tony_m Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 So far, I'd say I've been the third (possibly fourth) best bass player in a five-piece band, and the second (possibly third) best in a couple of four-pieces. Fortunately the drummers in all three bands have been excellent, while my other bandmates have also been accommodating and supportive as regards my level of (in)competence. Playing with more accomplished / experienced musicians has certainly pushed me to improve, and my confidence in myself and my playing has definitely grown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I think inventive and creative musicians give me a greater buzz, when playing with them, than so called technically proficient musos. As long as you are up to speed with the format of the songs you are doing, and laying a good foundation, there is nothing quite like playing with more gifted musicians, and being pulled along by there creativity. And yes, I only do this for fun, but the better the musicians I play with the more fun I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 [quote name='tony_m' timestamp='1505987031' post='3375625']I've been the third (possibly fourth) best bass player in a five-piece band, [/quote] Eh? You've played in a band where two (possibly three) members are better bass players than you?! Maybe I've misunderstood... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 (edited) [quote name='mikel' timestamp='1505987249' post='3375628'] I think inventive and creative musicians give me a greater buzz, when playing with them, than so called technically proficient musos. [/quote] Good point. I also wonder why, as bass players, we would need to be the best musician in a band in any obvious way? It would depend on the genre of music of course, but unless you are playing for an audience of bassists (what a nightmare!), most average punters just want to have a good time, have a bit of a dance and listen to (and sing along with) some songs that they know. There are more specialist audiences out there, but they are notoriously fickle and difficult to find Edited September 21, 2017 by Conan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I've just started on guitar in a band and I'm definitely the weakest player. No-one seems to mind but I feel like I don't really have much to contribute. Hopefully it'll just be a matter of time before I "get it" I play drums in a band with a sh*t-hot guitarist, and sh*t-hot bassist, but then the front man attempts harmonica so I'm not the worst player I play bass in a band where I'm definitely better than the other guys - on their instruments too! But that band is about having a laugh and making awesome noisy music with my mates, and I love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I suppose the other factor is that at some point, your friends and family might want to hear this band you've been working with. If the rest of the group play about as well as manatees wearing boxing gloves, are you really going to invite your loved ones to the gig? On the other hand, if you're out of your depth but the rest of the band is as tight as a gnat's chuff, at least your nearest and dearest will be distracted and keep talking about how good the guitarist/drummist/saxophonist/bassoonist is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_m Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1505987328' post='3375630'] Eh? You've played in a band where two (possibly three) members are better bass players than you?! Maybe I've misunderstood... [/quote] Nope, you've got it - the guitarist was actually a bass player first and foremost but chose to play guitar (he also wrote a fair number of the songs), while the drummer plays drums, bass and harmonica to a high standard. Not sure about the keyboard player's talents on bass, but he was another multi-instrumentalist (keys, guitar, drums) so it wouldn't have surprised me to find he could hold his own! Fortunately none of 'em wanted to play bass with this band so I got the gig, and kept it until I moved away. Guess I must have been good enough... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I'd rather have the pressure of trying to haul myself up to the level of other better players in a band than the pressure of trying to carry a bunch of folks who really arent quite up to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 [quote name='tony_m' timestamp='1505992575' post='3375697'] Nope, you've got it - the guitarist was actually a bass player first and foremost but chose to play guitar (he also wrote a fair number of the songs), while the drummer plays drums, bass and harmonica to a high standard. Not sure about the keyboard player's talents on bass, but he was another multi-instrumentalist (keys, guitar, drums) so it wouldn't have surprised me to find he could hold his own! Fortunately none of 'em wanted to play bass with this band so I got the gig, and kept it until I moved away. Guess I must have been good enough... [/quote] Crikey! Takes the apocryphal comment about Ringo's drumming to another level! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_m Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1505998156' post='3375750'] Crikey! Takes the apocryphal comment about Ringo's drumming to another level! [/quote] I'll take that as my epitaph... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I`d choose worst player in good band any day. Just cos you`re the worst out of some really impressive musicians doesn`t necessarily mean you`re bad, whereas being the best in a rubbish band, well why bother? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 [quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1505975775' post='3375531'] The general consensus is that it's better to be the worst in a good band than the best in a rubbish band. Like a few have already said, it's great to work with people who have more skills than you, as they push you to improve & reach their standard, rather than trying to drag other people up to your standard. As much as I hate to admit it, Coldplay are actually good musicians who decided to peddle their bland blend of self indulgent music on society. Someone has to do it I suppose... As for watching an episode of Car Pool Karoake with Chris Martin & James Corden, a) I'd rather watch paint dry and if ever there was an episode where you really wanted to watch a car crash, because they were too busy being egotistical bell-ends, it would be that one. [/quote] It was worth putting the Cordenite warning in then. Good. I didn't watch the clip myself after about fifteen seconds or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 [quote name='tony_m' timestamp='1506001935' post='3375794'] I'll take that as my epitaph... [/quote] Oh. You play the epitaph as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_m Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 [quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1506005288' post='3375834'] Oh. You play the epitaph as well? [/quote] Yeah, but it's got a Fender decal on it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I have been both and find the best in worst quite challenging when nothing changes, particularly when you were the worst in best and have hauled your butt up to make the grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysbass Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 I've been in both situations and definitely prefer being the worst player in a great band. I found that this forced me to raise my game and its a great feeling when you know your playing is constantly improving. Its one of the main reasons i do this. But at the other extreme; I was once in a covers band that I started, but it eventually became obvious that there were deep rooted problems when we were asked to pack up and leave a venue after the first set. My despair soon deepened when one of the guitarists in another band I was in came to one of our gigs and later told me that I was the only half decent member of this band and that I was flogging a dead horse. I had to accept that whilst I was taking the project seriously and putting the work in; the drummer and guitarist were not and had set fairly low standards for themselves. A band is only as good as its weakest member - and that's especially true when its the drummer. I left the band soon after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 There are an awful lot of deluded instrument owners out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 [quote name='TimR' timestamp='1506160743' post='3376771'] There are an awful lot of deluded instrument owners out there. [/quote] +1 Definitely steer clear of these guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeastieB Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 I think it depends on the relative gap. I volunteered to play at an official work's ceremony, thinking it might be fun. However, the others were all classically trained, so had no problem sight reading the music they chose. And certainly didn't have time for me to get up to speed. I was felt floundering at the cello parts, losing my way, questioning the idea I really knew how to play anything, perhaps I was kidding myself and it time to just give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 YeastieB says exactly what I was going to - being worst in a good band is one thing, but being worst in a band of virtuosi would be (for me) a horrible experience. Conversely, if you're best in a group of musicians who are a little worse than you and are capable of self-assessment, it can trigger them into improvement. So either the best in an only slightly worse band, or the worst in a moderately better band, would suit me. Fortunately, the bands I'm currently in contain members who are all around the same level of ability as me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFry Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Which band ? The one with the best listeners every time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolCol Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 [quote name='TimR' timestamp='1506160743' post='3376771'] There are an awful lot of deluded instrument owners out there. [/quote] Man isn't that the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 If you're gonna be the least good player in a band then you ought have something else to offer such as being the best songwriter or frontman or the one with the great stage banter. Wop's happy being the anonymous bloke at the back of stage simply holding down the bottom end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Well... if the band is rubbish then move on I prefer to play with people equal or better than myself. It feels scary at times but that's where you learn the most and ends up being most satisfying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Not sure how you can learn from better band members unless they play the same instrument as you. The main thing is everyone knows how to play in the right keys, how to count and is familiar with basic music theory. I've known guitar players who can whiz up and down the fretboard but ask them to play something in the key of whatever and they look at you blankly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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