Why don't bassist get no respect?

[alx.sully]

It seems to me that bassist aren't considered real musicians.
Why is that?

[Tristan Needler]

I've never come across that problem.

[Tristan Needler]

P.s.

Did anyone else think Rodney Dangerfield?

[OveriseFan]

Their poor grammar skills?

Haha. I don't think thats the case. I think they get respect like any other musician - by being solid at their instrument. If you're just going to follow root notes of the chord progression, well, you shouldn't get respect. (But you're also not a bassist then.)

[Jesse00]

can you give an example of a bassist getting flack?

[Tristan Needler]

Their poor grammar skills?

Haha. I don't think thats the case. I think they get respect like any other musician - by being solid at their instrument. If you're just going to follow root notes of the chord progression, well, you shouldn't get respect. (But you're also not a bassist then.)
Exactly.

There's a difference between playing the bass and being a bass player. Just like any other instrument.

[Roboman]

P.s.

Did anyone else think Rodney Dangerfield?

Before someone else does:
-r_Eu-w_73c
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r_Eu-w_73c)

[Scott Farcas]

Exactly.

There's a difference between playing the bass and being a bass player. Just like any other instrument.


Your exactly right

[The Boathouse]

Haha, my bassist in my band is probably one of the best musicians in the group, hands down. He gets a ton of respect. Hold your shit down and you'll get respected. If you feel like you're not getting respect and you're a bassist, learn to hold your own.

[Prestonxsmith]

I ended up having to play bass for one band and just come up with different bass parts that are separate from the guitar.

[ClydeMcAllister]

Everywhere you go on the mighty interweb, you're bound to find butthurt bass players who have this idea that bassists are disrespected.

Truth is, any "musician" who actually does disrespect it and put it down, probably knows jack shit and should be ingnored anyway.

[thespearkid]

Their poor grammar skills?

Haha. I don't think thats the case. I think they get respect like any other musician - by being solid at their instrument. If you're just going to follow root notes of the chord progression, well, you shouldn't get respect. (But you're also not a bassist then.)
This.

[Prestonxsmith]

If your looking for inspiration for some different bass lines, go listen to Death Cab for Cutie.

[OveriseFan]

If your looking for inspiration for some different bass lines, go listen to Death Cab for Cutie.

Now this is a man who doesn't necessarily get "disrespected", but he is under appreciated.

Nick comes up with some great bass lines. Ben gives him credit for "saving" 'Your New Twin-Sized Bed". He said that it was too much like I Will Follow You Into The Dark before Nick brought this great bass line to him. Completely re-invented the song.

[alx.sully]

ha
this was really just a joke
posted on a whim
funny
i think i was upset about some comments about pete wentz
who is actually pretty good

apparently Sid Vicious was so bad that they had to unplug his amp at shows...

[theguy77]

i would like to point out that matt rubano is the best part of TBS post-TAYF.

Now this is a man who doesn't necessarily get "disrespected", but he is under appreciated.

Nick comes up with some great bass lines. Ben gives him credit for "saving" 'Your New Twin-Sized Bed". He said that it was too much like I Will Follow You Into The Dark before Nick brought this great bass line to him. Completely re-invented the song.

YES i cant pick a favorite part of death cab for cutie because they're all good and innovative indie musicians but some of the songs definietly wouldnt be what they are without nick's sweet lines. one of my favorites.

ha
this was really just a joke
posted on a whim
funny
i think i was upset about some comments about pete wentz
who is actually pretty good

apparently Sid Vicious was so bad that they had to unplug his amp at shows...

hahahahaha, of course

[theguy77]

but really if someone is going to overlook the talent of a bassist, they're probably the kind of person who doesnt have a real passion for the technicalities of music, and they probably overlook the drummer and guitarist too, because they put all the attention on the vocals. this vocal focus is a primary essence of modern pop music, which is music made for people who dont care about music. a lot of times the only reason a guitarist gets recognition is because the guitar is iconic of the rock genre. but anyone who really appreciates music will see the importance in a bassist.

[jster2000]

i can understand that completely
because
when i play with my band
i just more or less follow the guitar but im trying to work on making the parts be more original
but like when if freesyling its more jazz influenced and more respectable

[Tristan Needler]

i can understand that completely
because
when i play with my band
i just more or less follow the guitar but im trying to work on making the parts be more original
but like when if freesyling its more jazz influenced and more respectable
You're pretty young so I'm assuming you haven't been playing long, so it's to be expected. As you get more comfortable moving around your instrument and experimenting then you'll become better.

[alx.sully]

i like playing with my jazz band more than my other ones
W00t slap bass

[Kerplunk_23]

If your really good then you will gain the respect,I hate when some think cause its 4 strings its easy,in a way it is and a way its not because you really have to approach the bass different then a guitar,I play bass some and I find myself enjoying it more when I am thinking outside of the norm.

[lew_1987]

The people who don't give bassists enough respect don't deserve to listen to music anyway.

