bubinga5 Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 It's a strange one. I do get paid to play bass. But even if I didn't I would consider myself a musician.it's just the way that I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Probably like a few others on here I started on bass in the early days of punk, in a school band. On violin (which I was fairly good at, but after seeing the Starnglers in '77 ditched for the next 10 years) I was just making a noise that meant very little to me. On bass, bashing away on an open string with my equally clueless band mates on those first few gigs, we were creating something that moved me inexpressibly - we were musicians Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) I was once on a bus in Birmingham on my way to the Cannon Hill Arts Centre. An older guy got off the bus with me and asked: 'Do you know the way to the Arts Centre?' 'Yes, I'm going there, walk with me.' I replied. So we fell into chatting and he said: 'I'm going to see a jazz big band rehearsal; I have an audition with them next week.' Turned out he was a saxophonist. Not having done much playing for about a year at that time, I foolishly said: 'I used to be a musician.' 'Oh' he responded, 'do you still have your instrument?' 'Yes, I do' I said. 'Then' he said, 'you're still a musician, it's just that you are not getting any better.' Edited August 21, 2016 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 [quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1471760820' post='3115554'] we were musicians [/quote] Well all of you apart from the drummer obviously . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 [quote name='Painy' timestamp='1471763519' post='3115562'] Well all of you apart from the drummer obviously . [/quote] Lol - he still isn't! Singer / rhythm guitarist was though; a guy called Boo Hewerdine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Unless you bought a bass, hung it on the wall and just sit and look at it... I would say that everyone here is a proper musician. Even if you just bang out three chords or play root notes. The important thing is to do what you fancy and enjoy yourself. Funnily enough I answered the same way when the question came up on an acoustic guitar forum some years ago... I got savaged by some strange little guy for daring to suggest he was a musician. From the stuff he put on you tube he obviously played guitar 100 times better than I did. He must have had "issues" I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I always thought I played an instrument. Then I was in a band. Then someone heard a recording and said "I didn't realise you were a musician" I'd never really thought I was when I was playing covers, but when I considered the comment I could only see we were making music, and therefore yes, I was a musicin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 A musician is a profession, if I were to book a musician I would fully expect them to turn up dot read whats put in front of them and get it perfect. Hence why I am a "bass player" if anyone asks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Some very fine dividing lines here. I call myself a bass player and musician. In that order. I don't worry about definitions except for the working/not working one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) I'm a musician that plays bass, amongst other instruments. A musician is someone who plays music. I don't think the instrument or proficiency level comes into it. Edited August 21, 2016 by ambient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 From the dictionary. One who composes, conducts, or performs music, especially instrumental music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I've owned & played basses & other instruments for over 37 years but I have never thought of myself as a musician as I have no theoretical knowledge of music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I was very proud when I got my first Passport. Occupation : Musician. Giving my age away now (with the Passport occupation reference). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I was proud to put Musician my passport. I didn't always do union gigs but back in the day when the entertainment businesses were "protected" and quota systems existed it caused problems getting into France. Germany got very sniffy as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 I'm a bassist that aspires to be a musician. Perhaps one day i will sense when i've crossed that threshold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 If you are actively engaging, at whatever level and in whatever manner, you are a musician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 To me a musician is someone who plays an - or more - instrument. So by ways of that, I`m nearly a musician Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 [quote name='spacey' timestamp='1471774556' post='3115703'] A musician is a profession, if I were to book a musician I would fully expect them to turn up dot read whats put in front of them and get it perfect. Hence why I am a "bass player" if anyone asks. [/quote] From your definition then, neither Wes Montgomery, Errol Garner, Buddy Rich or Dave Brubeck would be classed as musicians because they don't read music ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydog Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 My 2p worth, based on the biological classification system : Domain : Musician Kingdom : Tuned Instruments Phylum : Stringed Instruments Class : Bass Player Order : Fretted Family : Steel Strung Genus : Electric Species : Pick Musician IMO is a very high level classification, like the difference between plants/animals and rocks. Bass player is somewhere in the middle, a class with orders below it and above it. HTH ! LD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 It always surprises me that so many people have so many definitions of what something *is*. The 'Being Professional, being a professional' threads went far beyond what the dictionary actually defines. I wonder if vehicle drivers are as loose with their definitions in the highway code? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 In absolute terms, anyone making music is a musician - what's more interesting IMHO is how people perceive their relationship to music. Is there a difference between someone who defines themself as a guitarist and someone who defines themself as a musician who happens to play the guitar? IME there is a difference in attitude to what and how each type learn and approach playing, and how they perceive their own skill level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinArto Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 In the pub one night, a friend introduced me to a well-known local brass player and said 'This is Kev, he's a bass player'. I said 'I'm glad you didn't tell him I was a musician'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 When I first realised that, given a set of chords, I could play any tune put in front of me and in any key. And people phoned offering me gigs. That was back in 1964. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1471747027' post='3115537'] It's a strange one. I do get paid to play bass. But even if I didn't I would consider myself a musician.it's just the way that I think. [/quote] Tough question. I play music in a rock band for a living, but I'm not sure that makes me a musician or a pro. I think when people outside of music business recognize you as a musician or refer to you as a pro at that point your a musician. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1471787238' post='3115830'] From your definition then, neither Wes Montgomery, Errol Garner, Buddy Rich or Dave Brubeck would be classed as musicians because they don't read music ? [/quote] Excellent debate point. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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