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Drummers who became bassists

#41
Goatee220 said:
I started off as a drummer. I was putting a band together with some high school friends and had a friend that wanted to play bass but didn't know how. I had some basic knowledge of guitar, so I taught myself the songs we were doing on bass so i could teach him. We played a few gigs but nothing significant. Fast forward a year - I joined a band in college as a drummer, and at the end of the first rehearsal, we started playing around - and I asked if I could try the really cool Rickenbacker the bassist was using. They asked me if I knew how to play bass and I said I knew a few songs. We jammed on a few tunes and they said "we know a couple of other drummers, but no bassists - would you play bass for us instead? (The guy playing bass at the first rehearsal was a guitarist who was doing it as a favor but would much rather be playing guitar).
So, I agreed and learned about 35 songs in a month and a half for our first gig. Haven't looked back and have been a full-time bassist since 1991.
Click to expand...

Excellent story.
 
#42
20: staindbass
21: Goatee220

staindbass: I hated marching! But still, I did a season on the snare line and a season on the tenors. I weighed the whole of about 100 lbs at the time. Brutal torture for such a little dude! I always loved concert season, though.

Goatee220: No way I could have picked up the bass and learned that many songs that fast as a beginner. Nice!
 
#43
I played drums for 6 years and for bass 3 i love them both and was the drummer in my current band but we found somebody that was better than me and i had a inspiration to play bass so i tried it and loved it so i went out and bought a Schecter Guitar Research Raiden. I love it is perfect for me i would recommend it anyone. And now i am the bassist in my band its amazing what learning a new instrument does to people.
 
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#45
I'll take a number. I played drums for about 7 years before I picked up bass. I played both instruments equally for a few years before I switched to bass full time and I finally got around to selling all of my drum equipment last year to buy more bass equipment. Though I feel more satisfied as a musician now I have to admit that I kind of miss the drums every now and then.
 
#48
There are a heck of a lot more of us than I thought. And the list is still growing! Thank you to everyone so far!

Here's the full list with new additions to the family.

1: dalahorse
2: Mugre
3: Stinsok
4: Richland123
5: WildWes
6: tidehunter
7: puremusic
8: drummer5359
9: Epitaph04
10: animvl
11: SBassman
12: caffuchino
13: agent77
14: Kapellas
15: purfektstranger
16: osmarokuma
17: DSBass
18: Gyver
19: Don Tony
20: staindbass
21: Goatee220
22: Schecter115
23: Codymb
24: mcglyph
25: Definitely

Codymb: Perhaps you could pick up a smaller setup just to keep your chops up? I sold my first set of drums and was without a kit for a few years. I regretted it so much... That I had to get another kit twice as big! You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?

mcglyph: I've tried the guitar and failed so many times. While it's so similar in construction to the bass, it's such a completely different instrument. I just can't wrap my head around it. I stink at the piano, too. But I'm way better on the keys than the guitar!

Definitely: Ludwigs from '56? Sweet! I assume you still have them. How awesome to be descended from drummers, too!
 
#49
dalahorse said:
Codymb: Perhaps you could pick up a smaller setup just to keep your chops up? I sold my first set of drums and was without a kit for a few years. I regretted it so much... That I had to get another kit twice as big! You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?
Click to expand...

Yeah I've considered it a lot lately. The drummer I'm working with now plays bass a little bit so we like to swap instruments and jam during our down time at rehearsals. Just playing his kit for a few minutes once a week has made me really want to go out and buy another kit for myself.
 
#50
I just happen to have my first practice drum pad and set of sticks next to me right now that I got at the age of 10 back in 1966.

What I notice is that bassists who started out as drummers usually have a greater sense of timing, count measures, lock in tight with drummers, are more consistent, and, in most cases, direct the band for cues, accents, etc.

I have been told that I have made some drummers better players and I take that as quite a compliment. My current drummer, who also plays guitar and went to Berkley for percussion, and I have that sixth sense together and lock in and are very tight. He is a human metronome and we play runs, accents, fills, etc. together and are both counting, which makes playing with him a real treat. The ultimate compliment for us is when other musicians comment on how tight we are as a rhythm section and I attribute much of that to starting out taking drum lessons.
 
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#51
26: Richland123

I feel the same way. When we have experience on both sides, we can anticipate what the other musician wants and needs. Another truth you speak is on timing. I've never once had timing or rhythm issues on the bass since day one. When I pound my leg into the ground while jamming on the bass, I'm just getting into it - not trying desperately to keep in time.

Welcome!
 
#54
dalahorse said:
Definitely: Ludwigs from '56? Sweet! I assume you still have them. How awesome to be descended from drummers, too!
Click to expand...

Oh ya, need new heads for them because the old ones have a bit too much music in them for my taste though. everything else is completely original, it's a sparkle blue 4 piece that gramps used til he was in his 40's, he then passed them on to my dad for a few years and he played quite a bit. my grandpa eventually got them back and about 6 years ago turned down an $8000 offer for them just to give them to me. the set has all the hardware original, he has since lost track of the crash but it has 2 14" hi hats, an 18" or 20" ride, and 18" or 20" sizzle, all Zildjian. with them I was also given 14 pairs of sticks.................what the hell am I gonna do with 14 pairs of sticks?
 
#56
Started playing drums when I was five. I'm freakin 50 years old now and started to teach myself bass. I bought an American Jazz Fender about 3 months ago. I'm left handed but play right handed style, if that matters. I just wish I could get my fingers to play all the music in my head. That would be nice!
Allan
 
#57
26: Mike N
27: shane918

Mike N, much like myself, needs a kit twice as big as most folks to properly rock out! And shane918 has been on the drums ten years longer than I've been alive... Awesome!

Question for shane918: So you're fretting with your left hand like a right handed bassist would, if I understand correctly. Do you set up your drums left or right hand style? Also, not to worry... The notes start to come out like they do in your head pretty early on. It'll come very soon!
 
#60
I am currently gigging regularly on both instruments in different bands. I love playing both. Makes me enjoy each instrument more. Playing drums 28 years and bass seriously for about 5. Play Pacifics and Zildjians on drums and fender/Lakland and Genz Benz/Bag End on bass.
 

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