[OveriseFan]

If your really good then you will gain the respect,I hate when some think cause its 4 strings its easy,in a way it is and a way its not because you really have to approach the bass different then a guitar,I play bass some and I find myself enjoying it more when I am thinking outside of the norm.

Bass is hard as hell for me to play, and I consider myself a decent guitarist.

They're very different instruments, even if their make-up is similar.

[thespearkid]

i think i was upset about some comments about pete wentz
who is actually pretty good

I can't think of a worse bassist than Pete Wentz.

[theguy77]

The people who don't give bassists enough respect don't deserve to listen to music anyway.

Bass is hard as hell for me to play, and I consider myself a decent guitarist.

They're very different instruments, even if their make-up is similar.

these.

[patrickhowell]

I can't think of a worse bassist than Pete Wentz.

There are probably thousands. I wouldn't say he's especially good, but he's not bad at all. He plays the parts and does enough to carry the low end in the band.

[thespearkid]

There are probably thousands. I wouldn't say he's especially good, but he's not bad at all. He plays the parts and does enough to carry the low end in the band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVVGZiIfEmw

He's pretty bad.

[patrickhowell]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVVGZiIfEmw

He's pretty bad.
There's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2TCZtc0Sk&feature=related) much (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GOjK17l_rg) worse (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5QpqG_NLTU&feature=related)...

[lew_1987]

There's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2TCZtc0Sk&feature=related) much (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GOjK17l_rg) worse (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5QpqG_NLTU&feature=related)...

I agree, but these people aren't in popular bands. I mean how long have Fall Out Boy been going for? That guy is just not tight enough live.

[Hainzey X]

i like playing with my jazz band more than my other ones
W00t slap bass

if you can play jazz bass, and slap and all that... you shouldn't be having trouble getting respect. i think jazz bass is one of the hardest and most intricate to play.

[OveriseFan]

if you can play jazz bass, and slap and all that... you shouldn't be having trouble getting respect. i think jazz bass is one of the hardest and most intricate to play.

He didn't say he was good at it... ;-)

[patrickhowell]

if you can play jazz bass, and slap and all that... you shouldn't be having trouble getting respect. i think jazz bass is one of the hardest and most intricate to play.

I think that slap bass pretty much never sounds good.

[11:11]

Anyone who says a bassist isnt necessary and doesn't deserve respect has never listened to Muse.

[patrickhowell]

Anyone who says a bassist isnt necessary and doesn't deserve respect has never listened to Muse.

I really dislike Muse.

[11:11]

You do have to admit, however, that Wolsenholme is a genius on the bass.

[Tristan Needler]

I think that slap bass pretty much never sounds good.I agree.

You do have to admit, however, that Wolsenholme is a genius on the bass.I like the band, but the bass playing has never really stood out to me.

[OveriseFan]

Anyone who says a bassist isnt necessary and doesn't deserve respect has never listened to Muse.

Um... they aren't.

Nothing is "necessary" when it comes to music. You can use whatever you want.

[11:11]

Um... they aren't.

Nothing is "necessary" when it comes to music. You can use whatever you want.
I stand corrected.

[bassdrummer2333]

If you don't like slap bass I assume you don't like heavily distorted bass either. I happen to love both. My impression would be people who don't like these 2 styles are into just pure bass tone.

[Tristan Needler]

If you don't like slap bass I assume you don't like heavily distorted bass either. I happen to love both. My impression would be people who don't like these 2 styles are into just pure bass tone.
Why would you assume that? It's not the tone I don't like, it's the style of playing. I happen to absolutely love a rough, edgy bass. Chris Squire's of Yes is my favourite bass tone ever.

The style is just too flamboyant for me. I know to be good at it requires a great deal of talent, but it just sounds bad. Like "shredding," tapping, and super-fast metal solos on guitar. I hate that.

[patrickhowell]

Why would you assume that? It's not the tone I don't like, it's the style of playing. I happen to absolutely love a rough, edgy bass. Chris Squire's of Yes is my favourite bass tone ever.

The style is just too flamboyant for me. I know to be good at it requires a great deal of talent, but it just sounds bad. Like "shredding" and super-fast metal solos on guitar. I hate that.

Yeah, I love overdriven bass tone too. One of my favorite bass tones is a neck humbucker cranked through an SVT stack.

[alx.sully]

I could totally see why some people dont like slap bass. I really don't like some types of guitar(shredding, 3 power chords over and over). Idk, just depends on personal preference/musical tastes.

[SamEyes]

If your looking for inspiration for some different bass lines, go listen to Death Cab for Cutie.

Summer Skin ftw.

Oh and Crooked Teeth, both have cracking basslines.

[johnh5304]

Well anyone with the slightest hint of rhythm can pick up a bass and play root notes but it takes natural musical ability, devotion, and practice, like anything instrument, to actually be a real bass player. That said, bass is a secondary instrument and most casual listeners don't pay enough attention to it to know what constitutes a good bass line.

[anthony051]

In my area (Northeast Ohio) Bassists are in high demand. As long as you are actually decent, and know how to play with a band I've never heard a bass player being looked down upon. I've been playing for a couple years now and I've never gotten any shit.