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"You look like a bass player"

#61
KodyAudette said:
6'3 - 175. I get it a lot, but I have big hands too. It may also have something to do with my habit of using the edge that my wallet in my pocket makes in my pants as a string and play fingerstyle rhythms absentmindedly. I do enioy a good hat, but in most of my gigs lately I end up without a shirt by the end of the set, let alone a hat.
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JPMo said:
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I thought I was the ONLY one! :hyper: I also slap said string as well which is funny....cause I can't really slap very well! LOL
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It may be more common than you think. I've seen many doing so, all bass players! That includes myself, of course.
 
#62
Everyone is talking about physical features, but what if it is social ones?

I've personally noticed (mostly judging from blues and rock) that the bassist tends to be the quietest person there, and is quite happy to just listen to the conversation, while the loudest people there will be the drummer and the guitarist.

As for the physical, I'm 6 foot 7, and weigh 68kg, no weird hat, but I do usually have a curly afro.
 
#65
fraublugher said:
I've been guilty of silly hat syndrome ,based on growing peninsula shame .:atoz:
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I'm 44, but do not wear a hat indoors. My wife has a standing order to inform me when my hairline has receded too much. Then I'll do the bald thing on purpose. Maybe I will reconsider the hat option then.

I think it is not one thing that indicates you're a bass player. It must be a combination of several factors. Size alone is not enough. I do think that being humble and unassuming, combined with muted colour choices in clothing that is mainly functional and more conservative in style is part of it. And hands come into it, too. I think tapping the rhythm with the fingers is a possible giveaway, combined with other factors.

I personally use a lot of black, gray and earth/forest colour tones in my clothing. I am 185cm and 105 kg. Still have my hair on the top and no facial hair. No tattoos.
 
#67
Look at a photo of Nirvana. Look at a photo of the Who. Look at a photo of Pink Floyd.

In each of these cases the first time I saw these photos I correctly guessed which one was the bassist. I have no idea why, and I'm a dude. (In the case of Pink Floyd I also guessed which one was responsible for most of the cynical lyrics based on the expression on his face.)

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BTW, back in the day Roger Waters rocked a scarf, not a stupid hat. I'm in favor of bringing back the scarf to replace the stupid hats...

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#72
Splods said:
I've personally noticed (mostly judging from blues and rock) that the bassist tends to be the quietest person there, and is quite happy to just listen to the conversation, while the loudest people there will be the drummer and the guitarist.
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This is me, definitely. I'm also, physically, the stereotypical bass player ('cept I'm a white boy ;)). I'm 6'1, 270 lbs.

At 39, I still have all of my hair, and it's kept in a ponytail that almost reaches my beltline. It's brown with a lot of gray. I'm clean shaven. I wear glasses, left ear sports a small hoop, and my only tattoo (a bass clef) is on my bicep, usually hidden by my shirt.

I've been told that I look like a bass player in general. I've also been told that I look somewhat like a specific bass player: Penn Jillette.
 
#74
well, I am 6' 4", and about 225, so somewhat lanky. My build is almost cartoonish. I am all legs, shoulders and angles. I wear 32 x 38 jeans, but shirt size is 46/48... and yes, XXL glove size. it is difficult to get cloths to fit me correctly. (plus a full head of hair, but I am 42...it still has time to fall out)
I rarely get pegged as a bassist, unless I am playing, though. I am often told that I am the kind of person who sticks out in a crowd, so I am guessing that is why people think I play guitar, or am the vocalist
 
#75
DiabolusInMusic said:
Nobody has said it... so I will... are you black OP?

As Eric Cartman said, all black people know how to play the bass... hence, assumed bassist. (For those curious watch the christian rock episode, it is absolutely hilarious)

:D :D
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By far my favorite episode with TB on South Park XD I was only disappointed to never find that bass in the basement.

All in all, she probably saw a "vibe" in your playing. Usually on the line of "It's all good".

Now if only I could find connection between that and hats because I'm just as guilty of that too.
 

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