Why did you choose to start playing bass? Or did it choose you?

[Bassguy1]

And out of all instruments why pick this one? For me it's the deep, rich sound that carries a band. How about you?

[Wootsticks]

It chose me.

I've always wanted to play bass, as far back as I can remember. I've always air bassed, instead of air guitaring. I've wanted to play bass things. My favorite singer was that guy from the Oak Ridge Boys.

I like bass.

[Snakeman1066]

Dad and Mom were huge music nuts....Dad wanted to be Carl Perkins, or Buddy Holly at one point in his life....he introduced me to Sabbath and therefore to Geezer Butler the rest was history...

[Bassguy1]

I also think for me, being in my 50s, was listening to all those great Motown hits and the likes of James Jamerson and Bob Babbit.

[Herrlster]

Friends had a band, I wanted to join and be cool. The only instrument they needed was a bass, so I got stuck with bass duties...

[Kyon`]

[keylimepie]

In grade 7 I told my music teacher that I could already play bass so he let me play in music class. Otherwise I would have been put on clarinet.

[ogrossman]

I suppose you'd say it chose me. I was playing rhythm guitar in my high school jazz band and the bass player had to drop out a month before the end of the year. I was the only guitarist who could read music so after a crash course in reading bass clef I took over on bass. I loved it right from the start but I don't know if I'd have changed over if the circumstances were different.

[tonypohlman]

It chose me... I was in my basement, hanging out with my older brother and a friend of ours. My brother started busting out some riffs on guitar, our friend grabbed some sticks... and my bro told me to grab his old bass. I was hooked. And even though I'm not that great, I'm thankful that old Squier landed in my hands!

[kristlik]

I would say the Bass chose me.

In my youth I played the Piano, Organ, Accordion and Flute.

After college I started playing the Harmonica and some finger style acoustic guitar.

Then a couple years ago, I'd been having some hand problems while playing the acoustic guitar; and on a whim, I tried an electric bass . . . I loved the sound, and it just felt right in my hands, and I've been hooked ever since.

I'm still a hack, and have a ways to go before I would ever describe myself a bass player: but I'm enjoying the playing, the practice, the lessons and the learning; can't ask for more than that right now, and if there is more to come, that will come when it is time as well.

[Waspinators]

When I was a little kid I would always talk about the bass (double and electric) instead of the guitar. It always fascinated me, and when I wanted to learn an instrument, that immediately popped into my mind, and stayed their once I though of the positives, like the huge amount of open bass spots in bands these days.

[Parabolic Box]

I wish I had some fantastic story about how I found a magic bass in an old cellar with a wise man recanting a tale, but the reason I started playing was simply because everyone was getting into the music thing, playing guitar, and I had a wad of extra cash on my hands.

I didn't want to play guitar, and I was pretty heavy into Queen (though I still am), so I chose the electric bass guitar.

It was actually after I started that I discovered all these wonderful bassists.

[BillyRay]

Friend needed a bassist. I already knew how to read bass clef after playing trombone for a few years (and almost being good at it, almost) so I picked up bass.

It also occured to me very early that knowing how to read bass clef while in a rock band was probably the most useless thing ever Glad I knew how to when I was subbing 4-5 times a month for laidback jazzy gigs though.

[mike phillips]

it chose me. the thunderin bass line from smoke on the water reached out and pulled me down into the dark low side.

[aikakone]

My first instrumental love was percussion, and I still play in a local orchestra. I went to the university as a music education major with my performance areas being percussion and voice. As part of the curriculum, we were required to take teaching methods classes for all the the instrumental families. When I played strings, for my high string I chose viola, and then I chose bass my low string. I really enjoyed playing the bass, and my hands seem to fit naturally on the instrument.

About 10 years later (and 3 years ago), I was sitting at church when the preacher brought out a guitar and a bass and asked for volunteer musicians from the congregation. I had guitar experience, too, but I never got very good at it. Remembering my enjoyment of the bass, though, I volunteered to play that. It's been love ever since. Playing bass gives me such joy in ways I could never have predicted. I love being part of this brotherhood (and sisterhood).

[Slax]

My friend was getting a guitar in 9th grade and I said I'd pick up a bass and we'd make a band. So I guess I chose to be a bassist. At the time I didn't even know exactly what my part was to do... (which led to a few extremely "interesting" bass lines until I started taking lessons. lol)

7 or so years later I'm still playing and still happy over the choice ::

[embellisher]

Started on drums, and after a couple of months I had my friend who played bass show me a few things. Within a few weeks I was better than he was.

After about two years, I realized that I was a much better bassist than drummer, and I enjoyed playing bass more, so I made the switch.

[Taurusmoo]

As an 8 year old kid I heard Kiss for the first time, and Gene Simmons was a bloody, firebreathing DEMON! Got my first bass a year later, and still play bass as my main instrument now at age 40. Thankfully my fascination with Gene dropped pretty fast as I actually learned to play, but he was the reason I started playing. God of Thunder, I salute thee ;-)

[Depth_Charge]

After discovering Metallica, a friend of mine had some guitars at home so I asked him to teach me some of it and I started learning to play rythm. 2 weeks in I was over his house and "For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Metallica was playing, so I asked him to teach me. He shows me 2 power chords to play.

I have a go at him telling him not to patronise me, and show me "that high bit" as well, I want to learn it. He asks "what high bit"?. I restart the song and show him.

He laughs, says OK then takes the guitar off me!! He hands me a bass and says "You'll want one of these then". Then he took the pick off me, gave me a quick lesson on bass and the first time I slid down that E string to a ringing open E, I was hooked!

[heroincredible]

I had played guitar for a couple of years, and when selecting courses in high school I decided I wanted to play guitar in band. First day of band, I'm told there is no guitar part to be had But they did need a bass player As soon as we started to play I know bass was for me and haven't played guitar very much since then.