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Why the hatred towards guitarists?
- Thread starter GBGLJE
- Start date
+1 on both counts.
Guitards are simply morons and turds to work with who like to put us in "our place". For example, they may think they can play your bass better than you and/or they detune to a raunchy slop, but heaven forbid you come close to their range.
As for playing both, most of us don't have nearly enough time to devote to both instruments to be killer on both. I practice on bass a lot, but there's no way I could devote that kind of time to guitar unless I got rid of my job, amateur cycling races, and brewing beer. I could stand losing the job, but the racing and brewing are too much fun.
I play both and actually I've played guitar twice as long as bass, (20 years). Whenever I use the term I'm obviously talking about myself also since I'm one of them too.
In all actuality, I think in a true band sense there's respect but in the forum there's mutual friendship between us bassists so it's kind of a friendly way of talking about the other guys, much like 2 Buckeye fans talking about Wolverine fans during football season.
In all actuality, I think in a true band sense there's respect but in the forum there's mutual friendship between us bassists so it's kind of a friendly way of talking about the other guys, much like 2 Buckeye fans talking about Wolverine fans during football season.
I'm another guitarist turned bassist. I started guitar at about age 11 and didn't pick up a bass until I was around 21.
I made the switch to bass being my main instrument shortly thereafter, but it was mostly to do with the fact that where I lived, guitarists were a dime a dozen and half-decent bassplayers were few and far between. Being a bassplayer meant having way more opportunities open to me.
I don't knock the guitar though (or any other instrument for that matter), I still play it every day and often fiddle around on my classical laying in bed. I can't do that with my Jazz.
Then again, I also play most other stringed instruments as well as drums and keys, so maybe my opinion is shifted via that.
For me though, one of the most damaging statements ever put forth regarding the bass was Zappa's notion that "all bassists are failed guitarists". Without fail, every guitarist who has knocked me as a bass player has cited that line of Zappa's. No doubt FZ was brilliant, but many of his statements and philosophical epithets truly belied his lack of a formal education. His biggest problem was the assumption that everyone else in the world was a capable as he was if only they weren't lazy...
My 2 cents...
I made the switch to bass being my main instrument shortly thereafter, but it was mostly to do with the fact that where I lived, guitarists were a dime a dozen and half-decent bassplayers were few and far between. Being a bassplayer meant having way more opportunities open to me.
I don't knock the guitar though (or any other instrument for that matter), I still play it every day and often fiddle around on my classical laying in bed. I can't do that with my Jazz.
Then again, I also play most other stringed instruments as well as drums and keys, so maybe my opinion is shifted via that.
For me though, one of the most damaging statements ever put forth regarding the bass was Zappa's notion that "all bassists are failed guitarists". Without fail, every guitarist who has knocked me as a bass player has cited that line of Zappa's. No doubt FZ was brilliant, but many of his statements and philosophical epithets truly belied his lack of a formal education. His biggest problem was the assumption that everyone else in the world was a capable as he was if only they weren't lazy...
My 2 cents...
Yeah, I hear you on Zappa's comment. If that were the case I wouldn't have just spent $1300 on a brand new Babicz acoustic guitar. I'm not a failed guitarist, in fact I get asked to play both guitar and bass tracks on people's recordings. It's a great way to get the gig.
The whole guitard thing can be pretty funny and it's usually just said in jest. I think it's a bit far labelling all guitarists guitards but generally it's people just having a bit of fun.
Guitarists can be idiots as much as bassists can (it just so happens that all bassists are amazing)
Guitarists can be idiots as much as bassists can (it just so happens that all bassists are amazing
)
Absolutely brilliant! I am now a huge fan of Ruiner Severhead just because of the creation of "groove-tard." Haven't heard a note yet, but that so doesn't matter when the man obviously possesses greatness. I have often wanted to punch these groove-tards in the sack, especially when they start up with their "Groove is essential" crap while playing totally soulless versions of "What Is Hip?" on a $5000 bass.Our friend in bass & destruction - the great Link Removed has coined the official antithesis of "guitard" - and it is "groove-tard" or "groovetard".
It's available under creative commons license so feel free to use it liberally at your next bass event.
A loose translation - Groove-tards typcailly worship jaco, know how to play "The Chicken" & do so often- like a NAMM and other bass events, probably slaps - but staccato bridge pick-up is their preferred method of "grooving" and above all- talk about "groove" as if it were the only thing important in music.
enjoy the groove if you must. but don't be a groove-tard.
Every thing I say about the "guitard" is about the stereotypical guitar player. In our band, we have three guitar players (plus occasionally a fourth), and they're all very brilliant, amazing beyond belief. Every time the lead guitarist has a solo, (I kid you not) it sends shivers down my spine.
I've pretty much picked up guitar through bass, but only to learn chords and some ear training, to help with my improvisation on bass.
I've pretty much picked up guitar through bass, but only to learn chords and some ear training, to help with my improvisation on bass.
