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Bass as your only instrument?
- Thread starter Muddslide
- Start date
Jack of all trades, master of none. Well, bass is the closest to anything I'd call "master," but still a long way to go...
For me, I had a couple of bouts with piano lessons, once in my single-digit years and once in my teens. Enough to understand how a piano works, not enough to play it in public or actually execute a piece of music. Saxophone was my main instrument in school, about 5th-10th grade, then I stopped playing to focus on drama club. Had a drum set I banged on awkwardly too. I got a bass in my late teens to fiddle with, never really learned it, then it got stolen and I didn't replace it. Working as a camp counselor during my college years I learned some basics on mandolin, and for the next 15 years or so, insofar as I played music at all, the mandolin was it. Campfire stuff and noodling, I didn't consider myself a real musician on it, but it was fun.
Finally got the itch to try bass again about six years ago (I was 38). I had a wife and children and bills to pay by then, so even the cheap money for a starter Ibanez Gio on CL seemed like a big investment. That motivated me to get up early to practice every morning (the Mrs. stipulated that this new hobby was NOT to cut into family time) and to be as serious about it as I could. Eventually got to the point that now I'm in two cover bands with a pretty steady stream of bar gigs.
Bass got me into guitar. I'm still a pretty mediocre guitarist, but I wanted a) to understand what the guitarists in my bands were doing and b) to write on it. But bass is clearly my #1.
For me, I had a couple of bouts with piano lessons, once in my single-digit years and once in my teens. Enough to understand how a piano works, not enough to play it in public or actually execute a piece of music. Saxophone was my main instrument in school, about 5th-10th grade, then I stopped playing to focus on drama club. Had a drum set I banged on awkwardly too. I got a bass in my late teens to fiddle with, never really learned it, then it got stolen and I didn't replace it. Working as a camp counselor during my college years I learned some basics on mandolin, and for the next 15 years or so, insofar as I played music at all, the mandolin was it. Campfire stuff and noodling, I didn't consider myself a real musician on it, but it was fun.
Finally got the itch to try bass again about six years ago (I was 38). I had a wife and children and bills to pay by then, so even the cheap money for a starter Ibanez Gio on CL seemed like a big investment. That motivated me to get up early to practice every morning (the Mrs. stipulated that this new hobby was NOT to cut into family time) and to be as serious about it as I could. Eventually got to the point that now I'm in two cover bands with a pretty steady stream of bar gigs.
Bass got me into guitar. I'm still a pretty mediocre guitarist, but I wanted a) to understand what the guitarists in my bands were doing and b) to write on it. But bass is clearly my #1.
I'm strictly a bass player. But my drummer wants to learn bass, so he's gonna loan me a drum kit and I'm gonna loan him a bass and practice amp. So I'll be learning drums soon haha.
started on keys/piano first (1963 at age 6 ) then trumpet at 8 , guitar 12 , bass 13 , ... and whatever I could get my hands on for quite a while ...
now at 57 ... keys , then bass , ... the last yr getting into guitar a bit more , which has improved my bass playing , ... and does make me rethink stuff on keys a bit ...
I think when we get a bit older , learning new stuff ( whatever ) is very important to help keep our brain more flexible and alive .!
as I get to see first hand , ... I'm an only child and I have my folks ( 82 ish ) living right next door ... sitting around doing almost nothing while getting weaker and more dense every freakin' day ... !!
now at 57 ... keys , then bass , ... the last yr getting into guitar a bit more , which has improved my bass playing , ... and does make me rethink stuff on keys a bit ...
I think when we get a bit older , learning new stuff ( whatever ) is very important to help keep our brain more flexible and alive .!
as I get to see first hand , ... I'm an only child and I have my folks ( 82 ish ) living right next door ... sitting around doing almost nothing while getting weaker and more dense every freakin' day ... !!
I wanted to play piano when I was a kid, but was discouraged by my parents who told me I'd never stick to it. I wanted to play guitar when I was a kid, but my first guitar teacher told me I'd never be any good at it because mu fingers were too long and fat (when you're 12 you believe that crap). So one day when I was about 14 I went to see my friend's older brother's band play. His brother played bass, I remember is was an Fender Antigua Jazz Bass. The first song was Iron Maiden's Ides of March/Wrathchild, and I have only wanted to play bass since.
I am almost strictly a bass player. I do "understand" how to play a piano and know my way around one, but I've never really been able to play anything worth listening to. I can play a few chords on guitar and have played one live ONCE. I also have played melodica live once and I am learning Ukulele.
