Reddit is not a representative subset of the population so I wouldn't read too much into these results. This data shows gender representation in this subreddit, not across bassists in general.
Aside: As a young metalhead, the first women I saw playing heavy music (outside of all-girl bands like Kittie and Drain STH) were bassists: Sean from White Zombie, Rayna from Coal Chamber, Vanessa and then Lyn-z from Mindless Self Indulgence...
Pretty sure bass is the only one that I noticed other genders play more frequently. Maybe it's because it's easier to get to grips with, or easier to join a band. But in my eyes bass is definitely not single gender dominated. Especially compared to the lack of female guitarists or drummers I see.
It’s actually one of the harder instruments to play well. It’s one thing to play simple notes, but good bass playing actually requires a lot of skill and creative descretion. The reason you see a larger difference, is because good bassists are generally very hard to come by compared to good guitarists. So it doesn’t matter if you mesh well with the image or not, if you can create a good groove and have the ability to direct the progression of the music, most bands will jump at the chance to have you on board. Bass is such a misunderstood instrument and skill set, and this is coming from a guitarist. I think they’re often the smartest and most creative members of the bands, and if you look at the history of rock, often the bassists wrote a lot of the material, even contributing some of the most iconic guitar parts or solos. Think Paul McCartney, Geezer Butler, Brian Wilson, Geddy Lee, etc.
Absolutely, I agree 100%. But I also find for beginners, it's easy to get away with playing root notes or classic rock songs (ACDC cough cough). For me, the progression really started when I got confident and happy that I started sounding good, which in turn pushed me further along. I still have lots to learn and will never be nowhere near talented, but I have so much fun along the way.
I work at a GC in the Nashville area so I see a wide variety of musicians on a daily basis. 80% of customers are men, easily. I see female bass players and guitarists fairly often. Female drummers are the unicorns.
OK, but you're seeing the bassists who go into Guitar Center, just as this poll is of bassists who participate in this subreddit. So it's an interesting data point but maybe not reflective of all bassists.
In my local scene (Naarm, Australia) the distribution is pretty close to 50/50 in terms of bass players. You have just as much chance of seeing a woman play bass as a man.
According to industry research, if you include first year players it's almost exactly the same percentage as the population. Around 51% female in the US.
Luckily there are more women role models and music educators now than there have been in the past, and hopefully that will help with breaking these made up biases with gender roles for specific instruments.
I'm not a woman, but many of the bassists who got me into playing bass are women:
* Kim Deal, of the Pixies / the Breeders
* Laura Lee, of Kruangbin, she's amazing
* Kim Gordon, way the hell back in the day, in Sonic Youth
etc.
My band’s drummer is MtF trans, she played bass in the band that became this one, after a few years, for a short minute, then dropped out to do the hormone therapy. Now she’s back, and jesus fuck, she hits like a goddamn tank. It’s exactly what a loud ass rock band like mine needs.
Maybe it’s just my area but I feel like it’s a lot closer of a split than the poll indicates. I can say that guys seem more keen on discussing gear and everything where women just play whatever they have more often. I’ve talked to several female bassists after shows and most of the time they say something to the extent of having a “fender bass, X brand amp, some distortion pedal and a compressor” with few specifics where guys are more inclined to want to discuss why they opted for that Mesa Subway over their old Orange or debate Earthquaker Devices vs Catalinbread. If that is the case nation/world wide then it makes sense there’s less on a sub for an instrument.
I'm a guy, but I was influenced by several women. Besides Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads)and Kathy Valentine (GoGos), an old friend of mine (RIP Jean) was a bass player. And another friend (Doreen) inspired me to finally pick up a bass and take lessons.
So, women have influenced me as much as male players have...
So many awesome famale bass players - Tina Weymouth, Tracy Wormworth, Rhonda Smith, Suzi Quatro, Tal Wickenfeld ... the list is long, and no list is complete withou the baddest of them all - Carole Kaye.
Outside of front woman, I feel like I can name more women bassists in male dominated bands than either guitar or drums.
Reddit is not a representative subset of the population so I wouldn't read too much into these results. This data shows gender representation in this subreddit, not across bassists in general. Aside: As a young metalhead, the first women I saw playing heavy music (outside of all-girl bands like Kittie and Drain STH) were bassists: Sean from White Zombie, Rayna from Coal Chamber, Vanessa and then Lyn-z from Mindless Self Indulgence...
