Namsterjuice

Man im trying to form a band. but no one wants to play the bass. everybody thinks the guitarist and the singer is the one who lost their vredit card. come on. im the guitarist and i want to play three days grace paramore style songs. my friend who can play bass is willing. but hes the only person. im trying to find a drummer. i might be the singer. but i cant play and sing at the same time. why are bass players uncommon?

Alucard817

Because the guitarists get all the glory. Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughn, B.B. King, Albert King, Kirk Hammett, Zakk Wylder, Jimmy Hendrix. The list goes on and on.

More people are inspired by guitarists then they are bassists. So that leads to an over abundance of guitar players and not much else.

EDIT:
I can name the greatest bass players of the past 20 years on one hand.

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anarkee

Because only amazingly gifted individuals can play bass. We are the rarest of creatures and should be appreciated and worshiped with offerings of fine alcohol and rare woods.

Seriously--check out music departments, put up ads at stores or ask around. You'll find your bass player.

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"I have suffered for my music and now it's your turn." Neil Innes

chatterbox272

Because everyone thins we're a bunch of failed guitarists. Only the intelligent people know how screwed guitarists would be without us, and those intelligent people are either bass players or play other good instruments (i.e. not guitar). And why not play and sing? it takes some practice to do but makes you way more valuable in any band if you're able to.

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Masquerade: #19

Sliide90027

The Gtrst for Demonic Domain found me on Craigslist.

He says I am the best and most consistently paid Bassist is DFW Metroplex, as he pays me to reherse and thus sort of has me on a Payroll, because he is just not going to find another one, he says.

He is smart enough to be able to tell when he is working with someone who plays because the tone inspires them, not because they could not make the Lead Gtrst Cut.

I feel the main reason the Bass is overlooked by most people is that the Human Brain is really attracted to Melody or Rythm. Drums or the Melody line. There are not many "and" people.

Only the more sophisticated Ear distinguishes the Bass.

Meanwhile, Gtrst have spent decades trying to keep the Bass from upstaging them, and resented them leaving any of the parameters of space that they believe the Bass must remain in.

Cliff Burton was acclaimed for doing things that I was doing a few years before him, and I had effects to the point that my Dad asked when there would be enough.

In the Band where I played and it caused stage rushes and fists in my face for the duration of each song, I once was noticed playing a Rythm Gtr line under a lead, with the top 3 strings on my 6 String.

Two chicks in front of me started screaming at the top of their Lungs. They probably were just out for a wild time anyway. Later I was fired for my 2x12 being too loud against his 3 Stacks.

Meanwhile, Gtrst are going to 7 and 8 String running the Bass off the Stage completely.

This will make us even more Rare.

As such Unsung Heros, those of us who remain will therefore prove our righteous position, as we actually love our instrument more than we love our Egos, for we love making music more than making an image.

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Hail

whooooooole lotta veiled elitism up in here


except this, this is 100% accurate. do this and listen to this

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chatterbox272

Whoops, didn't mean to veil it. There are exceptions but generally the guitarists I've had to deal with have huge egos, little musical knowledge, and insist that I must play bass because I'm not good enough for guitar. Then get shitty when I start using proper musical terms instead of dumbing it down for them.

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Masquerade: #19

CJ Noble

I can name more bass players than guitar players

and I can name more good bass players than I can good guitar players

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JAHellraiser

"good" is a subjective term though.

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Ziphoblat

None of those guitarists are of the last twenty years.

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Nutter_101

Because I'm slowly getting rid of them all to give me more work...

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fudger

Why not use your friend if he wants to play?

I can count the sought after bass players in my area including me on one hand. Good bassist are hard to find but they are the ones that get the most work. Switch to bass its more fun anyway.

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Alucard817

All are still active except for two. stevie and Jimmy, which are obviously dead.

Fact of the matter is my point is still valid. There are nowhere near as many good high profile bass players as there are guitarists.
Why? Because guitarists get all the attention.

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Robbgnarly

Everyone wants to play guitar, the bass is largely thought of as the back ground. But as you have found out there are not many capable bass players that have giging rigs either.

Trust me I spent almost 1 yr trying to replace my old bassiest till we finaly found a suitable replacement.

No I don't know too many bassiests, but the ones I do know of are pretty damn good, because they are in such high demand

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fatgleeson

Basically this

Ziphoblat

Grievous misinterpretation of "statistics". Maybe it's because it's easier to get away with doing sod all if you play bass. Doesn't mean there's any less recognition to be had if you put in the time to get good at it.

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FlWing

Bassists, like drummers, form the foundation of a group by providing rhythm - fundamental (and a lost cause without them), but certainly in most compositions NOT the most outstanding portion.
So, who gets the adulation? The Lead Guitar. The guy that plays the melody one note at a time...
OK - I can live with that because I know that most listeners have never taken the time to think WHAT the song would be without the rhythm. Take away the bass and you take away the pulse. I'm just happy to still play.

Sliide90027

I did not start getting aclaim until I did not care.

Bassists have to be able to accept that they are not going to be looked at and be up front.

The Lure of Fame drives people to something else. Not Bass.

__________________
Ibanez BTB 1006 Fretless and 405 (no Barts)
456 & 455(w/Barts)
Genz Benz NeoX400 112T & NeoX 112T cab.
Digitech BP-8 (x2)
Yamaha PB-1
Boss: SYB-5, PS-2, OD-20, EQ-20, PH-3,BF-3, CE-20, DD-20
Morely A/B

Alucard817

You do have a point about putting time into it. It seems as though we bass players have to put a lot more into it for anyone to remember our names.

I also have noticed a lot of bands now a days seem to put bassists into a box, and keep them there.

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