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We bassist are so under appreciated!

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#261
Like I told my nephew (who recently started playing bass) .... people don't appreciate bass till it's gone. Then they understand. The other great thing about being a bass player is that you can pretty much gig whenever you want, and tend to be able to get higher quality gigs with good musicians.

I love being a bass player.

:)
 
#262
Well that hasn't really been my experience, I play a major role in almost all the bands I'm in. I write and arrange lots of tunes with the band and a ton have the bass guitar as the prominent instrument. I pretty much have always experienced that. And the guys i play with don't suck either, these guys are studied and trained in their craft so it's not like i carry a bunch of begginers.
 
#263
I think that's a huge part of the music I play. Poeple always complement us and say there's something about your music they can't quite put their finger on that they like. Its only after a while that they realize they like my bass parts (along with the rest of the bands musical skill and expertise of course)
 
#264
Eric Albany said:
We bassist are so under appreciated! We are always second or third to the guitarist(s)! I mean, why can't we be the most dominant sound in a song second only to the singer(s)!?!? It's un fair. And a lot of people don't know what the bassist's name is, but they sure as heck know the guitarists' name and the singer's name. It's drivin me crazy. Plus, we don't get as much respect as the guitarists do. Have you ever heard a kid say "When I grow up, I wanna be a bass player." No it's always "When I grow up I wanna be a guitar player." or "When I grow up I wanna be a drummer." or "When I grow up I wanna be a singer." Does any one else out there feel the same way?
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Geez, I am so sick to my stomach with all the little whiners, constantly sniveling that they never get any respect.. :rollno:

I've been playing for more than 30 years, and I play well. Not once in all that time have I ever been made to feel less than a first-class musical "citizen". Not one single time.

Best response I can possibly give is to: "Learn to play very, very well. Choose your commitments - and your collaborators - carefully. Don't play with schmucks."

You'll get all the respect you can handle. Trust me... :eyebrow:

MM
 
#265
staindbass said:
i think duff is great. i love his tone on appetite for destruction. its one of my favorite pick tones. AND you can hear it easily on a transistor radio.
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That's my favorite album and it's the 1st album I bought. I wouldn't sell it for all the money in the world and then some.
 
#267
MysticMichael said:
Geez, I am so sick to my stomach with all the little whiners, constantly sniveling that they never get any respect.. :rollno:

I've been playing for more than 30 years, and I play well. Not once in all that time have I ever been made to feel less than a first-class musical "citizen". Not one single time.

Best response I can possibly give is to: "Learn to play very, very well. Choose your commitments - and your collaborators - carefully. Don't play with schmucks."

You'll get all the respect you can handle. Trust me... :eyebrow:

MM
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Except from the convention buyers. For some reason, buyers have no problem showing disrespect. We once had a buyer scratch out the part on our rider where we say we need water. WATER!!! They can't even supply us with freaking water! And I can't tell you how many events I've played where they were throwing away plates of the good food served to the guests while we get some crappy half spoiled deli tray.

OTOH, that disrespect goes right down the line, not just for bass players.
 
#268
Eric Albany said:
Bump
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cobra-commander-kicks-a-puppy.jpg
 
#270
In a lot of the music I listen to (metal, what else, right?), the bass is unfortunately mixed out or mostly out.

But that just makes it all the more awesome to find a song where the bass does have a proper mix. And to record a song and listen to it after my friend mixes it - the bass is there, and pretty solid, but it's not intruding on the instruments that're meant to be out front.

A lot of people describe bass as the foundation of a song. If you think about the original use for "foundation," you don't see people walking into houses and going "Wow! What an awesome foundation!" They say "Hey man your gameroom is pretty cool, how much was that TV?" The TV isn't even part of the house!

But if the foundation crumbled, the house would be right behind it. Same in music.

You don't have to be appreciated to be essential.

/twocents

Also, Eric - you should listen to Winger. Just saying.
 
#273
staindbass said:
most people dont notice the bass until its turned off. then everyone says "hey what happened" ? this was even true in the old days with an upright bass and no amp. i have played for people at my house (chicks) and they say "wow i never knew what the bass did" . when you are in the studio and you complain you cant hear your bass, the guy mixing mutes the bass channel and everything sounds naked, and he says "oh i can tell when its off so there must be enough".
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It's funny for me to hear you say this Jonny because I remember hearing your bass cut out for about half a song when I saw you guys at the Hartford Civic Center several years ago. People definitely noticed! ;)
 
#275
alkanetexe said:
In a lot of the music I listen to (metal, what else, right?), the bass is unfortunately mixed out or mostly out.

But that just makes it all the more awesome to find a song where the bass does have a proper mix. And to record a song and listen to it after my friend mixes it - the bass is there, and pretty solid, but it's not intruding on the instruments that're meant to be out front.

A lot of people describe bass as the foundation of a song. If you think about the original use for "foundation," you don't see people walking into houses and going "Wow! What an awesome foundation!" They say "Hey man your gameroom is pretty cool, how much was that TV?" The TV isn't even part of the house!

But if the foundation crumbled, the house would be right behind it. Same in music.

You don't have to be appreciated to be essential.

/twocents

Also, Eric - you should listen to Winger. Just saying.
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Who is this 'Winger' person every body is talkin bout?
 
#278
Eric Albany said:
Who is this 'Winger' person every body is talkin bout?
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Kip Winger, bassist and lead singer of the crappy 80's hair band Winger. Talented guy, but his music is the most cliched 80's hairband rock you've ever heard. Sorry, but 35 year old guys singing about 17 year old girls was never cool. That's the kind of stuff you should keep on the down-low ;)

They did, however, have very good musicianship.
 
#279
JimmyM said:
Kip Winger, bassist and lead singer of the crappy 80's hair band Winger. Talented guy, but his music is the most cliched 80's hairband rock you've ever heard. Sorry, but 35 year old guys singing about 17 year old girls was never cool. That's the kind of stuff you should keep on the down-low ;)

They did, however, have very good musicianship.
Click to expand...

Never seen/ heard from him unless he's posted on one of the threads I've subscribed to.
 
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