Multi-instrumentalism

[Waspinators]

I've been playing bass for a few years, self-taught, only really starting to develop my own style. Until recently, it's only been me and a few others that play bass in my school/area. Now, nearly every drummer or guitarist I know seems to be attempting to take up the bass. In fact, a great number of kids that used to just play guitar, are now calling themselves multi-instrumentalists, and buying keyboards, drumsets, basses, even banjos. But me, I'm still on the bass, and only the bass (it's the sole instrument I own). I can't play guitar to save my life, or any other instrument. Plus I'm still looking for a job and can't even afford a decent bass rig, and I feel like I want to just concentrate on one instrument and truly dominate it (or at least try to).

But I'm starting to feel like I'm really behind, musically. While everyone's branching out to all sorts of instruments, and saying "Yeah I'm a guitarist but I play bass and drums too", I can only say "I play bass..." Should I bring myself to learn another instrument, or just stick to the one I love for now?

[Lo-E]

Why should you worry about other people's impression of your being "just" a bass player? Stick with what speaks to you and put heart and soul into it. A few years down the line, see who gets asked to play in more bands - the multi-instrumentalists or the really good bass player!

I played bass for twelve years before I learned another instrument. While I would not call myself a great guitarist (or banjo player or mandolinist), I have been approached to play in bands on instruments other than bass simply because I have good time and good taste. These are skills I learned from years of being a bassist and they are skills many players of other instruments could stand to learn.

Stick with bass. You can always add other instruments down the line.

[LaklandBass]

i started on bass and after 6 years i switched to guitar and wound up in a metal band for 5 years. it did nothing but help my bass playing. in huge ways