So, is that how it is?

[djero44]

My stepfather recently visited from Florida. He hasn't been back to CO for many years, and it was great to see him. One day over lunch I was telling him that things are going very well for me, i'm working with three great music projects and have really fallen in love with the bass. He looks at me and says, "Really? I thought bass players were just frustrated guitarists?".

Well, I didn't take it too personally, though i've been a guitarist for 20 years and only a bass player for a handful. Even still, it stung a little bit. I explained to him some of the reasons I have such a strong affinity with the low end, but alas, he's one of those folks who doesn't understand.

In the end, i'm okay with that. When the girls tell me they love the bass, or i'm invited to play in projects that just wouldn't ever have a guitar, I feel vindicated. But it seems in the Rock & Roll world the bass is generally considered second string.

Bah to that, I say!!

 

[DeluxeRed]

So who's gonna start the Snappy Answers to Stupid Comments sticky thread so we can all print it out and have a coupla gooduns at the ready?

I think your dad might have been teasing you a bit to see how you react. But you never know. I'm glad you're cool with it. Dads can be great, and I really miss mine.

 

[stflbn]

Until someone with insane visibility like Michael Jackson or Hannah Montana openly embraces being a bass player and does so in an extravagant and 'star worthy' manner where average people react as "OMG WOW BASS ROCKS", average folks simply are not going to care.

 

[Phalex]

I think you can cross Michael Jackson off the list. So, who's gonna E-Mail Hannah Montana our list of demands??

 

[makanudo]

Until someone with insane visibility like Michael Jackson or Hannah Montana openly embraces being a bass player and does so in an extravagant and 'star worthy' manner where average people react as "OMG WOW BASS ROCKS", average folks simply are not going to care.

We should put fake boobs and ass on billy sheehan and throw him on some Disney show, that should get some respect to the bass..
i cant say the same for sheehan though

 

[djero44]

I think your dad might have been teasing you a bit to see how you react. But you never know. I'm glad you're cool with it. Dads can be great, and I really miss mine.

No, he was deadpan serious! That's why it was so funny...and a bit shocking.

I think you can cross Michael Jackson off the list. So, who's gonna E-Mail Hannah Montana our list of demands??

Lol!

We should put fake boobs and ass on billy sheehan and throw him on some Disney show, that should get some respect to the bass..
i cant say the same for sheehan though

That cracks me up too, but i'm not so sure I want to see that.....

-----------

Yeah, I don't know. It's bittersweet in ways; until I became a true bass aficionado I didn't even realize the full power and presence of the low end. Even if it's an integral part of what makes people dance, I guess a lot of them don't even realize it!

Personally I am trying to bring the bass a bit more to the forefront in all the groups i'm working in, unless that is totally out of taste. There IS something subversive and kinda cool about being in the "background" and also being a huge effect on the music as a whole, but I think i'm already leaning towards the camp that wishes bass artists (and I don't mean the showy soloists who already get a lot of attention, but the funky groovemasters who are holding it down for us all) get the recognition and appreciation they deserve.

 

[the evil]

it wouldnt matter.

All the chicks and crap loved pete wentz for whatever god for saken reason, and no one said "oh my god i never realized how cool bass was".

it just is what it is, no matter who plays it it will never be considered equal to other instruments in the public's eye. maybe back in the 70's when music was about loving the "band"

but once the 80's and major solo artists hit that was done.

 

[Pilgrim]

It shouldn't be hard to accept that you and your father have different interests, different priorities and different views of many things. My daughters are interested in a number of things I don't care about, but that doesn't mean I don't support them and want them to be happy and successful.

Not something to worry about.

 

[Mystic Michael]

He looks at me and says, "Really? I thought bass players were just frustrated guitarists?".

What's wrong with simply replying, "Really? I guess you were wrong." - and just leaving it at that?

Well, I didn't take it too personally...

Good. Because now it's time to develop a thicker hide anyway...

I explained to him some of the reasons I have such a strong affinity with the low end, but alas, he's one of those folks who doesn't understand.

Uh, yeah. I could have advised you to save your breath...

But it seems in the Rock & Roll world the bass is generally considered second string.

I wouldn't be too hasty to concede that point. Even if so, it's rather irrelevant to a given individual situation, isn't it? For example, does anyone seriously consider Geddy Lee's work with Rush, then remark: "Well, he's only the bass player?" I think not.

Just my personal opinion, but it wouldn't hurt you to develop a little attitude. Approval is a lot like a bank loan: you tend to get it only when you can demonstrate that you don't really need it...

MM

 

[the evil]

does anyone seriously consider Geddy Lee's work with Rush, then remark: "Well, he's only the bass player?" I think not.
MM

no they say "man that singer sounds like a chick!" lol but in all consideration Getty is a singer, keyboardist AND then the bassist so he has 3 deals going for him over anyone else.

like sting or paul mcartney. no one cares they played bass, they are just the lead singers over anything else.

but really i hate the "thicker hide" comments cause you are both admitting the bass is sub serviant and trying to deny it at the same time.

Just my personal opinion, but it wouldn't hurt you to develop a little attitude. Approval is a lot like a bank loan: you tend to get it only when you can demonstrate that you don't really need it...

MM

so is this the ticket? cause ive been trying to refi in this current Obama repaired housing loan market and been told "go screw" left and right.

but i should just walk in with my nose up and they will be beating my door down with a stick?

Link Removed

 

[Mystic Michael]

but really i hate the "thicker hide" comments cause you are both admitting the bass is sub serviant and trying to deny it at the same time.

