Do you consider yourself a BASSIST or a MUSICIAN?

[xilddx]

As the title says really.

Also do you see one of those terms as subservient to the other? Because I do. Do you prefer to be referred to as a MUSICIAN or a BASSIST.

I read an interview a long while back with a celebrated guitarist who I don't remember the name of, who felt deeply insulted when referred to as a "guitar player". He said "I'm a 'guitarist' not a 'guitar player'!", something to do with him being a [i]musician[/i] rather than an [i]instrument operator[/i]. Art versus craft perhaps.

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='silddx' post='910060' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:12 AM']As the title says really.

Also do you see one of those terms as subservient to the other? Because I do. Do you prefer to be referred to as a MUSICIAN or a BASSIST.

I read an interview a long while back with a celebrated guitarist who I don't remember the name of, who felt deeply insulted when referred to as a "guitar player". He said "I'm a 'guitarist' not a 'guitar player'!", something to do with him being a [i]musician[/i] rather than an [i]instrument operator[/i]. Art versus craft perhaps.[/quote]

I'm a musician who happens to play bass.

[Low End Bee]

I'm a bass guitarist

[cetera]

I prefer not to give myself a label...

[thepurpleblob]

The fat baldy guy who can't play!!

[witterth]

Funnily enough Nige;
I've allways hated the term "Bassist"
it sounds so.. err...."university student" to me (that irritation, probably only makes sense to me, by the way!)

I'm a "bass player"

and any one who says different.............has heard me Play

[BottomEndian]

I'm a musician. My skill lies in creating music and tying together musical ideas using whatever instruments or objects are at hand. I am a jack of all musical trades, and certainly a master of none.

It just so happens that my instrument of choice these days is the bass guitar.

[thisnameistaken]

I don't know enough about music to call myself a musician. I don't really like being identified as a bass player either to be honest. I don't know what I would prefer.

[mcgraham]

I see myself as a musician whose first/primary instrument is bass. If I could only play one instrument for the rest of my life it would have to be bass. Fortunately that isn't the case.

My feeling of what makes a musician is someone who has a natural predisposition or inclination to make artistically creative contributions when playing, and who objectively discerns/chooses to contribute in a particular way (e.g. choosing one possible contribution over another) rather than purely fulfilling a musical function in the only way they know how.

[cheddatom]

I don't care. Whatever people want to call me. I've always thought of myself as a bassist, but people call me a drummer these days, and I started on guitar.

[witterth]

Oh,.. and its inevitable that in lots of mobile phone books, like it or not, I'm listed as "John-Bass"
whaddya gonna do? eh?

[TimR]

I play other instruments so I'm a musician. When I pick up the bass I don't mind either is acceptable.

Interestingly you can be a Pianist, Bassist, Flautist, Violinist but you can't be a Drummist. If you play a drum kit and want to be an ist you have to play other instruments and become a Percussionist. Only kidding - there are loads of other instruments ie Trumpet where you don't get an ist.

Where does the ist come from anyway? I'm off to do a google.

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='910094' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:32 AM']I don't care. Whatever people want to call me. I've always thought of myself as a bassist, but people call me a drummer these days, and I started on guitar.[/quote]

I would never like to be called a drummer.

[Low End Bee]

In seriousness when people ask I say I am a bass player.

I don't consider myself a musician or worry that I'm not. I just like being in a band.

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='TimR' post='910102' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:37 AM']Interestingly you can be a Pianist[/quote]
I'm a 66-inch pianist.

:brow:

[cheddatom]

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='910103' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:38 AM']I would never like to be called a drummer. [/quote]

Well at first i'd say "oi, i'm not a drummer, I just play 'cos we can't find one" but people didn't get that I was joking based on the musicians hierarchy - The general public don't see drummers as crazy idiots, so i'm ok with it!

I think the more worrying thing is that the general public haven't been educated in the ways of the drummer.

[witterth]

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='910105' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:40 AM']I'm a 66-inch pianist.

:brow:

[/quote]
Bbrraaa-tishh!!


(drummer thing)

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='910112' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:42 AM']Well at first i'd say "oi, i'm not a drummer, I just play 'cos we can't find one" but people didn't get that I was joking based on the musicians hierarchy - The general public don't see drummers as crazy idiots, so i'm ok with it!

I think the more worrying thing is that the general public haven't been educated in the ways of the drummer.[/quote]

'Table drummer'. Now that's different.

[Low End Bee]

[quote name='witterth' post='910117' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:45 AM']Bbrraaa-tishh!!


(drummer thing)[/quote]


You were late

(rest of the band thing)

[OutToPlayJazz]

I'm a professional musician, but in the circles in which I play, I'm a bass player most of the time.

[witterth]

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='910120' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:47 AM']You were late

(rest of the band thing)[/quote]
love that one!!

[d-basser]

I am bass

[harvey1-8]

[quote name='silddx' post='910060' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:12 AM']Do you prefer to be referred to as a MUSICIAN or a BASSIST.[/quote]

I don’t think it matters, I’m not that pedantic.

[Cat Burrito]

I've come on leaps & bounds as a player in the last few years so I'm a lot more comfortable being described as a musician. However I really don't mind

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='910157' date='Jul 30 2010, 12:23 PM']I've come on leaps & bounds as a player in the last few years so I'm a lot more comfortable being described as a musician.[/quote]
Funny, isn't it? I'd completely go the other way. As I improve on the bass, I feel myself becoming more comfortable describing myself as a bassist.