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Would you rather be complimented on your Rhythm or Your Chops?

#21
I always viewed the bass as drumming on a stringed instrument. I've never came out of a show and heard someone say, "the bass players noodling was awesome." But I have heard bassist that couldn't hit a down beat to save their lives and just ruin a show.
Rhythm every time.:bassist:. Who's ego is so fragile that it needs stroking with compliments. We're not lead singers or guitarists, are we?
 
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#23
You can have good rhythm without having great chops, but you can't have great chops without having great rhythm so this isn't really a valid question. Dusty Hill can display great rhythm pounding out root notes, but no one would consider Victor Wooten great if he didn't have great rhythm.

Just my opinion, but these type of threads do a disservice to beginning players who may be mislead into thinking it's an either/or situation or that you don't need great rhythm to have great chops. YMMV.
 
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#24
I think we need to define "chops" - I've always been under the impression that "chops" referred to a players' technical ability... not in reference to the music being played. Inherent in the definition is the ability to play proper rhythms - you'd never say a bassist with bad timing had good chops regardless of how fast they could play or what slap/tap/other technique they did. The essential aspect of a "good" bassist is a player that plays musically - listening to the sounds around them and adjusting their contribution to the sound as appropriate.
 
#25
gotta serve the music your are being hired to play
so, if it's a gig where the bass player needs to hold it down tight with the drummer, that's the primary goal.
if it's a gig where flash/chops are expected, well then, that's what you need to be able to deliver - go wild!
IMO/IME, a nice mix of both is the most rewarding :thumbsup:
 
#26
michael_t said:
As a bassist, I don't really care about how I might be complimented for my bass playing. (I didn't choose to be a bassist to be the center of attention.)

I would rather that people talk about how good the whole band sounded because that's when I know I've done my job. ;)
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+1 Most people don't notice a good bassist they just know they heard a really good/tight band. I would rather the band get a compliment or even the drummer. Usually when I get a complement about my "chops" my first thought is, "oh crap I was too flashy".
 
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#27
I'll happily take any compliment in the spirit that it's offered. Some people call our band "tight", which I take as meaning that we play well together, especially rhythmically, and everyone knows the arrangements or can compensate well on the fly. I particularly like it when people mention how well the drummer and myself play together, or how "tight" the two of us are.

Any compliment from anyone I've never spoken to before means a bit more to me, as these are people who wouldn't have said anything to me unless they actually liked the show enough to say so. Friends kinda have to find something good to say after a show to show support anyway.
 
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#30
It's kind of a weird question. That being said, the best compliment I've ever gotten was from a blind guy. I was introduced to him at a gig during a break as being the bassist. I am also the lead singer but he was not aware of that. He said "man, you really know how to stay out of that singer's way!"
 
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#31
I'd much rather be complimented on chops than rhythm, but that doesn't mean I'd want to forget about rhythm. Obviously I need to hold down the band, but as a bassist in a metal band, I can't ignore speed and complexity either.
 
#33
I find they go hand in hand. I am known to play in the pocket I don't embellished much when I'm playing, I stick close to the line, but now and then I will throw something out there, and it's normally fast. People who hire me like that I stay to the line, but are surprised at my dexterity aka chops. I pride myself on my clean play, every note has to be spot on, and my pocket. Incorporate your chops in your pocket. Why take away one for the other?
 
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#38
It's much more difficult to be complimented on your chops. Someone has to hunt you down and verbally say "Hey, you've got great chops!" Complimenting one's rhythm only requires tapping a foot, bobbing a head, air guitaring/drumming, dancing, or full on rocking out!
 

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