I started out playing piano at around age 12. But it wasn't cool. Then I started playing guitar and I sucked. Then I picked up a bass and I still sucked... but less. So I went with bass.
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How did you become a bassist?
- Thread starter Bassace28
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She did the same thing to me, the cheap little tramp.
Seriously: Circa 1977-8 I saw my high school jazz band perform and wanted in. But I didn't play any jazz band instruments (not a big demand for bass clarinet in that type of ensemble). I noodled on guitar but wasn't any good. The bass just looked and sounded soooo cool. So I told the band director (his arm clad in pilled worsted wool) that I wanted to join. "The bass player graduates in 2 years," he replied. "Learn the instrument and the seat is yours." I never looked back, and I've never for a moment fallen out of love with the instrument. (Thanks to my departed dad for hooking me up with a better-than-adequate first bass, a new Guild B-301A. The thing was almost as long as I was tall.)
Had friends in the neighborhood who played guitar and drums,bass seemed logical to me and I liked playing it.1978 bought my first one,a Cortez J bass copy,and that's what hooked me(said bass is in my avatar).Around that time,Muddy Waters put out his Hard Again album and George Thorogood had an album called Better Than The Rest.I was on my way from there.
I thought Chris Squire with his Ric and cape was totally cool. I was tall, and have a 37 inch sleeve. There were always 4-5 guitar players around, and no bass players. The influence of Squire, and the lack of bassists made me get serious about the bass.
Still switch back & forth from guitar to bass, but started playing bass to record demos.
First band I played bass in was out of necessity. Wasn't really all that into it. Capable enough I suppose, but my disinterest was faily evident.
This time out, REALLY enjoying it and have gotten pretty passionate about it. A connection to the material is a great motivator, which in turn pushes me beyond the envelope of what we're doing.
First band I played bass in was out of necessity. Wasn't really all that into it. Capable enough I suppose, but my disinterest was faily evident.
This time out, REALLY enjoying it and have gotten pretty passionate about it. A connection to the material is a great motivator, which in turn pushes me beyond the envelope of what we're doing.
I think most ppl on here probebly have similar stories to mine and don't wana admit it. My friends wanted to start a band, I couldn't play any instruments and there were almost NO bassists in middle school, so I played my friends dads bass(he was a guitarist who figured bass was easier then guitar: haha) I played nothing but root notes for 2 years with them, then started actualy listening to bass lines and fell in love with it. Today I can play guitar just as good as anyone in my band, but I truely love the coplexity and arpedgio based lines that rock bassests play. And even more so I love writing those lines. And that's my ****** Ass life story. I thought the same thing most ppl still think.... It would b easy
I was listening to KORN exclusively for a year or two basicly taking them an album at a time trying to learn them on a fender squire and the entire time I was doing that, their bass tone always stuck out too me. So I tried making the sound with guitar and it didn't work and I went and got a bass. Fell in love with it and haven't stopped since 
and yea I know KORN is a joke around here but I think they are actually pretty good at what they do
and yea I know KORN is a joke around here but I think they are actually pretty good at what they docurbowkid said:I was listening to KORN exclusively for a year or two basicly taking them an album at a time trying to learn them on a fender squire and the entire time I was doing that, their bass tone always stuck out too me. So I tried making the sound with guitar and it didn't work and I went and got a bass. Fell in love with it and haven't stopped since
TING TING CLANG CLANG! LOL
I'm sorry... I'm done korn is fun, just terrible on bass
I started off on alto sax in the 5th grade. When I tried out for marching band in the 8th grade I wasn't so good, so the director switched me to baritone sax. When I got into high school I wanted to be in a band, so I picked up the bass. Still played bari until 11th garde. Sometimes I would play the bass clarinet. Then in the 12th grade I played upright bass in orchestra and started a traditional ska band I've always played bass instruments.
I've always played bass instruments.ziggy44 said:
Lol I never said they were the hardest thing to play
it's just his style got me into more serious slapping styles which lead to my now love of bass.
My good friend called me up and said "we just fired our bass player, can you play the bass?"
