Quirky Things You Do As A Bassist

[StatesideRambler]

Mebbe I should start a new thread, but do you not encounter the expectation that, as the bassist, it is your job to help load the drummer?

In my experience, the drummer comes preloaded.

 

[dramatwist]

I just play and ignore anyone except the band or the sound guy.

 

[Tony In Philly]

I pluck with my thumb quite a bit. I get asked about it every once in a while.

 

[Stumbo]

I hold the neck with my thumb wrapped around.
Thin neck, big hands.
Keeps my wrist straight.
Comes in handy when I need to mute the E.

 

[vvvmmm]

I pluck with my thumb quite a bit. I get asked about it every once in a while.

I hold the neck with my thumb wrapped around.

I do both of these things, and get asked "why" alla time.

The answer is, I'm self-taught, and that's how I lernt me.

 

[devnulljp]

My gigbag is like Batman's utility belt.
Guitar player breaks a string? I have pack of spares.
Someone's battery is dead? I have spares in my bag.
Dead 1/4" cable? I have spares in my bag.
Mic ain't working? I have a couple SM58s in my bag.
Guitar picks, capos, power bars, gaffa tape? I have spares in my bag.
Sound guy ran out of XLR cables? Guess who has a bunch in my bag.
Soneone's DI died? I have a Radial JDI and a J48 in my bag just in case.

 

[hardtop]

I hum or "scat" parts that are faster or have a syncopated rhythm out loud to myself when i play it. Helps me keep time. we're very loud and I don't have a mic near me so no one hears it. I'm sure it looks silly to those paying attention, but I'm in a two guitar band where both do vocals and are animated stage performers... no one really looks at me, so i've never been caught

 

[Steve Dallman]

I constantly examine and assess everything about my bass tone. I listen for how it fits in with the guitar and drums, and how it supports them, both in tonality and what I play. I listen for things that stick out, or need to be adjusted. I recently went from very good 3 way bass cabinets to fEARfuls with the True 3-way crossovers. This changed the game as the pallet of tone is now quite flat.

I obsess with how things sound as we're playing. How are people reacting? How is the drummer responding to what I'm playing? And on and on. There's a sonic laboratory going on in my mind. I'm thinking tone, volume, speaker design, speaker placement, what more I might need to sound better, what is working, what isn't working....

Meanwhile, our guitar player pounds away, skillfully on his 1976 Telecaster...which is always on the neck pickup into a 1965 Ampeg Reverbrocket...and his only effects are a boost for leads and a tremolo (amp) for one song.

 

[Iristone]

Play the drums onstage.

 

[rtslinger]

I have another one I never eat just before a show. Not that I am nervous because that never happens. Just something I started doing with my original band back in the 80's which I think came from not having enough money to buy anything to eat?

 

[rjmsteel]

I avoid using my index finger on my fret-hand.
I guess "avoid" is a strong word, but if I find an arrangement I can play with my middle & pinky vs. my index & ring-finger, then I'm not using my index finger unless I need to.

Because of this my pinky is rather strong & I can reach well with it.
I'm already left-handed, however playing righty, so that hand is already stronger than my right.

TBH I think whoever came up with the first guitar or stringed-instrument was a lefty, it just makes sense that your dominant hand is doing all the difficult work.
Oops, maybe I should mention I'm borderline ambidextrous.
Can't write my name with my right, but I can hammer a nail or turn a wrench.

Left Handed and play righty and could not agree more. Why wouldn't it make sense that the dominant hand perform the harder work. My right hand pizzicato/hammer may not be the fastest but I can make up for it with the fingering ~ stronger hand in multiple and various ways.

 

[Stan_da_man]

Once soundcheck is done, I am out of that venue and somewhere else until I'm due on stage. I literally show up 5-10 mins before we go on.

Not sure why but I hate waiting at the venue to go on. Even if we have a green room, I have to be somewhere else. Very happy memories of having a drink at a nearby pub with friends before getting to the venue and going straight on stage.

 

[lizardking837]

Try smart!! I like owning 3 or 4 $200-500 all different from each other. Don't quite understand owning 3 of the same bass except the color. Want it to match your shirt??

I have a P-bass with Flats and stock pick-ups as well as a second P with rounds and Duncan QPers. So you can get a lot a variety out of the same type of bass.

 

[vvvmmm]

I am thumb-over fretting and thumb-plucking with mid or ring finger octave pops about 95% of the time - I keep getting told it is a weird way to play ...

 

[pappabass]

I have a P-bass with Flats and stock pick-ups as well as a second P with rounds and Duncan QPers. So you can get a lot a variety out of the same type of bass.

Yes, true, but they are not exactly the same!