Are you dedicated Or do you multitask?!

[tmusic101]

This thread may get moved somewhere else, but I didn't really see where else to put it. Seems it'll get more exposure here so, here goes.

I have been playing bass for over thirty years on & off & during that time I have dabbled in other instruments such as electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, etc.

I even played pedal steel for 10 years! (what an adventure)

I have come to the point that I think I want to get rid of my other instruments & just dedicate myself to the bass. My question here is how many TBers are dedicated bassists & how many divide there talent between the bass & other instruments.

Mods: if there's already a thread like this, feel free to kill this one & point me to the original.

[Marcury]

I'm in almost exactly the same boat time wise (3o yrs on/off). I usually spent part of the day practicing guitar, part stick and the bulk of my time on bass, but for the [past three months I haven't touched anything besides my bass and am really happy.

[ysand]

I play mostly the bass.

I was having violin lessons for a couple of years when i was a kid.
I also played the flute.
I can play the guitar a little, but i still suck a big time using a pick.

[Blake Bass]

I tried pedal steel briefly, it has to be one of the toughest instruments to learn. Now I just stick to bass.

[emblymouse]

Bass is where it's always been at w/ me. When I was a little kid, we used to play 'Beatles' and run away from imaginary girls. I was like 9 ok? I of course, I was always Paul. I even had two baseball bat basses-one regular and one 'fuzz' bass. Hey , I read it on the back of the album cover!

[srxplayer]

I consider myself a bass player although most people that know me or have played with me consider me a drummer. I also play some guitar but I prefer to spsend most of my time making myself a better bass player.

[SC Bassboy]

I also play drums, which I feel all bass players should learn how to do.

[tmusic101]

Originally Posted by SC Bassboy

I also play drums, which I feel all bass players should learn how to do.

I can program a drum machine, does that count?

[Figjam]

I mostly play bass. I also play acoustic guitar. Id say my time is divided something like 80/20 bass/acoustic.

[agreatheight]

I voted:

3) I enjoy playing many different instruments as well as bass
4) I play many instruments because I record my own demos

I starting playing guitar when I was younger so I could get more into songwriting. And I have always been the guy who sits down behind the drum kit when the drummer gets up so I picked it slow over the years. I started singing harmonies in a couple of projects and there you go. It mostly happened naturally.

But about 5 years ago I started to take all of my secondary tasks a bit more seriously. I was never very happy with any of the recordings produced by bands I was in. And I was less and less happy with having to comprimise on songwriting / style. Plus no one ever seemed to work as hard as I did (my perception). One day I realized I could almost do everything for my own project, so I did - and I never looked back. I am very happy recording everything. Sure it's a pain in the ass, but it's very rewarding. Plus I have little ego on other instruments so I'll sit there and do it 57 times, until I get it right. I am a very patient guy, and a perfectionist, so most of the guys I have played with HATED me in the studio. I get it. But as I have no ego as a drummer or a guitarist, I'll do whatever it takes to get the best track.

I am working on a CD as I type - I hope to get it finished by the summer. It's coming out great so far, and I am very pleased.

[MysticMichael]

A very good and interesting question...

I played tenor sax plus some guitar until I was 20 years old. Since then I've been focusing on the bass almost exclusively. But I'm moving in the opposite direction from the OP, feeling the need to expand my multi-instrumental competence - especially on piano. Although I also want to start playing the guitar again, plus some percussion...

MM

[maryhyphenbeth]

Bass is the place! So says my bass teacher.
Though I may eat my words one day, I wouldn't touch any other instrument. If it wasn't for bass guitar, I probably wouldn't play anything at all.
I agree that a bass player should practise drumming...that's logical. And I can see how learning piano would be an excellent tool in developing my music brain. We'll see how it goes. For now, Guitar Hero and Rock Band are as far as I'm willing to explore. haha!

[Bill G.]

I chose option 1. I've been playing the fiddle for 23 years. It was my first instrument, and I still play gigs with it occasionally. But I consider myself a bass player these days. I love the bass, and I don't have a huge desire to gig on the fiddle anymore. I can also play guitar, diatonic accordion, harmonica, and I can dabble on the piano, banjo, & mountain dulcimer.

But bass is the place!

[NYCBass]

I play bass "fretless mostly" and that is where I spend most of my practice time. I do however play Piano, Guitar and Drums as well. I try to make time to work on my Piano "keyboard" playing and the other two are more for fun.

[Rumblin' Man]

I'm a dedicated multitasker.

[nickbear]

i am a bassist but i do play a bit of guitar and keyboards... mainly to aid in songwriting though. i really find it helps my bassplaying.

[Valerus]

Dedicated to the bass...don't know how to play other instruments.

[midnight]

I'm a geddy lee "wanna be", as I fill in and even have lead vocals in our little band. I do recommend singing along even for those who aren't mic-ed.... it really helps discipline your fundamental timing.

Other instruments.... eh... little acoustic guitar, only for campfire or "impress the dames" occasions.

[capnsandwich]

I've been playing guitar for 20 years and dedicated myself to that for 10. My church needed a bass player so I volunteered even though I had no experience playing live or even owning a bass. I had 5 or 6 guitars at the time. I've since been playing bass for roughly 10 years.

In the last 4 or 5 years I've been dedicating myself to bass because I feel that's where I can really do the most good. I feel that I can control the song and the dynamics better if I played a foundational instrument instead of an accompanying instrument like guitar or keyboard.

I've been in a band as a bassist for 4 years now and have been playing in several churches for 10. I've found my home with the fat strings but I still record on guitar and bass for people. I think being versatile like that is a blessing since I can be a go-to guy in the studio on both instruments.

[cheapbasslovin]

If other instruments had big-ol' fat string spacing like the bass does I could probably learn but my patience is nil and my wifes is less.