Quirky Things You Do As A Bassist

[SactoBass]

I never ever play a single note between songs.

That's what the pros do. Nothing says "hey everyone I'm an amateur" quite like noodling between songs.

 

[SactoBass]

Isn't being a bass player kind of quirky?

^^^Thread-winning post right there!

 

[HeadWind]

It’s not always possible but I like to have a cup of coffee before or during a gig. Seems like I can focus a little more. Also I bite my tongue constantly when I play. I don’t realize I’m doing it most of the time.

I always bite my lower lip. Been doing it for decades. Totally subconscious. I'd prefer not to because it looks weird, but then I always find myself doing it.

The other thing I do regularly is I concentrate too much on the music and forget to breathe or something and start aspirating saliva or something because I start coughing. Never do this unless playing. People ask if I'm OK, I say sure, just forgot to breathe.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I suppose this is my quirk: I’m perfectly happy being a sideman.

This may be true for all of us that consider ourselves "bassists" and not "failed guitarists." But in my role in a 3 pc group I think I'm contributing more to the music than just being a "sideman."

And in reference to all the people talking about what they play when they warm up or sound-checking their bass. I seem to always come around to the bass line from "All My Loving"

 

[gustobassman]

After countless gigs and well over 20+ years I guess this qualifies as a quirk... After an event I will never speak of in any forum whatsoever, I refuse to eat full meals of any kind before a gig. Nope, no way, not a chance.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

This is kind of freaking me out. I had no idea so many of us tune the E string last. Why do we all do that?

I usually start with the E (or B), work my way through and then double check the low strings. Sometimes stiffening up the high strings pulls the low ones out, IME.

 

[mrjim123]

I count out loud, every song!

 

[mrjim123]

Quirky Things You Do As A Bassist
does slobbering count?

If you do it on beat then yes.

 

[leftyjohn]

I am always on the right side of the stage. Being left handed this makes sense. But it also lets me keep track of the rest of the folks on stage. Kind of like the bass is the boss, as God intended.........the natural order of things.....etc

 

[redwingxix]

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.

Me too. Plus I have the irrational fear that if I get them wet then my callouses will weaken and fly right off in the middle of song and then I'll have to use a pick the whole rest of the night.

I'm also the one guy in the band that is always up for one more.

 

[H Nighttrain]

Just read thru this entire thread... I relate to almost everything.

I'm obsessive with my nails, but I dont own any clippers, files only, fine to buffer-fine. Daily, well, multilpe times a day.

Tuning order is a, d, g, e. Check every string again if I retuned any one since retuning changes the neck tension and that can cause one or more to be off. Then don't retune for the rest of the night unless I bump a machine.

Haven't changed a set of strings in years. Blessed with not sweating much and my peculiar chemistry is easy on strings and finishes. Have about a dozen new sets just in case. Use thicker (105 - at least 45) gauge strings, but low tension so I can bend notes, even at the first fret.

Wash, or at least rinse, my hands with warm water before a gig. More about the warm than the clean.

Any song that ends in E gets the "big E" chord: open E, 7-9-9, strum all four strings. It's my thing.

Best thing I learned here: snap bracelets.

 

[mrjim123]

I see that for a lot of us, myself included, "Tuning order is a, d, g, e." Anyone want to venture a guess as to why we don't tune E-A-D-G?

I've tried to come up with a reason, and the closest I can come is a vague feeling that it somehow feels safer, which, now that I think about it, seems absurd.

 

[redwingxix]

I tune gdae but I think that my logic is that tune from least to most favorite string so if I botch it up somehow that my e can get me through till I can tune again.

Though truthfully I really hardly ever touch my tuners.

 

[Danny O Danny]

Whenever I plug in a bass, to test the sound, I always play the same riff and I don't even realize I'm doing it. Other people have pointed it out to me. It's not from any song, it's just something that comes out.

I always bring a backup bass. Always.

I don't like to eat much before a gig and I never drink anything during a gig except club soda.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I always tune E-A-D-G-back to E. Don't know why, that's just what I was shown when I bought my first bass so always do it that way.

 

[Ostie]

Me too. Plus I have the irrational fear that if I get them wet then my callouses will weaken and fly right off in the middle of song and then I'll have to use a pick the whole rest of the night.

I'm also the one guy in the band that is always up for one more.

One more song, or one more beer?

 

[StatesideRambler]

This may be true for all of us that consider ourselves "bassists" and not "failed guitarists." But in my role in a 3 pc group I think I'm contributing more to the music than just being a "sideman."

And in reference to all the people talking about what they play when they warm up or sound-checking their bass. I seem to always come around to the bass line from "All My Loving"

I think you have the misapprehension that I think sideman is a lesser role. It is by no means that! Never “just” a sideman. To my mind the best actors are rarely the stars but those we used to call “character actors.” That’s the place I hold for sidemen. I’ve always aspired to that.

I like “All My Loving” as a warmup cum sound check selection. It moves well and covers enough of the instrument’s range to effectively do the job.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I never ever play a single note between songs.

That's what the pros do. Nothing says "hey everyone I'm an amateur" quite like noodling between songs.

 

[pablomago]

I think that a lot of us start tuning with A because it's the standard reference tone. Or it was in pre-electronic tuner days.

 

[DJ Bebop]

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).

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.

I do that same thing. Had a hard time convincing the band I was listening and paying attention.

I explained to them, like you all, I lock into the music and players better.

I can hear and anticipate when a break or an ending is coming. There is a breath or a pause right before it happens and that I can hear that.

I also got them to admit that I don't miss endings despite not looking. And I tried to reassure them that if I am in doubt, I will and am looking around.

Plus the fact we've been playing the same song for years