Responding to "the bass is a lesser instrument" comments

[nickpc]

Another thread here got me thinking - what are the best responses when someone gives one of the multitude of "the bass is a lesser instrument" comments? You know, the "you only have 4 strings" or "you're only playing one note at a time" comments other musicians like to make.

So what are some of the good comebacks people have come up with? And if they are specific to another instrument please note as well.

Example:
Guitarist: Bass is easy, you only have 4 strings!
Bassist: Yeah, but at least they stay in tune for more than one song.

 

[Verb the Noun]

I've had the same response for 30+ years. I smile and hand them my bass.

Granted, it's backfired a time or two when that person proceeds to shred on my bass... but 99% of the time it works.

 

[lz4005]

By responding you lose the argument.

 

[Winslow]

I've gotten pretty mellow in my time, so I don't generally engage with that sort of person. Sometimes an easy smile and soft shrug is all it takes to show you're not bothered.

Those that know, know; Those that don't, don't.

 

[ONYX]

Hand them my un-lined fretless and say "Have at it", and then go sit at the bar and watch chaos manifest itself.*


*
[ This is purely hypothetical on my part, as no one has ever said this to me.]

 

[James Collins]

The best response is to get really good at guitar, drums, and bass then you can do the reverse of what @Verb the Noun suggests and pick up the other instrument and shred away on it, and say seems about the same.

My guess is the worst musician in a group is often the bass player so it would stand to reason that playing bass is easy to most people's observation. Hard to argue if you are chugging along playing root notes only in your songs.

 

[LBS-bass]

Agree. Hand them the bass and tell them to make it sound good. Most of the time, they won't even try. Yep anyone can hold a bass and pluck a string but there's so much more to it than that.

 

[Bodeanly]

Person: Bass is easy

Bassist: Not as easy as standing there, watching me play it with that stupid look on your face.

(I'd also like to remind everyone of how many times I've been punched while on stage.)

(By women)

 

[BassGuyFL]

I think that it's not seen as a lesser instrument but just not as important because it's not a "feature" instrument. It sometimes grates on my nerves when our sax player gets all the praise because he's up front playing a few solos and I'm just in the back. There's no point in the show I get featured because there's no bass solos.

People tend to listen with their eyes. They focus on the flash and in pop/rock music it's the lead singer and soloists. The bass is just one of the "others."

 

[Lesfunk]

Saxophone only played one note at a time and it worked for Charlie parker

 

[Lesfunk]

Bass is a lesser instrument but still powerful enough to get your girlfriends undivided attention

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

Never mud wrestle with a pig. You both get filthy and the pig enjoys it...

 

[Kmonk]

It's funny but I've been playing for over 40 years and Talkbass is the only place where these type of comments have been mentioned. I have never had anyone make a negative comment about bass or my playing.

 

[JimmyM]

I say, "Good. Who needs to work that hard?"

 

[kesslari]

It's funny but I've been playing for over 40 years and Talkbass is the only place where these type of comments have been mentioned. I have never had anyone make a negative comment about bass or my playing.

This.

 

[Tad]

I've had it happen to me a few times.

I just said, "Here, show me how it's done."

 

[two fingers]

I've been playing for three decades plus and never heard such a comment (except from people here with inferiority complexes).

 

[buldog5151bass]

You only play one note at a time...

Like trumpet, saxophone, oboe, flute, clarinet, french horn, tympani ... (Never mind you can play chords and double stops)

Only four strings, like violin, viola, or cello (which also generally play only one note at a time).

Next question.

 

[HubbardsFate]

If I were ever to even jam, never mind be an actual band member, with someone who made a comment like that, I'd simply pack up my bass and leave.

Anyone with that little respect for me/the instrument that I play wouldn't be worthy of my time and effort.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

I never played with ***holes.

I only played with people from music school so ... they knew.