What inspired you?

[cubinicano]

So I'm wondering, everyone here who plays a bass, what got you started? What made you wanna pick up a bass guitar and play it as you do now? What keeps you going? And what brought you to music in general?

For me, ever since I was young, whenever I would listen to music, my main focus was always the bass for some strange reason. It like my ears were tuned to the low end, and it's what's always attracted me. I decided to pick it up I wanted to understand how bass in general works and how those beautiful dark to es were made xD. I still play today because I'm always trying to get better, and trying to develop some skill, and everytime I learn something new it's like more fuel to the flame lol.

Anyone else wana put in??

[4001]

Within a very short period of time in late 1979 I was turned onto Rush and Yes.
Geddy Lee and Chris Squire.

[cubinicano]

Originally Posted by 4001

Within a very short period of time in late 1979 I was turned onto Rush and Yes.
Geddy Lee and Chris Squire.

All hail rush lol, the bassist is amazing xD

[AussieBassist2]

i originally played guitar, but then the whole situation where i was the worst at it so i played bass, at first didn't want to, but heard flea, duff mcKagan, steve harris and all these other awesome bassists and just loved it

still play guitar a little though

[champbassist]

One guy for me: Sting. I was totally (and still am) obssessed with him since I can remember. I took up guitar but saw that Sting played the bass. So after one and a half years of guitar lessons I switched over.

[Guz2]

Steve Harris.

[baddarryl]

Early on Tom Defile from Saigon Kick. He was a buddy of mine and I loved the groove of the bass. I had already played guitar and I came across a band that needed a bassist and voila. Always loved the groove.

So I put it down for many years. I went and saw Opeth last year and Martin Mendez blew me away. So I went and bought a rig and started playing again. 6 months later I am on the worship team at church. Anyone see the irony in that? Lol. On my way there now!

[lycanbreed7]

Like in the OP I've for what ever reason have always been drawn to sound and steady groove of the bass, although at the time I did not know anything about it. Music in general has always effected me in different ways than it does other people. I never played anything until 2 1/2 years ago. A guy I started working with was into the same kind of music as me and can play the guitar really dam good. He convinced me I needed to learn the bass. He turned me on to old Iron Maiden videos and Steve Harris just amazed me. From there I found vids of Billy Sheehan and could not believe my eyes and ears. It has become an obsession I can not and will not end. The nail in the coffin was when we went L.O.G. in concert. I was so close to stage I could almost count the hairs on John Cambells arms.

[Fullmetal]

I was never into music until my friend started getting me into metal stuff (System of a Down, Slipknot etc.) it was all a bit much for me, so I went down to the more modern rock stuff and worked my way up to metal again.

After getting into the music, I wanted to be able to play it. I tried learning guitar, drums and vocals. I failed them all. So I picked up my friends bass and found it much easier to play and much better sounding.

And that was 3 years ago now.

[stratovani]

At the risk of sounding too preachy, God inspired me to pick up the bass. There was a need for a bass player at our local church and a friend and fellow parishioner suggested I play with the Praise and Worship Group. So I brought it up with the group leader and he thought it was an excellent idea. They brought me in and I became the group's bassist. That was in November of 2007 and I've been at it since then, and I'm loving every minute of it. However, lately I have been feeling the need to stretch out a bit, so I think I'll be looking to join a band sometime soon, maybe this spring or summer. A geezer band playing the classic hits of our youth would suit me just fine!

[elocke2009]

I'll bashed for this for sure but Mark Hoppus and Mike Dirnt to be honest.

[Mojo-Man]

Sir Paul
Jack Bruce
Bruce Thomas
Willie Dixon
Larry Taylor
Keith Fergason
Berry Oakley
Lee Sklar
Rick Danko
Will Lee
Pino Palladino
Anthony Jackson
Duck Dunn
Chuck Rainy
George porter Jr.
Rocco Prestia
Willie Weeks
Jerry Jamott
Jaco
Jonas Hellborg
Doug Ranch
Jeff Berlin
Mick Karn
Freebo
Richard Bona
Sting
Miles Davis
Stevie Wonder
James Brown
The Beatles

Inspiration is everywhere.

[TobyBass55]

There were two songs I listened to a lot last year and one day it occurred to me that when I listened to them, there were parts where I was really just focused in on the bass (and that I was actually singing along with the baseline when I listened to them in the car). Made me think I should try the bass. Once I did, I was immediately hooked.
Thinking back to songs and bands I have liked over the years.............in retrospect, some are probably because of the bass. I just never realized it then.

[bstringkyle]

Geddy Lee was my first influence.

[fenwickbacker]

As a kid (mid to late 70's) my brother was (still is) a big Rush, Kansas, Foghat fan. He's 7 years older (and bigger), so what he wanted to listen to, we did. He would always point of basslines in songs and I started listening for them.

Then at the ripe age of 13 my sister brought home the 45 of "New Year's Day", and there was no turning back.

I can not think of an instrument I'd rather play.

[Buslady7803]

I've loved the sounds of bass since my marching band days. Tuba was my horn, I kicked butt. I was the only sousaphone in my band at field shows(or in concert with my upright..first girl tuba at Trabuco Hills HS too), I got comments from the judges cos I was awesome LOL!!

Anyways two reasons:

Reason#1
My brother, a guitarist. May 09, my bro Keith, suffered a stroke. Despite the extensive surgery and damage done, he's all there and pretty much the same ol goof as he was before, he was lucky. He's in rehab for his left side, his walking is great (he loves his new Bioness he walks with, no wheelchair and he uses the cane very little) and they're working on his hand and arm now at rehab. So when his left hand works again, I'll be good enough to jam with him.

Reason#2
Marco Hietala: I like his sound, I like his hair, I like his double goatee, and I like watching him play.

Why not play a bass? Looks like FUN!

[ironrat]

I always loved a good sounding and pounding bass....one day I just got up, bought a bass and I am still in love with the instrument.

[Gerhn Blanston]

Originally Posted by elocke2009

I'll bashed for this for sure but Mark Hoppus and Mike Dirnt to be honest.

Gene Simmons

[PimasterPearson]

I started playing acoustic guitar about 11 years ago. I got stuck playing bass with my church's youth band a few times, but I didn't connect with the instrument at all. Then a few years later I joined another church's band, and once again was stuck playing bass. By this time I had learned more about music theory and how different instruments support the song in unique ways, and I started enjoying the bass much more. Then a couple of years ago I filled in on bass for a folk-rock trio I started, and all of a sudden it clicked.

I have a hard time listening for basslines unless they're prominent in the mix, and I've never taken bass lessons so my technique isn't great. But I'm trying to learn from the masters, and write compelling basslines to my own singer-songwriter material. Songs by Days of the New, Jump Little Children, U2, Pink Floyd, Sufjan Stevens, and of course the Beatles are more exciting to me now than ever. I still play acoustic guitar more often, but I love both instruments dearly.

/cool story bro

[Pdthelefty]

Paul McCartney inspired me early on. Then Andrew Lloyd Webber. I know he wasn't a bassist but a lot of lines in his stuff are really moving. They captured my attention when I was younger and I was hooked on bass.