Ha. Anyone here ever been in the military? The Army hates the Navy, Marines and Airforce, and they all respectably despise the army. Me, I made the RIGHT choice and joined the army-(HA! Ever see some of them airforce chicks? Makes me want to go back in time and punch myself.) Anyway, in the army, I'm a Scout. Which means I absolutely can't STAND the infantry or tankers, even though my best friend is a tanker. Ya know what the tanker motto is? 'When in doubt, shoot a scout' why? because they are too stupid to tell the difference between a bradley and a bmp.
What does all this have to do with tea in china? Simple. Just cause I like to talk smack on the marines, or tankers, or guitarists, doesn't mean I don't respect them for what they do. But if they piss me off, well, Jarhead, DAT and Guitard become fair game. And I fully expect to recieve as good as I give. Some of it's in fun, and some of it is a descriptor of the negative stereo types that go with certain jobs. Regardless, if you are offended that easy, maybe it's time to grow some skin?
What does all this have to do with tea in china? Simple. Just cause I like to talk smack on the marines, or tankers, or guitarists, doesn't mean I don't respect them for what they do. But if they piss me off, well, Jarhead, DAT and Guitard become fair game. And I fully expect to recieve as good as I give. Some of it's in fun, and some of it is a descriptor of the negative stereo types that go with certain jobs. Regardless, if you are offended that easy, maybe it's time to grow some skin?
Our friend in bass & destruction - the great Link Removed has coined the official antithesis of "guitard" - and it is "groove-tard" or "groovetard".
It's available under creative commons license so feel free to use it liberally at your next bass event.
A loose translation - Groove-tards typcailly worship jaco, know how to play "The Chicken" & do so often- like a NAMM and other bass events, probably slaps - but staccato bridge pick-up is their preferred method of "grooving" and above all- talk about "groove" as if it were the only thing important in music.
enjoy the groove if you must. but don't be a groove-tard.
Stopping in to add my voice to the chorus of applause. This rocks.
I don't hate guitarists. Actually, I have ENORMOUS amounts of respect for Matthew Bellamy (Muse.) I LOOOOVE his guitar work. He's inspired me to try playing guitar (even though I haven't gotten around to it yet).
- Aug 30, 2003
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- Engineer & Owner, Sonic Nuance Electronics
A band is like a cookie. (haha, I know..) Say the guitarist is the.....I don't know......baking soda. Without them, the cookie's ruined (depending on the cookie...). Same with any instrument. So, there. I don't HATE guitarists. Their attitudes towards bass players CAN suck, however.
Funny story about their attitudes towards bassists, I went to audition for a band about 3 months ago since I was getting bored with my current band, and there was this guitarist there who seemed to have all his stuff in line. All his equipment was top notch, he sounded really good playing scales while he warmed up, and he wrote most of the music that they played. However, his attitude towards me was that I was just an expendable bassist and I owed them a big favor by letting me try out.
Anyway, as we started playing, he realized that I was a competent player and that I could hang with them. I still got the "I'm better than you" attitude from him until I asked to see his guitar. I started playing around and then I smoked him up and down the fretboard to the point that he just left the room to get something to drink, and me knowing full well that he just couldn't take it.
A week later I got a call from the drummer asking me to join their band but I declined since I really couldn't see myself doing anything constructive in an atmosphere like that. There's no room for egos when you have to come together and play the same song. Just my opinion.
Being a Bassist but a Lead/Rhythm Guitarist first i can say that when it comes down to guitarists i have a better chance of running into other guitarists who are egotistical and major pricks rather than other bassists who have the same issue.
and its mostly the lead players, often the younger ones and some of the older ones are in such a hurry to toss the phrase YOU SUCK around. maybe its because the lead guitar is held as one of the highest achievements instrument wise that they are racing to get to the top.
working with other bassists i never have any worries about their ego , but when it comes to working with another guitarist i have to first find out if they have any ego issues which i have ran across alot that do.
on the bass side i usually find other bassists to be alot nicer and in no hurry to toss out insults if i dont play as proficient as them.
and its mostly the lead players, often the younger ones and some of the older ones are in such a hurry to toss the phrase YOU SUCK around. maybe its because the lead guitar is held as one of the highest achievements instrument wise that they are racing to get to the top.
working with other bassists i never have any worries about their ego , but when it comes to working with another guitarist i have to first find out if they have any ego issues which i have ran across alot that do.
on the bass side i usually find other bassists to be alot nicer and in no hurry to toss out insults if i dont play as proficient as them.
funny thing is, Pete and John did have tremendous screaming fights with great regularity for many years, so much so that Entwistle used to joke that the Who broke up every couple weeks or so, and Geezer and Tony were on the outs for some time.... quite a number of big-name acts have essentially performed while most of the members weren't on speaking terms with each other.
Music is an equal opportunity environment-- anyone can screw it up!
Music is an equal opportunity environment-- anyone can screw it up!
