Dad forcing me to learn bass.

WyrmDL · #1 05-26-2011, 08:37 PM

I know you will raise an eyebrow at the title.

For a few months my dad has been wanting me to learn bass and the songs that his band plays, so that whenever he's gone, I can come in and sub.

However, I hardly even play bass (yes, I know what you're probably going to say). Even right now, I don't have that great an urge to learn bass. I play drum set, I play guitar, I have played a little bass, but nothing that would make me an actual bassist. I have utmost respect and interest for all instruments; learning them, however, is a different story. Bass just simply isn't calling out to me right now; perhaps in the future it will.

My mom was ragging on me for being against it because it involves money of course. My dad started giving me logic on thinking as if I was completely dependent and supporting a family.

I, for one, think of bass as a hobby and passion. I'm not going to force myself to learn it when it's not calling to me, just for the sake of some extra cash.

Maybe I'm not interested in it because the only outcome my family is looking for is money. The band also only plays for money; there's no "magic" in the music they play. I hate to say this with the thought of my dad in mind, but it's emotionless what they play.

EDIT: Also, I apologize for so many of these threads about my parents. I am grateful for everything they have and are doing for me, but I just don't agree with them trying to drive my own life.

BurningSkies · #2 05-26-2011, 08:42 PM

Stab him with your Linkin Park pen.

Or shoot him with your hunting bow.

**cheezewiz** · #3 05-26-2011, 08:43 PM

Kick flip and indy grind on the cat.

Crass! · #4 05-26-2011, 08:43 PM

count your lucky stars. My dad tried to get me to learn his masonry trade. Back- (and knee- and arm- and soul-)breaking work in the sun 6 days a week vs playing bass?

**pacojas** · #5 05-26-2011, 08:48 PM

we all know the feeling! maybe a different means but the end result is the same. it's just a part of a lot of things we are faced with. today you moan about this, tomorrow you piss about that. if you don't like it, find a compromise. either don't do it or find a silver lining and DO it.

it can't hurt!

my parents FORCED me to take piano lessons and i wanted revenge. guess what...

I'M FRIGGIN GLAD THEY DID!!!!!

FreddyCG · #6 05-26-2011, 08:58 PM

Trololololololol my dad forced me to learn bass, all I wanted to do was play guitar. Since then I have discovered jazz, fusion, r and b, got into an arts highschool, of course rounded up many women and have a ton of fun. As far as lack of emotion,maybe your dads band needs some youth and energy to bring it alive. I hate dead, lifeless bands too, but you gotta start somewhere. First piano player I played with was practically Tommy "No Soul" Simmons.

tom once dead · #7 05-27-2011, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheezewiz

Kick flip and indy grind on the cat.

THIS

Munjibunga · #8 05-27-2011, 01:26 AM

How could you not want to play bass? What's wrong with you?

Munjibunga · #9 05-27-2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheezewiz

Kick flip and indy grind on the cat.

Clean up your room, and no skateboarding in the house.

Kwesi · #10 05-27-2011, 01:29 AM

I feel your pain Wyrm. My parents tried to force me to learn piano when I was younger and it took me about a year to convince them that the teacher was too terrible to teach anyone anything. That may not be your situation but what we have in common is that whatever we were being forced to learn isn't exactly what we wanted to at the time. I say really try and explain this to your parents and try to get them to at least understand your position.

jp58 · #11 05-27-2011, 01:43 AM

I'd at least humor him. It may call to you after a few practice sessions. I occasionally take lessons on other instruments just to keep me on my toes.

Plus you never know what you might pick up. Plinking around on the bass for a few weeks might help you learn what your bassist is going to do next, making you a better drummer or guitarist.

machine gewehr · #12 05-27-2011, 03:15 AM

Are you kidding me? My parents forced me into coming to this world!

Oh wait a minute...

**jmattbassplaya** · #13 05-27-2011, 03:40 AM

Not to be an ass, but suck it up and do it!

Your parents want you to get better at bass (something you claim is a passion) and you're against that? That doesn't make sense. I can understand not forcing something if your heart isn't there, but your dad makes a great point about this potentially leading to some money down the road. Times are tough right now in case your weren't aware, so having any sort of talent that might enable you to make money is a great thing. Grab this opportunity by the horns so that doors might open for you in the future. At worst you learn a few tunes and become more skillful at your instrument, and at best you might learn to love the material and make some money playing it in front of people. It's a win/win.

codycaz · #14 05-27-2011, 04:00 AM

Get in on the act, fella. You won't regret it at the end of the day.

Joe Nerve · #15 05-27-2011, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Clean up your room, and no skateboarding in the house.

Almost a coffee through the nose experience. 3 seconds later would have been.

I say suck it up and give it go for at least a few months. I'm sure there's lots of other stuff you do that you don't really want to do. Nobody says you have to stop playing other instruments, and you'll have some paying gigs lined up for you. Johnny Depp didn't want to take an acting gig, because he was a musician. He never made it as a musician. Look what happened to that loser.

Jim Nazium · #16 05-27-2011, 04:44 AM

Son I am disappoint

Ziltoid · #17 05-27-2011, 04:53 AM

Somebody all the Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaambulance please.

Chebass88 · #18 05-27-2011, 08:16 AM

Use the opportunity for all its worth. Playing bass is pretty easy when you get down to it. Playing cover tunes is even easier - you don't really have to cook up new lines - just play the same old stuff every time. IMO, the hardest part is carrying the amp & cabinet into the venue.

If I go to a bar, I usually end up staring at the women on the dancefloor. At least with a bass in my hands, I get to do something constructive while staring at the girls.

bassteban · #19 05-27-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheezewiz

Kick flip and indy grind on the cat.

DGLOL(Deep Gut Laugh, Out Loud)- this is EXACTLY what I thought, w/that Suicidal Tendancies *Pepsi* tune blaring in the background.

burk48237 · #20 05-27-2011, 08:41 AM

I had to go to Piano lessons by walking uphill five miles each way at five in the mourning, then I went to my job at the mill for 12 hours a day. I had to grind wood with my teeth. Then I'd get home and had to go out with the shot gun and hunt some raccoon or possum for dinner with processed state cheese. And my parents gave most of my dinner to the hunting dogs. After that I'd stay up for two hours doing my homework, you know fourth grade english papers on Rousseau and Sartre. Then I' have to go outside an blow on the house windmill so we'd have electricity in the mourning. By then my little nine year old body was tiered and I'd go to bed.

I saved up a little extra from my mill job for some rubber bands and a cardboard box. With that an some extra wood from the mill I made a crude bass with a spalted Bubinga (it was a common throw away wood around the mill in those days) top. I used my dads old Victrola for an amp (we were a musically inclined family) and had to crank the thing while I was figuring out bass lines to old Partridge Family and Pat Boone records. I thought their was nothing more soulful than Pat Boone for years. I had to wait until I was ten to afford the cable to plug my crude bass into the Victrola, by then one of the rubber band strings had broke. Todays kids got it so easy.

I'm sure other Old Farts like Munji and Cheese could share similar stores.