"You cant do that on bass"

[Moogi Beans]

I dunno if anyone here has ever experienced this with their instrument, but I certainly have

Ive seen it said for so many things. You cant play chords on a bass guitar. You cant solo on a bass guitar. I hear it for many things, despite the fact there are talented bass guitarists out there who do these very things.

I even know a few people that, when I talk about having a bass guitar with good tone, respond with "but its a bass guitar". As if having real tone will somehow change that fact

Im just wondering if anyone here has any stories on people like this theyve dealt with in their lives. I have a few stories I might share later, too.

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

It may not be common in pop music, but all of these 'myths' are bunk. Don't listen to anyone who tells you these things, they know not of which they speak.

 

[eJake]

I'm not trying to troll, do whatever you like. To me, each instrument is built for a function. The bass was built to play low notes mostly one at a time. Nowadays people building 20 string basses and playing classical guitar on em.

I dig Thundercat and he chords all the time. Most of the time I wish he wouldn't but he's a bad mfer and his groove is still strong so I'm into it. When I see a bass player chording with weak groove I am very much turned off.

 

[Jon Moody]

At the beginning, I wanted to take that statement head on, which led me to play a lot of things that ultimately didn't serve the music I was playing, or the musical group I was playing in.

Once I stopped caring what everyone else thought and focused more on my role in the music (which, depending on genre and band lineup, will change), I started hearing people say "I didn't think you could do THAT on bass" over anything else.

 

[NullPorch]

I'm not trying to troll, do whatever you like. To me, each instrument is built for a function. The bass was built to play low notes mostly one at a time. Nowadays people building 20 string basses and playing classical guitar on em.

I dig Thundercat and he chords all the time. Most of the time I wish he wouldn't but he's a bad mfer and his groove is still strong so I'm into it. When I see a bass player chording with weak groove I am very much turned off.

I have to disagree with this statement. You aren't wrong in context of certain genres, but in genres or songs which draw influence from classical the bass instruments (stringed or otherwise) often make forays well into the range of tenor or even alto instruments. The timbre is very different and sometimes to make the part sing the way it should composers utilize the cello, or bass, or euphonium, or tuba. Bassoon is awesome in its upper register.

 

[Aberdumbie]

Had a little schtick I would do during our show. Had a brief sort of solo and I would jump up on a cabinet or table (Oh to be young again).... Would hammer the body of my bass for a few notes with my fist. Made for a huge booming sound. Our first foray into a bigger house opening for another act was first time I played thru a proper PA (that wasn't ours)... I did that little act and the rafters in the place shook. The owner of the PA (the big name act) told me quite frankly... Don't do that no more!

 

[Nephilymbass]

I dunno if anyone here has ever experienced this with their instrument, but I certainly have

Ive seen it said for so many things. You cant play chords on a bass guitar. You cant solo on a bass guitar. I hear it for many things, despite the fact there are talented bass guitarists out there who do these very things.

I even know a few people that, when I talk about having a bass guitar with good tone, respond with "but its a bass guitar". As if having real tone will somehow change that fact

Im just wondering if anyone here has any stories on people like this theyve dealt with in their lives. I have a few stories I might share later, too.

I play 6 string bass and will play some guitar parts on bass. Personally I prefer the tone of bass over guitar for lead parts. One of my favorite bass players Is Janek Gwizdala and I'd rather listen to him solo than any guitar player. An example of me using chords or playing lead is covering wish you were here by Pink Floyd to pull off the dual guitar play and echo part. Even on some hard rock/metal originals I'll do stuff like play simple chords while our guitar player plays more melodic stuff. Here's an example of that.
On this song I play the melody up high during the bridge

 

[Tonysuarezbass]

 

[Nephilymbass]

View attachment 2788855

Meh, I'm sure my bass won't swallow me whole lol

 

[beaglesandbass]

If you're doing it on a bass, then it can be done on a bass.

 

[hondo4life]

I probably can't do that on bass, but I bet there is someone who can.

 

[two fingers]

Edit: Welcome to TalkBass!!!!

If I talk to a mechanic, he will think I am am idiot when it comes to cars.

If I talk to a chef, he will think I'm a dipstick in the kitchen.

