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Philippines
Friday, January 24, 2025
25.9 C
Philippines
Friday, January 24, 2025

Bass on a true story 

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes and 40 seconds
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A Facebook post from Mally Paraguya of the band P.O.T, where he commented on someone’s take on bass players, personally resonated with me as a former bassist in bands. He noted, with a sensible touch of sarcasm and humor, that he chose to play bass because it’s arguably easier—being traditionally a four-string guitar—compared to the six strings that rhythm and lead guitarists handle. He also joked that he plays bass to look hip.

Of course, there’s more to it than that. With Mally being a tremendously talented bassist, it’s clear he plays for the sake of art, using the bass guitar as his ultimate form of musical expression. He is both technically skilled and creatively innovative. 

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You can enjoy listening to P.O.T’s music by focusing solely on the bass lines. His playing blends seamlessly with the drums and enhances the guitar’s sound—exactly what a bass player is meant to do.

“Yezzzir! Kaya nga ako nag bass para pumorma tsaka madaling tugtugin kasi apat lang ‘yung kwerdas,” he jocularly reacted to a Tagalog-speaking netizen’s remark who tried to make a point and said his piece about bassists, maybe to intentionally annoy them—us—and get some traction. 

P.O.T. bass player Maliard ‘Mally’ Paraguya

The bass player-shaming post contemptuously said: “Yung mga bassist, sila yung mga gitaristang hindi natuto maggitara kaya nag-bass na lang. Wala naman sigurong matinong musician na bass ang unang magugustuhan, kasi hindi naman dinig sa banda yun, e.”

Let it be known that as of this writing, 563 out of the 579 people who reacted to Mally’s post responded with a laughing emoji. Hardly anyone took the critical post seriously and instead found Mally’s joke well-timed and witty. It’s a collective way of showing that some opinions are so baseless they’re best laughed off.

The person who made the unfair remark about those who pour heart and effort into bass playing even had the audacity to end his baffling statement with “just sayin’” and “please rezpecc.”

Many netizens intentionally misspell words to sound cool—or perhaps because they’re unsure of the correct spelling. But if misspelling somehow justifies disrespect, then this particular netizen certainly earned it. Just saying.

There may be some truth to the idea that nobody dreams of being a bass player. Both John Lennon and George Harrison didn’t want to play bass, leaving Paul McCartney to take on the role. And boy, did he handle it with aplomb.

Back in the day, I played rhythm guitar until I realized it was too much for our lead vocalist to manage both bass and singing. I volunteered to switch to bass so he could focus on his primary role. With McCartney as my top influence, I embraced the position and practiced playing bass while singing, just as he did.

In my later bands, Syato and The Pub Forties—both of which recorded original songs—I did my best to play bass and provide backup vocals at the same time.

I must say that every bass player is a decent musician, to say the least. You can’t play bass without first learning how to play guitar—just as you can’t be an editor without being a writer first. Some of us become bass players because we appreciate what bass lines can add to songs. You’ve probably heard Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” or Tears for Fears’ “Head Over Heels.”

To say the bass can’t be heard likely comes from someone who’s either hard of hearing or whose ears aren’t sharp enough to catch the groove. Or perhaps they’re listening through speakers that can’t properly deliver bass frequencies. Some people only focus on guitar riffs and drum solos, overlooking the bassist—the person who might seem like they’re just there but is actually essential.

Many forget that the bass, whether booming on a root note or moving with the beat, holds a song together. While Prince skipped it on “When Doves Cry,” most tracks feel incomplete without it—like a roof with a leak.

Bassists are often overlooked, with jokes about them being the “fattest guy” or the last to get a date. Maybe that bitterness comes from a bassist stealing their partner—especially now that many bassists are women.

Still, no matter the criticism, bass players just need to show up and keep the groove alive. No need to show off—unless you can solo like Flea. Otherwise, holding down the fort is more than enough.

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