Responding to "the bass is a lesser instrument" comments

[PWRL]

Most people have no idea what I'm doing and rarely make comments about it.

 

[RichardW]

"Since it's so easy, why don't you come up and play the next set?"

 

[OptimalOptimus]

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.

But they have more complex part in the orchestra ... solo well everyone are on the same foot. A flute can play two notes at the same times, I don,t know for the other instruments.

 

[buldog5151bass]

But they have more complex part in the orchestra ... solo well everyone are on the same foot. A flute can play two notes at the same times, I don,t know for the other instruments.

My point is those are invalid arguments.

Any instrument can solo, or play difficult (or simple) passages. Yes, it is possible to play more than one note on most instruments, but other than guitar, piano, and melodic rhythm instruments like vibes, most instruments just play one note at a time.

 

[GretschWretch]

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.

The bass player may be the worst *guitarist* in the band but worst musician? I don't know about that. Bass players have to deal with a lot of cerebral stuff that the other instruments don't. We have to set time; we have to set tempo. We have to play traffic cop and know the structure of the song well enough to telegraph shifts from verso to chorus to bridge. Etc.

 

[GretschWretch]

But they have more complex part in the orchestra ... solo well everyone are on the same foot. A flute can play two notes at the same times, I don,t know for the other instruments.

Two piccolos playing in unison can play two notes at the same time.

 

[Winslow]

Two piccolos playing in unison can play two notes at the same time.

But then one would be forced to listen to piccolos...

 

[40Hz]

By responding you lose the argument.

Yep. Ignoring it is bliss. Can't argue with stupid.

 

[G On Bass]

Say nothing. Then stop playing during the song or guitarist's solo. See what he thinks then...

 

[Steve Dallman]

My stock comment back for the last 30 years is, "The dirty secret is that the bass plays the same thing for every song."

When they comment on the number of strings I tell them, "I only play on one string, but if I get sick of that one, I'll switch to a different one."

But I've learned, Play well, with confidence, and the comments will be postive. I play in a 3 piece, and the drummer and I create a good platform for our guitar player. He says I make playing in a 3 piece easy for him.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

Two piccolos playing in unison can play two notes at the same time.

you can actually play two notes at he same times with a flute.

 

[GretschWretch]

you can actually play two notes at he same times with a flute.

And some low brass players can play three: tonic note through the horn, hum the fifth, and the third magically appears.

 

[43ManSquamish]

The only ones who say crap like that are 1) non-musicians; 2) guitarists I wouldn't want to play with in the first place.

A good band knows the responsibilities carried by a bassist - the guitarist, the drummer, keys, vocals. We tie everyone together. Those who say different are not as much a music fan as they appear to be.

 

[gln1955]

I've never had another musician make those kind of comments. Then again, I play with adults who know what I do and what happens if I screw it up.

If I did hear something like that from a musician, i"d know they are not someone I'd ever play with and have no reason to even consider their opinion on anything.

 

[Ostie]

It's as difficult to play the bass well as it is to play any other instrument. Anybody who thinks it's easy should listen to Jaco, Stanley, Geddy, Anthony, Lemmy, etc etc.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

It's as difficult to play the bass well as it is to play any other instrument. Anybody who thinks it's easy should listen to Jaco, Stanley, Geddy, Anthony, Lemmy, etc etc.

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they are at the top level ... few get there.

Starting to play bass is quite easier than play keys, drums or guitar.
On keys you use both hands to play ... on drums all four limbs do something ... on guitar you have to have the dexterity to play chords ... on bass ... pluck the E strings and you are done.

 

[Mastermold]

Piano could be considered the easiest instrument. Just press the keys and music happens. Or could be the hardest. Which keys? Which clef? Etc... Point is most any instrument can be played. Played well is another matter.

 

[James Collins]

The bass player may be the worst *guitarist* in the band but worst musician? I don't know about that. Bass players have to deal with a lot of cerebral stuff that the other instruments don't. We have to set time; we have to set tempo. We have to play traffic cop and know the structure of the song well enough to telegraph shifts from verso to chorus to bridge. Etc.

In the best bands, everyone does all of that stuff and doesn't argue or say one member is worse. But in general when people get together to play in a band, the bass gets dumped on someone that isn't as good as everyone else. That is where the myth of bass being easy come from.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I just tell'em....A bass is just a guitar, with the "training wheels " removed.......

 

[GretschWretch]

In the best bands, everyone does all of that stuff and doesn't argue or say one member is worse. But in general when people get together to play in a band, the bass gets dumped on someone that isn't as good as everyone else. That is where the myth of bass being easy come from.

Not completely incorrect, but I have read too many interviews in which the speaker said (s)he took up bass because friends' bands needed bass players. Talent or experience did not enter into the discussion.

In my own case I took up bass because I wanted bass, not guitar. But with regard to the "best" bands, I agree with you. They get it.