Classically trained through elementary school and part of college on piano, trombone, and baritone (practically a trombone), but i'm only interested in playing rock n roll on bass these days. Haven't played the other instruments in over a decade. Too many things to learn and perfect on bass.
Devoted 100% to bass without a doubt, but it is not the only instrument that I play, took an intro in piano course in college course because I didn't see a reason not to, and I played guitar for a few years before bass but I wasn't serious about music, bass is what it's all about for me when it comes to playing music and I can say without a doubt that learning piano and my past knowledge of guitar has always helped my overall playing and understanding of music in general
I started on tenor sax in middle school which was great because I learned the bass clef. Its been only the bass guitar since.
I've only ever played in bands as a bassist, and I identify as a bassist, but I've always played guitar as well. I've found it to be very useful for songwriting and getting my ideas across to bandmates.
I've played and mastered piano and trumpet but since I picked up bass, I've not played or even practiced either...
I started on Guitar when I was 8 or 9. I have played Guitar, drums, keys, and Bass in bands. It wasn't until about 7-8 years ago I realized that Guitar was kind of Boring me and I REALLY started to Enjoy the Groove of the bass and drums together. I kinda feel in Love with the Bass and it has been my primary instrument since. I still have 6 guitars, 2 MIDI Keyboards, a Tenor Guitar, and misc. other instrument, as I do a lot of one man band projects where I play all the instruments. Bass is where my Heart is, though.
- Apr 6, 2013
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- Disclosures
- Agent for Scandinavian countries: Stick Enterprises Inc.
Master classical guitarist Segovia used to say "musical instruments are like islands: some are small, some are large, some are beautiful, some are just rocks... but what matters is the sea, what matters is the music"
I started with bass, added Chapman Stick after two years and stayed with those for 15 years. Out of necessity, I started playing drums, guitar and piano (working as a music teacher for kids) and I realized that I pretty much could play any instrument, except those with an air column: I had set my own limitations.
I'd really like to learn som wind instruments now, sax will be a project for coming years.
I started with bass, added Chapman Stick after two years and stayed with those for 15 years. Out of necessity, I started playing drums, guitar and piano (working as a music teacher for kids) and I realized that I pretty much could play any instrument, except those with an air column: I had set my own limitations.
I'd really like to learn som wind instruments now, sax will be a project for coming years.
I started out on Bass and Guitar about the same time. Focused more on guitar though I always knew in the back of my head I was a better bass player. I still play guitar as a hobby and like to play around in a non serious way with that instrument for my own enjoyment. But, I am a better bass player, so that's my role as a weekend warrior. I like playing both for different reasons.
In theory I can play guitar. The sad truth is that when I try the neck is too skinny and the strings are too close together. I used to be able to play, and I remember the chords, but I fat finger the ever lovin crap out of a guitar these days.
I've played bass and drums in bands, I like guitar but I'm not very good.
After starting out in several bands playing bass, then jumping over to drums when the drummer would inevitably quit and we couldn't find a replacement, I was almost relieved when my kit got stolen. Don't get me wrong, I was pissed, but drums are hard and I was tired of busting ass, practicing all the time and still feeling like a mediocre drummer. It takes me a lot of work and practice to play drums. I can do it, but it's very difficult and time consuming. Bass comes much easier to me, and it's a lot more fun to play. So I only play bass in bands now.
Also - drums are EXPENSIVE. There's no cheap way around having nice cymbals. I'd save up for weeks to buy one crash, then always feel like it was too small or too crappy for what I wanted to do. With bass and guitar it's easier to close to the tone in your head without dropping thousands of dollars. I couldn't even get close with what I could afford for drums and cymbals.
After starting out in several bands playing bass, then jumping over to drums when the drummer would inevitably quit and we couldn't find a replacement, I was almost relieved when my kit got stolen. Don't get me wrong, I was pissed, but drums are hard and I was tired of busting ass, practicing all the time and still feeling like a mediocre drummer. It takes me a lot of work and practice to play drums. I can do it, but it's very difficult and time consuming. Bass comes much easier to me, and it's a lot more fun to play. So I only play bass in bands now.
Also - drums are EXPENSIVE. There's no cheap way around having nice cymbals. I'd save up for weeks to buy one crash, then always feel like it was too small or too crappy for what I wanted to do. With bass and guitar it's easier to close to the tone in your head without dropping thousands of dollars. I couldn't even get close with what I could afford for drums and cymbals.
