I’m Gianni, I’m from Italy and I live in Zurich since 2010. I play bass guitar at beginner-intermediate level, and I’m looking for a band to join or even to other musicians who are interested to form a new band for jam sessions and eventually live gigs. I’m mainly interested in classic rock ’60-’70, blues and rock blues, to play covers but also new songs in the same genres. My availability is limited to the weekends.

If you are interested you can answer directly to this thread, or send me a PM.

Cheers: Gianni

Hi Gianni, I'd join but I play bass too.

Another bass player here. We could form an EF Apocalyptica version.

The funny thing is that in all bass courses one of the first advices is that “as bassists, you will have the big advantage that there are very few around, and the request for bass players is very high”.

OK, most of people want to play guitar… but probably most of the beginners musicians prefer to play bass because it’s easier (at least, it may be easier)!

I don't know, I don't think it's easier. Although it may be seem easier than guitar at first, it quickly becomes obvious that it's a lot less forgiving in other aspects. I can play piano, guitar and bass, and I personally do not find bass particularly easier by any standard. It does have a very different learning curve than other more melodic instruments.

The problem is that good, professional level bass players are indeed very rare. As one who plays "bass guitar at beginner-intermediate level" you're one of many, and any band looking for a bassist will have a lot of choice of presumed better players. The bass player is a huge part of the integrity of a band, and really needs to know his/her stuff.

Learning bass as you first, or indeed only, instrument will always leave you at a disadvantage. Chord shapes and progressions and various scales are a vital part of playing, but are much better, or more likely, acquired on guitar, so you tend to find that many really good bassists started out on guitar before shifting to bass.

My friend has been a professional bass player (and double bass and classical guitar) for over 25 years. Indeed, finding someone to sub for him at his level can be incredibly difficult.

This. A guitarist loses it and people applaud him for creativity. A drummer or bass guitarist loses it and the song dies. Rhythm glues the song together completely differently than its melody.

Disagree.

On principal, or what?

A lot of rock music is bass-lead, where it forms a foundation along with the drums, allowing guitar(s) to go off and do their own thing. The rhythm section may include guitar as well, which can take some of the dependency off the bass, but if you look at any of the great drums, one guitar, one bass rock lineups you'll find that the bassist is absolutely fundamental to the cohesion of the band.

Well aware. I disagree that a bass player can't riff. Rhythm and bass obviously vital, and form lots of classic hooks, but so is the melody.

Well yeah, but nowhere in the post you replied to, nor elsewhere as far as I can tell, did anyone suggest that bass players can't riff, so you seem to be disagreeing with a point that nobody had made.

Some of my fave songs have great bass riffs in them - for some reason "You can call me Al" springs to my mind. Superb bass riffing on that track and throughout the album.

Mais oui.

Melodic bass is lovely.

Do I seem so?

Agree with second para. HTH.