At what stage do you call yourself a bass player?

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited February 16, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Mr Fretbuzz]

I wish.. if they mix it up and depending on their song choice I might spat on if I'm unlucky

[TimR]

I love these questions that have no answer.

It's all about competence. If you are 15 and play roots to blues tune in a band of 15 year olds you are a bass player.

If you then audition for a band of 50 year olds who gig 100s of tunes twice a week, you still audition as a bass player, you don't get the gig, they won't say you're not a bass player, you're just not a good enough bass player for them.

Taken to extremes: Are you only a bass player when you stop failing auditions due to your ability and start failing due to your image?

[Blademan_98]

Most missed the question

I was asking when you personally think you are a bass player.

Doesn't matter what others think.

Just how you feel.

[BILL POSTERS]

Maybe your not a Bass Player till you [i]look like a Bass Player... [/i].

[Blademan_98]

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1351715130' post='1854625']
Maybe your not a Bass Player till you [i]look like a Bass Player... [/i].
[/quote]
I am short fat and bald.....
Does that qualify me as a bass player?

[BILL POSTERS]

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1351715311' post='1854630']
I am short fat and bald.....
Does that qualify me as a bass player?

[/quote]

Yep, qualifies you as a short fat bald one I spose.
I'm not sure what a Bass Player looks like. Just that people see us at the bar or something, and assume its me. and a good few Bass Players have said that the same happens to them as well.

[TimR]

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1351714913' post='1854620']
Most missed the question

I was asking when you personally think you are a bass player.

Doesn't matter what others think.

Just how you feel.


[/quote]

Ah right. I see.

28 years ago when I was playing root notes in a rock band with a bunch of other 15 year olds.

However I still find myself playing the same notes to the same tunes now, all be it with a bunch of 50 year olds

Hmmmmm.

[BassTractor]

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1351714913' post='1854620']
Most missed the question [/quote]

C'mon, don't be so harsh, please. We're only bass players!
Additionally, you can safely overlook what we all wrote.


[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1351715311' post='1854630']
I am short fat and bald.....
[/quote]

PERFEC!


shortfatbaldbest,
shortfatbaldbert

[TimR]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rhvxy0r2Do&feature=channel&list=UL[/media]

Edited November 1, 2012 by TimR

[xilddx]

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1351784825' post='1855373']
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rhvxy0r2Do&feature=channel&list=UL[/media]
[/quote]

I'm sorry, it sounds like he read a popular psychology book, then made a video. It seems clumsy and not well thought out to me.

[TimR]

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1351859397' post='1856237']
I'm sorry, it sounds like he read a popular psychology book, then made a video. It seems clumsy and not well thought out to me.
[/quote]

Well he is American.

I kind of liked it until he got to the room bit.

I'm comfortable with the bits I need to know, I know there are bits I should, would like to, but don't really need to know.

Know what I mean?

Edited November 2, 2012 by TimR

[Bloodaxe]

[list]
[*]When you buy a bass with your own cash,
[*]When the blisters become callouses,
[*]When you have to make a concious effort to listen to an entire mix instead of zeroing in on the bassline.
[*]When you get together with a bunch of like-minded reprobates & make a racket... and then do it again.
[/list]
& not necessarily in that order either.

[lurksalot]

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1351176164' post='1848270']

I do remember when I first met my Ex at a party full of actors and musos. He (muso) said to me 'Are you an actor then?' and I replied without hesitation 'Yes'. I remember thinking at the time 'should I qualify this by saying I'm just an amateur?' and then thought 'no - I am a bloody actor, so there is no need to elaborate at this point!'.
[/quote]

No disrespect , but if you had said "NO", would it , on balance ,have been a better answer

[Floyd]

A friend recently introduced me to someone else and said I was a musician. I'd only ever thought of myself as a bass player so when did I become a musician?

[Blademan_98]

[quote name='Floyd' timestamp='1351908647' post='1856905']
A friend recently introduced me to someone else and said I was a musician. I'd only ever thought of myself as a bass player so when did I become a musician?
[/quote]

Well, you make music on your bass - so you must be a musician

[seashell]

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1351902475' post='1856879']


No disrespect , but if you had said "NO", would it , on balance ,have been a better answer
[/quote]

Je ne regrette rien! :-)

[Rothers]

I promised myself I wouldn't accept myself as a bass player until I could play the iconic basslines that I love.

I think also when you get a big cheer at the end of your live set as you are introduced then you can call yourself a bassplayer.

I'm a bassplayer

[12stringbassist]

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1351023147' post='1846408']
Seeing posts by multi instument players, it got me to thinking.......

When do you consider yourself a player?
Personally, it is when I can play with my eyes shut.
I can do that on a guitar (electric or acoustic) and an electric bass.
I play a bit of keys and sometimes even write songs on one -
BUT I would never consider myself a keyboard player as I have to watch my hands all the time.
I also like to have a hrash on the drums but again I am no drummer
I still have a lot to learn and technically I may not be great, but I think thats just part of the journey.
How about you?
[/quote]

You are a bass player when you take on the role in a band.
Whether you are a good or serious player is down to how much work you put into it.
It is a defined role and if you don't fit the bill - you're not a bass player.

I prefer the term bassist myself.

Edited November 3, 2012 by 12stringbassist