--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bass player's function, along with…" description: "\"The bass player's function, along with the drums, is to be the engine that drives the car... everything else is merely colours.\" — Suzi Quatro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/suzi-quatro-7541_bass_the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-th_1748489.jpg" --- # The bass player's function, along with the drums, is to be… ![“The bass player's function, along with the drums, is to be the engine that drives the car... everything else is merely colours.” quote by Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/suzi-quatro-7541_bass_the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-th_1748489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/suzi-quatro-7541_bass_the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-th_1748489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/suzi-quatro-7541_bass_the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-th_1748489.jpg) > “The bass player's function, along with the drums, is to be the engine that drives the car... everything else is merely colours.” [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The bass and drums provide the foundational drive of music, while other instruments add decorative layers. **In simple terms:** Rhythm section is the engine, others are color. Key Takeaway Focus on solid rhythm foundation. Themes music rhythm foundation collaboration Mood energetic determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - band rehearsals - songwriting - live performance - recording sessions Key Concepts musical structure groove support Questions to Reflect On - How can you strengthen the rhythmic backbone? - What role do you play in a musical ensemble? A Different Perspective If rhythm is weak, the whole piece feels unstable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) [Bass player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-player/) [Bass players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-players/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Colour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) [Drives Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drives-car-1585082/) [Drums Engine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drums-engine-1585081/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Function Drums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function-drums-1585083/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) ## Related quotes > [I feel that whatever you put out is what you'll get back. I always put out, 'hey, hi, I'm a bass player, no bullshit,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-feel-that-whatever-you-put-out-is-what-you-ll-get-back-i-always-put/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [The bass and drums are the engine, and the key to good bass playing is it's not what you play, it's what you DON'T…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-bass-and-drums-are-the-engine-and-the-key-to-good-bass-playing-is/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [Bass players and drummers are like brothers, working in the basement, cooking up the groove. If they don't lock together with the feel, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-densmore/bass-players-and-drummers-are-like-brothers-working-in-the-basement/) [John Densmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-densmore/) > [I was charmed by a performance given by Crowded House at Toronto's Massey Hall where the bass player broke a string.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alannah-myles/i-was-charmed-by-a-performance-given-by-crowded-house-at-toronto-s/) [Alannah Myles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alannah-myles/) > [While it's a great indulgence, it's also very interesting to have three bass players on the same track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-ferry/while-it-s-a-great-indulgence-it-s-also-very-interesting-to-have/) [Bryan Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-ferry/) > [In jazz, you listen to what the bass player is doing and what the drummer is doing, what the pianist and the guitarist is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amram/in-jazz-you-listen-to-what-the-bass-player-is-doing-and-what-the/) [David Amram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amram/) > [Without getting real personal, we liked our bass player Ed. He was a great guy and he was a good bass player but his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gramm/without-getting-real-personal-we-liked-our-bass-player-ed-he-was-a/) [Lou Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gramm/) > [For my money, Ray Brown is the greatest living bass player. Every great thing that's happened on bass since Ray Brown -- all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mcbride/for-my-money-ray-brown-is-the-greatest-living-bass-player-every-great/) [Christian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mcbride/) > [My dad taught me to play bass. He's a bass player; he still plays in a band in Michigan to this day. He taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/my-dad-taught-me-to-play-bass-he-s-a-bass-player-he-still-plays-in-a/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There are a lot of people who can do it on the guitar and sing at the same time, but I think what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-coxon/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-can-do-it-on-the-guitar-and-sing-at-the/) [Graham Coxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-coxon/) > [As I said, when we needed to move over to rock'n'roll, Sam and Vernon couldn't quite make the shift. So that's when Larry took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/as-i-said-when-we-needed-to-move-over-to-rock-n-roll-sam-and-vernon/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [Onstage I like to play with a an 18-inch speaker, which very few bass players do. I need that fat, underneath sound, which I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/onstage-i-like-to-play-with-a-an-18-inch-speaker-which-very-few-bass/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [I always just wanted to be the singer or the bass player in the band. I'd love to have a band, where I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/i-always-just-wanted-to-be-the-singer-or-the-bass-player-in-the-band/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## More by Suzi Quatro > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I haven't talked to any young artists for a long time. But if we did sit down, I'd definitely tell them my viewpoint. