Lowender Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 (edited) I think we all have a prejudice -- in that we "pre-judge" musicians based on initial perception. In other words, if you hear a bad ass rick and roller, you wouldn't think he could play jazz very convincingly. (Because it would be unlikely). I recently met someone who work in a major symphony and was anxious to talk about classical music and as it turns out his favorite band was AC/DC. (?!?!?!) The tendency to pigeonhole is obvious and natural. I do it all the time. lol As an example, here is a clip from two guys to whom I'm subscribed on YouTube. One is known as a Chris Squire clone and the other as a solo bassist who plays guitar. Yet, in these clips, the CS guy is playing a really nice piece that is nothing at all like Squire. And the second is playing in a manner that is decidingly unlike a soloist. Cool stuff. But not everyone may agree. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LxcwOs3qj8[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG3WkUZnmNY[/media] Edited April 6, 2013 by Lowender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 People always assume that I play everything perfectly, because it's hard to pick out the bass precisely in a metal mix. I'm happy with that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceChick Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 I'm fed up of people coming to the house (delivery men, boiler engineers etc), seeing the basses and asking "Does your husband play the bass" no he bleeding well doesn't.... I'm the bassist and damn proud of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowender Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 [quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1365257659' post='2037307'] I'm fed up of people coming to the house (delivery men, boiler engineers etc), seeing the basses and asking "Does your husband play the bass" no he bleeding well doesn't.... I'm the bassist and damn proud of it! [/quote] LOL! Good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 [quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1365257659' post='2037307'] I'm fed up of people coming to the house (delivery men, boiler engineers etc), seeing the basses and asking "Does your husband play the bass" no he bleeding well doesn't.... I'm the bassist and damn proud of it! [/quote] My wife is equally fed up with people thinking I'm the surfer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 [quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1365257659' post='2037307'] I'm fed up of people coming to the house (delivery men, boiler engineers etc), seeing the basses and asking "Does your husband play the bass" no he bleeding well doesn't.... I'm the bassist and damn proud of it! [/quote] We have some old photos on the wall of Mrs FF in her showjumping days. Visitors are never confused by them because it's a typical girlie sport right? So they assume that the hydroplane powerboat racing photos must me. Er, no, that'll be Mrs FF as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 People assume I must be introverted and moody because of my "image" (and looking at the pic in my avatar I can`t blame them) and are usually pleasantly surprised to find out I`m actually quite chatty, cheerful & daft. The physio I was seeing last year enquired why I have so many "doom & gloom/evil" tattoos when I`m so cheerful and pleasant, and she suggested I get a tattoo of a fluffy kitten to balance things out! Nah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 For some reason, until they see us set up and play, people always assume I'm the guitarist... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 [quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1365257659' post='2037307'] I'm fed up of people coming to the house (delivery men, boiler engineers etc), seeing the basses and asking "Does your husband play the bass" no he bleeding well doesn't.... I'm the bassist and damn proud of it! [/quote] I'd say 'No.... Does yours, sweety ? ' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceChick Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 [quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1365267317' post='2037464'] I'd say 'No.... Does yours, sweety ? ' [/quote] Just read this to hubby, he reckons its a fair assumption, so maybe harsh. I thought it was funny! In fairness, the last occurrence took place only yesterday with a British Gas engineer who was servicing our boiler. When I told him I was the bassist, he told me that he'd tried and failed to learn the bass and asked what bassists I liked.... I told him everyone from Steve Harris to Jack Bruce.... Turns out he was a HUGE Iron Maiden fan, and so we spoke about Iron Maiden music... Then Thin Lizzy... And just chatted basslines...... Was a really nice bloke...... But the longest boiler service I've ever had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Harsh ? Moi ??? I like to cook - and I particularly like to cook asian food which fills my hovel with spicy aroma. Some cheeky bastard on my doorstep once asked ' Hmmm...is your wife foreign?' !!!!!!!!!!! It was several years ago - He should be using the toilet on his own again by now ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.I. Joe Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 [quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1365267694' post='2037469'] ...the longest boiler service I've ever had [/quote] Enough of that talk, this is a family forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 A couple of years ago I popped into a guitar shop in a town just up the coast. I commented, quietly but not quietly enough, to my wife that the place only had one bass in it. The shop owner, having heard