Who doesn't or can't play bass guitar

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 15 May 2009 9:07 am

Rick Schmidt wrote:I'd rather play bass and find another steel player to fill in for me, than have to feed an inexperienced bass player the chord changes all night.

Perfect post, I agree.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 16 May 2009 7:48 pm

Two points:

I was a bass player in High School bands, but once I started gigging on steel, I haven't picked up a bass on the job since. You can't really double on bass in a band, because it always needs to be there.

Second, I bet a lot of former bass players will know what I'm talking about when I say that i listen to music from the bass up. Most of us listen to the bass to hear the changes, but I think ex-bassists (and current bass players) hear the bass first, especially in pop music where there's more going on than ones and fives.

Joe

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 17 May 2009 11:20 am

I multiple track my recordings in my basement, so if I need a bass on the recording I have to play it myself. If pedal steel is the most difficult instrument to play, bass guitar has to be the easiest. Its only drawback is that it can bring calouses up on your fingers.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 17 May 2009 11:34 am

I've tried playing bass in a live band situation. It's really difficult, but I think if I hung in there, I would get fairly good at it.
I've actually thought about taking it up again, because there is always a shortage of bass players. Especially bass players that sing. I have never understood a bass player that doesn't sing.

Corey Chapman · Post by **Corey Chapman** » 18 May 2009 3:40 am

I OWN 3 bass guitars, 3 acoustic guitars, 2 dobros, and *shriek* a banjo, but I PLAY pedal steel (and even that is debatable

)

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 19 May 2009 5:39 pm

The first band I was in, I was a bass player. Caught on pretty good. I remember the first time my buddy showed the bass to me. He handed it to me and said."I'm going to show you where three chords are on it. The rest you'll have to learn on your own." Well, I took it home and after I had it for about a week, I came back for practice with the band and was doing a shuffle and 4/4, 2/4 and a 50's rock and a walk. After playing it for about a year, i decided to pick up the steel. I also fiddle with the fiddle and the acoustic guitar. To me a fiddle is so, so precise. You can move your finger +or - on the neck 1/1000 and end up either to sharp or too flat.
Tommy Shown

Frank Bradley · Post by **Frank Bradley** » 21 May 2009 5:17 am

Here I am "doubling" on the bass while our bass player takes lead guitar during a R&R song with my band. Our band is very versitle and all of us play (except our drummer) multiple instruments proficiently. It can be done and it's lots of fun if your able to do it. The crowd love's it too as it allows a wide range of music for them, especially requests.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 21 May 2009 7:02 am

I'm not a great bass player, but I've played quite a few gigs on bass. The fact that I know the standard country/rock-a-billy styles and repertoire made me a bass player of last resort in a few bands, back when that music was in vogue.

I play bass on my own home recordings now. I have a Line6 Variax bass that does the job quite nicely.

Tim Fleming · Post by **Tim Fleming** » 21 May 2009 10:30 am

My twin brother Tucker and I started working as a rhythm section (Tucker on drums, me on bass) about 40 years ago. We've played together for some big-name artists and for a gazillion local bands as well.

Our best compliment came just within the past year however when a guitarist with whom we work occasionally (Danny Ott) remarked that playing with us made his job so-o-o-o easy.

My feeling is that a good bassist should be felt and heard - one must play with conviction...and, that less is more.

Leland Ogle · Post by **Leland Ogle** » 21 May 2009 12:32 pm

There is nothing better than a bass player and a drumner that lock in together. I have played with bass players that when I try to cut loose and vary my tempo, they try to go with me instead of locking with the drumner. Did that make sense?
Lee

admin · Post by **b0b** » 21 May 2009 1:26 pm

Leland Ogle wrote:There is nothing better than a bass player and a drumner that lock in together.

Once we had a stage setup that put the bass amp sort of far away from the drummer. I asked the drummer if that was a problem for him. He said "No, I never listen to him anyway."

We later parted company because of what I call "artistic differences".

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 21 May 2009 6:42 pm

meet a bass player 6:13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLMyYToY ... re=related

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 21 May 2009 9:00 pm

My first gig was on bass. It could get me to where my guitar playing couldn't. A reasonable bass player will never be wanting for a gig while at the same time you gotta push the guitar players out of the way so that you can set the traps.

The greatest bassist of all time? Pastorius? Jamerson? Chambers?........ JS Bach. Dig it!