I surely wouldn't claim to be special in any way, but it's surprising how just having solid time can be not so common in the amateur world. Heck, that's the whole reason I started playing bass.
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What about your bass playing makes you special?
- Thread starter BassHappy
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What makes me special as a bass player is owning a PA and a truck to move it in. I gig more than anyone I know. I'll take what I can get.
Also, crop dusting drummers is a blast. That's a special talent that comes from deep inside.
Also, crop dusting drummers is a blast. That's a special talent that comes from deep inside.
My first thought was "who said my playing is special?" Not many I would imagine.
I can sing, I'm on time, I'm prepared, as a former drummer I am conscious of tempo. I'd rank myself as maybe a little above average but the other skillsets up my value.
I can sing, I'm on time, I'm prepared, as a former drummer I am conscious of tempo. I'd rank myself as maybe a little above average but the other skillsets up my value.
My work ethic probably tops the list over anything about the music itself.
Hmm, I used to get more gigs while I owned a PA, now that I think about it. Got paid more, too
Hmm, I used to get more gigs while I owned a PA, now that I think about it. Got paid more, too
I play other strings instruments tuned in fourths and fifths and I'm pretty handy with the hand percussion, Latin percussion, and kit drumming. I'm not really good at kit drumming but I kind of got it down.
I used to play horns and I could probably pick that back up again.
I've never really sat down and learned piano or keyboards I just don't have any interest in that although sometimes I wish that was the only thing I had interest in my entire life... but it's a little late for that.
I used to play horns and I could probably pick that back up again.
I've never really sat down and learned piano or keyboards I just don't have any interest in that although sometimes I wish that was the only thing I had interest in my entire life... but it's a little late for that.
Singing can definitely be a required skillset but I'd argue its secondary to playing the bass as a bass player...
I sing ok...my tone and pitch is ok but I don't do enough of it, yet, so its a perceived weakness by 'some'.
However, my point to the BL in question who raises this as an issue, is sure, you can improve on the 3 part harmony but you will diminish the bass element.
What do you compromise?
I see your viewpoint but would probably disagree that my singing takes away from my bass playing. I've sang all my life. My dad was and at 80 years old still gigs so I was going to his gigs as a little kid and singing. Singing with the radio, choir in church and school. And I started gigging as a singing drummer and did that for years before switching to bass.
So to me singing is the skillset that I started with and anything I add probably takes away from that. If it does detract at all.
YMMV
I can't say special, I am fairly "rooty" in my playing. Honestly singers like that better. Only skills is flexibility. The 2 different guys I play bass for are capo junkies. Worst is 1 fret up! I watch their hand and see what chord they are playing, and move up the # of frets. Say they are playing a G chord 3 frets up, I see my G and move it 3 frets up. Instead of thinking where is the A#? Then use the 1,4,5, etc pattern.
