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The bass face

thedonutman said:
Im in a band with a few friends, and the guitarist keeps telling me to pull my "bass face" when im playing. So i just randomly make a agressive face and he is satisfied.


Has anyone else been told to to this sort of thing?


admins/mods please move this thread is you think its in the wrong place because it my be kinda off topic

It's showmanship and stage presence that your guitarist is trying to get you to achieve - even if he doesn't know how to put it.

Again fellas.... I know we are all artists and musicians and whatnot, but to paying patrons we are ENTERTAINERS. We are more entertaining when we don't stand still with a death stare on the fretboard.

And just because you are a bassist doesn't mean you can't be the frontman, lead vocalist or some kind of strong stage presence/personality. One has nothing to do with the other.
 
BassJunkie730 said:
idgoph.gif

purple tie? nice. my purple gets lots of compliments when i'm playing :smug:
 
When my friends tell me to do the bass face theyr referring to putting my lips together kinda like a fish and squinting my eyes a bit and bobbing my head back and fourth like a frog (assuming frogs bob their heads back and fourth)
 
I was told I had a "bass face" today, apparently. I was talking to my friends when I suddenly went into deep thought
(daydreaming about something probably) I snapped back when my friend said "heh, cool bass face kay"
I responded with "huh?" she told me I made the same "serious, pouty expression" that I usually made
when I play the bass. heh, and I never realized I had one, whaddya know. :D
 
Whenever i play I get my bass face on. My mom is always all excited about it, and asks if I "did my little dance" whenever she misses a show. Really pretty funny, you don't get to see yourself play almost ever, it's nice to hear these things.
 
I was in a band once that had a serious hard rock, black leather image and I was told that I looked too "nice" and that I smiled too much and I should look mean instead, I'm not kidding. It was a great band so I complied.

George
 
Bass face, huh? Ok. I was told I look really "intense" when I'm rocking out.
I didn't really believe it until someone showed me this pic:

Intense.gif


Yep, that was me about 13 years ago in a thrash metal band. When I feel it, I feel it!

Whats sad is from what the guys I jam with now tell me, I haven't changed! :help:
 
Speaking of bass faces and showmanship. I was watching a video of [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and he definetly showed his bass face. Also speaking of showmanship I went to an Against Me! concert and the bassist was basically carrying the show a long in the dead center while the guitarists both stood on the sides doing their thing. It was really a different experience to see the bassist up in the front getting the crowd excited.
 
People have commented about not so much of my face, but my head movement. I tend to move it from side to side ( :scowl: ) that follows the pattern of the notes being fretted on the fingerboard. Some said it looks cool, but others have said I look like I keep shaking my head as a sign of disapprove, like I was mad because I played the wrong notes or something.
 
ok so here is my guitar face and bass face.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

i think its pretty good that i don't have one of those really weird super focused faces, but i was having a conversation at the time of both photos so it may not be my "in the zone" bass face.
 
I think it is good practice to maintain eye contact with the audience and smile. Remember you're having a good time, and good vibes are infectious. You deliver this both with your feel and with your eye contact/expressions.