Why you can't find a bassist even when you advertise for one, and how to solve the problem — How to secure the backbone of your band

The "What about the bass?" problem.

We were trying to form a band, and we had a vocalist, guitarist, and drummer. "Okay, all that's left is the bassist"—but the real challenge starts from here.

As I mentioned in my article about the shortage of drummers , I wrote that bass players are "chronically in short supply" when looking at the supply and demand balance by instrument on band recruitment sites. It's not as desperate as the drummer situation, but it's absolutely not like when you post a recruitment ad and get 5 applications the next day like with guitars.

I've been playing in bands since my twenties, and even now in my sixties, I'm still searching for band members. I've played with all sorts of people in various venues like Mandara in Kichijoji and UZU in Fussa. Blues, soul, roots music—the bassline is essential to the music I've played. That's why I've struggled more than most to find a bassist, and I've been more particular than most.

In this article, I will honestly share my more than 40 years of experience about why it's so difficult to find a bassist and how to find one .

The reality of the bassist shortage — the numbers reveal.

First, I'll summarize the reality of bass player recruitment based on my own experience and the trends in posts on recruitment websites.

What I want you to pay particular attention to is the "retention rate after joining." Many bassists are recruited from other bands or play in multiple bands, and even if you find one, it's not uncommon for them to leave after six months saying, "My other band got too busy." It's the same structure as with drummers— the fewer the number of players, the more sought after they are, making it difficult for them to stay in one band .

Looking at the actual recruitment data gathered at Membo,

Up to this point, these were my personal observations. So, what about the actual numbers? I counted the number of job postings that Membo has gathered from various recruitment sites, broken down by part (as of September 19, 2026).

The number of job postings for drums, guitar, and bass is roughly the same across the board. The clear difference lies in the number of people who "want to participate." There were 41 posts from people wanting to play bass, compared to 571 posts looking for bassists , which is about 13.9 times more . This is the largest gap among the five instruments. From third place downwards, the difference is small, and the rankings could easily change depending on how you count them.

Overall, there were 3,379 posts seeking band members compared to only 450 posts from people wanting to join a band (approximately 7.5 to 1). While there were far more people looking for band members for every instrument, the numbers revealed that bass players were the hardest to find.

There are some assumptions you should be aware of when reading these numbers.

• Most of the posts are collected from other recruitment sites . Only a small fraction have been posted directly to Membo so far.
• Since collected job postings are deleted after a certain period , this table shows the number of "currently posted job postings."
• The number of participants per part is counted only from posts that specifically list the instrument being recruited (1,351 recruitments, 213 participants). Differences in wording, such as "electric bass" and "upright bass," are grouped together as one part, and instrument descriptions written in long sentences are not counted. If a single post recruits multiple parts, each part is counted separately.
• Since the number of people who want to join a band is small, even a few increases or decreases in the number of applicants can significantly affect the competition ratio.

Nevertheless, my intuitive feeling that "the bass wasn't there" was certainly reflected in the numbers. From here, let's consider why that might be the case.

Why are there so few bassists? — 5 reasons

1. It has a strong image of being "plain" or "unremarkable."

The guitarist plays a solo and receives applause. The vocalist is the star of the stage. The drummer's playing is a picture-perfect sight. But what about the bassist? "The person who plays silently in the background"—that's the general public image.

In reality, the bass is the backbone of a band, the cornerstone of the groove, and plays a crucial role as a bridge between the drums and guitar. However, its appeal is only appreciated by those who "get it." The moments when middle school and high school students think, "I want to be a bassist!" are overwhelmingly fewer compared to when they want to be a guitarist or vocalist.

2. The reason for starting was "elimination."

When choosing an instrument in a light music club, the most popular choices fill up in the order of guitar → drums → vocals → keyboard, and there are actually quite a few people who choose bass because "it was the only one left." Those who start playing an instrument by process of elimination tend to quit the instrument altogether when the band breaks up.

Of course, some people become completely captivated by the charm of the bass guitar from that point on. However, given the small absolute number of people who "started playing because they loved the bass from the beginning," the insufficient sample size is a structural problem.

3. It's at a disadvantage when compared to a guitar.

Bass guitars and bass guitars look similar. The only difference is whether they have four or six strings. But guitars overwhelmingly attract more public attention. From the number of views on YouTube videos to the display space in music stores and the covers of magazines—guitars are favored in every aspect.

People tend to think, "If you're going to play a stringed instrument anyway, the guitar is cooler." There's a lack of respect for the bass in this world (bassists, you have every right to be angry).

