Can I still be one of the greats if I started at age 14?

[Dertygen]

I'm 82 and have been playing for 4 years.

14? You're nothing but a child!

No one famous played before 10.

[Pedulla?]

Alex Webster didn't start till he was 16, its all about how much dedication you have.

[erix]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Are you a natural musician? How well do you sing? How creative are you?
How disciplined are you in other things in your life? What motivates you?

Not having a social life may not be the best reason to fill your time with playing bass.

Check out the link in my sig. Lots of good info there to get you started.

You're exactly right Stumbo. Being a good musician is a complete thing, including having something to say.

Conversely, if you really want to be one of the best (whatever it means and not discussing if it makes sense) you must be prepared to resign from a normal social life, unless you're a genius.

What I can say personally, is that, more than the age, what is very important is who you will meet with: learning with good teachers, playing with talented musicians will certainly help you improving your bassist skills.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by Dertygen

I'm 82 and have been playing for 4 years.

14? You're nothing but a child!

No one famous played before 10.

Victor Wooten, famously at age 2-3.

If you're original you can become a 'great' a lot quicker than if you try and just learn a load of other people's ideas so you're like an encyclopaedia with perfect technique. There are actually quite a lot of those players around already. There aren't so many original players.

You need to have something you want to say on bass guitar, whatever it is you love most about bass guitar, your playing should explore that angle or angles. Don't get hung up on trying to make sure you know every trick in the book that just turns you into one of the many pedantic nerds that nobody really gives a crap about. Music should be an artform, so engage with your self-expression and think conceptually about how you want to develop your technique. Otherwise you end up being able to widdle pretty good and hit all the "by the book' harmonies but you won't convey an identity in your playing. The whole point of a great is that their identity is connected to their sound, and it's recognizable, which means it's different to everybody else, which means it's original.

For example, some people think Vic Wooten is a great, I think Peter Hook (from Joy Division) is a great too, as is Paul McCartney on bass, or loads of other people - there's no reason why technique alone constitutes great bass playing. The choices you make behind how you play are often far more critical to making your playing stand out.

[Dertygen]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

Victor Wooten, famously at age 2-3.

Incorrect... but close. (PS: Age 4)

And he's not famous.

Maybe in the bass community (even then...).

[phektus]

By greats you mean popularity? Among bassists or most musicians or just with the plain listener?

Standards vary, you'd be surprised. Just:
- have fun
- learn as much as you can
- play/jam/practice as much as you can

Believe it or not, HONESTY is the biggest factor in being a GENIUS. I started at 23 (now I'm 25). I'm no genius but I'm having a blast; I might die tonight and never make it as a great, or live till 100 and still be mediocre, but who cares - again, I'm having a blast :-)

[Funkadelic Monk]

Thanks everybody! I'm going to go practice now. ;D

[gonzilla]

Gotta also throw this in-
Learning bass at age 10 and not picking it up again until age 30 doesn't mean that you've been playing bass for 20 years. It means that you've been playing for 1 year.

[JPaulGeddy]

It's not like violin, where there's an advantage to deforming yourself early. All about the (proper) practice and jamming/gigging.

[bassybill]

Stumbo - you mean I can't be great because my singing sucks? That's hard, man.

To the OP - Success by the inch is a cinch. By the yard, it is hard.

Just enjoy your musical journey one step at a time, without worrying too much about your final destination. I'm certainly NOT one of the greats or anywhere within a million miles of that, but music has still been one of the most rewarding things in my life (I'm 46, started piano at 10 and bass at 16).

[Taxxorrak]

I think the main thing about the bass is that it's by nature a supportive instrument, which means you should really be playing alot of different music with lots of good, talented people. That's the ideal situation you want to be in, atleast. Sure, being able to play a nice solo is important, but I'd rather swing like hell if I had to choose between the two. Fortunatly, you can do both .. Just enjoy and love what you do and you might find yourself lucky one day.

[PBassFunk]

Monk, I started at 14 and gave it up after a few years, and am getting into it again at 49. Could I have been one of the greats? Maybe - but I'll never know now, will I?

Just keep playing, and if you're really a Funkadelic Monk then things should go well for you.

[Martin Bormann]

You know what all the really great bass players (and players of other instruments for that matter) do to become great? They work hard at it. They work on their technique, they work on developing their ears, they sight-read, they study the theory.

What you shouldn't do, is wonder if you'll ever get to be a great or not. Concentrate on playing your bass well and making music. And time spent on an instrument means nothing really. Some people have played since they were kids, and now in their 30's, they still suck. Where as some people who have been playing for a couple years in their 20's are amazing. It all depends on what you want to put in to it.

[anon65884001]

Hey
I started cello when i was 5
And here are the pros and cons
Pros
-better musical sense
-better understanding of the music
-more time to practice
-much higher chance of keep on playing the instrument
-more enjoyable experience with it growing up as you already know the basics
Cons
-takes longer to understand the theory behind the music
-practice time spent when young isn't as efficient as the present day, right at this moment
-if you hate it, you'll hate it forever
But yeah, im pretty sure that this applies to many instruments including electric basses
Starting early do help,
But not that much as long as you:
-Are Gifted
-Practices a lot
If both, even better
Good luck

[Dano59]

WOW I am going to get depressed now!
I am 49 and just getting started playing bass.
I guess I had better sell all the gear I have been putting together, realize I'm not going to become great at anything, pick a place to rock my chair and watch the young people take all the greatness from my heart mind and soul.

OR

I could continue on learning all I can in life, celebrate my children, cherish my wife, spoil my grandkids, praise my Lord and God, realizing that being truely great has nothing to do with when you start or end or what thing you have done but that true greatness is made up of all the things you have done, how you have affected others and whether you have honered yourself, your family and your creator.
But maybe I can be that cover story about a guy who is a great bass player who did't start playing until he was 49!!

Go for it youg man, become great and make us and more importantly you and those if your life proud of you journey.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by bassybill

.....music has still been one of the most rewarding things in my life....

+100

I'm a legend in my own mind.....