Bass Culture Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 If you are anything like me - or like I was over 40 years ago, when I first started playing - you avidly read everything you come across about players and playing for some insight or gobbet of wisdom that will set you on the path to virtuosity. Most of these pearls of wisdom I've long since forgotten but some may have, for a time, informed my playing and development to a greater or lesser extent. My own favourite which, if memory serves (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) was from Billy Sheehan who, when asked what his advice to young bass players was, said of music theory "Learn everything - then forget it". Took me a few years to understand what he meant but was hugely liberating when I did. So, let's hear the quotable quotes that made an impression on you and helped you with your playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Frank Zappa - "All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 For both music and life in general... "It's all much too serious to be serious about" - Daevid Allen. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 @Steve Lawson "There are no secrets, here's how it's done". Also, when holding aloft a bass "this does not come with an instruction manual". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 “They wouldn’t know a string quartet from a string vest” Sid Vicious 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nekomatic Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Steve Swallow, asked if he had words of advice for aspiring young bass players: ”Travel widely; seek romance; sit up straight, clean your room, and chew your food.” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 "ain't no writ without no hit" Not sure who said it first, could have been anybody... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Just look like your enjoying yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 “Talking about music is like dancing about architecture” ”Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible” both from the late, great Frank Zappa 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 57 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: “They wouldn’t know a string quartet from a string vest” Sid Vicious Asked if he played for the man in the street, the late, former Sex Pistol said: “Nah, I’ve met the man in the street - and he’s a ****.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 "Have, a good, time, ALL the time." - Viv Savage 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 "Don't look at the trombones; it only encourages them."... Richard Strauss. "Have you heard any Stockhausen?" Sir Thomas Beecham was asked. "No, but I believe I have stepped in some." 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 "David and Nigel are like poets, you know, like Shelley or Byron, or people like that. The two totally distinct types of visionaries, it’s like fire and ice, and I feel my role in the band is to be kind of the middle of that, kind of like lukewarm water." 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 13 minutes ago, lowdown said: "Have you heard any Stockhausen?" Sir Thomas Beecham was asked. "No, but I believe I have stepped in some." Well if we are talking about Sir Tom 🤣 To a lady cellist: "Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it." - Sir Thomas Beecham 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 10 minutes ago, MacDaddy said: Well if we are talking about Sir Tom 🤣 To a lady cellist: "Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it." - Sir Thomas Beecham I was hoping someone else would post it... Sir Thomas was responsible for some very funny moments. He had terrific wit. Thomas Beecham Quotations (46 Quotations) | QuoteTab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 2 hours ago, Nail Soup said: You got Sniffin Glue too then.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Lemmy to the sound man "Can you hear that horrible noise from my monitor?" "No" said the sound man, Lemmy "Neither can I, turn the fcuker up" 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upside downer Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 "You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music" Sid Vicious, again. What he lacked in musical ability he sure made up for in quotability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 I'm not really an Oasis fan, less so a Liam Gallagher fan....apart from his quotes: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.shortlist.com/news/best-liam-gallagher-quotes-funny/amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Jazz double bass player (forgotten his name) when asked what scale he used replied "I just play the root note first then any old bollocks after that" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 3 minutes ago, PaulWarning said: I just play the root note first then any old bollocks after that" That sounds like just about everything I play 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Miles Davis was very good at it. This has always inspired me : “Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman68 Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Probably quoted before but… ”All the money’s in the first 5 frets”… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 “Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery.” – Miles Davis No comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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