1. The bass guitar, in most music (especially modern
western), is usually the dominant sound you hear all throughout a song. In most
recordings, the bass sound always carries the larger “thump” and is easily
audible by the human ear. During listening, the bass player can easily follow
the song and play it back much easier than most instruments (Unless the music
or song involves sixteenth notes in the arrangement and demands the bass player
to work overtime).
2.The bass guitar, be it six string or the usual four
string, is normally played one note at a time, rarely does it deal in full
chord arrangements in the whole song. Emphasis on rare, which means they do
employ full chordal arrangement, but on certain pieces. That makes it easier to
listen to the songs and get the general idea quicker than most
instrumentalists.
3. The bass guitar player is usually the backbone of the
song, as easy as it sounds like, they have to be consistent on their playing,
and one minor error can make the other musicians/instrumentalist lost during
play.
4. The bass guitar player is usually percussive in its
approach (in most modern music); it is always the partner of the drummer. The
drummer then usually takes his/her cue from the bassist's eye movements,
eyebrow gestures, and head bobbing. Their tempo should usually be very in sync
to each other to the minute detail (especially with the bass drum), to create
fullness in sound during gigs.
5.The bass player is usually an audiophile, is into mixing,
arranging, and will know most instruments (at least either intermediate or
advanced level), which makes his/her ears very finely tuned to all the
instruments he/she hears during recording, at gigs or at practice.
