Quirky Things You Do As A Bassist

[4sight]

I like to throw the odd bum note in now and again, and vary the timing in subtle ways. Totally intentional, obviously.

 

[avvie]

My quirk is that I show up, on time knowing the material.

YOU'RE NOT QUIRKY!! YOU'RE A MONSTER!!

 

[avvie]

When setting up my side of the stage ALL cords must be "outside" of my walking area.

No matter how many times I complained and moved them, bandmates just threw cables everywhere like we wanna walk on spaghetti all night. It's extremely inconsiderate.

 

[avvie]

I don’t use any pedals. I believe if you cant get the tone with your fingers, pedals aren’t going to help.

Lots and lots of hit songs and classics have effects.

 

[DonBorelli]

I don’t use any pedals. I believe if you cant get the tone with your fingers, pedals aren’t going to help.

Ooookay...

Lots and lots of hit songs and classics have effects.

But dude, you don't even know how to create a slapback delay effect or a chorus sound with your fingers!?
Or how about an overdriven sound?

OMG tone failz

 

[andykeating]

I regularly just go straight to the board through my DI and use an SVT as a monitor and no-one complains about my tone.

 

[interp]

I never ever play a single note between songs.

 

[Kawai2g4b]

I have always placed a plush Dr. Seuss Thing 2 doll, retrieved from a cereal box, on my number-1 bass of the moment. I always get questions asking where the Thing 1 bass is. Truth is I never found the cereal box which hid a Thing 1.

 

[dreamadream99]

What is your quirk?

I have a very low singing voice. When I’m watching a movie (any movie), I sing along with the bass line during the entire orchestral score. I’m not even aware I’m doing it until pointed out to me.

 

[interp]

I only play one note.

Not a problem, as long as it’s the right note .

 

[Resonance129]

Not sure which of these actually counts, but:

- I fold my lips in on one another when I'm playing a gig. Sometimes pretty hard. I think It's a subconscious "concentration" thing I can't seem to help.
- Air bass. All the time. No fudges given about what it looks like or who cares to notice. Finger-style, pick, slap, thumb... All that. Air bass. Yeuh.
- I tend to STARE at the BL during gigs. Never been an intentional thing. I'm simply watching hard for changes or hits that may come up out of nowhere, cuz that happens.. But I also realized not too long ago how creepy that can look .
- I LOVE playing all the songs the rest of the band members hate. And vice versa... What's that about?...
- I keep whichever pick I consider my "favorite" at the time on top of my amp for quick access.
- I've started wearing this cheap skull ring on my fretting hand after playing a Halloween party in 2017 where we dressed up like passed musicians. I was Jimi Hendrix. On bass. Had a great time and we eventually got shut down for a noise complaint. The ring has become my "performance charm".

 

[Captain Comet]

I, too, really hate walking on a spaghetti mess of instrument and mike cords during a show. Fortunately, the singer is the same way, so we would route them in a way to have a clear stage. He and I were the two most active ones on stage. I like to roam around and dance while playing. We have run into each other a few times at shows. There is a fabric strap that I have hanging from the headstock. It is an "early warning device". It lets him know if he gets any closer, he is getting a tuner in his ear. Some of these stages are not very big.

I trim all my fingernails short except leave a little length on the right index finger. Where most of the plucking motion is up, I also use a downward push mixed in there. By the end of a show, that nail has a worn angled straight line across it from string contact.

 

[Winslow]

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!

So glad this isn't just me. I've got clippers stashed everywhere; Desk, bathroom, living room side table, on a keychain in my pocket, and yes, in my two primary bass cases!

 

[dirtychinchilla]

Apparently I have a "face" when I play- everyone says I look cranky. At a fill in gig one of the guys kept asking me "are you alright"? I say "yeah, I'm fine", "oh, OK... but you look so peeved off when you're playing".

I do the same. It's called concentrating!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I play with my eyes closed. Gigs and rehearsals. Always have. It makes me "connect" better with the music somehow. I find it easier to lock onto the drums. Of course this limits my ability to move around. I once fell off the stage and broke LOTS of ribs, lol. I had to finish the tour (and several extremely uncomfortable flights!) in really bad pain. Try lifting an SVT Classic onto the top of an 8x10 with broken ribs!

I obviously don't play with my eyes closed when learning/writing new material but once I've gotten to the point where it "flows"... eyes closed. I just need to remember to stay away from the edge of the stage (but luckily I don't do much touring anymore).

 

[jeffbrown]

Ditto on the fingernails, but I use a file, especially for that last-minute trim.... There's one in every case!

Years ago, while working in a sawmill(!!), I experienced an industrial accident where the pad of my right middle finger was, ah, er, reduced somewhat by a moving braided steel cable. This has made the nail a little more prominent, so that one gets extra attention. I do NOT like nail clank while playing! Chris Squire incorporated his nails in a sort-of double hit, but not for me. I do use a pick for a few songs if it's called for, however.

 

[Nevada Pete]

Isn't being a bass player kind of quirky?

 

[sears]

As far as tuning goes, that's how to tune a violin, A - D - G - E.

 

[Samatza]

I do the same. It's called concentrating!

Thanks, I feel so much better now!

 

[Samatza]

I play with my eyes closed. Gigs and rehearsals. Always have. It makes me "connect" better with the music somehow. I find it easier to lock onto the drums. Of

Yeah, I found the same thing too. Don't know why it is but it seems like the visual distractions go away and your ability to concentrate purely on the music is enhanced. Didn't help that everybody else tried to "wake me up" every time I did it though.