• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

When does a bass player become a bassist?

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?

Just an opinion! I'm using the terms as differentiation for seriousness/competence with the instrument. Lots of people here seem to not use the terms in that way. That's just how I interpret the terms! For those that DO see them as being different, I wanted to hear their criteria for a bassist, bass player, so on.
 
Just an opinion! I'm using the terms as differentiation for seriousness/competence with the instrument. Lots of people here seem to not use the terms in that way. That's just how I interpret the terms! For those that DO see them as being different, I wanted to hear their criteria for a bassist, bass player, so on.

I don't see any real difference. However, if I were forced to choose, I'd say bass player actually has more gravitas for me than the word bassist. This seems to be just the opposite of what many others are saying.
 
Just an opinion! I'm using the terms as differentiation for seriousness/competence with the instrument. Lots of people here seem to not use the terms in that way. That's just how I interpret the terms! For those that DO see them as being different, I wanted to hear their criteria for a bassist, bass player, so on.

That's how I took your post.
 
I've always been a bassist. I just didn't know it right away. I was born for it. Only it took me 14 years to start and another 4 years of training... Plus however long from now to keep training. Then I'll die, still knowing less than I want about it, but being happy that I did the stuff I was created for.
 
A bass player plays bass
A bassist is one who plays bass
A bass guitarist is one who plays a bass guitar.

They all do the same thing.

A fisherman is one who catches a bass.

Now that is something completely different.

Bass ale is what the bass player and the fisherman both drink.

A singing bass who doesn't play bass ...
 

Latest posts