My brother gains enlightenment.

Saxn · #1 05-24-2011, 12:42 PM

I have been meeting up with my brother every few months (he's a six hour drive away) recently to jam and teach him a little music theory while having a good time. When we first started out, I suspect his goal was to become a 'shredder' - he talked a lot about killer metal solos, wanted to know what trick this guy was using for this solo, what scale that solo was using, etc. I was happy to come and talk to him about all this and it was very satisfying to hear his questions advance as he gained understanding of basic music theory.

So we were talking about some of the stuff we were going to work on during my most recent visit and I heard him mention in passing something about maybe preferring to be a rhythm guitarist because he was really digging hearing some fantastic rhythm guitar with awesome fills... something to that effect anyway. Anyhow, when I heard that my mind kind of 'flagged' the comment... I thought "this might turn into something really cool!" and I was really looking forward to our next meeting, which was this past Saturday.

Well, we got together and started practicing theory and doing miscellaneous other playing around, and he's trying his hand at rhythm guitar... and everything is generally going very well! After about an hour or so of this I had a relative come out and request that I play sax for a little while since they had never heard me play before, and I was happy to oblige. My brother piped up and asked me if I would mind if he played around with the bass while I did the saxophone thing and, of course, I had no problem with it. So I started playing a few licks and he began trying his hand at a blues bass line. We jammed together that way for a little while until everyone applauded and left, at which point I turned back to my brother and said "Ok, man, we can go back to what we were doing before now."

I will never forget what happened next. The look on his face was priceless as he kind of took a step back and cast a down-in-the-mouth look at the floor, and with what can only be described as a mixture of confusion and shame he says to me "...man I... I like playing bass a lot more than guitar."

I should have known 'cause I could see in his face that he was diggin' holding down the line!

Welcome to the groove, bro... welcome to the groove.

**WackoStu** · #2 05-24-2011, 12:54 PM

The dark side takes another soul!

It's official when he trades his gear on a bass!

seansbrew · #3 05-24-2011, 12:58 PM

Thats a cool story. I can relate.

I tried various instruments before strapping on a bass.

The very first time I played a bass I knew it was my instrument. I always tell people bass chose me, not the other way around.
. The way I listen to music and what I feel is most enjoyable in music is all related to the rhythm section.

I have a feeling your jams will only get better.

tdub0199 · #4 05-24-2011, 01:00 PM

Thats awesome bro!!!!! I play both but there is nothing like playing the Bass....

Saxn · #5 05-24-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seansbrew

Thats a cool story. I can relate.

I tried various instruments before strapping on a bass.

The very first time I played a bass I knew it was my instrument. I always tell people bass chose me, not the other way around.
. The way I listen to music and what I feel is most enjoyable in music is all related to the rhythm section.

I have a feeling your jams will only get better.

Wow, man... literally everything in your post I have to agree with! Sounds like your experience was a LOT like mine!

AND I do think the jams will get MUCH better from here... although for purely selfish reasons I am hoping that this really motivates him to zero in on rhythm guitar... I have this sneaking feeling though that bass may soon eat into a lot of his practice time... much like the bass has done for sax practice in my case!

bassclef216 · #6 05-24-2011, 01:26 PM

I started playing with a group of neighborhood friends recently. In my younger years I played drums but transitioned to bass several years ago for church. Fell in love with it. With our neighborhood band, they needed a drummer so I play drums. We have a great lead guitarist, and our singer was going to play rythem guitar. We had no bass. So last practice I brought my bass over to mess around with the the singer/guitarist picked it up amd played a few bass lilnes we taught him. He immediately decided to buy a bass and is now fully intent on learning the bass to play for us.

theundecidedone · #7 05-24-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WackoStu

The dark side takes another soul!

It's official when he trades his gear on a bass!

He saw the true POWER of the dark side

Stilettoprefer · #8 05-24-2011, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seansbrew

Thats a cool story. I can relate.

I tried various instruments before strapping on a bass.

The very first time I played a bass I knew it was my instrument. I always tell people bass chose me, not the other way around.
. The way I listen to music and what I feel is most enjoyable in music is all related to the rhythm section.

I have a feeling your jams will only get better.

Same here man.

Trombone, guitar, then bass. My basses get the most play time by far and when I listen to music now, I really dissect it and listen for the suddle stuff in the song and really get into it.

Bass does amazing things to a persons mind.

OmnitzGarima · #9 05-24-2011, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saxn

I am hoping that this really motivates him to zero in on rhythm guitar...

