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Any bass players/drummers here? Question.

chanrattchanratt Veteran
edited May 2012 in General Banter
I've mainly played guitar all my life but I switched to bass a few months ago due to a shortage of bass players, plus I like it. I auditioned got an ACDC tribute the other night and the drummer wanted me to setup in such a way that I could see his bass pedal. Now I know the songs I'm playing and I know I gotta keep in sync with the drummer. Can't I do this without actually having a visual on his foot? Is he just being picky?

Comments

  • sndymornsndymorn Veteran
    If the drummer is the boss of you, do what he says. If you play well he will soon allow you latitude.
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    edited May 2012
    Drum & bass should work together, if one is the boss and the other follows, it will be a mess. So ask him to also watch your fingers when you play. :p

    Anyway, music is played by ear, not by eye.
  • DavidDavid A human residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Ancestral territory of the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Neutral First Nations Veteran
    As a drummer I play off of the bass and if there is no bass I am the bass.

    Maybe percussion doesn't come naturally to him because if the feeling is there, there should be no problem with anticipation.

    You won't find too many bassists bothering with drummers feet, lol.

    If you're not on the same page it will sound horrible and that is that.
  • Invincible_summerInvincible_summer Heavy Metal Dhamma We(s)t coast, Canada Veteran
    edited May 2012
    I'm a bassist, and I definitely don't watch my drummer's bass drum foot... :skeptic:

    I mean, it might help for a song that you have a bit of trouble with, but I mean AC/DC is not technical by any means. You should be able to figure it out with a little practice (and without looking at his foot).

    But if he insists and you really dont' want to have to see his foot (I still think this is extremely odd), insist that you're fine without it.

    What does he want you to do, position yourself so you're facing him?
    If the drummer is the boss of you, do what he says. If you play well he will soon allow you latitude.
    ... are you being serious?
  • chanrattchanratt Veteran
    I'm a bassist, and I definitely don't watch my drummer's bass drum foot... :skeptic:

    I mean, it might help for a song that you have a bit of trouble with, but I mean AC/DC is not technical by any means. You should be able to figure it out with a little practice (and without looking at his foot).

    But if he insists and you really dont' want to have to see his foot (I still think this is extremely odd), insist that you're fine without it.

    What does he want you to do, position yourself so you're facing him?
    If the drummer is the boss of you, do what he says. If you play well he will soon allow you latitude.
    ... are you being serious?
    I know these songs off by heart. That's why I think it odd that I should be positioned in such a way as to 'see' his bass pedal. He wanted me on his left side, not necessarily 'facing' him. I think i'm reading too much into it. I'm just worried that he'll try to make me his biatch. Besides, i'm quite the newbie to bass so I'm not sure what to expect.......

  • skullchinskullchin Veteran
    Y'all need to see each others faces. Not so much feet and fingers. Hopefully he is just trying to be helpful tho.
  • Invincible_summerInvincible_summer Heavy Metal Dhamma We(s)t coast, Canada Veteran
    I'm a bassist, and I definitely don't watch my drummer's bass drum foot... :skeptic:

    I mean, it might help for a song that you have a bit of trouble with, but I mean AC/DC is not technical by any means. You should be able to figure it out with a little practice (and without looking at his foot).

    But if he insists and you really dont' want to have to see his foot (I still think this is extremely odd), insist that you're fine without it.

    What does he want you to do, position yourself so you're facing him?
    If the drummer is the boss of you, do what he says. If you play well he will soon allow you latitude.
    ... are you being serious?
    I know these songs off by heart. That's why I think it odd that I should be positioned in such a way as to 'see' his bass pedal. He wanted me on his left side, not necessarily 'facing' him. I think i'm reading too much into it. I'm just worried that he'll try to make me his biatch. Besides, i'm quite the newbie to bass so I'm not sure what to expect.......

    I see. In that case, just show him that you can play without having to watch his foot.

    Welcome to the wonderful 4-string world!
  • sndymornsndymorn Veteran
    @invincible_summer
    I am approaching this not as musician(though I am one) but as employer . If one is new to a job and wants to keep it, one follows the suggestions of ones superiors. Whether or not the task makes sense is secondary.
    I'd like to hear the drummer's rational.
  • chariramacharirama Veteran
    edited May 2012
    My thoughts would be that the bass player sets up on the hi-hat side of the kit to make it easy to have eye contact for visual cues. As for the kick drum, I would think that would be a feel thing and if it's not, it should be.

    Maybe the drummer knows you are new to the bass and is only offering suggestions to make things better and help you feel comfortable. The best solution, IMO, is to do whatever is best for the music. If he feels more comfortable and plays better with you watching his foot, the give it a go in the beginning and, if the music is good, I don't think he will care where you look.
  • Invincible_summerInvincible_summer Heavy Metal Dhamma We(s)t coast, Canada Veteran
    @invincible_summer
    I am approaching this not as musician(though I am one) but as employer . If one is new to a job and wants to keep it, one follows the suggestions of ones superiors. Whether or not the task makes sense is secondary.
    I'd like to hear the drummer's rational.
    Well, unless the band is very clearly run by one member (as in the case of Nine Inch Nails, The White Stripes, etc), no one should really be anyone's "boss."

    Perhaps since you're not a musician, it's a bit difficult to understand. Since I've been playing in bands for awhile, I guess it's just a given to me that no one is really "higher" than anyone else in a band... at least the bands I've played in.

    I think the drummer is showing a lack of trust in @chanratt's abilities, which is why he's insisting that chanratt watch the kick. Just like in a workplace, one just needs to show that one can do the job without resorting to (condescending) handicaps that are "easier," and that may actually increase the mistrust in one's abilities.

  • chanrattchanratt Veteran
    I'm going to assume that I'm reading too much into it and that the drummer is just being a wee bit fussy. I think when he really sees what I can do that will pass. I got another email from them and it sounds like they want me in so I'll remain positive and give it a go.
    Thanks all.
  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    I've been a bass played for 20 years.

    Your drummer is being a bit snobby. You don't need to watch his feet.
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