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Why is Bass underestimated?
- Thread starter Dodg3r
- Start date
thank god for rock & roll bands that have electric bass. Um...at least those who turn up the bass....(Tarot)
It's generally not a melody instrument, at least as far as the non-musical public is concerned. They just listen to the music as a whole and either like it or don't. The instruments that commonly get solos such as the vocalist, guitarist, horns, keys, etc. are the ones where the non-musical public would say "I get that, I see what that instrument does, those guys are out front once in a while so they MUST be pretty good and they must be important".
But in most music the bass plays a very important role providing the bottom and linking the rhythm and the melody. To the non-musical public it just looks like "The bassist isn't doing anything, they never solo. So they must not really be that good or that important, otherwise they'd be getting solos like the rest of the musicians.". So they discount it because the role isn't so obvious.
Not saying they're right, obviously they're not. But most people don't listen to music to pick it apart and appreciate the skill of each member. To the non-musical public, the music is only there to give the 5 pretty boys up front something to lip sync to and give the 43578614785 dancers hopping around behind them something to dance to. Sad but true.
That's why its importance is "underestimated", to use the OP's words.
But in most music the bass plays a very important role providing the bottom and linking the rhythm and the melody. To the non-musical public it just looks like "The bassist isn't doing anything, they never solo. So they must not really be that good or that important, otherwise they'd be getting solos like the rest of the musicians.". So they discount it because the role isn't so obvious.
Not saying they're right, obviously they're not. But most people don't listen to music to pick it apart and appreciate the skill of each member. To the non-musical public, the music is only there to give the 5 pretty boys up front something to lip sync to and give the 43578614785 dancers hopping around behind them something to dance to. Sad but true.
That's why its importance is "underestimated", to use the OP's words.
I don't think it's underestimated. It is less exposed than other instruments, that's all.
This said, bass has more visibility in bands today than it ever had in the past.
The role of the instrument itself makes it less apparent to the average listener.
Another factor is that bass implies band playing. If you pick an instrument to have fun it will more likely be a guitar or keyboard because it's easier to have fun in the bedroom this way.
This said, bass has more visibility in bands today than it ever had in the past.
The role of the instrument itself makes it less apparent to the average listener.
Another factor is that bass implies band playing. If you pick an instrument to have fun it will more likely be a guitar or keyboard because it's easier to have fun in the bedroom this way.
Unrepresented
Something Borderline Offensive
I don't know if there's a language barrier between us or not, but I can think of easier ways to have fun in the bedroom.
I think Dave64o summed things up pretty well. The bass is typically an ensemble instrument as opposed to a solo instrument so the value of its contributions are harder for the audience/public to perceive as easily.
maybe because they haven't heard mixes of music with the bass track muted yet?
But... why does that bother you and are you sure that bass really is underestimated?
I'm not.
every gig i do, i get a handful of people coming up to me telling me how much they like my bass playing and how much it adds to the band. other bass players i know get similar reactions, some even more than i get. true that some folks don't get it, but thanks to much better sound systems and home stereo equipment, gone are the days when people didn't pay much attention to the bass. and to those who don't get it, all you have to do for them to get it is to stop playing. then they get it.
I don't know what you're talkin' about, brah, I can't tell you how much snatch I've gotten by being the guitar playe-, Oh, you said bass, yeah, bass is severely underrated. I can't tell you how many times I've had chicks all over my junk when I said I play an instrument, and how fast they had "something they forgot they had to do", when I said I played bass.
I find this statement rather funny. After all most people only recognize Seven Nation Army by the bassline (whether it's played by a guitar or not in the studio), Doors has very pronounced basslines in almost all their songs despite the lack of actual bassist and Death From Above lacks guitarist, not bassist.
I was on a date with a horn player recently and I told her I play bass. Her reply, "I don't understand...how can you play bass by yourself? Don't you need a band?"
...it didn't work out.
...it didn't work out.
probably because some bass players often cannot follow simple instructions.
like "post in the correct forum" for instance.
This actually made me laugh out loud.
Actually there are several examples of Amazing Bands without bassists (or keys). Zeni Geva, and this Local Band that Shreds called Scorpion vs. Tarantula come immediately to mind. I think it really just depends on the sound your going for, weather or not you need one. Many bands you can't even hear the Bass in the Mix in recordings, so again, those bands don't need them. It's not for everyone. I'd love to see a 2 piece with just Drums and Bass though.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Metallica?
Good call by Putsia on Death From Above. My bad.
And this was more a reference to Metallica burying the bass in the mix so badly in the past that they may as well not have a bass player.
It think that this post has been misread/ misunderstood.
The OPs' question was about other people's perception of the instrument. Arguing that its actually really important and cool, is missing the point.
The public don't register that the bass exists because they are looking at the singer, the guitarist, and the crazy drummer - in that order. I once put my bass down and walked off stage in the interval. I got 10 feet before someone asked me:- "what did I think of the band?".
If we were in the building industry, ask yourself who gets the attention. The guy who makes foundations or the guy who fits the roof?
Maybe the other reason is that is really hard to hold the groove AND play a solo. If you stop to play a solo, the groove stops and the music becomes .....less.
I recently watched a cool jazz player play tune after tune in which they each played a solo. When it came time for her's, they all dropped out to give her space. At the end of the relative quietness, they all jumped in and the music got more exciting. Who's going to applaud the person that made the music stop? WE know how tough it is but if looking good makes the music stall, that's shooting ourselves in the foot!
The OPs' question was about other people's perception of the instrument. Arguing that its actually really important and cool, is missing the point.
The public don't register that the bass exists because they are looking at the singer, the guitarist, and the crazy drummer - in that order. I once put my bass down and walked off stage in the interval. I got 10 feet before someone asked me:- "what did I think of the band?".
If we were in the building industry, ask yourself who gets the attention. The guy who makes foundations or the guy who fits the roof?
Maybe the other reason is that is really hard to hold the groove AND play a solo. If you stop to play a solo, the groove stops and the music becomes .....less.
I recently watched a cool jazz player play tune after tune in which they each played a solo. When it came time for her's, they all dropped out to give her space. At the end of the relative quietness, they all jumped in and the music got more exciting. Who's going to applaud the person that made the music stop? WE know how tough it is but if looking good makes the music stall, that's shooting ourselves in the foot!
My man. Think about it. Fifty percent of people have below-average intelligence. Get used to it.
