JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Bass and Drum Forum My Retarded Bass Question

Hi all! Long time singer, first time bass player. I picked up the bass out of necessity for the all female rock band I'm in. We're doing covers and originals. We've been choosing easy stuff to work me in as well as give our lead guitar player time to get her chops together.

All the male bass players I watch/talk to play all over the neck. I'm basically playing mostly on the second and third fret, some open chords. Last night, a REAL bass player told me that he plays further up the neck because he gets a better "tone" than open chords. He demonstrated, but I really couldn't tell that much of a difference.

Since I'm busier than a one-armed paper hanger trying to sing lead AND play bass (which is difficult because my voice is doing one melody and the bass is doing something completely different) I am keeping it simple, but I don't want to look like a loser to all the other bass players who come to see us.

So here's my retarded question (those of you who know me would expect nothing less! ) Is there really that much difference between playing up the neck and keeping it simple at the bottom of the neck, playing some open chords? Are these guys just trying to make it SEEM more than what it is because they're frustrated guitar players and therefore picked up the bass? If I continue to play simply, will they still respect me in the morning?