• 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 free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why do YOU play more than four?

#221
I got into playing 5 stringers mostly for the reason of playing a lot of musicals. And musical books tend to have orchestrators that have no clue what the "normal" range of a bass is, and seems to think that because rock/country loves the key of D....well, bass must go down to a D :\

In addition, since musicals love through crap at you like the key of "Db", a 5-stringer has made playing in funky ass keys so much easier as I can stay a little more up the neck and keep my hand from moving as much.
 
#227
interestingly enough, the other thread, asking folks why they only played 4 string, had 3 infracted posts insulting erb's before the count got to 100 total. that's -with- the posted rules against that kind of posting.

with over twice as many posts, this thread has had no insults directed at 4 string players.

:eyebrow:
 
#230
john turner said:
interestingly enough, the other thread, asking folks why they only played 4 string, had 3 infracted posts insulting erb's before the count got to 100 total. that's -with- the posted rules against that kind of posting.

with over twice as many posts, this thread has had no insults directed at 4 string players.

:eyebrow:
Click to expand...

You know John, there are some pretty obvious reasons for that in my opinion.

First is the fact that I think almost all of us started on a four string. I only know a handful of guys who started on anything other than a 4 banger. Of those, most started on a 5 on the advice of their teacher and one was a guitar player who went straight to a six string bass, though he struggled a lot more than he thought he would.

Point being, most ERB players understand playing a four string. They may have felt the need to evolve past it for the music they wanted to make, but I'm sure they have some fondness for 4 strings from their early experience with the instrument and rarely are they going to look at it with disdain. At worst, I've seen a bit of condescension from ERB players.

However, in those cases it was usually a guy who played a fiver or maybe a six and generally was a hack. The truth is that the guys I've met that want to cut down or insult other players are rarely great players. Guys with monster chops don't have to puff themselves up that way and are generally nothing but complimentary.

And since most ERB players (especially when you get beyond six strings) are going to be dedicated players - otherwise why spend the money for the bass and strings - so it makes sense that you don't see as much attitude from them toward other musicians. Sure, there are always going to be guys who are incredible musicians and also complete a-holes toward their brethren, but not nearly as often.

And finally, there are simply always going to be people who want to criticize anyone who breaks from tradition. I understand if a guy (or gal) wants to dedicate themselves to copping tones and licks from the music they loved growing up, but why that means dismissing anyone trying to do something different is beyond me.

And on that point, John I really think you should dive headlong into the effects forum. You're really missing out on the chance to double the amount of snide comments and invective hurled toward you and your choice of gear. I guarantee I am AT LEAST as tired of hearing "bass players shouldn't use effects" or "you don't need pedals - tone is in the hands" as you are of hearing "Jaco/Jamerson/whoever only needed four strings."
 
#232
TheBigO said:
And on that point, John I really think you should dive headlong into the effects forum. You're really missing out on the chance to double the amount of snide comments and invective hurled toward you and your choice of gear. I guarantee I am AT LEAST as tired of hearing "bass players shouldn't use effects" or "you don't need pedals - tone is in the hands" as you are of hearing "Jaco/Jamerson/whoever only needed four strings."
Click to expand...

dude, i mean no disrespect, but you have NO idea. the level of intolerance exhibited toward erb's is greater than anything i've ever seen, and yes, i play with effects, and guitar(bass) synth, and have for a long time. there's no comparison at all between the vitriol spewed by 4 string zealots toward the erb players and anything else i've ever seen. even the small-kit drummers dissing guys like mike portnoy and neil peart don't have anything on the whole erb experience.

i've never seen grown, ostensibly straight, men question one another's genitalia like i have seen 4stringer's comments expressed toward my basses, to my face. i've never seen the ugly -hate- expressed toward me (indirectly) and other erb players (for instance, i know jean baudin used to get it -alot- too and that dude is a MONSTER musician, way beyond the nature of his chosen instrument, not to mention about the size of a black bear) because of instrument choice.

i wish i still had the downloaded page from bunnybass - there were a few comments in there that were downright scary toward me (if i was someone who got easily scared by annonymous grammar-poor idiots on the internet), threatening me with physical violence because of my basses. believe it. and not just one or two.

so yeah, no offense but you have no idea.
 
#233
You've got to be kidding me.

To be honest, I always thought you had a bit of a persecution complex. But if that's really what it's like then you're right, I didn't have any idea.

As far as Jean Baudin, I went to see him at solo bass night IV even though I'm not a big solo bass fan (my drummer was actually more interested to go than I was) but I was really impressed with his chops and his compositional skills. But most importantly, I find it hard to believe that people would give him crap. Yeah, as you mentioned, he's a big dude, but talking to him after the show he also came across as a really good guy.

Not as funny as Jeff Schmidt, but we can't all be perfect.
 
#234
i've tried to keep the "wah folks pick on me" stuff to a minimum for that very reason, but yeah, you'd be surprised, and i think you'd hear similar experiences from most erb'ers - i've said before that most of the erb'ers that i know won't even participate here at talkbass because of the general atmosphere of intolerance, despite my efforts.

i have to think, when i get confronted by this crap, that folks are really just speaking from a point of ignorance, and not from an ugly heart, and in the vast majority of issues this is the case.

of course, not always - heard it from quite a few folks who were old enough, experienced enough, and famous enough, to know better - but really the vast majority of folks are just unaware and so speak from that point of view. and besides, with the famous ones, there's some cd's i'll never buy. so really they're saving me money. :D

it's all good though. i got what i have for me, not for anyone else, and just like i get guys who think they can kick my butt because of my bass choice :rolleyes: i also get a lot more folks who are sincerely interested, and even end up telling me after a while that i gave them some bit of influence. just influencing or inspiring one person is worth a dozen clueless chuckleheads who probably won't even be playing bass at all in a year.

the saddest thing about it is that we're supposed to be the mellow ones in the band, and in general we are, but sometimes we cannibalize each other over really insignificant things.
 
#236
john turner said:
the saddest thing about it is that we're supposed to be the mellow ones in the band, and in general we are, but sometimes we cannibalize each other over really insignificant things.
Click to expand...

I always hear the bassists are brothers, and we stick together, its guitarists etc. that have problems, but its just not true, as often as not "us" bassists are complete asses to each other, for anykind of reason.

I never heard a bad thing about my, or any, Trabens before I joined here, not once has a non bassist musician ever insulted them. Small fry, I know, but proves a point, I'd give a guess that you get a lot less trouble over your instrument choices outside the bass world. Brotherhood 'eh.
 
#238
ehque said:
It IS harder.

Not to say that 4-string players are lazy, but if I (ME/MYSELF) were feeling lazy, a four string seems to be a lot more manageable than a 6. Even so now, when my only bass is a 6.
Click to expand...

Really? I guess I'm differnent, but when jumping around on my 4s, 5s, and 6er I don't really find any of them to be easy or hard to play. I kinda consider my fretless 6 easier than a 4 at times.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back