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Jealous bass players?!

#43
never jealous. never envious.. However, when we are on a bill with another band, I do size up the other bassists and listen very closely. I pay attention to technique and tone and equipment. However, I do not ever feel the need to step up my game. I play how I play. Better or worse that the other player. Before the gigs I usually talk crap about myself to help break any sort of tensions or stuff like that. In our community of bands, there are a lot who throw game to put down others. I do find many really good bassists in my circles
 
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#44
Much like guitar players, there are a good amount of flashy bass players on youtube, many that can "outplay" Victor Wooten (for example). The difference is I would not buy an album of bass wanking, save for a couple of players that, no matter how technical, are musical from the start. Like many on TB i've gone through the "Chops phase", and after some years as an overactive bassist I ran into another of my kind and had a good amount of time to observe from an audience point of view. With the exception of a few moments in a set, or during a bass solo (which is most of the time out of place) its just unmusical and ego driven to overplay. That being said, i love Hadrien Feraud and Richard Bona, but even with those chops they know when to use them and when to PLAY BASS.
 
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#45
Metalbasspro said:
I don't because there will always be someone that is better then you, has a more interesting approach or is more creative. On the flip side I went to view three pages of bass players covering a simple Judas Priest song Living after midnight and only one guy could play it like it is supposed to be played, more like a bass player then a guitar player on bass. I don't know if this is representative of the General bass population or that it's only hacks who have time to post on Youtube leaving the pros with real bass work?
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off topic, but that drives me nuts when guys play that song and don't bother to learn the bass line, that's what drives the tune, its so simple to just ascend up to the 4and 5 chords, I only would play the guitar riff during solo IF there is only one guitarist!!

and jealousy is such a guitar player/drummer thing, there is plenty of space for bassists in music, so why waste your energy!!
 
#46
jnuts1 said:
heck no, I usually ask the dude what he was doing so I can steal it! but I think I have a kid who is jealous of me for some stupid reason and I have been nothing but helpful to this jerk. I think he is better than me too which makes it even weirder. I handed him an amazing band on a silver platter after I had my kid. now he just a straight up jerk to me and tries to bass block me every chance he gets.
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karma gets people like this eventually, that's really too bad, and weird why someone would act that way, especially when you give him your old gig, bizarre....
 
#47
I can’t remember ever being jealous of another bass player. If I was, it was a fleeting thing. When I first picked up the bass I was already well familiar with different levels of ability and technique from playing the clarinet. Everyone is different in that regard. Like many have said, I am more inclined to pick up a few tricks from a fellow bassist that has a different approach, and am usually looking to talk shop with fellow bass players on gig night (or even when I’m just part of the audience).
 
#48
I am very confident in my ability so I am never jealous another player's ability. The closest I get to jealousy is that I sometimes wonder how someone was able to get a high profile gig, especially if I don't feel that they are a good player. I think people who get jealous of other people's playing are somewhat insecure in their own ability.
 
#49
I remember feeling that way only once, when I was about 19

I was gigging but sucked and it was the first time I had seen a good slap bassist play - probably 1974

Became friends - I taught him walking & he taught me slap - worked out
 
#50
Jealous of a gig, a rig, or something thing like that? In my lesser moments yeah that's happened. Jealous of someone who can afford to spend almost all their time with their instrument? More often. Jealous cause someone can play better? Not so much.
 
#52
I actually have the opposite problem!.....nah I suck, but seriously really good players, ones better than me, inspire me to step it up, because they prove it can be done, but no matter how hard you try, you will only ever sound like yourself, and thats OK.
 
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#53
I try to be that guy-

I like providing solid foundation as well as tastefully picking my spots.
I like to play beneath my capacity-like warming up with three bats in baseball; I like to have the reserves if need be.
I can execute exactly what I hear in my head.
I ask myself "what would be the right play here; what would I want to hear?"
I know I do little things that I don't see other bassists doing.
I am very happy being me.
 
#54
I wouldn't say I was jealous. When I was younger I got intimidated by players who were as good as I wanted to be, so I practiced until I could do what they did, or at least reasonably close to it. Now that I'm an old fart I just do what I do as well as I can and leave the Youtube chops for guys with video cameras and loopers. I would love to be able to play gymnastic slap bass like you see there, but these days I rationalize why it would be worth it to spend the amount of time and effort to be able to do that. What is the payoff? Who am I trying to impress? When am I ever going to use it for anything more than self entertainment? I used to care if other bass players thought I sucked or if they were impressed by what I could do, now I'm more confident, older and hopefull wiser, and I don't give a damn.
 
#55
Mike Sorr said:
I wouldn't say I was jealous. When I was younger I got intimidated by players who were as good as I wanted to be, so I practiced until I could do what they did, or at least reasonably close to it. Now that I'm an old fart I just do what I do as well as I can and leave the Youtube chops for guys with video cameras and loopers. I would love to be able to play gymnastic slap bass like you see there, but these days I rationalize why it would be worth it to spend the amount of time and effort to be able to do that. What is the payoff? Who am I trying to impress? When am I ever going to use it for anything more than self entertainment? I used to care if other bass players thought I sucked or if they were impressed by what I could do, now I'm more confident, older and hopefull wiser, and I don't give a damn.
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That's one thing that goes with age, you get to be a curmudgeon and the world can be damned!
 
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#56
What used to get to me was when somebody who was talented at another instrument got up & played guitar or bass real well--especially guitar--it's like--you're already fantastic at this other instrument--leave mine alone!

But I got over that years ago.
 
#57
In the past, There were times when I felt a little envious of players whose skill level was much higher than mine.

Nowadays, I tend to be inspired by a really fine player. If I see a bass player who is really good at executing all the aspects of bass playing that I find important, it's a real treat.

Don't get me wrong, I've seen players that were so good, it made me want to go home and sell all my bass equipment. But I get past that pretty quickly.

I am now in a place where I am secure with my playing. I accept that fact that I am not Uber talented. I Have fun with my band and that's enough for me.
 

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