me, commented that he knew I was a bass player the moment I walked in. I took it as a compliment, whether it was meant as one or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1365266363' post='2037442'] People assume I must be introverted and moody because of my "image" (and looking at the pic in my avatar I can`t blame them) and are usually pleasantly surprised to find ouet I`m actually quite chatty, cheerful & daft. The physio I was seeing last year enquired why I have so many "doom & gloom/evil" tattoos when I`m so cheerful and pleasant, and she suggested I get a tattoo of a fluffy kitten to balance things out! Nah. [/quote] Some of the nicest people I know have tatts with death heads, daggers, snakes etc. The ones you want to watch out for are the ones that say 'Mum'. Edited April 6, 2013 by seashell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1365267189' post='2037459'] For some reason, until they see us set up and play, people always assume I'm the guitarist... [/quote] I had the opposite problem for years, so I gave in and started playing bass instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 The most usual assumptions that people make about me are: 1) I'm the roadie - I run about pulling cables, hoisting kit and setting up lighting like a mad thing and shout at anyone who gets in my way more than twice. 2) That I'm only a bass player - I can play several instruments proficiently and can bluff my way through a number of others. I just prefer playing bass. 3) That I can only play folk music - that's a personal preference, not a professional limitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sausage Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Mine is that most bass players always focus on the groove when listening to music, rather than the melody, structure harmony etc. it's always 'what a groove' and 'in the pocket' and all that. Now i like a good groove and like playing them but come on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bass Doc Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 I think that once people know that you're a bass player [i]then [/i]they make certain assumptions about you. I usually say "Yes, like a horse". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 People see my Bass, and says, i bet you are good on that.I have to tell them i am useless, and they just won`t believe me.They would believe me if they forced me to try to play it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowender Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 (edited) I love how when anyone in the band hears low end rumble, they assume it's because the bass player is too loud! But the original comment is about assumptions in general. I've seen (once or twice) people right here on this forum (believe it or not) make a complete assessment about a player based on having heard them once for a minute. The thing is, some people may be better than you think, and in some cases, some people may sound great at one thing and later you find out that one thing was all they could do! Edited April 6, 2013 by Lowender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 People assume that if you play bass then you are a failed guitarist. Wrong!! I have no interest whatsoever in playing a six string guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 [quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1365276539' post='2037635'] People assume that if you play bass then you are a failed guitarist. [/quote] indeed, and they assume it's all about steady root notes for 3 chord songs and that anybody can play that. guitarists are among the worst offenders, as they invariably feel they have to play fast or slap or something to be seen as "good"... but neglect to support the song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 [quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1365276539' post='2037635'] People assume that if you play bass then you are a failed guitarist. [/quote] Not quite true in my case. I began playing guitar a year or two after my mates so I figured playing bass would give me a niche rather than trying to catch them up. It's correct that the 'failed guitarist' assumption shouldn't be made - but I do think it's true of many bass players. It wouldn't bother me if I was. Roy Keane was a failed boxer but he did OK at football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 [quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1365256479' post='2037277'] I think we all have a prejudice -- in that we "pre-judge" musicians based on initial perception. In other words, if you hear a bad ass rick and roller, you wouldn't think he could play jazz very convincingly. (Because it would be unlikely). I recently met someone who work in a major symphony and was anxious to talk about classical music and as it turns out his favorite band was AC/DC. (?!?!?!) The tendency to pigeonhole is obvious and natural. I do it all the time. lol [/quote] There's the ever so common "Bass is easier because it only has 4 strings, guitar has 6". I was at an improv class the other night, and me and a drummer only turned up this week. We spent the entire evening working on our timing with different lessons and whatever, and at the end of the night, the guy running it said "You were unlucky, because if the guitarists were here, you would have looked great and they would have seemed rubbish". It was also said that the bass and drums are what make a band, and that we only make the guitarist look better when we play good because most people aren't interested in bass or drums much. Glory hogging bastards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 "Is that your focus"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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