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Reasons To Be A Bassist
- Thread starter Max Vartanian
- Start date
And all this time I thought it was for the girls ...
Playing bass is fun.
It can be an outlet for creativity, or an excuse for wankfests, feedback, tapping, and boundless creativity.
The gear can be cheaply gotten, or break your bank.
The skillset is not obtained with difficulty, but is a defined skillset with boundaries that must be observed. Or ignored.
Playing bass can be a challenge, a hindrance, or a bore. Sometimes, it can be all of those and more. Thus is the bass player borne.
Gear is of little consequence. Guitarists "must" have this or that to get "their" tone, keyboard players "must" have this or that for balance or "just in case/support", singers "need" a comfort zone, and drummers hit stuff while counting to four (mostly.) The bass drives them all, and can do it with a lowly Squier or Peavey bass with a DI or less. Or, the fancy stuff.
They all do the same job.
And, like them, all bass players all do the same job. Regardless of gear, venue, or even skillset, the bass player holds the rest together, regardless of gear, environment, or material. It is not a difficult job, but it is not to be taken lightly.
Playing bass is fun.
I recommend it.
It can be an outlet for creativity, or an excuse for wankfests, feedback, tapping, and boundless creativity.
The gear can be cheaply gotten, or break your bank.
The skillset is not obtained with difficulty, but is a defined skillset with boundaries that must be observed. Or ignored.
Playing bass can be a challenge, a hindrance, or a bore. Sometimes, it can be all of those and more. Thus is the bass player borne.
Gear is of little consequence. Guitarists "must" have this or that to get "their" tone, keyboard players "must" have this or that for balance or "just in case/support", singers "need" a comfort zone, and drummers hit stuff while counting to four (mostly.) The bass drives them all, and can do it with a lowly Squier or Peavey bass with a DI or less. Or, the fancy stuff.
They all do the same job.
And, like them, all bass players all do the same job. Regardless of gear, venue, or even skillset, the bass player holds the rest together, regardless of gear, environment, or material. It is not a difficult job, but it is not to be taken lightly.
Playing bass is fun.
I recommend it.
For the glory and the money, but mainly for the money.
I prefer play a music instrument in order to blend in completely unnoticed. It's worked out great so far.
How else do you get the chance to:
... carry guitar pics for when the guitar player forgets them
... carry batteries for when the guitar players go dead
... carry an extra guitar stand for when the guitar player forgets theirs (or brings an extra guitar)
... suppply the band gaffers tape
... carry spare of about every misc accessory item that someone in the band will need in an emergency
... buy and piece together the sound system as needed
... show up early to get all the sound gear in place
... start busting down all 'your' sound gear right after the show while the rest of the group relaxes before they need to break down their 2 or three items they came in with
... drive a van to carry everything to the venue
... and most of all ... because there is nothing like the feeling of holding down the bottom all night for a show that goes well because you put in the extra effort ...
... carry guitar pics for when the guitar player forgets them
... carry batteries for when the guitar players go dead
... carry an extra guitar stand for when the guitar player forgets theirs (or brings an extra guitar)
... suppply the band gaffers tape
... carry spare of about every misc accessory item that someone in the band will need in an emergency
... buy and piece together the sound system as needed
... show up early to get all the sound gear in place
... start busting down all 'your' sound gear right after the show while the rest of the group relaxes before they need to break down their 2 or three items they came in with
... drive a van to carry everything to the venue
... and most of all ... because there is nothing like the feeling of holding down the bottom all night for a show that goes well because you put in the extra effort ...
Last edited:
Changing strings is actually fun instead of a chore.
We don't need a reason, it just comes naturally. We are the kids who walked down the street listening to a Sony Walkman humming the bass line. Melody, vocals? Nah.
Because no instrument has more ability to drive the mood of a song.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,587
- 221,942
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
1) Love picks (and fingers)
2) better?
3) why I chose the bass over a guitar when I was 12.
4) never use them
5) come again?
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,587
- 221,942
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
…then, no - not a reason to be a bassist (it's a result of being a bass player)
You forgot the most important reason..to play music.
Because you get to drive the bus and most people in the audience don't even know you're doing it.
You get to be kind of subliminal and enjoy the band just as much as the crowd.
