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Bass as your only instrument?
- Thread starter Muddslide
- Start date
Played trumpet and piano when I was a kid. I took up bass guitar at 13 and except for playing double bass for 2 years in high school it has been my only instrument.
I can still play piano but not at an acceptable level for performance. I have never learned to play guitar.
I can still play piano but not at an acceptable level for performance. I have never learned to play guitar.
As a kid I would be the guy picking up Steve Harris's and Geezer's bass lines and start point them out to my buddies.
They all thought I was nuts locking into the bass lines.
Bass player for life! Never even tried anything else.
No reason to for me.
They all thought I was nuts locking into the bass lines.
Bass player for life! Never even tried anything else.
No reason to for me.
I'm a 30+ year recovering-drummer-turned-bass-fanatic. I joined this group as a bass player, and depending on the gig, we have 4 -8 players\singers. A number of us are able to switch off, which gives me the chance to drum a few and play a bit of rhythm every night. But unquestionably, the absolute best move ever, ever, of my music life was getting out from behind the kit and thumping up on the front line.....
I consider myself strictly an electric bass player. Anything else that I play or have played (clarinet, guitar, keyboard/piano, upright) is just dabbling and doesn't count for me.
Bass Player Live and Play Rhythmn Guitar so I can show my guitarist the correct chords to play... unfortunately, not joking.
Just electric bass. Had some g*****s when I was a teen, but it never really caught on. One day, a buddy put a bass in my lap and it felt like home.
Count me in as exclusively a bass player.
In the past I've played guitar, piano and handbells. Nowadays I occasionally tinker on guitar but that's about it.
In the past I've played guitar, piano and handbells. Nowadays I occasionally tinker on guitar but that's about it.
after playing fingerstyle and acoustic guitar for decades, with a little noodling on the piano, a friend's band pressured me to play bass with them one night. three hours later, i realized for me playing the bass felt very right, unlike the guitar - i was in heaven doing it, even poorly, and offered to buy their bass on the spot (they said no). years later, due to an injury i was unable to play guitar or bass for a while, so took up with electronic drums, but ended up with a kala ubass, which was small enough to play even with shoulder problems. problem solved. i've toyed with the harp, keyboards, and still play guitar occasionally, but bass is the one for me. it's the one i learn on, practice on and spend time (and money) on.
i do sing, too, but these days if i had to choose singing or bass, it'd be bass all the way.
i do sing, too, but these days if i had to choose singing or bass, it'd be bass all the way.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Bass and only bass for 14 years. I've had numerous guitars and drumsets in my house over the years and the drums never got.used and the guitars rarely.got.used.
Not ashamed to admit that I am a guitarist first, bass player second. What I do regret is not becoming a bassist first. Nowadays, I am playing more and more bass in live situations and I'm loving it. I just picked up today what should be my main bass for a good while. Without me even noticing too much, my music career is somehow taking a different direction behind my back.
One of my earliest dreams I can still remember was me playing a solo on a tuba. I was about 9 or 10. I didn't even know what a tuba was, but in the dream I did. I played a bass solo before I ever played any instrument.
One of my earliest dreams I can still remember was me playing a solo on a tuba. I was about 9 or 10. I didn't even know what a tuba was, but in the dream I did. I played a bass solo before I ever played any instrument.
I started on bass and only have a guitar to help me write music. I played the trombone for a semester in Jr High and tried learning piano as a younger child, both with little success.
I can't sing for nothing, and drums seem like the biggest pain in the @$$ ever. Since my musical interests are Rock related, there aren't any other instruments I'd be interested in learning.
The only times I feel like I should have gone with guitar is when I walk into an MI shop and see how exponentially more guitarists are catered to as a consumer. A GC or Sam Ash will have 2 to 3 times the number of instruments and amps, as well as a larger variety of both. Also, as much as I like the sound of bass there is definitely an appeal to an instrument that can always be heard.
On the other side chords make my hands cramp and I doubt I would ever have the hand, or brain, speed for leads.
I can't sing for nothing, and drums seem like the biggest pain in the @$$ ever. Since my musical interests are Rock related, there aren't any other instruments I'd be interested in learning.
The only times I feel like I should have gone with guitar is when I walk into an MI shop and see how exponentially more guitarists are catered to as a consumer. A GC or Sam Ash will have 2 to 3 times the number of instruments and amps, as well as a larger variety of both. Also, as much as I like the sound of bass there is definitely an appeal to an instrument that can always be heard.
On the other side chords make my hands cramp and I doubt I would ever have the hand, or brain, speed for leads.
Piano, bass, and guitar here.
Taking guitar lessons as a kid certainly gave me a bit of a head start learning bass, though nowadays I consider myself a bassist who plays a little guitar rather than a guitard convert
Taking guitar lessons as a kid certainly gave me a bit of a head start learning bass, though nowadays I consider myself a bassist who plays a little guitar rather than a guitard convert
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I started on guitar in 1976 but by 1978, I was learning bass as well. I have primarily a bass player since then. In one of my current bands I only bass. In the other, I play bass, 12 string acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keys. Our lead singer also plays bass. In recording projects, I have been playing bass and guitar.
