Bass Alliance of Colorado

“Most bassists start off playing something else and sort of get pushed into playing bass. The singers get the adulations of the women, the guitar slingers get the reputation from the other men, the drummers are just weird. And the bass player's the one schlepping the gear, setting up the PA…”Jack Bruce....................................................... ......................................................... Q: What’s the most underappreciated aspect of your playing?A: You know, I don’t know if I even care. I’m a bass player in a rock band—what do I want, a Bass Player of the Year Award? I love bass—a lot. But I’m a bass player in a band. I’m not standing in the spotlight seeing how many licks I can fit in. There are lots of bass players out there that just blow me away. If I wanted to play that way, I would. But it’s just not my thing...If you’re a bass player, you’re a creative person. And that means you can do everything. You can write songs and lyrics; you can design things for your band. You can be involved in everything. Ego will tell you that you are everything. If you’re wise and in tune, you’ll know you’re a part of everything—in music, that’s when things get really great...I always say, “My ego’s not my amigo.” I see these cats that say, “Man, turn up my snare drum,” or, “I want my guitar to shred all the way through.” They’re missing the whole point. Music is for the listener, not the musician. When it’s not about the music, what are you doing?Nikki Sixx........................................................ ............................................The bass is the beat, the groove and a musical line that transfixes the listener. The bass gives the song power and attitude. The bass player has to be able to listen to a guitarist strum a few bare chords, go away and add a strong substance to half-baked song. The bass player syncopates with the drummer and the song becomes alive, pulsating with pace and style. Because the bass player is not an unsung hero, but a vital piece in the jigsaw of the band...Bass players of the world... Unite!
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