Why play bass?

Dave R · #1 10-05-2007, 10:07 PM

Lifted from Unwikipedia.com, under bassists. How true is this?

"WHY PLAY BASS?

1. No one else wants to

History teaches us that what originated as the drawing of the shortest straw, has also been the beginning of many a great career. Take Paul McCartney. He’s written some of the most beautiful and well known bass lines in rock and roll, but not because he wanted to. No! This milestone was only achieved by a lot of punching, kicking, screaming, threats of desertion, shouts of "deserter!", tears, flowers, dinners out, and making up. When George Harrison joined what was to become The Beatles, the boys from Liverpool found themselves with three guitarists. George and John were just too stubborn to switch, so it fell to Paul to make the ultimate sacrifice. Selfish bloody bastards. But Paul showed ‘em, didn’t he?

2. You get gigs

Here’s an example to illustrate the point:

As a birthday gift, a father decided to get his son a bass guitar and some lessons. After the first lesson, the boy's father asked him how his lesson went. "It went great, Dad. I learned to play on the first 5 frets on the top string!" The father praised his son's efforts. The next week, his father asked about the second lesson. "It was cool, Dad. Today, I learned to play the first 5 frets on the second string!" His father once again applauded his son. The following week, his father again asked about the lesson. "I'm sorry Dad, I blew it off... I had a gig!"

This is only a slight exaggeration of the truth. You’ll probably need more than two lessons to get a good gig (hell, I needed four), but even if you suck there’s probably some desperate group out there ready to beg for you to join them. Even without lessons, and never having touched an instrument, you may already be overqualified to play in a punk band." End quote.

1337hax0r · #2 10-05-2007, 10:25 PM

I play bass because its fun

and the whole feel is much more punchier then a guitar (which i also play, but not to a great extent as bass :P)

The Metal Guy · #3 10-05-2007, 10:25 PM

"Because we love it" doesn't seem to be listed under there.

And funny, I play because I love it.

colorblindbass · #4 10-05-2007, 10:30 PM

why play bass?

Why The **** not?

meev992 · #5 10-05-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorblindbass

why play bass?

Why The **** not?

**** yes

meev992 · #6 10-05-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

Lifted from Unwikipedia.com, under bassists. How true is this?

WHY PLAY BASS?

1. No one else wants to

This line is often thrown around in jest, but it's definitely true for me. I took up guitar first...after a while, my brother would occasionally pick it up and noodle around on it. As time went by, I was asked to play the "basslines" on the acoustic guitar while he blazes through lead lines.

so, I went to bass out of necessity, as I'm sure, countless people have. However, I viewed it as a nudge in the right direction.

StretchOnBass · #7 10-05-2007, 10:45 PM

Yeah, I'm kind of with wiki

on this one. I played guitar for several years (Contemporary Christian Band), but when I started getting with friends to jam Blues/Rock, nobody played bass. So I grabbed my son's bass, joined up with them. Now have 3 projects I play bass on, and play the 6 string when I'm writing. But, I'm hooked, love to lay down the groove.

colorblindbass · #8 10-05-2007, 10:49 PM

I guess im just weird.

i started playing bass 4 years ago

i was 11.

no guitar background.

10 years of piano lessons though.

havent put down a bass since

OtterOnBass · #9 10-05-2007, 11:06 PM

I was excited to take up bass when there was a need for one. I'd been playing guitar for years, and always enjoyed the groove and power of the bass. I wouldn't have taken it up on my own because solo bass didn't appeal to me. Now I can appreciate it more, but it's not what I play bass for. I love playing with people and being a part of the musical combination. Not to mention riding the groove and getting people excited. Does anybody else have trouble standing still when playing?

Bass is a gift that allows me to express myself in unique ways.

uethanian · #10 10-05-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorblindbass

I guess im just weird.

i started playing bass 4 years ago

i was 11.

no guitar background.

10 years of piano lessons though.

havent put down a bass since

u started piano when u were 1?

2+2=5?

colorblindbass · #11 10-06-2007, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uethanian

u started piano when u were 1?

2+2=5?

yep

seansbrew · #12 10-06-2007, 12:47 AM

When I was young I never envisioned myself as being the bass player. It's like I didn't choose bass, bass chose me. It has always been that way. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy and embrace my talent and uncanny sense of timing.But I am not as proficient on any other instrument. Bass seems to come naturally to me,
Since as far back as my first memories of music, I have always been transfixed by the beat and the rhythm of music. It sounds cliché but it's really how I feel.
I remember reading an interview with Scott Thunes. He said bass wasn't his first choice, he'd much rather play piano. But some of the bass line he created with Zappa was awesome. I sometimes kinda feel the same way. Never the less I am happy with what I am doing.
Oh well, don't know if I made any sense at all, off to bed.

BuffaloMO · #13 10-06-2007, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uethanian

u started piano when u were 1?

2+2=5?

Exactly what I was thinking!

LOL

h00t · #14 10-06-2007, 06:44 AM

The only people that say "because nobody wants to", are white.

Proof on video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyLGtc0HAgA

bazmeister · #15 10-06-2007, 06:46 AM

i started playing bass 8 months ago and i play everyday now
i brought my bass of my neighbor cause "it looked cool" and i thought it could be strummed like a guitar but now after 6 months of lessons i cant stop playing bass and i would not ever convert to any other instrument

Dave R · #16 10-06-2007, 08:28 AM

I think you're taking it too seriously. It was supposed to be a joke. Playing to the stereotype...

Anyways, I laughed out loud when I read "I blew it off...I had as gig."

"When a man's wit cannot be understood, it strikes him more dead than a great reckoning... in a small room."

-Shakespeare's "As You Like It", Act II.

Goldfish · #17 10-06-2007, 01:17 PM

I think mostly everyone knew it was a joke, but was saying why they started playing bass.

In fact, I started "Because I had to." And it was THE best decision. Ever.

Frantic Slayer · #18 10-06-2007, 05:50 PM

umm *** is Unwikipedia ???

benthughes · #19 10-06-2007, 06:22 PM

I started off playing trombone which really has nothing to do with anything except that it got me reading and playing bass clef. I never liked trombone, never practiced and really just didn't get it. I was in jazz band and my best friends sister played bass guitar. I picked it up and it just felt cool.

I bought a crappy Ibanez P-bass and a 15 watt gorilla practice amp and started learning Metallica ( isn't this the story of every kid who started playing in the 90's?). It was pretty fun, mostly noise making without any real substance or time. I finally joined a band and got to plug into out guitarists 300 watt bass amp. First time palying with power! I hit te power switch and played a few notes and was in love.

Now there is nothing better than playing a show with the bass vibrating against your body, the air from the speakers pushing against your back and locking in with the drummer. You know why all the people are dancing and it's not because the guitard is throwing down another solo.

Bass just kicks ass.

BellBottomBlues · #20 10-06-2007, 06:51 PM

Started off by playing Harmonica at age 5, then I decided to learn more stuff, so I took up banjo (oh god...) A few months after (I must've been 11 or 12) that my friend Andrew was looking for people to fill out a band. So he gave me a choice, bass or drums. My house had a drum kit, but it also had tons of basses. I chose bass because I foresaw laziness in moving a kit around.

Haven't looked back since.