4. It's difficult to convey the fun of playing when you're playing alone.

You can play chords and sing by yourself on the guitar. The same goes for the piano. Playing drums is fun just by hitting rhythm patterns.

What about the bass? When you play it alone, all you get is a low "boom boom" sound. You only truly understand the joy of the bass when it blends with the drum kick and the guitar chords. It's only when you play it in a band that you realize, "Wow, the bass is this cool!" But a lot of people give up before they get there.

5. The better the bassist, the busier they are at playing multiple jobs.

I wrote the same thing in my article about the drummer shortage , but the imbalance between supply and demand leads to people taking on multiple jobs. Good bassists are always in demand. It's common for them to be playing two or three jobs at once, and as a result, the number of "freelance bassists" decreases even further.

This structure cannot be changed. That's why simply "looking for a freelance bassist" won't work . You need to change your approach.

How to Find a Bassist — 5 Solutions

Now, let's get to the main point. Simply posting on recruitment sites and waiting won't get you a bassist. So what do you do? I'll share five methods that I've actually tried and found effective over the past 40-plus years.

Solution 1: Target those who have switched to playing guitar.

This has the highest success rate. As I wrote in the article about the common characteristics of people who can't find members , it's important to "broaden your search area."

There's a surplus of guitarists. If you're getting tons of applications on recruitment sites from people looking for guitarists and having to turn them down, why not try asking them, "Would you like to try playing bass as well?"

There are significant advantages to switching from guitar to bass.

• They already have a basic understanding of how to press the frets and the fundamentals of picking.
• Knowledge of chords and scales
• If you have band experience, you also have a sense of ensemble playing.
• Those who say, "There are no bands I can join as a guitarist," will find joy in being welcomed as an immediate asset if they play bass.

In fact, many world-famous bassists switched from guitar. Paul McCartney and John Paul Jones both started out playing guitar.

Solution 2: Encourage beginners to "start together."

Are you setting conditions like "at least 3 years of bass experience" or "able to play original songs"? Remove those conditions.

The bass is an instrument that, with three months of serious practice, can get you to a level where you can participate in band rehearsals. If you're just playing root notes, you can do it in a month. As I wrote in my guide for beginners joining a band , "you can start a band even with zero experience."

For people who are interested in bass but don't own an instrument, I offer them the chance to try a rental bass at a practice studio . That alone can change their minds and make them want to try it.

As I wrote in the article about the costs of being in a band , beginner basses can be purchased for around 20,000 to 30,000 yen. It's also good to mention that the initial investment is lower than for guitars.

Solution 3: Directly recruit at session events

Attending jam sessions and open mic nights is effective not only for finding drummers but also for finding bassists. Many bassists who come to sessions have a strong desire to play more.

Session bars in areas like Kichijoji, Shimokitazawa, Shibuya, and Shinjuku are frequented by freelance bassists. If you jam together and hit it off, you can ask, "Are you interested in joining my band?" There's a certain "feeling of playing music" that can't be conveyed through written recruitment websites alone.

Solution 4: Use social media and DTM communities

There are many people who post "I played bass" videos on YouTube, X (Twitter), and Instagram. Even those with few followers can be very skilled. You might be surprised how well people react to direct messages asking, "Are you interested in joining a band?" In fact, many people are happy to hear that.

Try reaching out to people who play programmed bass lines using DAWs. People who can create basslines on a DAW often have a knack for actually playing them.

Solution 5: Look into foreign bassists as well.

As I wrote in my article on how foreigners can find band members in Japan , many foreign musicians living in Japan say, "I want to join a band, but I don't know where to look." In particular, bassists from America and Europe often have a deep-seated understanding of grooves like Funk, Soul, and R&B.

Language barriers can be overcome with Membo 's translation chat function. It would be a shame to rule it out just because you "don't speak Japanese." Music knows no borders, after all.

Personal experience: "You can take my bass guitar over, would you mind playing with me?"

I'll be honest. I'm still searching for a bassist. I haven't found one yet.

I've asked guitarists countless times, "Why don't you try playing bass?" Guitarists I met at jam sessions, guitarists who responded through recruitment websites, friends I bonded with over music—I tell them, "With your sense of rhythm, I think you could become a great bassist in no time."

On one occasion, he even offered me a bass guitar he had at home. He said, "I have a bass guitar at my place, you can take it. Could you at least try it out?"

So what were the results? Some people showed interest. But it didn't last. "I still prefer playing the guitar," "I got too busy with work," "It was harder than I thought"—there were a variety of reasons.

Even so, I continue to reach out to people. To those who have never played before, and to those who haven't played in a while. I ask them, "Why don't you try playing bass?"