"well, let's find out" was my reply. The rest (as they say) is history...
That was almost four years ago, I knew some guitar but absolutely no bass specific techniques. I now consider myself pretty proficient with slapping, two hand tapping, fingerstyle funk, pick chunkiness, strumming, just plain old holding the groove etc.
I'm happy
"well, let's find out" was my reply. The rest (as they say) is history...
That was almost four years ago, I knew some guitar but absolutely no bass specific techniques. I now consider myself pretty proficient with slapping, two hand tapping, fingerstyle funk, pick chunkiness, strumming, just plain old holding the groove etc.
I'm happy
Same answer as on the other thread:
I picked up the bass "by accident". In high school, I played guitar in a punk band. Our bass player sucked and didn't have a good ear, so whenever we wanted to learn a new song, I'd spend some time listening to NOFX and Rancid tapes (or whatever else we were playing) playing along with his bass to figure out the lines, then I'd teach him how to play them. After a while I realized I enjoyed playing bass a whole lot more than playing guitar: when the other guys were having a smoke break during practice, I'd sit in a corner playing my buddy's bass. Around the same time I was introduced to Mike Watt's thunderbroom work and I was definitely hooked. When I graduated, I left my hometown for college and traded all my guitar gear for a bass rig and never looked back. Last year I started playing the double bass, too.
I picked up the bass "by accident". In high school, I played guitar in a punk band. Our bass player sucked and didn't have a good ear, so whenever we wanted to learn a new song, I'd spend some time listening to NOFX and Rancid tapes (or whatever else we were playing) playing along with his bass to figure out the lines, then I'd teach him how to play them. After a while I realized I enjoyed playing bass a whole lot more than playing guitar: when the other guys were having a smoke break during practice, I'd sit in a corner playing my buddy's bass. Around the same time I was introduced to Mike Watt's thunderbroom work and I was definitely hooked. When I graduated, I left my hometown for college and traded all my guitar gear for a bass rig and never looked back. Last year I started playing the double bass, too.
I started out on classical guitar but wanted to be in a band so, I picked off Geezer Butler bass lines on the classical till I got a bass. As far as guitar goes, I never looked back. Played with my finger nails for 6 years after that, though until I started playing six nights a week and they were breaking all the time.
I was going on 40 and in a divorce. I had not been in a band for over 20 years since High school and said its time I get back to playing music. I used to play guitar and thought...why not bass? I always loved the bass and bass players and they get gigs ..quick. I bought the gear ,woodsheded for 6 months and have been in a band and on a stage monthly for the last 10 years.
For years I was a guitarist who could fake my way on bass. I kept getting pushed into playing bass (because there was always someone else who was better on guitar and no one else to play bass). From a supply/demand perspective, bass seemed like the better instrument to be good at; excellent guitarists are a dime a dozen, but excellent bassists are relatively rare. A friend recommended that I check out Talkbass; on my first visit to this site I learned who James Jamerson was, right after that I watched Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, and right after that I said "Okay, guitar is fun and all, but I want to be a bass player."
I always wanted to play something, guitar fascinated me, bass did too but i thought it would be harder. I started on guitar, playing rhythm with friends and bought a bass just for the sheer sexiness and to fiddle with on the side. When the guy playing bass with us moved i got promoted, although at the time it felt like a demotion because i wasn't good enough on guitar. But my friends like what i do and we have fun and it doesn't sound too darn bad when i listen to the recordings from practices.
The bass line to Sgt Peppers/The End live off of Paul McCartneys Back in the US album inspired me. I was listening to it one day I and I listened to the bassline and thought wow that's awesome! The way it complimented the music and the guitar solos. I thought it was awesome! I was disappointed to learn it wasn't Paul playing the bass (Played guitar on that song live) but still that was my gateway into bass and The Beatles. Paul is still is one of my main influences.
Also the fact that my two older brothers play guitar. I wanted to be different so I picked up bass.
Also the fact that my two older brothers play guitar. I wanted to be different so I picked up bass.
