What Level Bass Player Are You?

[2BitHack]

With the deepest most sincere apologies to Mr. James Brown:

I'm hack and I'm proud

 

[jasonmatthews]

I think there needs to be a level between these two. I gig around a dozen times a year but would do more if I didn't live in a tiny country town with very few musicians and even less gig paying venues.

Honestly the poll is flawed... there should be two polls: one for "what's your skill level" and another for "how much do you gig."

There are thousands of really excellent players who have no interest in gigging... gigging never indicates level of skill, and vice versa. Just because somebody is really good doesn't mean they do it for a living. And I've seen tons of people at gigs who are really, really embarrassingly bad at their instrument.

 

[NullPorch]

The problem some players have with Smoke on the Water is that they don't take it seriously. They roll their own eyes when they play it, almost like they're embarrassed to be playing something many of us learned when we were 15.

You can't phone it in. You have to sell it and play it like you mean it. Yes it's simple and yes it's easy, but it's a great song with a great groove. Play it well, and your audience will love it.

Or do what I do and improvise a more involved bass part around the basis of the original. I'm usually very quick to acknowledge my shortcomings as a bassist and musician, but come on... That is an unnecessarily simple line. There are some bass lines that are almost insulting to the role literally every AC/DC song.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Hey, I knew what STFU means...

Shut the front... urinal?

 

[hrodbert696]

So if you quit or get booted from a band and gig less for a while, do you lose a level?

 

[hondo4life]

I am at least as good as Homer

 

[smogg]

I'm good enough that I get paid to play out. Unfortunately I'm not good enough to be paid well.

 

[dtripoli]

What! you mean there's more than 3 notes in that song?
Well, I'll be.

 

[smtp4me]

Maybe I'm confused by the word "level" in the title, which to me suggests technical ability, not pro vs. amateur vs. hobbyist, paid vs. not paid etc.

 

[Spent]

Semi-pro. It's in my sig, so it must be true.

 

[dtripoli]

Honestly the poll is flawed... there should be two polls: one for "what's your skill level" and another for "how much do you gig."

Fair enough but it's intentionally posted in the "Bass Humor" section.
...and to the 9 people, and counting, who chose #9, "Anonymous - I don't answer poll questions"
Thanks for answering the poll.

 

[RBrownBass]

My basses are better than I am. And they're not boutiques.

 

[Jloch86]

10 - Steve Bailey, Jeff Berlin, Victor Wooten, etc.
9
8 - Me
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 - My wife

 

[Thumpin6string]

Just for the record, I'm anonymous, I never answer poll questions.

Wow, me too!

 

[Thumpin6string]

Actually, I'm a legend in my own mind, which is weird since I lost my mind many years ago.

 

[hondo4life]

I'll just slide in there next to your wife, if you don't mind ...

10 - Steve Bailey, Jeff Berlin, Victor Wooten, etc.
9
8 - Me
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 - My wife, hondo4life

 

[Interceptor]

Semi-pro.

I get work including straight up jazz, blues, gospel and country. I make a little bit gigging, but it isn't enough to ever make me think I could support my family. OK, I don't think I could cover much more than dog food and the occasional vet visit.

 

[mc900ftj]

Level 42.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Level 42.

Damn, beat me to it .

 

[Ritchie_Darling]

Currently residing at 5500 feet elevation....