play with" sounds very vague and neutral - like he's trying to figure out something good to say but is having trouble doing so.

Are you paying him? Ask him if/when he wants to get together again, and judge his reaction...