David C Wilson asked:
Let’s face it: most people don’t even know what a bass is. While the venerable six string guitar is admired and respected by millions, the bass guitar is somewhat less glamorous. After all, you’re not exactly standing out in the front, laying down hot licks and screaming solos. You’re not even pounding away by playing chords. You’re sitting in that sonic space below, forming the bridge between the drummer and the rest of the instrumentation.
Bassists are rarely the most popular members in their band. Overlooked by fans and critics alike, you might wonder why you should bother playing this seemingly unpopular instrument. After all, wasn’t the whole point of starting rock band to get more girls? Why play bass when you can get more attention elsewhere?
The truth is, if you’re really doing this for attention, don’t play bass. Everything you’ve heard is absolutely right. With few exceptions, bass players do not get the attention. However, they do get to have tons of fun.
Let me explain. I said earlier that the bass forms the bridge between the rhythm sections (usually the drums) and the rest of the music. As a result, you’re playing an absolutely critical role in a band. You form the beat, the pulse, the groove of the song. Without you, the band wouldn’t sound nearly as good. This is an awesome responsibility, and the satisfaction you can get from providing this hard to describe until you’ve experienced it.
As the “god of the groove”, you’ll be surprised at how much your playing manipulates the audience. Your bass lines will be what makes people move. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as looking at and seeing an entire crowd dancing and moving to the groove that you’re laying down. No guitarist ever had it this good.
On the more practical side, bassists are always in demand, assuming you’re skilled enough to lay down a rock solid groove. Since the more glamorous guitar draws more players, the supply of skilled bass players is much lower. This makes it easier to find a band that will be in need of your services. This is a nice perk, since you’ll almost always be able to find work if you’re good.
So, I hope this helps you see why playing the bass guitar can be such a rewarding experience. It doesn’t put you front stage and center, but once you see that crowd moving to your groove, you’ll realize that being in the spotlight is somewhat overrated.
Technorati Tags: Drums, Hot Licks, Rhythm Sections, Rock Band, Satisfaction
