xilddx Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I'm a bass guitarist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I prefer not to give myself a label... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 The fat baldy guy who can't play!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomEndian Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgraham Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomEndian Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [quote name='BottomEndian' post='910105' date='Jul 30 2010, 11:40 AM']I'm a 66-inch pianist. :brow: [/quote] Bbrraaa-tishh!! (drummer thing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I'm a professional musician, but in the circles in which I play, I'm a bass player most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d-basser Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 I am bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey1-8 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomEndian Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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