I have done no such thing. And you are completely missing the point...

I am acknowledging the widespread existence of the "bassist is just a failed guitarist" viewpoint - while simultaneously suggesting that it comes from people whose complete ignorance and/or sheer bigotry renders their views inconsequential and irrelevant.

Just because one might wish to desensitize oneself to such nonsense by developing a thicker hide, does not in any way imply that the nonsense is anything other than what it actually is: Pure nonsense...

Now, are we clear?

MM

 

[the evil]

i dunno to me it goes like this.

people will believe what they are told. most people are just dumb, thats life.

if someone is told a bassist is a failed guitarist and they see no other truths then thats what it is. instead of building a hide why dont bassists just start trying to play more stuff that separates them from guitarists. really do any public popular bass players (oxi moron right there lol) actually do this......? nope!

dont tone people out, thicken up, shrug them off or shush them...... show them.

i learned how to slap pretty damn good and even started picking up some tapping and such to show people, well there is "SOME" skill you can hope to go for (whether you end up using it or not, which i never got hte chance too)

more bassists need to play their own thing, incorporate more styles, and TRY to start adding solos.

the whole "failed guitarist" thing started because wellllllllll, thats what MOST bass players are. I have met alot of "bass players" in my time and at least 75% say the same two things.

"nah guitar was just too hard" or "well im really a guitarists just playing bass to help out a friends band".

so can you blame people for this outlook? no. but unless bass players in the media start actually getting good and start publicly building levels for people to achieve other than root notes and guitarist hand holding, i say dont bother. it just is what it is i guess.

actually great example is flea. to most real players i know flea i nothing special. he makes up some good riffs and can slap a bit but hes not the BEST. but because he has had a public image people think he is sliced bread.

 

[BassyBill]

There's a hell of a lot of people who aren't even sure what a bass actually IS, let alone what it does. I don't really mind too much. If I'm enjoying a gig and people are digging the music, I'm not that worried if most people can't pick out what I'm doing. I just smile to myself, content in the knowledge that they'd notice for sure if I was to stop.

 

[djero44]

Lol, I posted this because I thought it was funny! Perhaps my wording makes it seem like I really was affected or something, but I wasn't. I honestly don't care too much what people think, yet I would still like it if more people had some idea how awesome the bass really is.

Anyhow, makes for an interesting conversation. Believe me, i'm not worrying about it!

=)

 

[capnsandwich]

I'm in the same boat as you are djero44. I was a guitarist exclusively for 20+ years and a pianist in my younger years. I just felt that the bass felt more comfortable and I fell in love with the role that it plays in a band setting. Every time I play a CD with one of my bass lines on it she listens for the guitar solos and asks, "Is that you there?", in which I simply say no and change the subject.

Everyone in this world isn't going to understand the role of a bassist simply because it's a foundational instrument. It's kind of like going to a Parade of Homes and checking out the footers and the blocks of the foundation. Even though the house is well built with the top of the line mix of concrete and 12" blocks, people still love to look at the siding and the windows.

 

[djero44]

Everyone in this world isn't going to understand the role of a bassist simply because it's a foundational instrument. It's kind of like going to a Parade of Homes and checking out the footers and the blocks of the foundation. Even though the house is well built with the top of the line mix of concrete and 12" blocks, people still love to look at the siding and the windows.

So true! Ironically i've been a finish carpenter for about fifteen years (though doing lots more music than carpentry now, yay!), which is nice because we do all the work that people see. But the analogy is strong, because if you took out the foundation the house just wouldn't stand, and likewise, as bassybill said, if you took out the bass people would definately notice, even if they didn't notice it in the first place!

 

[El Beardo]

I think you can cross Michael Jackson off the list. So, who's gonna E-Mail Hannah Montana our list of demands??

You think she can actually read??

 

[Phalex]

You think she can actually read??

I didn't say it had to be text.

 

[Pilgrim]

Anyhow, makes for an interesting conversation. Believe me, i'm not worrying about it!

=)

Exactly right. Offhand comments are not a big deal, and no one needs to wear a chip on their shoulder about this.

 

[the evil]

I just smile to myself, content in the knowledge that they'd notice for sure if I was to stop.

OKAY

unless your playing original music you guys created, generated around the bass the audience prob wouldnt notice. why do you think the bass is SO mixed out of todays music. you need a super great stereo system just to "hear" it.

im not trying to be insulting but if you removed the bass out of 70% of todays music...... no one would know.

classic rock yes, funk sure, regea why not, but unless your an R&B artist today and your ONLY other portion of the song is a beat machine and synth effect your not going to be missed. it is just the truth.

not to attack IM JUSt SO TIRED of bass players saying this "oh if i stopped playing they would know!"

I got HAMMERED at a show once. through rebel yell and like 3 of the original songs me and my band wrote i played completely the wrong stuff.... way off key, and they eventually turned me down. NO ONE NOTICED LOL. and gee i thought i was actually writing good bass lines, i NEVER Followed the guitar lol (and we were a 3 piece)

my guitarist missed a beat and people were all over his ****.

the bass will NEVER have a popular reputation, be as highly paid, or be as attractive to the ladies. not to mention we will ALWAYS have to deal with the fact that most people who pick up the bass are weirdos, which also doesnt help teh rep. i think bands actually look for weak bass players they can just have play guitar roots so its less trouble to manage them creativley, cause i tell you i am a prick in a band situation. i hate being told what to play and that the guitarist has to write first before i could.

it is - what - it - is.