Bassists Are the Unsung Heroes: Breaking the Stereotypes of the ‘Discount Guitarist’
Bassists are often the internet’s running gag, but bass is the backbone of music. From metal to funk, reggae to pop, it drives the groove and shapes the sound. So why do we keep underestimating it ?
CULTUREMUSIC
CYB3R GEEN
If you’ve spent any time on the musician side of the internet, you’ve probably come across jokes about bass players. Whether it’s the classic “The bassist is just a failed guitarist” or “You can’t even hear the bass in a song”, these memes have turned bass players into the running joke of the music world.
It’s funny, until you realize how much this perception actually downplays the crucial role of the bass and its players. Because while the internet keeps making fun of bassists, music itself wouldn’t be the same without them.
Why Are Bassists seen as a Joke ?
There’s no denying that flashy guitar solos and thunderous drum fills get more attention. The lead guitarist thrives in the spotlight, the drummer gets a loud moment, and the singer is, well, the singer. Meanwhile, the bassist is often the one holding everything together in the background, blending seamlessly into the mix.
And that’s exactly the issue; bass isn’t meant to be flashy in the way a lead guitar is. A good bassline often goes unnoticed because it serves the music, not the ego. It’s the glue between melody and rhythm, the bridge between the drums and the guitar. But in a world obsessed with immediate gratification and showmanship, the subtle brilliance of bass is easy to overlook.
Then, of course, there’s the meme culture. The internet thrives on easy jokes, and the "useless bassist" trope is an easy target. A bassist doesn’t look as busy as a shredding guitarist, and since many casual listeners don’t consciously focus on the bassline, it creates the illusion that it doesn’t really matter.
The Recent Viral Tweet That Exposed the Bias
A recent viral post on X (formerly Twitter) that reached 112K likes and 15K reposts perfectly illustrated this perception. The account @Historyrock_ posted a video of a bassist playing an insanely complex slap bass piece, a technique pioneered by legends like Larry Graham and Louis Johnson. Yet instead of praising the musician’s skill, the post’s caption says: “Bro forgot it was a bass”, as if a bassist wasn’t supposed to play something that intricate.
