Since I write my line's parts, the hardest drum is simply whichever drum I want it to be.

But generally speaking...
#1 has to have good hands.

#2 has to have good hands and a great feel for upbeats.

#3 is the "rock & roll" drum. In basic run patterns like a straight down-&-up, it's on beat 2 & 4 -- just like the snare drum in a typical rock & roll song.

#4 has fewer notes, but some upbeat stuff like #2. If the parts are moderately difficult, he'll need great wrists and fingers to bring out doubles on that loose, bouncy head.

#5 is often the easiest rhythmically, but there's no margin for error. If you mis-time a ff+ thump on the bottom bass, you make the whole line sound bad. (And add some difficulty points for being big & heavy.)

I think it greatly depends on the arranger. Like at my high school, there's no difference all they play is eighth notes anyway. At drum corps bass 1 and I (bass 2) have crazy crap that most of the other 3 basses dont' get much of. Just depends on the writer.

Ive always been told exactly what you guys have said, About The first having hands
Second having hands AND rythmns
Ect

Ive never truley marched bass, and when I have, theirs no complexity bass, Show band, You honestly think we split?

But, Ive always been told bass 2 is the hardest, simply because they have to have wicked hands, because they lose a lot of speed with the mallets over sticks, so they have to have wicked snare hands, AND they connect, and run everytihng together, Ive noticed the 3rd bass is generally the connecting bass, but the 2nd bass seems to play the more complex faster parts, and connect them togheter

I think 2 , 4 are the roughest to play. Anything that is not on the down beat is going to be challenging. You are right, you are the connector. Bass playing demands so much today.

First has to have chops
Second has to have chops, but be able to focus on timing.
Third has to have consistent timing.
Fourth has to have some cajones to get the runs, while carrying the drum.(speaking from lack of talent in my high schools 4th)
Fifth has to be able to tough it out, and have enough 'punch'.

Now every single bass needs to have incredible timing, and be able to match each other.If you don't listen or match, everything will sound like poop.

Each person needs to be dedicated, and willing to be the mathematical musicians they can be.

"A bass line that does (BLANK) together, plays (BLANK) well together"

2 and 4 are hardest to play because of how the splits normally line up, with those 2 being on the up beats (e's +'s and a's) but 2 often plays some of what the snares play so they have to have snugglebunny of chops to play clean witht the snares let alone the bass line

its much like the line as a whole. snares, tenors, and basses are all fun and challenging in their own way.
each bass is like this if you stop and think about it.
kinda like Snare21 said.



all of this being said no bass is harder than the other in my opinion.

1 and 2 in my opinion split 6's and what not, bass in general is a very mental drum to play tenors and snares all play unison no offense i played tenors in high school.