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When does a bass player become a bassist?

They are interchangeable terms if you want them to be.

But if your answer may be when it's more about the music and less about the instrument.

Like every instrument, you will struggle at first and think in matter of proper hand techniques, what "fret number" on what "string number" to put your fingers on, and will struggle with the weight of the instrument.

At one time the instrument will disappear and you will be a musician.

This is probably your answer.

You become a musician when the instrument is no more and it becomes an extension of yourself. A musical instrument is a tool, a tool to make pretty sounds.
 
You graduate to bassist when you have spent over $25k on bass gear. KEEP ON TRUCKIN!



Can I borrow $24.5k from someone?


Well, lucky for you that money doesn't buy heart, dedication, experience and talent.

Some people seem to think you need need a long list of expensive equipment and bounce from one instrument to another to successful, or to impress your friends.

Keep practicing and keep the change.
 
I'm not a bass player ... I'm a musician and it happened that I did my college degree in music with a bass and an upright bass.

I'm not a master on the bass ... but I'm close to finish to learn all the song in Victor Wooten's solo partition.
 
I'm not a bass player ... I'm a musician and it happened that I did my college degree in music with a bass and an upright bass.

I'm not a master on the bass ... but I'm close to finish to learn all the song in Victor Wooten's solo partition.

I wish I learned upright.. I never had access to one. I went to a smaaaaaall high school (I graduated with 62). We had band and no orchestra. And I've only found one upright within 50 miles of me (which they freak if you try and play) aside from the schools around. Maybe someday I'll get the chance to play one. I can hold my own on a fretless though.

Oh and if that's how far along you are with the Vic Wooten stuff I'd say you're underrating your ability!
 
When you can play "Californication and "YYZ". :)

Actually, I considered myself a musician when I could help move a song along, and not go against the flow with my riffing and grooves; and not have to change instruments to fit a type of music.- However, a Fender Jazz 5'er is about the only instrument you'll ever need.
 
OK..so we all need to stop worrying about titles and just play MUSIC for MUSIC. the bass is only a tool used to tell your story. Once you can under stand that you can start on the path to becoming a MUSICIAN and not have to worry about whether you are called a bass player or bassist and know that you are a MUSICIAN. That is what we should all strive for. it shouldn't matter what we have in our hand as an instrument be it a bass, guitar, tube, flute, or ocarina, we should be able to make music with any instrument or even with no instrument at all. bass is just a tool we choose to help MUSIC flow through us.
 
Wikpedia definition of a bassist:

A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone.

Wait did they say a bass player ""or" bassist??? Nothing is mentioned about how "serious" they are about it or if they "graduated" from a music college. What do you know they are the exact same thing. :hmm: