I've always had an unspoken agreement with myself that I wouldn't date guys with hair longer than my own. It was never any sort of stereotypical thing, it was just personal preference. BUT I've been dating the same long-haired (it's just past his shoulders) guy for about two and a half years now, and I really don't have a problem with it. In fact, I really love his hair.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Forsaking all other instruments for bass?
- Thread starter Muddslide
- Start date
Electric Bass is by far my primary instrument. However, I do also play double-bass (I consider the upright to be a different instrument.... closely related, but there are pretty significant differences, to me), trombone, and a little guitar.
This is pretty much my situation. I learned to play guitar in high school, back in 1970. I put playing on hold from 1973 to 2003 while I focused on college, career and family. In 2003, I got back into playing guitar, but found few chances to play with other people....too many guitar players!!!!
One Saturday, I was at a local music store, looking at electric guitars, and someone walked up to me and asked if I played bass.....his band needed a bass player, and he was having to fill the spot until they found someone (he HATED playing bass)......I told him I didn't, and he went on. But that started the gray cells moving. A couple of years later, I got my first bass (a Squier VM fretted Jazz), got into it.....LOVED it, and started selling off my guitars for basses!!!!
Within a year, I ran across another group wanting a bass player, and got that gig. I still do play guitar in that group sometimes (I'm as good a guitar player as anyone in the group), but mostly I play BASS.
I don't practice guitar anymore, only bass.
Roger
One Saturday, I was at a local music store, looking at electric guitars, and someone walked up to me and asked if I played bass.....his band needed a bass player, and he was having to fill the spot until they found someone (he HATED playing bass)......I told him I didn't, and he went on. But that started the gray cells moving. A couple of years later, I got my first bass (a Squier VM fretted Jazz), got into it.....LOVED it, and started selling off my guitars for basses!!!!
Within a year, I ran across another group wanting a bass player, and got that gig. I still do play guitar in that group sometimes (I'm as good a guitar player as anyone in the group), but mostly I play BASS.
I don't practice guitar anymore, only bass.
Roger
I'll always be the bass player.
I started out on drums and have forsaken them, but I still play a little guitar and harmonica. Vocals have become my newest challenge, not that I'm going to take lessons or anything. I just want to get better.
I started out on drums and have forsaken them, but I still play a little guitar and harmonica. Vocals have become my newest challenge, not that I'm going to take lessons or anything. I just want to get better.
I gigged as a guitarist for about 15 years before coming to the realization that I was only an average guitarist - and a FAR better bassist... I made bass my "primary" instrument shortly thereafter, and consistantly play better gigs as a bassist than I ever did as a guitarist... I haven't "forsaken" guitar, though - I still play them sometimes, and occasionally land gigs as a rythym guitarist, and dabble in a few other instruments - but consider myself a bassist... I don't regret going this route for one second - I see "guitarists" all the time that would be better off if they made the move also, but that's their business...
IME, a good bassist will always have as many gigs as they want...
- georgestrings
IME, a good bassist will always have as many gigs as they want...
- georgestrings
I started on trombone in high school; that's where I originally learned to read music and a little bit of music theory (since forgotten unfortunately).
The only other instrument I've tried to learn to play is the guitar. I even still have one (my G&L Legacy Special hardtail). My motivation there has only been to provide a "melody-b1tch" or rhythm guitar to accompany the bass.
But in the end it's truly hopeless. I can only ever get to 3 or 4 chords (including barr chords) and absolutely cannot get even to basic competence with a pick. I have to play lines on it with my fingers a-la the bass, etc.
Well, it just doesn't work and I'm screwed on the guitar. So unfortunately it sits in the case (even tho it's probably the finest sounding guitar I've ever heard).
Finally, I've always known I'm a bass player and not a musician. I can come up with bass parts to pre-existing music, but I'm an utter failure at my own stuff with other instruments.
So I just stick with the bass - it's the only noise-maker I have that I can make musical sounding noise with. Anything else and it's just noise....
LS
I play quite a few instruments and tend to focus on guitar, bass or sax at any given time. Playing is a hobby I do for relaxation. I am not pressed or motivated to get real good at any one instrument.
I've been a guitarist for more than two decades. I love the instrument, and don't ever forsee laying it down. I've been playing piano now for about a year and a half. I play as our pianist at my church, and also love it. I have been playing bass seriously for about a year, and love it as well. They're all good, and I will not trade one for the other. They all are something I enjoy, and I'll keep them, thank you.
However, as regards the bass, if I were still playing in and gigging with bands, I'd lay my guiitar down in a hot minute, sell all my other gear, and buy a nice bass rig. Love the bass!
However, as regards the bass, if I were still playing in and gigging with bands, I'd lay my guiitar down in a hot minute, sell all my other gear, and buy a nice bass rig. Love the bass!
No, wouldn't even consider it.
The goal is to be a better musician, not some overplaying, obnoxious, self-ordained bass god.I mean who cares?
As an aside, I don't know any instrumentalist who doesn't improve after spending some time learning to drum.
I agree. I dont consider myself a "jack of all trades" because I do a lot of things. One can still excel at one thing while doing other things.
And yes, all musicians should learn to play some drums, just as all drummers should learn a musical instrument.
