Quirky Things You Do As A Bassist

[LaklandLaksNADA]

I play in tune and on beat compared to the guitarists.

 

[Pings Bass]

Practice my booty off then get jitters and make really dumb mistakes and get totally lost on the gig

 

[BrotherRay]

I tune my b string juuust a skosh flat. I figure I'm likely to bend it sharp since it's farther away.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Practice my booty off then get jitters and make really dumb mistakes and get totally lost on the gig

OMG!!! Me, to a “T”!!!

 

[TakeABreak]

That worked for me...until I showed up to a gig where the sound guy was using the same colored
gaffer's tape as mine.

We had a good laugh. I put an overhand knot in the few cords I needed to use.

A monkey fist would be better - the sound guy is bound to have unintentional overhand knots in his cords.

 

[vvvmmm]

Not sure how "quirky" it is as it happens w/out intent, but I sweat.

A lot.

I also double-knot my shoe-laces and put about 5 picks around my amp and in my pockets.

 

[2F/2F]

Hmm... Maybe hold the bass off to the right, and pretty uprightly. I.e. my plucking arm comes in at it over the waist of the body, not over the arm contour.

Also, maybe that I play with all sorts of combinations of fingers, thumbs, whole hand as a paddle, etc., not just the regular one finger at a time, alternating between pointer and middle.

Perhaps that I almost never fret with my ring finger, unless in combination with my pinky.

Thumb never gets seen from the front, unless I am actually using it to fret or mute/dampen notes. Sometimes I don't even have my thumb on the back of the neck.

I use very heavy strings, a lot of string height, more relief than normal, and very heavy foam damping at the bridge. Most people can't play my basses very well at all. Every time someone plays my bass, I end up with a recommendation for their setup guy. I tell 'em, "Nope. I set it up that way myself, very deliberately."

I don't know how eccentric any of that really is, though.

 

[Keger Jupit]

clip my finger nails before every show.

Beat me to it...I have MULTIPLE sets of clippers. The big, toenail gittin' kind. There is nothing I hate more than playing some groove, killin' it, & GANK, fingernail strike!

 

[packhowitzer]

I'm always the loudest one. Does that count as a quirk?

 

[socialleper]

Quietly stalk other bass players I like. I want them to be my friends so I can talk about bass stuff with them, but I also know that is super creepy.

 

[bassliner50]

I need to pee constantly throughout the gig. (on breaks only of course, at least for now)

 

[Doner Designs]

My wife and children would be happy to provide a list. Volume 10 is almost finished.

 

[bobyoung53]

A guitarist I used to play with always did that to me, but for some reason never noticed that I always fretted the fifth on E for his "A" and bent it just a little sharp every time. Keys did notice though...

Oh, so my quirk is that I'm a dick...

I once played E and a half on a fretless for the guitar player, he tuned his whole guitar to it. This was close to 40 years ago and he still remembers it.

 

[lat]

Practice my booty off then get jitters and make really dumb mistakes and get totally lost on the gig

I have no idea what you're referring to.

 

[bobyoung53]

I show up early, get set up and sit around nervously waiting to play, I hate breaks and sit around nervously until the break is over, I tear down as soon as possible and leave, I've even forgotten to get paid several times. But, I love to play, I'm usually disappointed when the set or the night is over. I don't drink, maybe I just hate the clubs?

 

[gumbynotpokey]

On any number that is mid-tempo or slower, if there is no significant voicing of the downbeat from the kit. I'll almost always raise my right arm and lower it - banging it actually - on the top edge of the body of the bass closest to me, on the big downbeat of each measure. Or maybe both the 2 and the 4 if it's really slow. Once the drummer is done playing chimes, keys, windsock, para-sail and everything OTHER than the kit on the downbeat and DOES at least hit a rim shot or better from then on, I fall back to this quirk only inconsistently. I guess I do it to really define the beat and lock in.

How am I doing? Am I crazy?

Of course not.

YMMV.

 

[Rogatien]

Science says it's a way of getting your brain the extra O2 it needs. Nervous or just preparation?

I'm not really nervous. I mean I always have a tiny bit of nervousness, mostly seconds before going on stage, more like excitement I think. It's not preparation either. I just don't know. I remember when I was younger, when I was doing battle of the bands kinda thing, if my band was to go last - say at 1 am - oh man it was the longest night of waiting and yawning. I just yawn before a gig.

 

[Altitude]

I always wash my hands right before hitting the stage.

I know it’s gross, but I don’t really wash my hands all night. I like them dry, if I wash them just before a set they’re grabby.

 

[lbbc]

I run through the audience every night. I'll sit at their tables, drink their drinks (if I know them) and have them sing harmonies with me.

 

[ElMon]

I bring a pair of rubber chickens to every gig. Most times, I use them.
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For the win!