What about your bass playing makes you special?

[Fynn]

I spent a looooong time replicating the way Les Claypool plays. What makes me special is that I actually can play some of those Primus lines the way that Les plays them.
That's not exactly something amazing, and doesn't really help me in general, but that's something.

Beyond that, I have pretty good dexterity on bass. I recently noticed how a lot of tamer bass players struggle with a constant fast stream of notes like you would get in punk, rock, and certain types of metal.
The rest is, you know, average at best haha

 

[DWBass]

I don't know about being special but I'm known for learning and knowing my parts. I'm solid but not flashy.

 

[bullshark]

I'm just a hack. My special talent is that I make other bass players look good.

I sometime hit a very good groove, but then I get so surprised by it that lose it.
Or I`ll play this technically challenging part flawlessly, that part that I practiced for hours without success, but I`m so surprised by it that... I`ll miss the next simple chord change.

I'm the bass player that people accept to play with because...they couldn't find anyone else.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

My guitarist told me the other night "you're one of the best at learning the material and showing up early". Made my night

 

[LuckyScott]

I show up early and am never late

 

[Bob_Ross]

Questions like this always remind me of a great quote from David Hofstra, who, when asked "Why are you the bass player that employers consistently call?" (or something to that effect) replied

"I show up on time."

 

[logdrum]

about me and my "skills" to be called. Special??? I am delusional if I call myself that. I am older than 12 now and no mommy to paint rosy pictures.

"Odd" is probably more an apt description.

 

[Pings Bass]

I'm a slammin cook, a decent writer and a good dad. Isn't that enough?

 

[getBAK]

I play songs in my own way, both originals and covers. With covers, you'll get the song, but you're definitely getting me within that.

 

[Shenron]

I don't feel special at all, and I've been playing bass only for 2.5years anyway, and only the last year with others.

If I have anything that stands out, is my ability to find excitement in small details (could be a rhythm, a chord, a nice note... heck even a nice REST note!) and then share/explain it to others an make them excited as well.

Thinking about it, I think it my be my trademark also at work and when teaching... I can see and make others see the brilliance of things.

 

[Element Zero]

I always really get into what ever I'm playing. I LOVE to play and find myself in the groove. I bob my head and knees and whatnot. Some may even call is dancing. I call it grooving. Headbang a bit when it makes sense. Bass face. Make LOTS of eye contact with other members of the band so they know I hear them. Lots of smiling and making sure other people know I'm enjoying myself.

I've been told by countless people that I'm a joy to play with because I look like I'm having so much fun. I'm no virtuoso, but I can hold my own when it comes to supplying fat bass tones and grooves to elevate the rest of the group.

 

[Nashrakh]

I'm a fish in a small pond, really. It doesn't take much to stand out where I live -- just the ability to read music and improvise over charts puts you in the top 5 percentile of players (I have a masters in musicology). Add to that my versatility (jack of all trades, master of none) and my being prepared and on time in all situations, and you got me.

So, bottom line, trusty work horse with a degree in music.

 

[HelpImaRock]

My parts are well thought out. I keep it moving while not being too busy. And I've got huge tone that isn't what you would expect given the music I play.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

The fact that I'm especially bad makes my bass playing special he he

 

[Slevage]

The breakwind speed at which i play.

The beauty of playing bass is no one can distinguish the breaking of wind.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

I vacate a room quickly.

 

[Dan1985]

I got an award 41 years ago for a bass solo in a High School jazz band contest. That's when I peaked. Good thing my mom kept a scrapbook so I still have it.

 

[dbflats]

Like others here, my ears are my best asset when it comes to bassin.

I've been known to arrange sax parts for players struggling to come up with the goods....fix vocal harmonies by people with much greater range than me...but ears of oak.

Stuff like that. Here, play this on your tenor! Sing these notes-hear how good that sounds now, when you sing the correct harmony?

Best part of me on bass is all the non-bass stuff I can bring.

 

[2saddleslab]

Since I'll never be a Stanley Clark or Victor Wooten I concentrate on timing, tone, & taste. It has served me well for the last 4 decades.

 

[dbflats]

Was in an r&b band once-2 lead singers and a third vocalist that could go real high. We practiced back then the Lenny Kravitz "Fly Away" tune. On the chorus, that high harmony consists of 2 notes-1 long held tone, then a half step lower. That's it! 2 notes.

Now my voice just doesn't go that high, but I could have sung that in my sleep. The guy with the great voice-well he continued fishing around for that part. Was able to eventually get it after much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mostly my own.