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Do you play more than just a bass?
- Thread starter Bighouse
- Start date
I was classically trained as a pianist all through my school years, and did not begin playing bass until the mid to late 70's.
Started on violin at age 9. I was awful, and quit it after a year. Started on trumpet at age 11. Was less awful. At age 12, first guitar. A Stella, I think. Wasn't too bad. Age 16, high school friends needed a bass player, so I got a bass (Hagstrom...think it cost $65). After that, mostly played guitar, got into electric guitar, and by the late '80s I was finishing sets by playing the Tonight Show theme. Took some years off, got an offer to play bass, never looked back. And while I still noodle on it from time to time, my guitar skills are pretty much gone.
I started out in an after school orchestra playing cello when I was in 4th grade (age 9). Quickly switched to viola because the cello was too heavy for me to carry at that age.
In middle and high school (ages 11-18) I played the oboe and occasionally the English horn as well. Viola fell off the radar at the end of my 8th grade year, but I soon discovered I missed playing a stringed instrument. That's when I took up electric bass, at age 14.
The double reeds were fun but the instruments belonged to the school, so I returned them when I graduated 20 years ago and haven't picked one up since. Unfortunately they're a bit on the spendy side so I haven't seriously considered picking it up again, though I do miss the English horn in particular.
At the moment the bass is the only instrument I play with any serious degree of competence. I can play a few guitar chords but I'm a pretty hacky player. And I can pick out a few melodies on a keyboard, but I'm useless when it comes to making both my hands work together. Drums, forget about it.
In middle and high school (ages 11-18) I played the oboe and occasionally the English horn as well. Viola fell off the radar at the end of my 8th grade year, but I soon discovered I missed playing a stringed instrument. That's when I took up electric bass, at age 14.
The double reeds were fun but the instruments belonged to the school, so I returned them when I graduated 20 years ago and haven't picked one up since. Unfortunately they're a bit on the spendy side so I haven't seriously considered picking it up again, though I do miss the English horn in particular.
At the moment the bass is the only instrument I play with any serious degree of competence. I can play a few guitar chords but I'm a pretty hacky player. And I can pick out a few melodies on a keyboard, but I'm useless when it comes to making both my hands work together. Drums, forget about it.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,081
- 46,052
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I started on guitar and have doubled on guitar on gigs a fair amount. I also enjoy playing keys and drums at a beginner/hobby level. Since I've retired from gigging I keep threatening to port back to guitar as my main squeeze, but I don't even own a guitar amp or an acoustic guitar at the moment, so...
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Started out on classical guitar, which I still play. Electric too.
Upright and electric bass are my main bread and butter though (i.e., paying gigs).
And I'm learning Chapman Stick, which is bloody hard.
Noodled on mandolin and lapsteel.
Basically, if it has strings I can usually get something out of it. No use with keyboards, percussion, reed or wind instruments at all.
Upright and electric bass are my main bread and butter though (i.e., paying gigs).
And I'm learning Chapman Stick, which is bloody hard.
Noodled on mandolin and lapsteel.
Basically, if it has strings I can usually get something out of it. No use with keyboards, percussion, reed or wind instruments at all.
Started with guitar. Years of lessons up until mid teens. Could read sheet music well. Then went to bass during first few bands because everyone wanted to be the guitar player and I really didn't care. Never turned back. I've dabbled in keys and drums thru the years. Can play a few songs on mando and banjo. Own a few guitars but rarely play them.
Piano was my first instrument and I still have one though I don't practice enough. I regularly play viola and mandocello. I've played recorder for a decade or so but I'm just changing over to Irish flute.
Just bass for me, always wanted to pick up the guitar but always end up debating with myself that any time on guitar would be better spent practicing bass.
I started on piano at the age of 7. Three years of lessons and classical training (and more later when I studied music in college). Then I picked up the saxophone, and it became my primary for years. I actually didn't start playing bass until I was 13, and even then saxophone was my primary. I still play piano and also acoustic 6 string guitar - a few times per week for each - and in between playing bass as often as I can.
I mainly play guitar, but other than that and bass, I also play drums and harmonica. I have really been getting the itch to get a nice keyboard.
Started on guitar in the mid 60's, switched to bass in '69, noodled on keyboards since the early 70's, and banged on drums intermittently. I also fooled around on recorder and flute. I am a mandolin owner and lap steel guitar owner as well.
Bass
Violin
Keys and sequencers mostly for percussion
Guitar
And Stylophone because any complete musician should have one.
Violin
Keys and sequencers mostly for percussion
Guitar
And Stylophone because any complete musician should have one.
started out on clarinet in elementary school. Self-taught piano at the same time; was never good at either. Drums in high school. Then picked up the guitar and took lessons for a while.
Forward many years, I started writing and recording my own songs and needed bass parts, so I bought a bass. I loved it. About 6-7 years ago my job changed and I stopped traveling all the time, so decided to play bass in bands. Currently play bass in a cover band and guitar in an original band.
Learning to play harmonica.
Forward many years, I started writing and recording my own songs and needed bass parts, so I bought a bass. I loved it. About 6-7 years ago my job changed and I stopped traveling all the time, so decided to play bass in bands. Currently play bass in a cover band and guitar in an original band.
Learning to play harmonica.
I play MANY instruments, but bass (electric and upright) is my one true love. My grandpa was a school band teacher and had ALL the instruments around his house, so I fooled around with some as a kid. Always had a piano around to make noise on. I learned clarinet in 5th grade band, but was immediately drawn to the low brass bass lines, so I quickly switched to bass clarinet to join the low end. Around that time my mom taught me my first guitar chords and got me an electric guitar. But I was immediately drawn to the bass lines in rock/pop/metal bands so I quickly switched to bass guitar.
As an adult I got a music degree on bass, but had to pass a piano proficiency so I studied up on basic piano skills. Then I became a middle school band teacher, which means I need to be able to play ALL the instruments at or above a middle school skill level. (Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxes, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, all the percussion, etc) I can play the Star Wars main theme on all of those.
As an adult I got a music degree on bass, but had to pass a piano proficiency so I studied up on basic piano skills. Then I became a middle school band teacher, which means I need to be able to play ALL the instruments at or above a middle school skill level. (Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxes, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, all the percussion, etc) I can play the Star Wars main theme on all of those.
