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Bass as your only instrument?

#142
I didn't pick up the bass until I was 44 (1998). Before that I'd played trombone and bass trombone in high school and college stage bands. I'm amazed at how many bass players I've talked to that started on the trombone.

I still have a couple of trombones and keep thinking it would be fun to incorporate it a bit into some of our show (we do some "musically comedic" stuff interspersed into the music).
 
#143
My first instrument was trumpet. Bass was my second and these days we have lots of instruments although bass is the only one I ever play onstage these days. I particularly like having keyboards around because I use them for songwriting. And Ive Been using Jammans as samplers for a while so Instead of bringing another instrument to a show I can record samples at home and just step on the pedal and it plays the sample so I can play bass at All times.

One instrument id really like to pick up is a NS design omnibass/bass-cello.
 
#145
I played piano, drums and guitar before I picked up bass guitar at age 13. I played bass guitar and guitar about equally until my mid-30s, when I had to put music down (at least any bands or gigging) for 20 or so years to raise kids. When I made my "comeback," I decided to drop guitar completely as there are just so many guitar players around. But I decided to add upright bass and mandolin, even though that required lessons on both instruments. I'm happy with that decision. Playing bass guitar, upright bass and mandolin gets me a lot of calls for gigs. I'd say I play the three instruments about equal amounts each these days.
 
#146
I started on guitar, seemingly just like every other 12 year old boy who has ever lived, and I played bass once in a while, but I didn't get serious about it until the end of college. Now I consider it my primary instrument, although I still love the guitar. And I've played around with other instruments like mandolin, harmonica, piano and accordion just enough to know that they're all really hard and I'm going to stick with what I already kind of know.
 
#147
Started on piano, on which I suck, switched to band, played baritone, then switched to tuba. Got a bass from another tuba player in HS band, and pretty much only played bass for a while. Then I started picking up guitar, working on open chords mostly. Now I mostly play bass, but dabble in guitar and drums and keys. I am a definite one-handed keyboard player!
 
#148
Started on an acoustic guitar for only a few weeks before a bassist friend showed me how to play Pink Floyd's "Money" on it, and I instantly realized the notes I wanted to hear instead of the twangy notes I was actually hearing. I bought my first bass the next day and haven't looked back.

I did get a Fender Strat last year, just because I wanted one, but I really haven't devoted much time to it. I'd much rather play bass.
 
#149
Started on piano when I was about 8. My Dad's idea. Oe day I came home, and there it was. M parents Already had me set up for lessons. I probably wouldnt have gone along with it, but my first teacher was an absolutely Gorgeous girl, that I would have sat on nails for, much less a piano bench.
I stayed with piano until they took the numbers off my notes, then I was lost.

After that was saxophone. A tenor. It was so big I used to pay my neighbor to carry it home from school for me. when I was in fourth grade.

HAving learned the fundamentals of notes and note value, and how to count, I got prety good on the saxophone pretty quickly. i was playing with the highschool band in fourth grade, and stayed with it till about the eighth grade.

AFter i stgarted highschool, it was football instead of music, but after having gotten spiked really bad, I decided to let that interest ride, and since I wasnt playing football, I had to get a phys ed class or join the band. I went back to my saxophone for two years.

After my junior year, I decided to try trombone. So in the summer between my junior an senior years, I got int trombone, and became the only player in the band as a senior. Naturally, I had to get good fast.

I went to the all state band as a senior, and started college with that trombone. I was first chair in the college band as a freshman.

AFter my first year in college, I got my bass.

I knew then that I had finally found what I had been looking for as a musicain. I have not turned back.

I have my sons saxophone, and I can play a trumpet, and I have an awesome drum set, but-

Bass to the End.
 
#150
I love bass, but I grew up playing trumpet, piano, and guitar. I play bass in one group and I'm the utility guy in the other paying playing the other three at various times. We do INXS "new sensation" and I play guitar in the verses, keys in the choruses ( while singing harmony) and I play the sax solo on the trumpet. It looks pretty ridiculous probably, but it sounds good!
 
#151
Bass is the only instrument I perform on, although I also sing harmonies and the occasional lead. I do play piano and guitar, but to me they are more study tools than instruments I actually try to express anything on. I will say that I think two of the best things I have done for my bass playing are study voice and piano. While there is certainly something to be said for focusing your energies, I do think that, as an instrument who's main function is to accompany, its really good to get inside the head of other players.
 
#154
Played bass fifteen years and guitar for ten. Some people say they like my guitar playing better. I figure since I started on bass that means I play in time with groove and know when and when not to solo. The greatest compliment I can get as a guitarist is I play the guitar not like a guitard...but like a pristine good looking musician aka a bass player.

Also play drums but not as good as bass or guitar.
 

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