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Two bassists may be one too many

Should I stay or should I go now....

  • Stay - deal with it and hope she changes her mind

    Votes: 1 1.0%

  • Go- hope someone else picks me up

    Votes: 97 95.1%

  • Drink more and deal with it7

    Votes: 4 3.9%
  • Total voters
    102
#41
Mo cowbell said:
There have been hiccups but they're trying to push and get more serious about gigs. We even have a CD with 6 tunes and 2 new originals. They want to rerecord all 8 into a unit. This project is different in that no one really wants to play 3 one hour sets and they spend more time on originals than cover material to bulk up a gig set.
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Got news…

If you're the least bit serious you'll probably want to resign yourself to playing three one-hour sets until you have a following.

Also, speaking purely from my own experience, if you want to be an originals band, you do originals. You don't do a ton of covers and slip a few originals into that. Covers should be icebreakers and used as your fillers in an originals band. Not the other way around.

What I'm seeing here is what happens whenever you form "a band" that's not performing regularly - or at least as often as it can get a gig. (And that's assuming you're actively seeking gigs.) Low key boredom creeps in and the drama starts.

At the risk of being blunt, the time has come (the Walrus said) to decide what it is you really want to do. And if it's a more than just going to these musical lodge meetings you're attending, it's time to move on and do it.

There's a certain danger in finding comfort in familiarity. It can become addictive if you're not careful.

Maybe it's time to assess whether you have a habit. And if so whether you're willing to do what it takes to kick it.

Luck! :thumbsup:
 
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#44
There is always the option of joining a side project to get some gigs under your belt while continuing to jam with your friends.

A band is not a marriage, there is nothing to say you cannot be in more than one and if you join another it might just light a fire under your current band (or they may just fire you (instead of the drummer :laugh: )).
 
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#45
I'll call the main guitarist and tell them to have a meeting tomorrow during their practice. I won't be there. They can discuss options and do some soul searching without me to influence. I will state that I think the band would do better with her focusing on vocals and me laying down the low end. I will plan on not continuing baring some crazy 11th hour scenario. I will offer to show her a couple parts that are mine and in the meantime hang an ad on the local guitar shop bulletin board and check Craigslist. I will also continue to impress everyone my skills. Also, I'll check my 's : )
 
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#46
Or fire the 3 drummers! ( KC of course, going to see them soon )

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#48
you showing her how to play your lines will expedite your exit from the band.
Mo cowbell said:
I'll call the main guitarist and tell them to have a meeting tomorrow during their practice. I won't be there. They can discuss options and do some soul searching without me to influence. I will state that I think the band would do better with her focusing on vocals and me laying down the low end. I will plan on not continuing baring some crazy 11th hour scenario. I will offer to show her a couple parts that are mine and in the meantime hang an ad on the local guitar shop bulletin board and check Craigslist. I will also continue to impress everyone my skills. Also, I'll check my 's : )
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#50
it is totally possible to have two basses together, you just have to harmonize and stick to what the part.

Of course you need people that can accept that kind of stuff.

It seems in your situation that you are done for...
 
#51
Didn't Godspeed You Black Emperor consisted of two bassists?
Doom, drone dark metal lords SunnO))) ?
But I reckon you get fewer that one gig per 2 years, if you pursue that road...;)

Ok, one was upright though...
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#55
I just read post #1 again
Mo cowbell said:
Anyway, he said he didn't think that would work because she likes playing bass.
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She likes playing bass so he isn't going against that = you are history.

Mo cowbell said:
... but think if they are ok with how she plays and are satisfied with her bass playing its time for me to bail.
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Agreed.

Best you can hope is when they get a ton of gigs they will need a sound guy, but in the meantime look for a side project.
 
#56
Mo cowbell said:
Opinions please....

I started in a band a couple years ago. Me on bass, a dude on guitar and his wife as singer. Another guitar and a drummer. Material includes Metallica, Soundgarden, Petty, Alice In Chains, Hendrix,,etc.... also originals....you get the idea. We played one gig during this time as rehearsal time is difficult and we replaced a drummer recently. Here's where it gets weird. A couple years ago when our pratctices were spread out by over a month each, the wife of the guitarist decided she should learn bass and start a girl band project. Well, that didn't go and so she started filling in when I couldn't make it. That's also how she writes her songs. Anyway, my conclusion is that while she likes to play bass, I am a bass player. I play the parts of the song she plays what she can. Much of the time I can't distinctly hear my part and its muddy.

Today I texted the main guitarist that perhaps we could decide on having me play the more difficult tunes and she could play on the easy ones. To me, the sound isn't crisp and tight it is muddy to have us both playing....even if improvise other parts that stay out of her way. Anyway, he said he didn't think that would work because she likes playing bass.

I think the band is cool and I have a bit of fun playing but think if they are ok with how she plays and are satisfied with her bass playing its time for me to bail.
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Teach her how to play keyboards just well enough that she can only play with her right hand. Problem solved.
 
#59
It may sound shady, but I would bolt on a gig. See how well she does "filling in" for you by herself. Maybe the guitarist will realize what a mistake he's made and call you back as the soul bassist of the band........but probably not.... I'm kinda joking about bolting on a gig btw ;)

I'd ditch it with the quickness. You won't win when there's a couple involved and you're not one of the couple. All it's going to do is get worse, raise resentment in everyone and it'll get fugly. Save yourself some pain, run!! There will be other opportunities down the road. And even if there isn't, nothing is worth sticking around in that situation. It's not like you guys are some huge band like Metallica or Soundgarden. No offense intended. But if I was part of an up and coming band and we were getting national traction, then maybe I'd consider staying. Short of that, I'd be out.
 
#60
As others have noted, two basses in a band can work. It requires a lot of thought and arrangement to make the low end flow rather than clash. It also takes some discipline and I think pretty good bass players. It seems like this band is not the band to accomplish this in. Also, if you have no personal burning vision to work with another bassist, then why bother going through all that work? I think it is time to move on. Cut your attachments, once you join a band that's a better fit you will never miss those originals again.
 

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