I play bass (guitar and upright acoustic bass) in country, bluegrass, roots and blues bands. I play acoustic guitar and sing solo and in a duo. I wouldn't give up either. I also play piano, accordion, harmonica, and a bit of mandolin. I consider myself a musician, not a bass/guitar/keys or whatever player.
I have played bass for 23 years. I have NEVER picked up a guitar for more than 30 seconds. Ten years ago, I studied the congas for a while and in the past few years, I have experimented with drums, but all of it has been borne from a desire to improve my bass skills.
If you're interesting in composition, you almost certainly must play other instruments. Otherwise, you write bass licks.
I dabble with mandolin, guitar and hand drums, but my passion is the bass, even though I will never be mistaken for a "bass god". However, I have been getting quite a few calls as a hand drummer/percussionist, so that means even more pocket mulah.
I also record, and fill out the rest of the parts on other instruments, even though I am marginal at best. This allows me to work at my pace. So far have played 90% of the tracks on my instrumental CD I've worked on for 10 years. I've debated naming it "D.R. Plays With Himself" but my wife didn't think much about it, so I'll call it "Nothing To Say".
My point is (through all my rambling) that we need other hobbies and outlets besides just one instrument, or just music to keep it fresh when we return to it.
I also record, and fill out the rest of the parts on other instruments, even though I am marginal at best. This allows me to work at my pace. So far have played 90% of the tracks on my instrumental CD I've worked on for 10 years. I've debated naming it "D.R. Plays With Himself" but my wife didn't think much about it, so I'll call it "Nothing To Say".
My point is (through all my rambling) that we need other hobbies and outlets besides just one instrument, or just music to keep it fresh when we return to it.
No.
I'll always be primarily a bass player, but more than that I'm a musician. In the past year I've started working on Mandocello, mandolin, harmonica and singing, and in reality I think it's only made me better overall, even on bass. I think expanding into other instruments is really important for development as a musician. Dropping all other stuff for just bass seems a bit silly. Why limit yourself?
I'll always be primarily a bass player, but more than that I'm a musician. In the past year I've started working on Mandocello, mandolin, harmonica and singing, and in reality I think it's only made me better overall, even on bass. I think expanding into other instruments is really important for development as a musician. Dropping all other stuff for just bass seems a bit silly. Why limit yourself?
I've never played anything except bass for the past 35 years or so. I don't see any point in it, for me the bass is the perfect instrument.
I tried to teach myself guitar a while back but failed miserably at it. Now I'm teaching myself Ukulele. And having a much easier time of it.
But the bass will always be my main instrument.
I tried to teach myself guitar a while back but failed miserably at it. Now I'm teaching myself Ukulele. And having a much easier time of it.
But the bass will always be my main instrument.
Being bassist and nothing else is great, but knowing other instruments and their role is IMHO essential to be good bassist and musician.
My rules of thumb is - if i get a chance to try any instrument i haven't yet, even if its for 30secs, imma try it. Oboa, clarinet, harpsichord, drums, calimba, french horn, whatever, broadens my musical knowledge and understanding of what other instrumetalist are doing.
But i love bass and thats where I'm staying.
My rules of thumb is - if i get a chance to try any instrument i haven't yet, even if its for 30secs, imma try it. Oboa, clarinet, harpsichord, drums, calimba, french horn, whatever, broadens my musical knowledge and understanding of what other instrumetalist are doing.
But i love bass and thats where I'm staying.
In 1967 I made my first bass in woodwork. A bass because the rich kids that wanted to be in bands had guitars bought for them. It was a lousy bass but I learned the basics on it before moving on to better basses.
I always fancied playing lead and bought a beat up 6 string and did a fair amount of woodsheding. My chance came many years later when the guitarist from my school band tracked me down (he was now playing bass, very badly) with an offer to play lead in his band. I took this and played lead for about 12 years until he quit and I went back onto bass.
I have got it out of my system now and have no desire to go back to it. It is very overrated, all weedly deedly and show. not my scene really. I do play a bit of slide guitar delta blues now, something I have wanted to do since hearing a John Lee Hooker album in the late 60s.
It hacks our guitarist off that I can play better lead than him, and show him the lead parts on my bass, but only if he asks. He only ever wanted to be a rhythm guitarist, now he is rhythm, lead and most of the lead vocals in our 3 piece.
I think it is good to play other instruments as it broadens your view on bass.
I always fancied playing lead and bought a beat up 6 string and did a fair amount of woodsheding. My chance came many years later when the guitarist from my school band tracked me down (he was now playing bass, very badly) with an offer to play lead in his band. I took this and played lead for about 12 years until he quit and I went back onto bass.
I have got it out of my system now and have no desire to go back to it. It is very overrated, all weedly deedly and show. not my scene really. I do play a bit of slide guitar delta blues now, something I have wanted to do since hearing a John Lee Hooker album in the late 60s.
It hacks our guitarist off that I can play better lead than him, and show him the lead parts on my bass, but only if he asks. He only ever wanted to be a rhythm guitarist, now he is rhythm, lead and most of the lead vocals in our 3 piece.
I think it is good to play other instruments as it broadens your view on bass.
