norvegicusbass Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 (edited) ...when playing? Simple question really how many of you still have to look at where your fingers go on the neck or can you play anything looking cool as f*** while looking at the the prettiest girl in the crowd? I can play without looking at the neck as long as all the notes are open strings and as for checking out the prettiest girl well I am married and would never do such a thing. Edited July 8, 2012 by norvegicusbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Depends on how complex the song is, how well I know it and how many sets of tumblers are on show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I sing lead on half a dozen numbers and backing on the rest, so looking down at my fingers while singing into the mike is impossible. When I go to see a band live, I hate to see bassists staring at the fretboard. Its a pet hate of mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfunk Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Normally I can look at the pretty ladies. But if I have a part that goes up and down the neck a lot I have to glance down to make sure I get the right position. But once I'm there I can generally look about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Guilty as charged although most of the stuff by the band in my sig is fairly complex (for me anyway) normal covers Im not so bad for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Personally I'd far rather see somebody looking at the neck of their bass or guitar than watch them cheesily gurning at the audience in some pathetic attempt at being an "entertainer". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Saw Wilco Johnson last night, his bass player (funny looking, little fella) spent whole set looking at the neck. Quite a tidy player. Personally, I like to get eye contact with as much of the audience as possible, so tend not to look at the neck too much, but the odd reference glance is needed. However, I don't play complex lines. I'm not bothered if I see a musician looking at their instrument or not. Do I like what they are playing?.. that's more important to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='bassfunk' timestamp='1341749885' post='1723496'] ...a part that goes up and down the neck a lot...[/quote] Surely that would make the ladies look at [i]you[/i]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfunk Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1341752207' post='1723532'] Surely that would make the ladies look at [i]you[/i]. [/quote] Only the wife, as she knows how often I mess those bits up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panamonte Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='oldslapper' timestamp='1341752025' post='1723528'] Saw Wilco Johnson last night, his bass player (funny looking, little fella) spent whole set looking at the neck. Quite a tidy player. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Quite frankly, anyone who says they never look at the neck is talking through the proverbial. As has been said it depends on how complicated the part is. I would rather see someone look at the neck and get it right than have them try to look cool and fluff it up. I do both as eye contact with the audience is important to me, even if there aren't any pretty girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassPimp66 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I always look at the neck, because it looks gorgeous. I also love the silky feel of the back of the neck in my hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norvegicusbass Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='Panamonte' timestamp='1341752857' post='1723547'] [/quote] Are you the said funny looking little fella? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Not as much as I used to, would prefer not doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I am often checking out what I am doing and what the band is doing...and it is as important to interact with them AND get your parts right ..but it is also good to 'connect' with the audience so you should look out front from time to time when you can. You basically have to know what is going on all around and not be obviously too much in your own bubble. You can think people don't take note of what you do, how you do it, but you expect them to acknowledge your work when you are introduced to them...so a little bit of a connection there helps both ways, IMO. But if you are playing s***, then there is not anything that can really rescue that... no amount of jumping around and grinning and whatever..you just look like a demented tool. Get your parts right, get the band moving..and then take time out for the audience.... that would be my priorities. And if you look approachable, you'll likely get more people coming up afterwards..rather than the usual gear-stalker loner/saddos' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1341755709' post='1723575'] I always look at the neck, because it looks gorgeous. I also love the silky feel of the back of the neck in my hand. [/quote] This! And he day you see John Williams playing a classical piece without looking, I'll be concerned about looking at the fretboard. The guitarist/bassist who can play a set without looking at some point has yet to be born. And if he was born, it would probably be a sign of boredom rather than 'cool as f**k', IMHO... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panamonte Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='norvegicusbass' timestamp='1341755746' post='1723576'] Are you the said funny looking little fella? [/quote] If only - that would be the legend that is Norman Watt-Roy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norvegicusbass Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='Panamonte' timestamp='1341766088' post='1723777'] If only - that would be the legend that is Norman Watt-Roy. [/quote] Never heard of him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Really depends how complex the piece is and how many times I've played it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 (edited) ^^ What that man there said. EDIT: Oh arse! That's not worked I'm on a new page. What iCastle said. Edited July 8, 2012 by Marvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panamonte Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='norvegicusbass' timestamp='1341771043' post='1723870'] Never heard of him [/quote] Here he is in action (looking at the neck of his bass, to remain vaguely on topic) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JnLfsOZaJI&feature=related Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1341774488' post='1723956'] What iCastle said...[/quote] I said that, post #2. Is anyone reading these threads..? Snurt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Quite often I can't look at the neck because I'm singing, but if I'm not singing I do look at the neck. On double bass I don't look at the neck really, because looking at it doesn't really help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anvil Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 As a relative beginner, I look at the neck a bit, but as I learn songs I find I look less - mainly for reference points Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 [quote name='oldslapper' timestamp='1341752025' post='1723528'] Saw Wilco Johnson last night, his bass player (funny looking, little fella) spent whole set looking at the neck. Quite a tidy player. [/quote] If he keeps practicing one day he might get round to writing some memorable, catchy or maybe even jaw-dropping basslines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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