Do you play more than just a bass?

[Bighouse]

I can’t help but notice in many photos people post of their music rooms or setups that often there are other instruments other than bass guitars shown. Guitars, drums, keyboards, and even today I saw trumpets and other brass instruments. I mostly assumed it was a band space issue, or multiple players in the house- but some photos have a “it’s all mine” feel.

Which instruments do you play other than a bass?

Was the bass your first instrument?

If you play other instruments, which instrument is your “go-to”?

 

[rpt50]

You should do this as a poll.

 

[Joeywhat]

Been playing sax for 25 years, keyboard on and off for 5 years, and have just started learning bass.

 

[wazzel]

Rhythm guitar and sax are the only other instruments I practice on in addition to bass.

I am no longer competent on the following, but was at some point in time

double bass
Piano
French horn
Baritone
Tuba

I started on bass, rhythm guitar and sax at the same time.

 

[DirtDog]

Yes, guitar, pedal steel/lap steel/dobro, drums and a tiny bit of keys/synth.

 

[CallMeAl]

Trumpet was my first instrument, even majored on it in college. Don’t really play anymore horn though. I play a little keys, but am a terrible reader! Other than bass, my main instrument is guitar these days.

 

[ejaggers]

My secondary instrument is piano, and years ago I was a drummer,
but what I find amazing is what I can't do.

I can't play a lick of guitar even though I've had lessons several times over the years....057912

 

[smarthound]

I started on guitar and switched to bass a couple of years later. I still play guitar now and again.

I can play drums at an amateur level, and with keyboards I can fool anyone who can't play at all into thinking that I can.

I tried but failed to learn to play sax!

 

[CletusMarley]

Guitar, mandolin.

 

[6-3-2]

I've picked up guitar. I mostly think of guitar as a tool to help me think better about harmony and layering instruments. I still pick up bass 90% of the time when I wanna practice. Guitar is cool, but for me bass is more exciting to play.

 

[Dincrest]

I started with piano lessons at age 5 or 6. Nothing really amounted from that, because I had a terrible attention span unless I was reading a book.

3rd and 4th grade I played recorder, like most kids.

From 5th- 9th grade I played baritone horn. For about 6 months in 7th grade I even played some flute.

But after I quit the school band after 9th grade I picked up bass and I've never looked back. January 1994 was when I started taking bass lessons (I was 15 going on 16). I've had periods throughout my life when I stopped playing sometimes for years at a time, but fate always brought me back to bass. I'm glad for my knowledge on theory and my ability to read both bass and treble clef.

I never once wanted to play guitar. I always wanted to play bass. Maybe it was from playing baritone horn and being situated near all the bass instruments in the school band, that I learned to love all the basslines I was surrounded by. Even now, I'm totally uncomfortable playing guitar. Tiny neck and tiny strings all crammed together makes my fingers feel cramped. I've made many attempts but all have gone plop.

 

[bobyoung53]

I also started on trumpet and baritone horn, switch to guitar then bass which is what I always wanted to play in the first place. Still play guitar also but haven't touched a horn in years. I also fooled around with an alto sax one summer, it's the most expressive instrument I've ever played. I wish I had stuck with it. My reading is rudimentary as I always played by ear.

 

[Pings Bass]

All of that plus sax and clarinet, bass guitar and guitar.

Started in 5th grade band on cornet/trumpet, started playing rock and roll (bass and guitar) in 6th grade, double bass at about 20, switched from trumpet to reeds (clarinet and sax) in my early 20s.

 

[fdeck]

I also play electric bass.

And cello.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Yes

 

[WoodyJ]

Guitar, some drums and trumpet

 

[swink]

The "just a bass" happens to be one of my favorites. in addition, I also play for bassist and for cool guy in the background with a simplified guitar with 4 strings.

 

[chris_b]

I messed around with piano, drums and guitar, but never very seriously.

On the other hand I was very serious about playing bass.

 

[blastoff99]

And since this is a threat about *other than* basses, off it goes to Miscellaneous.

 

[logdrum]

saxophone. I have and play the different sizes, soprano, alto, tenor and this year I started Baritone. I play tenor mostly but that seems to be changing with baritone.
Also play piano, guitar and drums.