Konnichi wa, fellow bassists. This week, I'm posting early because I'm moving into four weeks of guitar exercises, in the interest of fairness (keeping up my end on the "Guitar" part of this blog, as well), so I wanted to leave you some words of encouragement while I'm working on the six-string duties.
Recently, I found a vlog on Youtube from a gentleman who will remain unnamed because I'm a nice guy. The aforementioned gentleman is a sound engineer who runs his own studio, and has very good, "sound" advice to give on running a studio (sorry, I can never resist a pun). However, there is a rather irritating side to this guy's vlog. He has severe issues with bassists. To put it simply, he thinks we (bassists) are all anti-musical, untalented, complete idiots. This is an unfortunate stereotype, one that is reinforced through experiences with too many lunkheads who do, unfortunately, play the bass.
There is a fine line between genuine, constructive criticism on the one hand, and outright hostility on the other. Just about every posting on this guy's vlog has one or more digs at bassists in general. In their seminal 1980 book, "The Platinum Rainbow" (Swordsman Press, 1980), writers Bob Monaco and James Riordan urge their readers (which especially includes would-be producers and sound engineers) to have "a professional attitude." While the Internet, and video-logs, didn't exist at the time the book was written, it still holds true, and one thing you should never, ever do, if you want to be taken seriously (especially as a sound engineer) is wear a t-shirt in your video posting that says that bass players are an (insert insulting, unmentionable profanity here).
So, how do we, as bassists, counter this type of unfair stereotyping? Very simple, my friends. Keep practicing. Learn your instrument, and learn it well. Learn to be a well-tempered, consistent, and at the same time, spontaneous and creative player. Learn everything you can about the theory behind your instrument, how it interacts with the drums to form a tight rhythm section, how to generate your own bass lines that are exciting and interesting and work to be the real foundation of any band you play a part in. Learn how your instrument is maintained, exercise best practices in string-changing, proper set up, amplifier use in a variety of live and recording settings, and learn about miking, when to use a mic, and when it's best to run direct through the board. Be a bass scholar. You don't have to be on the level of a Geddy Lee or Esperanza Spaulding, but you do have to be the best bassist you can be, and you'll only get there through regular practice and being curious about everything concerning the electric or stand up bass. Learn to not only play rock styles, but learn jazz, funk, and country stylings, learn proper playing techniques, including muting, slapping, and percussive effects. Grow as a musician, and show that in your hunger to grow, you are a musician, and a damned good one, at that.
Above all else, be professional in your attitude, even if you're not working professionally. Be the antithesis of everything this guy in his vlogs says bass players are. Prove him, and all the others like him, who think we are all useless idiots, wrong. Be the bassist he WISHES he could get in his studio (but you, being a professional, will never stoop to being in, because there are better options, and sound engineers/producers with better attitudes, who are a better fit for you, and a better investment in time and money).
Have fun, practice, learn. Don't be the "failed guitarist," be the successful bassist I know you all are.
Cheers,
GG
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