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Reasons To Be A Bassist

#81
The thing I love most about playing bass is the flexibility.

Bass gives me the chance to be either as up front or as far in the back as I want to be at any given moment. If I want the spotlight, I can grab it with a solo, if I want to hover in the back and lay down the groove, I can do that.

I also like playing an instrument that is both percussive and musical. I can pop it, slap it, lock in with a drummer and musically express what the drums are doing. Or, I can jump ship and double the guitar, or keys, or do my own thing.

I love being able to find counter melodies, harmonies, and so change the mood of a piece without changing the piece itself. Wanna play a Cmaj7? Great! Let me find some great bass to color that lovely chord a bit.

The bass lets me do what I want. I'm not chained to be the lead, the toe tapper, or the root - unless I wanna. :)
 
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#82
"Gear is of little consequence. Guitarists "must" have this or that to get "their" tone..."

Uhh, spent any time on the 'amps' or 'effects' forum?



I play bass 'cause I'm in the witness protection program. But seriously, guitarists are a dime a dozen. Bassists are an elite specialist team.
 
#85
- because no matter how many years working on scales and anything other than root-5ths chords on guitar, I can't make my fingers any smaller, and thus continue to suck. I have some REALLY big hands.
- bass feels more embedded in the music experience than guitar. Guitar, particularly electric, needs everything else to support it, including bass.
- drums are too freaking expensive and loud. I can play bass as loud or as soft as I want, anywhere I want. And I still get to be part of the rhythm section.
- You don't have to be a music scholar to play bass, but you gotta understand how it all works. At least in my limited experience on the bass, I find myself doing a lot of arranging and producing because I know about music more than my bandmates who only play guitar. I like that. I'm more a jack of trades type of guy (and master of none).
- OK to use SS amps and minimal effects, which means less GAS and more playing. I'm far less picky amp-wise on bass. I can get a workable tone with minimal and cheap setup, and no one cares. Maybe it's the mid-range vocal quality of guitar, but that was rarely the case for me with that. I was always chasing tone on a budget, and always frustrated. Had to have the right amp/dist/overdrive for specific guitar, song, genre, etc..., for which I will NEVER be able to afford (LP thru a Matchless? Only in my dreams). Now I can just concentrate on making music, ANY music, with just an amp, a p-bass, a couple of cheap pedals.
 
#95
I feel like its easier to be an impressive bassist, since so much of what people perceive the bass to be is just the relentless thump (which it often is). The juxtaposition between a bassline and music played on the bass is very far-spanned, IMO.
 
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#100
Well, I did get the girl playing bass - a much younger one at that. ;) Married for 10+ years.
I like that no one really notices I'm playing - until I stop.
I like that I can "hide" if I want, and be more "out front" if I want - both physically an musically.
 
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