Then you aren't trying to challenge yourself. Watch Mike Manring play and tell me how easy bass is.
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Let's face it: bass guitar isn't that hard
- Thread starter Mantis Tobaggan
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"As with all living things, each according to his gifts" - Mr. Spock
Horn players, woodwind players, and drummers don't play chords. That does not diminish their talents as musicians either. However, you can play chords on a bass guitar. Play your instrument as best you can.
I have played with some guitar player/singers who said they don't know how I can play bass and sing because it's like constantly playing lead lines while singing. I never really thought of it that way before.
Last night, I said to somebody, "It's not a band without the bass."
Just yesterday, a lady who has seen me play hundreds of times complimented me and said she thinks I am the best bass player in the area. I don't think I am the best; but, I thanked her for her viewpoint and appreciate that she understands what I bring to my bands and that she enjoys hearing me play.
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It depends on what you play. Victor Wooten for instance is insane imo. He's from a different planet as well as a bunch of other players. You need to have a great technique in order to execute some of his work.
Also, playing simple bass lines WELL is what makes you a good bass player. You can possibly run 100 meters in 10 minutes, and so can the world Olympic champion. But the champion would have a much better performance.
Also, playing simple bass lines WELL is what makes you a good bass player. You can possibly run 100 meters in 10 minutes, and so can the world Olympic champion. But the champion would have a much better performance.
One might consider this aspect of performance art and the quality thereof. Much of it might have a direct correlation to one's environment. Theoretically someone comfortable with playing traditional polka bass lines thrust into a Weather Report environment because one wants to walk among them, what might happen? Walk away or be in their moment? At that point there can be no right or wrong if one is there in spirit which is art and music. Music is a mystical quality among beings as is all art. "Good, better, best" is a matter of perspective. It is the intention to communicate, the quality of the communication that is art or defines art. for me in jazz in particular, my reward is seeing the delight of what one does on the faces of people, especially kids and children. We are musicians because we can bring the much needed love to people.
Doing easy things consistently well is never easy. And expanding the role of a role-playing instrument takes creativity.
You're probably not as good as you think you are. Go practice.
Too bad he's so low in the mix except for his solo from 4:19 to 4:46.
As Vic Wooten says - You're not playing bass - you're playing music.
Huge difference.
The bass is just your chosen vehicle is all.
Huge difference.
The bass is just your chosen vehicle is all.
It's taken a lot of time, effort and practice to become a so-so bassist. Thank God the OP was here to point out my delusional visions of becoming a world class musician/ rock star. What was I thinking? That's it, I'm gonna have a fire sale, donate all proceeds to charity then slash my wrists. Thanks pal. Hope you're happy, showing off your superior skill set.
Farewell cruel TBer's.
Acting. That's easy, comedy is hard.
Farewell cruel TBer's.
Acting. That's easy, comedy is hard.
Wow - I never knew a bass guitar and bass drum could sound like a typewriter when played together - Nice !
TOTALLY!! I could have written this post, you are not alone.
FWIW - I think a good bass player is an amazing thing.
But - I also think if you are even a bit musically inclined, it's really easy to pick up a bass and get good enough to be gigging in a relatively short amount of time. I know I did. I also know that this can cause some complacency, it did with me, I'm a total bass slacker.
Just the other night I told my bandmates that I have four strings, and for this song I'm only using TWO of them... 
Having said that, bass may look easy to play but it's not easy to play well. In my opinion, anyway.
Having said that, bass may look easy to play but it's not easy to play well. In my opinion, anyway.
Totally disagree. There's a lifetime of study in the subtleness of the bass guitar, which honestly many don't even scratch the surface of. Many voices in your hands if you explore beyond the first layers of experience. It's really not about speed and shredding exclusively. Maybe I'm getting a little too Zen here.... Haha
I tell them this all the time! Then I say something like, "maybe if you had fewer strings, it wouldn't matter that you apparently didn't practice this week."
I think bass gets this reputation since it's not hard to get mediocre at it. Four strings and wide spacing, it's easy to make decent lines composed of quarter and whole notes, sitting on the downbeats. It's also easy to do that on any instrument. But like any instrument, getting talented at bass is hard. I play with three fingers, and smack the strings off the neck with every hit. I've gotten up to 170bpm sixteenths, and that's pretty hard. In my band I play chords, fast sixteenths, and two-handed tapping. None of that is easy.
Bass is easy until you are forced to record to a click track and have your tracks isolated. 
Simple stuff isn't always as simple if you're talking about perfect timing, perfect dynamic for every note, and no mistakes or extra noise.
I have found that a lot of amateur musicians are a little lacking in the timing and pitch department. Guitarist bends are generally a few cents flat and just a milisecond behind. Same often goes with singers. The difference between going through the motions and nailing it are so small, but so big when it's all said and done.
Simple stuff isn't always as simple if you're talking about perfect timing, perfect dynamic for every note, and no mistakes or extra noise.I have found that a lot of amateur musicians are a little lacking in the timing and pitch department. Guitarist bends are generally a few cents flat and just a milisecond behind. Same often goes with singers. The difference between going through the motions and nailing it are so small, but so big when it's all said and done.
I definitely have to disagree with you, OP. I get what you are saying, but I think you've made things too simplistic. Is it fairly easy to lay down a simple root-note groove? Sure...when you start moving beyond that level, though, well...let me put it this way, there's probably a reason why guys like Nathan East and Leland Sklar are first-call players who are constantly being hired for sessions and/or touring, and being very well-paid for it. And there are bass players out there who incorporate chordal stuff into their playing; some even seem to kind of specialize in it, so...
If I can make an analogy using drummers: Ringo Starr is, as far as I can tell, a perfectly competent drummer, certainly within the context of the music he plays. But there's a reason why Neil Peart has been nicknamed "The Professor" - he's taken drumming/percussion way beyond that of even a lot of other professional drummers, never mind the weekend-warrior types. If most drummers are playing at "Ringo level", does that mean that drumming is "easy"?
If I can make an analogy using drummers: Ringo Starr is, as far as I can tell, a perfectly competent drummer, certainly within the context of the music he plays. But there's a reason why Neil Peart has been nicknamed "The Professor" - he's taken drumming/percussion way beyond that of even a lot of other professional drummers, never mind the weekend-warrior types. If most drummers are playing at "Ringo level", does that mean that drumming is "easy"?