The cool thing is that he's taking on an understanding of two generally under-appreciated instruments - bass and rhythm guitar. Your lessons must be really good.

**Staccato** · #10 05-25-2011, 12:23 AM

Sure sounds like you (and that bass) stirred something in him. Keep us updated.

Saxn · #11 05-25-2011, 09:10 AM

Thanks for the replies and encouragement gang! I think I may just direct him to this thread...

Saxn · #12 05-25-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmnitzGarima

The cool thing is that he's taking on an understanding of two generally under-appreciated instruments - bass and rhythm guitar. Your lessons must be really good.

Thanks for the flowers, bud! I think it's probably more the delving into theory that's doing it more than anything I have done myself. I have noticed that theory study tends to produce appreciation for crazy things like complex progressions and rhythm sections

Tsfender · #13 05-25-2011, 09:53 AM

Awesome stuff man!
I always tell people that playing bass is something that you have to experience. The feeling of holding everyone in the band together is like none other!

**Thor** · #14 05-25-2011, 10:23 AM

Good story.

Bass is the most powerful instrument in the band. That's why I play it.

RNV · #15 05-25-2011, 11:56 AM

I started playinfg drums when I was 11 (34 now) but the bass lines in music always called to me. In the jazz band in HS I realized how awesome the bass was due to us being lucky and having an amazing bassist in our High School Jazz band. I started playing drums in the local metal scene and realized that not only did the bass still call for me, but their weren't many good bassist around. I gave in and bought a bass while I was between drumming gigs and haven't looked back. Its been 7 happy years.

Stingray89 · #16 05-25-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

Thats awesome bro!!!!! I play both but there is nothing like playing the Bass....

+1 I'm the same way.

UnfortunateTony · #17 05-25-2011, 04:33 PM

That's almost EXACTLY what happened to me! As soon as I picked up the bass it was like it was meant to be

Saxn · #18 05-26-2011, 07:06 AM

I find it pretty amazing that so many of these stories have a common thread... either "I picked it up and I knew" or "I always knew..." I was in the latter category. Since I can remember listening to music the majority of song I really dug may or may not have had a killer solo section or great lyrics. What they did all have in common was GROOVE. And most of the time, I noticed this before I ever started digging on any of the 'flash' that needs the groove to operate.

So why, WHY did it take me EIGHTEEN YEARS to finally succumb to it and pick up bass to play alongside the horn?? That's one of those decisions that I regret taking so long to make, but can't see ever regretting making. I'll stop there before this turns into a blog-length thing.

It's nice to know that I am in a LOT of good company! HERE'S TO THE RHYTHM SECTION!

turbo chicken · #19 05-26-2011, 08:47 AM

Great story ... i forsee him asking to play bass at your next jam.

I started out on upright... but it was love at first sight when i saw it in the jr. high orchestra room ... sure they made me try the violin, viola, cello ... i was a small kid... but I insisted.

I recall my dad explaining that bass was just the same notes over and over ... and playing "motorcity madhouse" for me ... he asked "you like that?" "just playing the same notes over and over" ... my response was "that's the best part of the song".

djero44 · #20 05-29-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo chicken

I recall my dad explaining that bass was just the same notes over and over ... and playing "motorcity madhouse" for me ... he asked "you like that?" "just playing the same notes over and over" ... my response was "that's the best part of the song".

Haha, that is awesome. Personally I have never enjoyed playing repetitive parts, but even still i'm a bass player to the bone. Needless to say i'm in a continual process to find the balance between keeping my lines evolving enough to keep me engaged and tight enough to hold everything together. I'm finding my way.... The same type of thing has pushed me in my drumming, too. You have to keep it steady, but if I find just enough room to move around in that, and keep it interesting it all can work out. Last night I was the drummer for a very big jam session, and although it pushed me to my limits, I was able to hold everyone together and make it work. We had some amazing stuff going on! Unfortunately I was the only drummer in the house who could really pull that off, so I didn't get to play any bass. =( Both instruments have taken a similar approach for me, though, something you hear a lot about on this website; serving the music. I truly just want to help it be the best it can be, and if that is holding down the fort as part of a rhythm section or going crazy with a soaring lead guitar part (not that I get a chance to do that much...), I want to be able to give it the best I can.

----

To the OP: it is wonderful your bro is delving so much into music, whether it is the theory or your influence, or both. Seeing someone going there is such a great feeling for those of us who relate so deeply.