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No one listens to the bass player

#21
lfmn16 said:
I’m sorry, we’re you talking???
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:laugh:

Mark 63 said:
Why is that?
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bikeplate said:
Gigging with the wrong people
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yeah, OP, not sure what to tell you. i've never experienced bandmates who didn't want to know what my thoughts were on any aspect of the music. in most of my bands, i've been the MD so that has taken care of any squabbling stuff. but my experience/knowledge/skill-set at least gets me 'a voice' when i'm being directed by others.

so: know more and/or play more better and/or be more assertive in general...any one of these should get you some attention! also: try arranging a tune yourself: then let the others know how you want the arrangement to work and sound. good luck :thumbsup:
 
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#24
Mark 63 said:
Why is that?
Song suggestions dismissed
Knowledge about chord variations ignored
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It's a common stereotype born of ignorance and arrogance, and it happens with surprising regularity. Not always, but pretty damned often.

I am beyond proficient on guitar (lead and rhythm), mandolin, uke, banjo, keyboards, and bass. I play a little blues harmonica. I sing lead, BGV and have an intimate understanding of vocal harmony and arrangements. I've played the MD/BL role in numerous bands, doing all booking, targeting clients and structuring playlists to great success. But when I join a band as the new kid bass player, no one really wants to hear my suggestions, even when they are sorely needed and would greatly improve the product.

It is the bass player's burden, his cross to bear. That's why when I join a project as bass player, I first make sure I can live with everyone else's musicianship and decision making, because I probably won't be changing those things.
 
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#25
Good to see you on here Mark... didn't realize you were on Talkbass, but I see you've actually been here since a little bit before me! :laugh:

FWIW, I do listen to the bass player, even, and especially when I'm on guitar. ;)
 
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#26
Ooba Tooba said:
This doesn’t really happen to me fortunately. But then I write a large portion of our material and am kind of looked at as band leader. Unless they’re humoring me, of course :D
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It happens less and less, the more often I am humored. There are times when I'm called out on something that I'm doing wrong, too. Or asked to try something different that ends up being good that way. What I like to see is an even exchange of ideas, but there's always one person who wants too much control and has to be asked to stand down every now and then :)
 
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#29
DiabolusInMusic said:
Find some new bandmates. If the issue persists, consider what role you might be playing that is causing you to be overlooked. If you find the issue still continuing, ask yourself, "am I playing metal?" If the answer is yes, don't hold your breath on them taking your input.

But seriously, I have had bands where my input is ignored but it is was those bands, not my role as a bass player.
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yes, frustrating! I was in a band where the lead guitarist was in college studying music, so his opinions were so revered, like only his opinion mattered, got tired of him"knowing everything" about music! never mind that I also majored in music, and studied harmony& composition in college. I had had to move on,for my own mental health! never understood the "you're the bass player" attitude.
 
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#30
When I play with other experienced and educated musicians this never really happens. When I play with less "educated professionals" (please excuse the descriptor- dont mean it as a necessary negative) I often encouter bias.

I encounter this much more often in the rock scene- especially if they know I play jazz/went to school for music. Sometimes this is due to insecurities. Sometimes it is due to the fact that the bass players in some rock bands are the least knowledgable. While explaining some chords to a guitar and keyboardist on a gig one time I was told "I was wrong- the reason people play bass is because they cant play well and dont understand music".

In a wedding band I once played in the BL and keyboardist told me I was "making up tri-tone substitution to try to look smart " This is the same guy who also asked me on stage one night " what key do you want to do jazz in?"

A heavy metal guitarist one asked me- after he learned I played jazz, some classical and was once an MD at a casino- "Do you ever dream of being a real musician?"

Got hundreds more stories like this. Never happens when I am playing with "Players" though. Sometimes you just have to suffer due to other peoples past biases! ;)
 
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#32
I started playing music over 50 years ago. I don't go around saying that, but it's something I don't hide either. Yes, I play with some fantastically talented people at times, and I gladly listen to their ideas, but...anyone that ignores what I can offer in terms of experience and knowledge is pretty much an idiot.
 
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#34
I got tired of playing in my last band because some of the cover songs we were playing that were fun to play werent fun for the audience and I suggested that we change up a couple songs. Never did. I quit the band they got a new bass player and are playing original music and gigging less.

I'm now working on beat making for a friend and co-worker who is a great lyricist but doesnt have the music background and wanted help with it and ended up just asking me to wrote music for him. He loves what I come up with and the couple times he saw my previous band play always said the same thing. "You all are great musicians but playing boring music."
 
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#38
micguy said:
I started playing music over 50 years ago. I don't go around saying that, but it's something I don't hide either. Yes, I play with some fantastically talented people at times, and I gladly listen to their ideas, but...anyone that ignores what I can offer in terms of experience and knowledge is pretty much an idiot.
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Me, too, my friend! Hasn't it been a great journey?

I feel fortunate that I don't have the same issues that the OP has. I probably have picked 2/3 to 3/4 of the songs that we end up keeping, and we all listen to each other about chord progressions and the like. If there are disagreements, we try out the contenders, and it becomes evident pretty quickly which one is right. Luckily, we don't have any egos in the band. I have been fortunate enough to play with a couple of bigger names in my youth, albeit on guitar, and open for a number of others, but my current band has been one of the best band experiences I have ever had. One argument, lasting ten minutes, in 2 1/2 years!!! Mutual respect, and everyone has an equal voice. I feel very fortunate each time I read one of the bad band stories people post here. Our lead singer/guitarist and I sort out most of the musical questions. The drummer doesn't care, obviously, and the other guitarist, who is the R&R image of the band, is happy to let us figure the hard stuff out.

I wish I had some advice for the OP, but it really just comes down to personalities. If it isn't fun, keep looking for a better opportunity.
 
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#39
Mark 63 said:
Why is that?
Song suggestions dismissed
Knowledge about chord variations ignored
Click to expand...
Two things- either you are playing in a band with a loud guitarist and drummer and they really can't hear you, nor do they want to. Many just want to "feel" your bass, that's it.

or you are playing with people who just don't care- I've run into the attitude of "you aren't the singer so you have NO say it what songs we cover (even though the few songs I picked got the best reaction by FAR from our audience.)

The only real solution is to go fusion/jazz route where the bass HAS to be heard (of course you have to be REAL good too)
 
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