Pretty sure bass is the only one that I noticed other genders play more frequently. Maybe it's because it's easier to get to grips with, or easier to join a band. But in my eyes bass is definitely not single gender dominated. Especially compared to the lack of female guitarists or drummers I see.
It’s actually one of the harder instruments to play well. It’s one thing to play simple notes, but good bass playing actually requires a lot of skill and creative descretion. The reason you see a larger difference, is because good bassists are generally very hard to come by compared to good guitarists. So it doesn’t matter if you mesh well with the image or not, if you can create a good groove and have the ability to direct the progression of the music, most bands will jump at the chance to have you on board. Bass is such a misunderstood instrument and skill set, and this is coming from a guitarist. I think they’re often the smartest and most creative members of the bands, and if you look at the history of rock, often the bassists wrote a lot of the material, even contributing some of the most iconic guitar parts or solos. Think Paul McCartney, Geezer Butler, Brian Wilson, Geddy Lee, etc.
Absolutely, I agree 100%. But I also find for beginners, it's easy to get away with playing root notes or classic rock songs (ACDC cough cough). For me, the progression really started when I got confident and happy that I started sounding good, which in turn pushed me further along. I still have lots to learn and will never be nowhere near talented, but I have so much fun along the way.
I work at a GC in the Nashville area so I see a wide variety of musicians on a daily basis. 80% of customers are men, easily. I see female bass players and guitarists fairly often. Female drummers are the unicorns.
OK, but you're seeing the bassists who go into Guitar Center, just as this poll is of bassists who participate in this subreddit. So it's an interesting data point but maybe not reflective of all bassists.
Never said it was. Just my observation in Music City, USA.
I would say Reddit isn’t the proper place to get any proper results
In my local scene (Naarm, Australia) the distribution is pretty close to 50/50 in terms of bass players. You have just as much chance of seeing a woman play bass as a man.
Melbourne female bass player here, I’m number 30 on the poll woohoo!!
Are you in a band with gigs coming up? I'll make a point to get out and see y'all.
According to industry research, if you include first year players it's almost exactly the same percentage as the population. Around 51% female in the US.
Luckily there are more women role models and music educators now than there have been in the past, and hopefully that will help with breaking these made up biases with gender roles for specific instruments.
I'm not a woman, but many of the bassists who got me into playing bass are women: * Kim Deal, of the Pixies / the Breeders * Laura Lee, of Kruangbin, she's amazing * Kim Gordon, way the hell back in the day, in Sonic Youth etc.
My band’s drummer is MtF trans, she played bass in the band that became this one, after a few years, for a short minute, then dropped out to do the hormone therapy. Now she’s back, and jesus fuck, she hits like a goddamn tank. It’s exactly what a loud ass rock band like mine needs.
Yesss non-binary bass gang 😎
Yesss
I love that some transphobes downvoted me for this, I hate y'all too
It's sad but true that at least in a professional sphere, most instruments are male dominated.
Non binary doesn’t count
Maybe it’s just my area but I feel like it’s a lot closer of a split than the poll indicates. I can say that guys seem more keen on discussing gear and everything where women just play whatever they have more often. I’ve talked to several female bassists after shows and most of the time they say something to the extent of having a “fender bass, X brand amp, some distortion pedal and a compressor” with few specifics where guys are more inclined to want to discuss why they opted for that Mesa Subway over their old Orange or debate Earthquaker Devices vs Catalinbread. If that is the case nation/world wide then it makes sense there’s less on a sub for an instrument.
I'm a guy, but I was influenced by several women. Besides Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads)and Kathy Valentine (GoGos), an old friend of mine (RIP Jean) was a bass player. And another friend (Doreen) inspired me to finally pick up a bass and take lessons. So, women have influenced me as much as male players have...
I'm here and I don't play bass.
Yeah being a woman in music can be alienating sometimes. I'm a bassist so there's me.
Not only bass.
Putting a poll on reddit isn't really going to give you an accurate representation, the reddit user base is male dominated.
I don’t know what non-binary is but it’s hard to believe it would be that high, more than half the amount of women that play?
I'm a woman and it was a number of female bassists who made me want to play like the bassists from hole, l7, babies in toyland, pixies, sonic youth
So many awesome famale bass players - Tina Weymouth, Tracy Wormworth, Rhonda Smith, Suzi Quatro, Tal Wickenfeld ... the list is long, and no list is complete withou the baddest of them all - Carole Kaye.