What made you decide to play bass?

tdizzle · #1 11-20-2010, 09:34 AM

Was it a magical moment of discovery? Did you switch from another instrument? What was the first bass you ever played?

I remember my first time. It was on a Gibson SG short scale. I was playing to a song on the stereo. I must have been 10 years old. I could only play one note, but it was in perfect rhythm. That's when I knew.

Some time before that my uncle (a musician) took me to the park to watch a band play. He told me to look at the band and decide what instrument I wanted to play. The bass player was playing a sunburst blocked and bound Jazz Bass with all the chrome pieces attached. I pointed to him and said, "That instrument!"

PrimusPanda · #2 11-20-2010, 09:42 AM

I fell in love with the bass after listening to the amazing bass lines from The Killers and Tool and then decided it was my instrument after I had heard Primus. I play the tuba and love the deep power from the basslines in music. Basses are so versatile and can be used in all genres. I knew i had to have the instrument in my hands after a first glance of the beautiful look of a white jazz bass.

benjammin420 · #3 11-20-2010, 09:44 AM

I've played guitar for 11 years, and in such time played bass on many occasions. About 6 months ago I decided to buy a cheap bass to have around the house for recordings, whatever. Having one around made me practice and work up basslines for my songs, and eventually something clicked, and I have been playing bass primarily since this summer

johnboy65 · #4 11-20-2010, 09:45 AM

I was the tallest one in our band and the bass player left. I was 14-15.

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 11-20-2010, 09:54 AM

Iron Maiden and Duran Duran.

Tusec · #6 11-20-2010, 09:57 AM

I picked up bass after putting a home studio together, so that I could play the bass parts. This was after playing guitar for 20 years.

Now I could kick myself for not starting on bass sooner -- it is incredibly fun. Plus I hear bass lines now in a way that I never did before.

Thanks to TB I learned the goodness of flats. That probably saved me years of wandering in the wilderness.

Pillgrimm13 · #7 11-20-2010, 10:02 AM

i had been playing guitar for a year or so and had a cheap copy of a bc rich warlock (with a a rubbery whammy neck), i went to a music store to get an authentic bc rich warlock and there was a bc rich platinum series warlock bass there and my friend sugested i try it cuz bass players were hard to find then. i instantly fell in love with the feel and sound bass (guitar never really felt right to me) and ive been playing for 20+ years now and still love warlocks.

Bloodhammer · #8 11-20-2010, 10:03 AM

I've played guitar since I was 12 and one day when I was 22 a bass fell into my lap (sold to me cheap) via a friend. At first it was just this cool "other instrument" to have around, but then one day a couple of my other friends said "We're going to the jam room - wanna go?" and since they were holding their guitars, I brought the bass. That wound up turning into a band and I turned into a bass player.

Ever since then, I've always played bass when I'm in a band because everyone needs a bassist and I love being in that space between drums and guitar where nobody can tell me what to do. There's just more room for creativity IMO.

ezstep · #9 11-20-2010, 10:04 AM

I had been playing guitar for a while, but we really needed a bassist. Then, the Beatles exploded, and Sir Paul convinced me to grab a bass. I still play guitar a bit (have two Christmas "performances" coming up with a violinist) but bass is my true love.

Winnb · #10 11-20-2010, 10:06 AM

Many moons ago, when I was a wee little lad, my dad's band needed a bass player. They played country tunes, some bluegrass, and I already knew scales and notes and such. So he bought a bass for me and I started playing it. I loved it. Never looked back.

Rip Topaz · #11 11-20-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnboy65

I was the tallest one in our band and the bass player left. I was 14-15.

This. Traded a lawsuit era Ibanez for a cheap Teisco knockoff. Of course, this was 1985 and what can you tell an eleven year old. I played guitar for roughly three years before that.

Bloodhammer · #12 11-20-2010, 10:12 AM

Wow! Did we all defect from guitar? Bass is a homewrecker!!

pica · #13 11-20-2010, 10:14 AM

Isn't it obvious. Bass players get all the chicks.

Winnb · #14 11-20-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodhammer

Wow! Did we all defect from guitar? Bass is a homewrecker!!

LOL! Yeah it happens a lot. I think most guys look at guitar or drums and pursue them first. But eventually substance wins out over flash. :-)

Kenova · #15 11-20-2010, 10:18 AM

THAT moment was after I saw Iron Maiden concert -Live After Death- !!!! That Steve Harris amazed me!!!!

:bass ist:

Marton · #16 11-20-2010, 10:28 AM

My friends started a band, nobody wanted to play the bass. At the time, I wasn't exactly sure what was a bass, but I decided to buy one, as I wanted to be in a band. 9 years later, I'm studying music at University !

LiamR · #17 11-20-2010, 10:32 AM

When I started being able to pick out good bass lines. Plus, I'd think my hands are too big for a guitar anyway

plangentmusic · #18 11-20-2010, 10:36 AM

Played drums professionally for many years. Fooled around with guitar and piano to compose. But always loved the bass.

In order to grow as an artist I felt I needed to take that leap and make the bass the instrument that would be my livelihood. So I did.

gitlvr · #19 11-20-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tusec

I picked up bass after putting a home studio together, so that I could play the bass parts. This was after playing guitar for 20 years.

Pretty much the same story.But I was a fumbling, bumbling bass player for a couple of years, really approaching it like a guitarist who'd lost a couple of strings, lol.
But, as mentioned, i play guitar and also piano as well. My public playing is restricted(by choice) to playing in the church. There is another guitarist there who is also a fine bass player. We have played together for several years. Usually, when I play guitar or piano and sing, he plays the bass, but when he plays guitar and sings, I would play guitar. I really started listening, and realized that my adding leads and fills to his guitar work was just o.k., but if i could add bass lines, it would be much fuller and thicker a sound. It snowballed from there. I still play the other instruments, but I play a lot of bass now as well. Love it.

Tommygunn · #20 11-20-2010, 10:55 AM

My brother (who had just turned 16) was driving me to school. I was in the 4th grade. He was playing mother's milk (rhcp album) on his car system, and right as we were pulling up 'Higher Ground' came on. And I knew it was a kind of guitar, but it didnt sound like a normal one. I knew from that moment that, thats what I wanted to do. It took me another year or so to finally buy a bass.