When I talk to my doctor, he wonders why I'm not dead.

When I talk to a plumber he wonders how I haven't flooded my house.

So why do you expect people who don't play bass to "get it" when it comes to the intricacies of audio physics and bass tone?

 

[buldog5151bass]

I could drive in the desert with a bicycle - doesn't mean it's the best tool for the job.

 

[Aberdumbie]

Edit: Welcome to TalkBass!!!!

If I talk to a mechanic, he will think I am am idiot when it comes to cars.

Not to derail the thread. I am an old car guy and had an eye opening experience this week. At 58 I recently purchased my first "new" vehicle. I had two small issues. I changed my oil and didn't know how to reset the light. I had a tire pressure sensor not reading so I go to my mechanic.

To fix the oil light... turn key off and on twice. Turn the key two clicks. Step hard on the gas pedal five times. Put it in reverse. Turn key off and on. I am like... Be serious.... He was..

Tire sensor.... Turn emergency flashers on and off three times. Let pressure out of the tire till horn beeps. Fill until horn beeps twice.

Next service I think I'll bark at the moon and do a voodoo dance and see if that works.... I am no longer a mechanic.

 

[callofcthulhu]

Meh, I'm sure my bass won't swallow me whole lol

Then you're not doing it right!

 

[otp57]

I dunno if anyone here has ever experienced this with their instrument, but I certainly have

Ive seen it said for so many things. You cant play chords on a bass guitar. You cant solo on a bass guitar. I hear it for many things, despite the fact there are talented bass guitarists out there who do these very things.

I even know a few people that, when I talk about having a bass guitar with good tone, respond with "but its a bass guitar". As if having real tone will somehow change that fact

Im just wondering if anyone here has any stories on people like this theyve dealt with in their lives. I have a few stories I might share later, too.

No one told this guy that, just go to 4.00 and see his BASS do the ,,, can't do that it is a bass thing.

 

[Element Zero]

I dunno if anyone here has ever experienced this with their instrument, but I certainly have

Ive seen it said for so many things. You cant play chords on a bass guitar. You cant solo on a bass guitar. I hear it for many things, despite the fact there are talented bass guitarists out there who do these very things.

I even know a few people that, when I talk about having a bass guitar with good tone, respond with "but its a bass guitar". As if having real tone will somehow change that fact

Im just wondering if anyone here has any stories on people like this theyve dealt with in their lives. I have a few stories I might share later, too.

I don't "deal" with the type of people you've described. I just ignore and walk away in the complete opposite direction.

 

[tlc1976]

Not to derail the thread. I am an old car guy and had an eye opening experience this week. At 58 I recently purchased my first "new" vehicle. I had two small issues. I changed my oil and didn't know how to reset the light. I had a tire pressure sensor not reading so I go to my mechanic.

To fix the oil light... turn key off and on twice. Turn the key two clicks. Step hard on the gas pedal five times. Put it in reverse. Turn key off and on. I am like... Be serious.... He was..

Tire sensor.... Turn emergency flashers on and off three times. Let pressure out of the tire till horn beeps. Fill until horn beeps twice.

Next service I think I'll bark at the moon and do a voodoo dance and see if that works.... I am no longer a mechanic.

Sounds like we are getting closer to this very old joke. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

On topic, people used to say "you can't (or shouldn't) play bass with a pick. Wish I hadn't listened to them, because IMO it's tougher to learn it 25 years later than having learned it in the beginning.

They also said about the EX bass "a bass can't be pointy, you should just get a guitar". They revoked their words when they saw my EX in person, and I played my EX through the old Traynor tube amp in their garage.

 

[Mugre]

First I wanted to be clever and show the woman who plays Hendrix on the Gayageum (a version of the Koto) , Bela Fleck playing Scarlatti keyboard pieces on the banjo or the guy who plays Chopin on a diatonic (not chromatic) harmonica but what's the point? People are morons and if they don't get it by now, chances are, neither you nor I are going to be the ones that explain it to them.

Mugre

 

[blue4]

I don't care what others think about the role of bass guitar, how many strings they should have, or how to play it. You can do anything you want on bass guitar. People act like once you play a chord you forget how to root 5 or something.