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-haven-t-talked-to-any-young-artists-for-a-long-time-but-if-we-did/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [ I've seen it \[Australia\] go from a lot of small towns to big towns, but I think it has found its identity in all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-ve-seen-it-australia-go-from-a-lot-of-small-towns-to-big-towns-but/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I've got more than 600 pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses, from 1950s originals to newer models. I have them on the wall like opticians do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-ve-got-more-than-600-pairs-of-ray-ban-sunglasses-from-1950s/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I'm not a great flyer. It's ironic, since I'm in showbiz and have to fly at least twice a week. I try to sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-m-not-a-great-flyer-it-s-ironic-since-i-m-in-showbiz-and-have-to/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [What stood me in good stead was my upbringing. I had a musician father, a very religious mother who totally supported us. My mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/what-stood-me-in-good-stead-was-my-upbringing-i-had-a-musician-father/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I hate canceling anything, I'm 'the show must go on' mentality. If you can crawl, you can take the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-hate-canceling-anything-i-m-the-show-must-go-on-mentality-if-you/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [Reality shows have a lot to answer for. They applaud mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/reality-shows-have-a-lot-to-answer-for-they-applaud-mediocrity/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [The bass should be the note of the bass drum, and then you've got the engine of the band that everything else builds on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-bass-should-be-the-note-of-the-bass-drum-and-then-you-ve-got-the/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [As Mick Jagger will tell you, performing is an aerobic work-out. I've got the bass guitar, which is the heaviest of all the instruments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/as-mick-jagger-will-tell-you-performing-is-an-aerobic-work-out-i-ve/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [Anyone who has had their heart broken learns to keep a little safety area. Even now in my relationship, I have something I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/anyone-who-has-had-their-heart-broken-learns-to-keep-a-little-safety/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I was raised in a musical family - 5 girls and 1 boy - so all of us girls don't do gender. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-was-raised-in-a-musical-family-5-girls-and-1-boy-so-all-of-us-girls/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [Then my own TV chat show in England in 1989.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/then-my-own-tv-chat-show-in-england-in-1989/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I never, ever saw myself as glam because I didn't wear makeup... my image is a plain leather jumpsuit, which is not glam at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-never-ever-saw-myself-as-glam-because-i-didn-t-wear-makeup-my-image/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I was inspired by Billie Holliday, and I really liked Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las because she wore tight trousers and a waistcoat on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-was-inspired-by-billie-holliday-and-i-really-liked-mary-weiss-of/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) [Explore all 90 Suzi Quatro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) ## More Bass quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [In life's orchestra, the bike is the double bass. Hard to forget it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fournel/in-life-s-orchestra-the-bike-is-the-double-bass-hard-to-forget-it/) [Paul Fournel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fournel/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [The kind of fishing that I do is pretty much bass, trout or freshwater fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/the-kind-of-fishing-that-i-do-is-pretty-much-bass-trout-or-freshwater/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [I've always been playing with other people, and that's how I learned. I got a kit of drums I couldn't play, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-ve-always-been-playing-with-other-people-and-that-s-how-i-learned-i/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I grew up on the pirate radio scene which started out as drum 'n' bass music. U.K. garage picked up and got bigger on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-grew-up-on-the-pirate-radio-scene-which-started-out-as-drum-n-bass/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [Close to the Edge by Yes. Such a fun tune to play on bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/close-to-the-edge-by-yes-such-a-fun-tune-to-play-on-bass/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [That's what Joe Don Rooney and I do. He plays guitar and I play bass - and there's no reason to call it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/that-s-what-joe-don-rooney-and-i-do-he-plays-guitar-and-i-play-bass/) [Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/) > [I've always said the bass just happens to be the crayon I picked out of the box. I'd still be drawing the same pictures...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-ve-always-said-the-bass-just-happens-to-be-the-crayon-i-picked-out/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [I was a guitar player in a band that had two keyboard players, sometimes two other guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer, four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-was-a-guitar-player-in-a-band-that-had-two-keyboard-players/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I live a different way today. I have a family, and they are a priority for me. These days, I no longer wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/i-live-a-different-way-today-i-have-a-family-and-they-are-a-priority/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) [Browse all 722 Bass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The bass player's function, along with the drums, is to be the engine that drives the car... everything else is merely colours.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzi Quatro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-the-drums-is-to-be-the-engine/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bass" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-the-drums-is-to-be-the-engine/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/suzi-quatro-7541_bass_the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-th_1748489.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/suzi-quatro-7541_bass_the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-th_1748489.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/suzi-quatro-7541_bass_the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-th_1748489.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The bass player's function, along with the drums, is to be the engine that drives the car... everything else…” — Suzi Quatro", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Suzi Quatro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The bass player's function, along with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-the-drums-is-to-be-the-engine/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-bass-player-s-function-along-with-the-drums-is-to-be-the-engine/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```