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The Mediocre Bassist Club.
- Thread starter Adam Bomb
- Start date
- Status
I call my "style" mediocre, but my band calls it "solid". Anyway, I've been playing this way for 13 years now and it's good to see I'm not the only one. May I join the ranks?
I really fit in this club.
Hey! The singer of my band could slap better than me... but I'm still the guy who holds the band together.
Number of lessons took: 2... and the firt one was like "hello, I'm the teacher... let me try your bass for the next half an hour... i won't charge you for this lesson though"
When "members of the band" presentation and mandatory solo comes around, I hide behind my 4x10 and 1x15... And those 2 cabs surely makes me look as if I can play the most amazing bass solos... so the singer now introduces my rig: "on bass, Mr. Aguilar"
Hey! The singer of my band could slap better than me... but I'm still the guy who holds the band together.
Number of lessons took: 2... and the firt one was like "hello, I'm the teacher... let me try your bass for the next half an hour... i won't charge you for this lesson though"
When "members of the band" presentation and mandatory solo comes around, I hide behind my 4x10 and 1x15... And those 2 cabs surely makes me look as if I can play the most amazing bass solos... so the singer now introduces my rig: "on bass, Mr. Aguilar"
Ah yes, the old standby - the more/bigger/shinier the equipment, the better the player...words to live by (buy?)...
I really fit in this club.
Hey! The singer of my band could slap better than me... but I'm still the guy who holds the band together.
Number of lessons took: 2... and the firt one was like "hello, I'm the teacher... let me try your bass for the next half an hour... i won't charge you for this lesson though"
When "members of the band" presentation and mandatory solo comes around, I hide behind my 4x10 and 1x15... And those 2 cabs surely makes me look as if I can play the most amazing bass solos... so the singer now introduces my rig: "on bass, Mr. Aguilar"
Zomb13 - #202
huido - #203
emor - #204
huido - #203
emor - #204
Welcome all!
--Bomb
p.s. My first and only bass lesson went like this: "*Why* is that called a minor third?" "It just *IS*!!!"
Well Adam you started a great thread here for the less fortunate of skill, myself included. I bought my first bass at 17, a Cort Fender copy. Complete junk but I had also bought an "accoustic" 300W single 15" speaker amp the size of a VW bug. I thought I was the man. LOL.
I just got back into playing last year after a, well, 20+year break. I do suck, I'll admit it but it's s-l-o-w-l-y coming back and I'm having a blast jamming(trying) along with my mp3 player. Even considering taking lessons again.
I'd be honored to have anumber here. Cheers!
I just got back into playing last year after a, well, 20+year break. I do suck, I'll admit it but it's s-l-o-w-l-y coming back and I'm having a blast jamming(trying) along with my mp3 player. Even considering taking lessons again.
I'd be honored to have anumber here. Cheers!
Thanks for the number A-Bomb. Oh, and what is this *lesson* you speak of? I've never heard of such a thing.
Finally a place where my musical (dis)abilities can be appreciated...
Give me a number and take away my name, please.
I have played bass for about 1.5 years; at the ripe ol' age of 48 I am not about to go on the road, even if I do get better (which I doubt.)
I am better with bass patterns on piano, but the thing just kills my back and breaks the straps constantly.
I tried to learn theory, I really did, but it just.doesnt.want.to.sink.in....for me, a flatted fifth will always be a crushed vodka bottle
I didn't get the right technique down, so I play just with my thumb. I hold a good beat, but the closest to soloing I get is to do the opening riff to "Willie and the Poor Boys."
Sign me up in the army of the barely capable; I think I'll feel right at home.
CC.
Give me a number and take away my name, please.I have played bass for about 1.5 years; at the ripe ol' age of 48 I am not about to go on the road, even if I do get better (which I doubt.)
I am better with bass patterns on piano, but the thing just kills my back and breaks the straps constantly.
I tried to learn theory, I really did, but it just.doesnt.want.to.sink.in....for me, a flatted fifth will always be a crushed vodka bottle
I didn't get the right technique down, so I play just with my thumb. I hold a good beat, but the closest to soloing I get is to do the opening riff to "Willie and the Poor Boys."
Sign me up in the army of the barely capable; I think I'll feel right at home.
CC.
Is slapping and popping the way you gauge talent?
Seems rather superficial to me.
By the way, I consider myself a "Seasoned Hack".
Seems rather superficial to me.
By the way, I consider myself a "Seasoned Hack".
Slap in Pop is the offical wankery of bassdom. Think about it, Bass playing like drumming is the foundation in music. It is not really to be in the for front although it can shine a light once in a while for a second or two (solo).
Bass players must understand their role when they enter the role of a bassist. If you want to be a rare breed ex. Wooten etc ...great! Or you can find a style of music...jazz, fusion, R&b etc that more highlights bass solos and allows the bass to be more freeform. In almost all other forms of music the bass lays back grooves and plows along.
Slap and pop is thee only way a bassist can stand out and be seen and heard above the band for the most part. This is why so many wankers cant walk in a GC or music store pick up a bass and play a tasty lick. They want everybody to hear them stand out and slap and pop cuz its just a bass. I have no idea why i had to rant here sorry ..oh BTW this was all IMO
As my first official post, I'd like to firmly cement myself within the Mediocre Bassist Club. Haven't played consistently for many years but I'm trying to get back into things.
I freely admit to being intimidated by dudes slapping out wicked-sounding lines whilst I just try not to get too much fret buzz as I play some basic CCR.
Colour me numbered, please!
I freely admit to being intimidated by dudes slapping out wicked-sounding lines whilst I just try not to get too much fret buzz as I play some basic CCR.
Colour me numbered, please!
Count me as a proud member of this club. I have some good gear, a G&L ASAT bass and G&K combo amp. But as a player, I suck. And that's by my low standards.
But someday, I hope to rise to the level of almost competent.
Later,
edg
But someday, I hope to rise to the level of almost competent.
Later,
edg
as a mediocre Bassist -
A good way to overcome the issue of not playing as well as I would like and
overcoming my 4 string self esteem issues when I have to solo or play in front of larger groups....
Is to simply spend more money on better equipment instead of practicing more.....
A good way to overcome the issue of not playing as well as I would like and
overcoming my 4 string self esteem issues when I have to solo or play in front of larger groups....
Is to simply spend more money on better equipment instead of practicing more.....
Finally I feel like I fit in somewhere. Exactly like you said good rythm and ear, but when my band asks me to play a solo in a song I try to evade it any possible way. Despite this my band members claim that when im not on rehersals, it is boring to play and they keep saying good job and such.
So give me a number and I will take great pride in being a mediocre bass player.
So give me a number and I will take great pride in being a mediocre bass player.
+1. And when I go to auditions I like to take my time setting up, cuz it gives them time to think that anybody with a rig like Street Justice (TM) must be, like, a samurai. Right? LOL And then plus all those whole notes sound *so good*
BullHorn - #209
Bwuk Bwuk - #210
Bwuk Bwuk - #210
Welcome!
--Bomb
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