Actually, I'm still using Membo to advertise for a bassist. I created the service myself, and I'm the one who's most desperately searching. That's how hard it is to find a bassist. But I have no intention of giving up.

I'm sure I'll find them someday. I believe this because over the past 40-plus years, I've experienced many times that "encounters come from unexpected places." The story of how I finally found a drummer at a jam session bar after searching for three months is one such example. Just when you've given up, they suddenly appear.

So what I want to convey in this article is the idea that "bassists aren't found, they're nurtured," and the determination to keep reaching out until you find the right one .

How to Write a Recruitment Ad for Bassists — Key Points to Make an Impact

There are certain points that make a recruitment message appealing to bassists that are different from those for other instruments. I'll summarize the writing techniques that I've tried and found to be effective.

Be sure to include "Beginners welcome, no experience necessary".

Given the small number of bass players, broadening the appeal is essential. "No prior bass experience is required. All you need is a love for music"—just this one sentence significantly lowers the barrier to entry. Even those who used to play bass but have been away for many years will be encouraged by these words.

Please be sure to attach the band's audio recordings.

Bassists want to visualize what kind of lines they'll be playing. A demo recording helps them determine if they can play the song. Without a recording, applicants will only feel anxious. Even a recording made on your smartphone in a studio is fine, so be sure to attach one.

I want to express my respect for the bassist in my writing.

"Anyone will do for bass," "We just need a bass player"—these kinds of job postings are actually quite common. Bassists are very perceptive and can see right through them.

Try writing this instead: "I believe the bass is the heart of the band. We're looking for a bassist who can help us create grooves." Bassists are drawn to bands that understand their role .

Specify the frequency and cost of practice.

"Twice a month, Saturday afternoons, studio fees split equally among everyone"—simply writing this will increase the application rate. Vague job postings create anxieties such as "They might ask us to practice three times a week" or "The leader might not pay for the studio." It's important to understand the costs of band activities and present them clearly.

Membo is posting a multilingual job opening.

Simply write your recruitment message in Japanese, and it will be translated into multiple languages. You can also reach foreign bassists living in Japan. If you choose a famous song like those introduced in the guide on how to start a cover band , you might find someone who knows and can play it, regardless of nationality. The wider your search, the better.

Let's convey the appeal of the bass guitar — "Unremarkable" is the biggest misconception.

"The bass is unremarkable"—this statement is at the root of the shortage of bassists. That's why I think we band members should talk more about the appeal of the bass.

Try listening to a band without a bassist. It sounds thin, lacking in body, and something is fundamentally missing. The moment the bass comes in, the sound becomes "three-dimensional." The low-frequency vibrations that come from the combination of the drum kick and the bass root are something that no other instrument can ever produce.

James Jamerson's Motown basslines. Jaco Pastorius's "Portrait of Tracy." Flea's funky bass. In Japan, Seiji Kameda's melodic lines. Saying that the bass is "unremarkable" is something only someone who hasn't listened to it would say.

If you're looking for a bassist, the first step to attracting a good bassist is to be able to genuinely talk about the appeal of the bass guitar.

Summary: When searching for a bassist, do so with the intention of "nurturing" them.

The shortage of bassists is a structural problem. Few people start playing, many quit, and skilled players are in high demand. This reality won't change easily.

That's why we need to change our way of thinking .

• Targeting those who have switched to guitar —among the surplus guitarists, there are future bassists.
• Beginners are welcome and we're open to everyone —you can reach a level where you can join a band as a bassist in just 3 months.
• Direct scouting during sessions —selecting based on sound and feeling.
• Approaching SNS and DTM communities —candidates lie beyond the "playing cover" videos.
• We're also looking at foreign bassists — Membo allows you to post job openings in multiple languages.

And most importantly, "Bassists aren't found, they're nurtured." It's okay if they have no prior experience, if they're switching from guitar, or if they've had a break from playing. Find someone who has the desire to make music together, and nurture them together. Good bassists will gather in bands that have that kind of commitment.

Even now, in my 60s, I'm still looking for new band members. Giving up on a band just because you don't have a bassist? That would be such a waste.

• Find a bassist on Membo —select "Bass" in the instrument filter to display only aspiring bassists. Multilingual support allows you to reach international musicians as well.
• Register for free —posting job openings and accepting applications are both free. Start by creating your profile!
• Is the drummer shortage real? — The reality of member recruitment by instrument — A companion article summarizing the recruitment situation for each instrument, not just bass.
• Five common traits of people who can't find members and solutions —hints for rethinking your search methods.

The backbone of a band might be closer than you think. —The guitarist next to you at your next session might be your future bassist.