Do bassists and drummers have the easiest job in a band?

[Anonymous]

They may be the so-called "foundation" but their job in the band is a piece of cake.

I think the guitar players have the hardest job, especially the rhythm guitarist who has to drive the song, maintain the tempo and play the correct chords. And singing at the same time? Yikes! And pianists? Even more difficult than rythym guitar.

Bass players and drummers can mess up in concert, it isn't too noticeable. But if the rhythm guitarist or pianist messes up, the show is over. And the lead guitarist playing note for note is preferable.

Updates

+1 y

Check out AC/DC; Malcolm Young was the foundation of that band, not the bassist or drummer.

[420Rachel]

Ahem...

Drums:

https://youtu.be/zRS9uKs3Rlkhttps://youtu.be/GOaZEFtHtC4https://youtu.be/ydMqF0Ci8ekhttps://youtu.be/GR8bITumSdk

Bass:

https://youtu.be/t9kosVvlb_Mhttps://youtu.be/Tl59I9pr3Sohttps://youtu.be/OLi6vs_7FIAhttps://youtu.be/_ah3wvuMFPI

[horatiohornblower]

The tambourine players have the easiest jobs.

Some of those drummers have to manage a ton of various percussion instruments. Sometimes you'll see them running all over the place. Moving from one piece to another.

The guitarists just stands there and plays his guitar.

[Wester1967]

A lot of bass parts are easy AF, but being a good bassist is hard AF.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekruu8q7oAs

[Anonymous]

No, listen to Yes or Dream Theater and then tell me it is easy.

[Pterodon]

Not necessarily. They are the foundation. The rest is fills. Want to hear what a great foundation can do? Listen to Yes, The Who, Rush, Genesis live with Chester Thompson as their tour drummer

[Asker]

You have a point.

Also The Police and Led Zeppelin.

[Pterodon]

Bingo. John Bonham and John Paul Jones are/were the most underrated of all

[Pterodon]

Pete Townshend said it was Entwistle that kept the time. Not Moon

[Pterodon]

The thing with bassist and drummers is they’re a team not soloists. It takes both of their hearts beating together to produce a great foundation.

[Pterodon]

Another great foundation team was Mick Fleetwood and John McVie

[Asker]

And Metallica? Good bass players, but a Godawful drummer. Oh dear.

[Pterodon]

Yep. It takes two unlike a guitarist. Listen to the Moody Blues as they have a great foundation but a mediocre guitarist. Quite a different outcome

[Pterodon]

https://youtu.be/EgW4LOKjS9Y

[Pterodon]

Here’s a commanding foundation and fills in perfect unison. One can’t survive without the other

[wankiam]

depends on the genre... watch this guy and tell me its easy to play bass

https://www.youtube.com/embed/glFeo6WylmI

[wankiam]

and then this guy where bass was the lead instrument
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IanvhpoGCA

[wankiam]

and then ofcourse there drum n bass being played live here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxgNiLBtcUI

[Recurrence]

Listen to the drummer from Gojira and tell me he’s got the easiest job

[lycanthrope3]

Good guitarists, keyboardists and vocalists can sure impress people and make them listen, but it is the bass and drums that make them dance.

[In_Trance]

Nope