Bass as your only instrument?

[Muddslide]

Just curious which of us here is more or less strictly a bass player and who plays other instruments as well.

I know from reading the posts of several people there are numerous drummers, guitarists, etc. on the forum, but has anyone been pretty much 100% devoted to bass exclusively?

I started on guitar (which I imagine is fairly common) but moved to bass a year later (1978) and it was my main instrument most of my life since then.

But I also played trumpet and sax in school bands when I was younger, still play guitar (very occasionally), am a fair drummer (don't own a set though) and have tinkered with synths. I went through a pretty heavy old time music phase in which I took up banjo, mandolin and even tried my hand at fiddle.

About 10 years ago I had some wrist/hand problems and couldn't play guitar or bass for very long without pain, so I took up ukulele.

Nowadays, bass is about the only thing I am interested in.

I really ask this because I have come to a point in my life (I'm 46) where I feel I should stick to one instrument and devote myself to it for the most part. Bass is the instrument I most cherish and the one I am best at playing. The vast majority of my gigging and recording have been done on bass. I just feel it is "my instrument."

I am also at a point where I am having some financial woes and need to get rid of some gear. I do not even have that much gear these days, but I am considering selling off my electric and acoustic guitars. I still use guitar occasionally for home recording, but I never use it as a compositional tool.

Anyway, just wondering--is there anyone here who has never really played any instrument other than bass, and is there anyone who has completely given up other instruments to play bass and bass only?

Any regrets?

I've messed around with so many different instruments and had times in my life when I either wasn't playing bass (or even owned one) or just wasn't pursuing music in any way. Getting back into bass in a big way the past few years makes me really regret that.

I feel as though if I hadn't sidelined into so many different instruments and had been more devoted to bass and had kept up my practicing and playing even through the lean years and busy times (with infants at home, working two full time jobs, etc.) I would be so much more of a player now.

As it is I might class myself as slightly above average as a player (if that...) but after playing so long I SHOULD be far more accomplished.

Trying to look forward, but hoping I am making the right decision to pretty much give up everything but the bass.

Thoughts? Experiences? Discuss?

 

[jim777]

I can and do play bass, guitar, piano and synths, drums, and violin. If anything I would like to add more instruments to be come a more rounded musician, I don't feel a necessity to work on one at the expense of another.

 

[2saddleslab]

Bass only, the kazoo was too challenging.

 

[theduke1]

I was born a Bassplayer, I'll die a Bassplayer, and in between I'll be a Bassplayer

 

[GKon]

I only play bass.

 

[Rmackner]

I feel like a piano or a guitar is nice to have around if you do any songwriting as I find it easier to start with chords. Thought I would say as a bassist you spend your whole career backing up guitars so it would be a good idea to understand how a guitar works in the mix so you can kinda pickup where they are going on the fly.

 

[Ajapses]

Started at 14 years old with bass because I liked going low. Dabbled around with other instruments, but they never held my attention. Did work up a mean In A Gadda Da Vida rendition on a 1st graders' toy piano, once... but it wasn't a marketable skill. I only play bass and 'a fool'.

 

[mark beem]

Bass primarily, some guitar & piano/keyboard.

 

[Antisyzygy]

I guess I started on Piano but I was terrible at it, I just never practiced. Then I joined school band as a trumpet player in like 2nd or 3rd grade and played that until my sophomore year in high school. I was a decent trumpet player but I haven't played trumpet in over a decade.

I started on bass a couple years before I quit high school band. I had a friend who was a showboat guitar player (he's a terrible guy to try and play with, always turning himself up and everyone else down without asking for permission) and wanted me to join his band. I learned from a 75 year old bass teacher that had been around when the electric bass first came out, that was in the later side of the 90s I think. He was in rock and country bands mostly back in the day. I imagine he's dead now sadly, but he might still be kicking. I haven't checked in on him mostly because I didn't really get along with his sons, and they ran the music shop my bass teacher started and taught out of, as well as spent a lot of his time.

After I quit band I joined the high school guitar class (no such thing as "bass" class) and took up private guitar lessons for classical guitar, as well as generic rock/blues electric style. I never really liked playing those styles so I taught myself delta slide fingerpicking and that's pretty much all I know how to do on guitars now. Open tunings and nothing else.

I still consider myself a bass player, because 95% of the time I'm playing bass. I own 3 guitars (acoustic, dobro, telecaster), but I own 7 basses.

I have a weird instrument called a Kercapi as well as a Ukulele and some harmonicas. I have a couple keyboards too for recording purposes, one is a circuit bent old Casio. I am not good at any of those really though. I did get pretty good at the Jaw Harp, which is weird I guess.

 

[lakefx]

I started with drums and have messed around with a couple other instruments, but at this point I'm a bassist exclusively and have been for a while.

 

[Caleb Mills]

I play bass, guitar, drums, piano, and front several bands vocally... There are advantages and disadvantages to specializing and to knowing a variety of instruments.

 

[Funkmabassup]

Been playing bass for 13+ years since i was about age 14, I play bass at a proffesional/semiprofessional level and still I DONT KNOW A SINGLE CHORD ON GUITAR

On the other hand I play panflute as a second instrument

 

[lfmn16]

I'm a bass player first, but I did front a trio on guitar for about 10 years before leaving the dark side. I studied piano for about a year and I play a little hammer dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, tin whistle and fool around with a couple of acoustic instruments I don't know the names of.

 

[Doctor J]

I started on bass, but I picked up guitar and drums along the way and have both played in several bands over the years. I've sold my kit and had the intention of going back to gigging on bass only, still doodling on guitar at home, but I've just joined another band on guitar. I have mixed emotions about that

 

[eastcoasteddie]

For the last 20 years, bass only. I started playing guitar, so I can do that, too, but I only own basses. I would like to learn Cello, but i believe those things cost a lot of money....does SX make one?

 

[rtslinger]

I am as some said already, born a bass player it was my first instrument and continues to be my main instrument. But I use other instruments to write songs (guitar and keys)

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Bass only..

 

[iriegnome]

Started playing bass in 1981. Still playing bass now. Never played guitar in a band or for much else other than myself or my cats. Over the last 34+ years I have learned to play guitar, drums, keyboards, and a few other instruments, but I have always been a bassist

 

[bassrich]

Strictly bass for me

 

[wintremute]

Bass only. I won a guitar, and I can noodle around on it, but I can't really play it. I won other instruments that have been given to me, like harmonicas - but I can't play them.