Responding to "the bass is a lesser instrument" comments

[Koshchei]

Ah, poopie, I just got exposed as an impostor. Why do I need ten strings on my Krappy to sound good? I suck!

I need 8 on my guitar. Of course, the rock-dads have a whole different set of insults when I pull that one out: "think you need more strings?" or "planning to land a plane on that fretboard?" Ultimately, it's mediocre musicians projecting their insecurities and jealousy onto others.

I use what I need, and play what I like. And I don't give a rat's ass what other musicians/the peanut gallery thinks. If I want to play a lute concerto on my bass, that's what I'm going to play.

 

[comatosedragon]

It is kind of odd (the presumption that bass is a 'lesser instrument'). I remember talking to someone about my band (when I was in one) and he got a cocky look on his face and said "O yeah? Are you the drummer or the Bass player?" I don't know exactly what he was trying to imply with that comment, but I just shook it off and said (untruthfully) that I was the lead singer and songwriter, and yes the Bass Player also.

 

[Teijo K.]

Yeah, its awesome. I mean I practiced ones in 1988, and after that been mostly gigging and laying down tracks at the studio. So easy.

 

[Robert B]

I just reply, "Well, I really enjoy playing bass".

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

one string is even better

 

[Winslow]

one string is even better

Cheaper to make / buy too!

 

[walking Bass]

Cheaper to make / buy too!

and when the band leader requires a back-up, they stack.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I just ask them to tell me the notes in any chord they're playing. 9 out of 10 times, they struggle as I smile and walk away.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

Then go watch a band without one.

 

[Wisebass]

hi twofer

I've been playing for three decades plus and never heard such a comment

I heard that kind of comments.

From folks that are not good enough to play with!


greetings

Wise

 

[Boot Soul]

One word: Mingus

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

One word: Mingus

Five, actually: Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus. But Joni's album is an astounding accomplishment as well, not to mention the contribution of that bassist what's-his-name, the dude that played on Pat Metheny's debut.

 

[Nashrakh]

Saying the bass is a lesser instrument than the guitar is like saying the bassoon is a lesser instrument than the clarinet because they play fewer notes. Or that the viola a lesser instrument than the violin.

Oh, you'd be surprised.

Viola players get all the **** among the orchestral players. If there's one instrument that truly has it bad, it's the viola. Bass doesn't even come close (in my opinion it's mainly because the outer voices are the most important ones in a score traditionally, so bass enjoys a fairly favorable reputation in orchestral settings).

 

[Groove Doctor]

I switched from guitar to bass because I was the best bass player in the band and we got fed up playing with lousy bass players. I think, after you get past your teen years, that's not uncommon.

I was third guitarist, played acoustic guitar, 15yrs old. I taught the bass player how to play the lines. He was ousted, I switched to bass. That was almost 30 yrs ago, and I'm still gigging.

 

[whero]

I heard this quote about something else, not bass guitar, but it might work as an answer to this question:

[Bass] is like the landing gear on a plane. Nobody's thinking about it when the [band] is in full flight, but if you know anything about [music] you know you can't do without it. It's [the bass] that keeps you grounded, keeps you connected to [the audience]. Without [bass], what happens when the [guitar solo] is over? Crash and burn.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I guess the other thing is that if someone is trying to insult you and you let them... mission accomplished.

 

[vvvmmm]

Obviously, the one with the longest instrument wins.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

My job is to provide the logic behind the music. If I don't play the right notes, even playing one note at a time, the whole band will suck. You want to try it and see how easy it is?

 

[retslock]

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.

Except one time we played at a pub - my wife and I as a duo - they had the greyhound racing on tv and the bikini girls wrestling in baked beans, you know the kind of place.
After the first set a rusted-on bar attachment says to my wife, "You're great luv, whaddya need him for?"

 

[retslock]

Bass requires a completely different skill set then guitar. I have yet to see a good "guitar-bassist" in any genre except metal. When showing off/shredding, sure, an average guitar player can come across as a great bass player. Because of this certain style of guitarists sometimes make good bassists in some specific metal genres where the bass is more about shredding and the sound is distorted upper mids rather than actual bass. But when it's time to lay down a groove, keep the song together, all the stuff the the bass is traditionally supposed to do... they fail miserably.

Saying the bass is a lesser instrument than the guitar is like saying the bassoon is a lesser instrument than the clarinet because they play fewer notes. Or that the viola a lesser instrument than the violin. Or the cello a lesser instrument than the viola. Or the double bass a lesser instrument than the cello. Instruments in lower ranges play fewer notes because of physical limitations and because that's what sounds right for the arrangement (unless it's a bass solo piece of course). Consider the physical limitations of na .130 string compared to a .009. Which is also why the use of chords isn't very useful for bass unless you're doing solo stuff in the upper ranges. Ask a guitar player to play his chords on bass and I'm sure he will agree.

Any guitarist who says the bass is a "lesser instrument" is completely lacking musical insight. Playing less notes = doing what the bass is SUPPOSED TO DO.

I just tried to imagine what an entire orchestral string section of only basses would sound like, all being bowed. Whew......there's a reason they have fewer basses than violins. It's called POWER!
Violins don't rattle windows and move furniture. That kind of effect on music is a pretty important role to be responsible for. When you play bass badly, the band sounds like crap.