Music Ramble for the Bored and Masochists

Epic disclaimer: I am not an expert in bass nor music theory, only a student. I simply wish to share my frustration with the uneducated appreciation for bass and music :)

Lack of Bass Appreciation Awareness

I constantly hear people say that the bass is not important and easy [technically it is easy compared to the violin, but in the end people like making stuff difficult for themselves (especially in music and other forms of art) and the difficulty of learning/starting an instrument has nothing to do with music]
This doesn't only count to bass guitar, I've even been hated for playing violin!
Yet all those people have absolutely no musical experience or knowledge, so my conclusion is:
Hating on other instruments = being uneducated and inexperienced in music
(this does not mean making stereotypical jokes isn't allowed)

• Bragging about how difficult your instrument is compared to others is like bragging how terrible your life is => Cringe, odd, don't do that, no one cares. The difficulty isn't important either way
• Every instruments has their functions, pros and cons. Did you know that there is a reason why songs have multiple instruments?
  
• It's a sign you have absolutely no proper interactions between other musicians who play other instruments. You have never played with other people and discussed what you were playing.
• you just play whatever the tabs tell you = you know nothing about music 

"Oh but I've played once with some people in a band"
I'm 80% sure you just played tabs/drums. Playing with people once (who also know nothing) still doesn't mean you have any experience...
(I have nothing to say about percussion instruments but still... don't hate on other instruments, what right do you have!?)

I'm tired of defending the importance of bass, let's just start appreciating it more in rock/metal or other genre's that I don't listen to.
(If you haven't noticed yet, bass guitar/contra bass is one of my favorite instruments. My brain melts at the sound of it)

Why?

Whenever (most of the time) I listen to a bass cover which includes the original audio I become aware how much the bass impacts the emotions the song emits. 
The bass note is always important. Trust me, I had to do bass note studies for an entire year!
If a guitarist wishes to play a chord the bass note can easily improve or ruin the sound, it can easily change what chord is being played and let the chords flow nicely.

Often times the bass gets the super awesome role of connecting the harmonic instruments and the rhythmic instrument, AKA the drum. It provides a rhythmic foundation, though I am quite bad with rhythm, but what I do know is that the bass lines often have a 'pulls' which helps other instruments to keep the timing right. A band is not just fun after all, it's a cooperation/conversation between sounds (- my music teacher)

Also, have you ever gone to an orchestra (preferably a string orchestra) and everything is chill BUT THEN THE CONTRA BASS FALLS IN. The contra bass in a song is the most beautiful things I've ever heard. (btw if you want to know what I am talking about I recommend you go to a concert instead of searching a YouTube video. The vibrations going through the room are truly majestic)

The bass is also a very sexy instrument and the player should get lots of bitches!

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Truth of Music

I dislike people who believe making a band and making music isn't complicated.
I guess pop (or other similar things, I don't really listen to music in that direction) is... just add a beat, some random text and you are set.
In music, chords are really important and what's even more important is the flow of the chords, but that is real complicated music theory I don't feel like explaining. I don't hate people who simply make music 'n fuck around, but in the end when your music sounds good it follows the same rules previous generations have set. 

Don't hate on the bassist for not being able to make a matching bass line to the random guitar chords you are spitting (I speak from experience), it's simply not possible!

LEARN AT LEAST THE BASICS OF MUSIC THEORY, LEARN TO READ NOTES AND RHYTHMS AND NOT JUST TABS!!!
Don't be lazy, reading notes is not difficult. Getting used to notes happens faster than learning where your fingers are supposed to be on the guitar. I started playing the violin at the same time as I started learning how to read notes. By the time I could read full notes at 200 BPM (very fast) I couldn't even use my bow properly!

Music theory isn't fun, it cooked my brain and makes me frustrated as if I had a math exam which I didn't study for ON A DAILY BASIS. Yet, it shouldn't be ignored. 
Making a song requires a lot of consideration and effort, having fun comes when you actually play it. 
Yes, songs can be made with instruments in hand in a practice room with only a pen, paper and two braincells.
No, good songs cannot be made without a bit of music theory. 

Back to bass: the bass note is quite low compared to other notes going on so it is hard to hear if it's false but if it's correct it sounds way better. Navigating the good not can be done with music theory.

When I started to learn more about indebt harmony I could no longer appreciate music like before. I've become more picky, not that I can no longer enjoy a cacophony of sounds like before (my music taste used to be odd), I simply listen more to the layers of the music rather than the most obvious thing to hear (cough- cough- vocals and guitar). A way to phrase it is a full appreciation of the music. Whenever I go back to listening to a song I choose an instrument to intently listen to. It expands my horizon and makes me able to listen to the song's full potential. 

Conclusion (accidentally got too long)

Don't start a band because it's cool (it is) or because you like metal/rock. Do it because you like music but not in a "Oh, I like Metallica and Ramstein! I wanna make epic music too!"- way. Do learn to appreciate it. This doesn't mean being in a band shouldn't be fun, it should be the most fun thing of your life. Music theory is just the bridge towards putting your emotions, effort and experiences into songs, making them so much more worth. Creating a song with teamwork is even more worthy. 

Extra message for guitarist: you are not cool for playing the guitar, don't act high and mighty. You multiply faster than Indians. (I'm sorry, Indians, you are just with so many... wait what are people in India called...?) The whole reason why I decided to learn bass was because I know people would rather learn a 'super cool epic instrument that gets so many bitches' rather than a structural (secretly super sexy) instrument like the bass. ALSO DON'T TELL ME 24/7 HOW EASY THE BASS IS COMPARED TO GUITAR OR HOW IT'S NOT IMPORTANT (the entire reason why I am writing this entire text) I CAN EASLY REPLACE THE GUITAR WITH A PIANO OR A COUPLE OF VIOLINS!!!! 
(Yes, I am very frustrated by how all the guitarists I've met act like this.)

That is all for now.
There is a chance a part II will come. If you are just as frustrated then you can like and subscribe. Don't forget to hit the notification button!

P.S. LISTEN TO MY FAVORITE BAND CIRCA SURVIVE, THEY'RE REALLY COOL!!!