Playing and listening preferences difference.

[Anglerfish]

I was just sitting and wondering. There are things we love to do but find boring to watch others doing (like eating something tasty). And there are things that most of us would prefer to watch instead of doing it themselves (like boxing). May this apply to bass playing too?

People start learning their instrument being inspired by some sort of music. Therefore they tend to play what they like to listen. But may it happen that while getting advanced and learning more about techniques and styles they would figure out that their favorite music is no fun to play and that the most fun for them is to play something that they would never let in their playlist? What is your situation?

 

[ONYX]

I prefer to play the bluesy side of jazz and the jazzy side of blues---

But I usually can be found listening to Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, etc. I also listen to a lot of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Sometimes I might even throw on the Ramones.

 

[lz4005]

I'll play all sorts of crap I would never listen to, or have never heard before, if the money is right.

 

[Colinos5]

I really like to listen to Paramore in the summer, but I never play it. The sound requires a pick, and that's just not my thing. I also occasionally listen to Sharon Kovacs or some jazzy music. I don't like playing jazz though. Sharon Kovacs just has too little challenge in the bass department.

Sometimes I hate a song, but when I have to play it I suddenly like it. I still won't listen to it myself. It may even still be an awful song. A certain bass riff just agrees with me.

 

[whatizitman]

I tend to play what I listen to. Which is probably why I'm not very advanced or technical. I like classic rock, blues, soul/r&b, traditional country/folk, old punk/alt, and I like to play it. Not really the most complex stuff.

 

[dinoadventures]

I really like playing Motown and r&b but I listen to mostly jazz and hip hop.

 

[Humbled]

I learned 40 years ago that accepting gigs playing music that I had no previous interest in was a really good thing, as long as most of the people in the band were already better at it than me. Thankfully, that's pretty much always been the case. My music-performance life has been a constant string of such occurrences, and I learned that I can enjoy playing almost anything, and that I'm a better musician and happier person for it.

These days, I mostly listen to Classic-Rock from the 60s/70s/80s and some Classic Country in the car, though my tastes are a little more eclectic at home.

For the past decade and a half, when I have an electric bass in my hands, I'm usually playing classic jazz standards and a little Motown and Disco, because that's what the man calling the tunes is calling. I do not want to be in charge of the set list when I'm playing bass. I'm a contented sideman.