Asking what the difference is between a bass player and bassist is like asking what is the difference between a bike and a bicycle or the difference between the U.S. and the USA.
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When does a bass player become a bassist?
- Thread starter Ski3223
- Start date
From what I can get out of you rhetoric 
there is a progression... bass banger ---> bass player ---> bassist ---> musician?
The OP wants to know..."What is your "graduation" criteria?"
I would think...
If you got the music mojo in you... and learned a music vocabulary so you can express it....u b a music maker or a Musician.
And Musicians express themselves in different manners... (guitars, bass guitars, pianos, voice and yea even tambourines)
And through different styles (Country, Funk, Opera etc.) of music. And some Musicians are multi-faceted.
SOOOOOOO..... When you learn to express yourself on your choice of an instrument or instruments (IE; Esperanza Spalding... Bass/voice.... that's the graduation criteria....
A baby utters Gooo Gooo GA GA ...... but we don't know what it means...
A teenager utters "Can I borrow the car?" we know what that means.
At an impromptu gig one guy yells "Let's do a I-IV-V shuffle in Eb.
The musicians (bass player/bassist, guitarist, keys etc. ) say "Kewl".
The rest go... "HUH? ... SAY WHAT?"
Kewl ????
HUH !!!!
Tim
there is a progression... bass banger ---> bass player ---> bassist ---> musician?The OP wants to know..."What is your "graduation" criteria?"
I would think...
If you got the music mojo in you... and learned a music vocabulary so you can express it....u b a music maker or a Musician.
And Musicians express themselves in different manners... (guitars, bass guitars, pianos, voice and yea even tambourines)
And through different styles (Country, Funk, Opera etc.) of music. And some Musicians are multi-faceted.
SOOOOOOO..... When you learn to express yourself on your choice of an instrument or instruments (IE; Esperanza Spalding... Bass/voice.... that's the graduation criteria....
A baby utters Gooo Gooo GA GA ...... but we don't know what it means...
A teenager utters "Can I borrow the car?" we know what that means.
At an impromptu gig one guy yells "Let's do a I-IV-V shuffle in Eb.
The musicians (bass player/bassist, guitarist, keys etc. ) say "Kewl".
The rest go... "HUH? ... SAY WHAT?"
Kewl ????
HUH !!!!
Tim
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
Bass player, bassist, it's all the same....... but get an ego and you're just an @55*#&@ for life 
it a matter of presentation not graduation.
its what you call yourself.
are you:
a.) bass player
b.) bassist
c.) person who plays bass
i was going to ask a similar question in a thread, but from what i can tell its the "how do you pronounce potato" theory. they are the same thing.
its what you call yourself.
are you:
a.) bass player
b.) bassist
c.) person who plays bass
i was going to ask a similar question in a thread, but from what i can tell its the "how do you pronounce potato" theory. they are the same thing.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Sorry to be a bit harsh, but if you have to ask... ...well... ...it might be that you're not there yet.
It's a question that never came to my mind at any point in my +15 years of playing bass.
One of two ways:
1. Graduate from a 4-year university with a degree in bass performance, or
2. Start playing upright bass.
1. Graduate from a 4-year university with a degree in bass performance, or
2. Start playing upright bass.
I guess if I HAD to differentiate... a bassist is a serious student of the instrument, a "bass player" is someone who "plays", implying less seriousness. But who ever said you can`t be devoted to your craft AND have fun, right ? Agree with most - it`s picking nits.
I don't differentiate between the two names. I leave that exercize for others that are into that. I let my playing speak for itself. Someone else can figure out name semantics. Personally, I consider myself a musician who plays bass, but if you call me a bass player, or bassist, upright player, or doghouse player, electric bassist, six string fretless player, etc... then fine.
I don't care what you call me provided it's not overtly and intentionally offensive and rude. Just call me.
I don't care what you call me provided it's not overtly and intentionally offensive and rude. Just call me.
I think it's right around the same time a singer becomes a vocalist, a guitar player becomes a guitarist, and a drummer becomes a percussionist.
Is this a serious question?
I Reckon its all about the groove....heaps of guys can play notes, but making those same notes sound that extra bit special and i reckon your a class above the average ''bass player'' !!!! I also think its got a lot to do with music and musicality, no offence but guys that can only play 3 notes on 2 strings with 1 finger dont cut it as bass players in my book. If you can play funk and jazz your well on your way!!!
Bass player, bassist, it's all the same....... but get an ego and you're just an @55*#&@ for life
+1000 Well said Jason... I'm finding out it's a hard lesson to learn and practice but it reaps great rewards...
Tim
