History Main / FemaleRockersPlayBass

* Fanfic/LuzClawthorne has skills in playing guitar and upon finding and using an Acoustic Bass [[spoiler:she accidentally brings to life]], she falls into this category.

* [[A Perfect Circle]] also had Paz Lenchantin as the sole woman in the band for their first few tours.

* [[A Perfect Circle] also had Paz Lenchantin as the sole woman in the band for their first few tours.

[[folder: Real Life Musicians]]

* In ''Film/WaynesWorld'', Cassandra is the bassist and only woman in her band. While her sex appeal ([[HeadTurningBeauty schwing!]]) is a big part of why people are interested in the band, she's also the [[LeadBassist frontman and vocalist]] and genuinely serious about her music. The sequel reveals that she's the only one in the band with any talent.

This goes hand in hand with other musician stereotypes. Since [[AllDrummersAreAnimals drummers stereotypically]] require [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty strength and physicality]] and [[GirlsLikeMusicians the lead guitarist gets all the girls]], men gravitate to those roles, leaving the less-competitive bass player positions open for women to gain a foothold. It also often goes along with NobodyLovesTheBassist: the position is typically seen as the "least essential" member of a band, so [[MenActWomenAre being a girl is often seen as the female bassist's main contribution]]. Compounding this with the phallic imagery associated with guitars-- including bass guitars-- her job is to [[MsFanservice add sex appeal]] or otherwise pander to the audience.

This stereotype can be considered tokenizing, with the implication that female bassists aren't "real musicians". However, some of the most famous real life examples, like Music/SuziQuatro, [[Music/TalkingHeads Tina]] [[Music/TomTomClub Weymouth]], or [[Music/SonicYouth Kim Gordon]], were {{Lead Bassist}}s and defined their bands' sounds. More broadly, female bassists can be seen as trailblazers in the male-dominated rock genre and inspiration to generations of female musicians.

* Music/BrendaSauter was the bassist for Music/TheFeelies (an IndieRock group) during much of their run, and its only female member.

* Throughout various lineup changes, Music/SmashingPumpkins have always had a female bassist, who was the only female member prior to the 2000's reunion. D'Arcy Wretzky, their original bassist, gets hit with the NobodyLovesTheBassist aspect the most -- fans commonly speculate that Billy Corgan only chose her for her looks, and he ended up re-recording a lot of her parts on later albums. Music/MelissaAufDerMar, being well regarded as a musician in her own right, didn't get this accusation as much. Corgan's short-lived side project Zwan also had a female bassist in Paz Lenchantin.

[[folder: Fictional Examples]]

[[AC: Fan Works]]

* Fanfic/LuzClawthorne has skills in playing guitar and upon finding and using an Acoustic Bass [[spoiler:she accidentaly brings to life]], she falls into this category.

[[AC: Film]]

[[AC: Music]]

--> ''It hurts my brain''
--> ''This chick who plays bass''

[[AC: Podcasts]]

[[AC: Video Games]]
* VideoGame/LegoRockBand: The bassist in the player characters' band is a female character by default, and given a feminine vocalization. They are the only member of the band to be depicted this way.

[[AC: Web Animation]]

[[AC: Web Comics]]

[[AC: Web Original]]

[[AC: Western Animation]]

[[/folder]]

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Jirou, the most 'alternative' of the Class 1-A girls (she's a snarky and aloof rocker with short hair, in contrast to the other girls who are preppier or straightforwardly feminine) and is the class's most preeminent musician; during the School Festival she spearheads their school festival with her BeautifulSingingVoice and skill at the bass guitar.

This stereotype can be considered tokenizing, with the implication that female bassists aren't "real musicians". However, some of the most famous real life examples, like Music/SuziQuatro or [[Music/SonicYouth Kim Gordon]], were {{Lead Bassist}}s and defined their bands' sounds. More broadly, female bassists can be seen as trailblazers in the male-dominated rock genre and inspiration to generations of female musicians.

-->'''Perry:''' But their bassist is a girl!
-->'''Mary:''' And the drummer's [[HairMetal got short hair!]]
-->'''Larry:''' And the lead singer wears glasses!

* Throughout various lineup changes, Music/SmashingPumpkins have always had a female bassist, who was the only female member prior to the 2000's reunion. D'Arcy Wretzky, their original bassist, gets hit with the NobodyLovesTheBassist aspect the most -- fans commonly speculate that Billy Corgan only chose her for her looks, and he ended up re-recording a lot of her parts on later albums. Music/MelissaAufDerMer, being well regarded as a musician in her own right, didn't get this accusation as much. Corgan's short-lived side project Zwan also had a female bassist in Paz Lenchantin.

* Gail Ann Dorsey played with mostly male ensembles from 1996 on as Music/DavidBowie's touring bassist, also playing on his albums ''Music/{{Earthlin}}'' and ''Music/TheNextDay''.

This goes hand in hand with other musician stereotypes. Since [[AllDrummersAreAnimals drummers stereotypically]] require [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty strength and physicality]] and [[GirlsLikeMusicians the lead guitarist gets all the girls]], men gravitate to those roles, leaving the less-competitive bass player positions open for women to gain a foothold. It also often goes along with NobodyLovesTheBassist, with more UnfortunateImplications. According to that trope, the bassist is the "least essential" member of the band, so [[MenActWomenAre being a girl is often seen as the female bassist's main contribution]]. As such, her job is to [[MsFanservice add sex appeal]] or otherwise pander to the audience.

There are other reasons the bass can be seen as the feminine instrument. As the rhythm and core of the sound, the bass can be considered TheHeart among the instruments, lending itself to female musicians who might be more willing to play a support role.

* The Real Life TropeCodifier is Tina Weymouth from Music/TalkingHeads and its dance music spinoff group Music/TomTomClub. She was the only woman in both bands--although she did have female company as backing vocalists on tour with Talking Heads.

--> -- ''Website/TheHardTimes'', "All-Male Band Just Waiting to Meet the Right Girl Bassist"

-> "Our songs are unique, but let's face it: without a mysterious-looking girl in our rhythm section, we have zero hope of any real exposure"