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How has playing bass changed your life?

#61
It has changed it is still changing my life for the better. Not to sound like a drama queen or anything, but it has given some purpose and colour to my otherwise purpose-less and dull life. Or at least that's how I used to think about it. It's really growning on me, and it's awakening a passion that I thought I would not live to feel. I just hope it keeps getting better and better. I also want to start gigging to meet all kinds of people as I have only but tasted the musicians' world.

It has also provided me with a steady hobby. I used to ditch almost everything I tried (pretty early on), from some sports to art to dancing to even spiritual stuff; I guess I grew bored of them pretty quick as they didn't seem to fit me. Even guitar once, I almost ditched completely. Fortunately, I felt the need to go back to music again, but short after I picked up the guitar I decided to try the bass, out of the blue. It turned out to be just perfect for me, and I am thankful for every moment I've spent with a bass on my hands (yeah, even those times when fingers hurt or I was stuck with something). The other steady things I do aside are jogging, biking and drawing.

Not to mention it is somewhat of a therapy for me, and a creative outlet. I love the fact that every time I pick the bass I feel like I'm actually doing something productive for myself. And most people I've met agree that music as a hobby is worth the effort. A lot better than just watching TV or playing videogames.

All things aside, it may even allow me to meet a few girls (I'm not very social other than jamming with my band, not the best way to meet women)... Hey, I can dream, can't I?

Disclaimer: I intended to make this thread shorter, but what the heck. I'm pouring a bit of my heart out there.
 
#62
One of the biggest ways it's changed my life is it has allowed me to travel all over the world. I've met lots of truly amazing people in my travels, and have made lifelong friends across the globe!

Cheers!
:bassist::bassist::bassist:
 
#63
Well, like others have said, it gives spare time purpose. I'm 13, and most of my friends spend all of their time playing video games. It also gives me something to save for, I spent the last three years saving and finally got my new bass and amp I've been GASing for (only $1800, but when you're 13...) and I look at music an entirely different way. I believe it saved me from going down the wrong musical path and I absolutely hate hip hop (unlike all my friends) and listen to Rush and Yes all day! ;) My parents love me being a musician, it beats video games and they think it teaches me great things (having to save, work with other people, pick up jobs to afford new gear). I could go on, but in short, it was definitely for the better!
 
#64
Playing bass absolutely save my life.
The fact that it took me so long to be decent at it, is why.
Had I gotten skilled at bass playing early in my career, I'd of had major success and I certainly would have succumbed to
wine, women, song, drugs, STD's, addiction, erratic behavior and death only to become "that dead bass player"
that laid down some awesome bass lines but died before his time.
As it is I'm alive, older, semi-skilled and happily unknown.
 
#65
Definitely said:
Well, like others have said, it gives spare time purpose. I'm 13, and most of my friends spend all of their time playing video games. It also gives me something to save for, I spent the last three years saving and finally got my new bass and amp I've been GASing for (only $1800, but when you're 13...) and I look at music an entirely different way. I believe it saved me from going down the wrong musical path and I absolutely hate hip hop (unlike all my friends) and listen to Rush and Yes all day! ;) My parents love me being a musician, it beats video games and they think it teaches me great things (having to save, work with other people, pick up jobs to afford new gear). I could go on, but in short, it was definitely for the better!
Click to expand...

Buddy, kudos to you for starting playing music so early in life. In fact, I think everyone who starts early on, especially on their own accord, deserve some big cheers. I wish I had started that early myself, but I guess it is never too late to think about a career as a session musician, or playing in a jazz or other chilled out band.

Oh, and kudos for liking prog rock! I'm getting into it myself, and I hope one day I'm good enough to create my own prog rock songs.
 
#67
Joshuadriller said:
I'm interested to know how playing bass has changed YOUR life??
Click to expand...

I have a whole new group of friends from TB. Some I've met, some not. And I've met and become friends with bass builders - simply the icing on the cake.

Bass guitar and TB have greatly changed my life for the better - I'm a happier person!
 
#68
carlthegroover said:
Buddy, kudos to you for starting playing music so early in life. In fact, I think everyone who starts early on, especially on their own accord, deserve some big cheers. I wish I had started that early myself, but I guess it is never too late to think about a career as a session musician, or playing in a jazz or other chilled out band.

Oh, and kudos for liking prog rock! I'm getting into it myself, and I hope one day I'm good enough to create my own prog rock songs.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I actually started when I was 9 and picking bass was completely random for me. I wanted to play music, I knew that, and one friend was a drummer (even though I have a kit, it didn't seem right) and I thought there were just too many guitarists. So I picked bass and rushed out and bought myself a $200 starting combo (of which I still have all the pieces) with money I had saved picking up little jobs here and there. I knew absolutely nothing about the instrument and was completely self taught for the first year, completely wrong too :eek: but I got a teacher and turned it around and got back on board and its hard to imagine me without a bass now!

And yeah, the bass playing is just too good with the classic Rush and Yes, impossible to not want to learn!
 
#69
Started on bass in my teens, and it gave me an identity when I was struggling to find one. I wasn't the best player in town, but even if you're not that good, you can still do something that most other people can't do.

Once I started playing in smoke-filled bars, even drunken local hoods that would kick sand in your face at the beach gave me respect - you could just tell they wanted to be up on that stage, too.
 
#70
Definitely said:
Thanks. I actually started when I was 9 and picking bass was completely random for me. I wanted to play music, I knew that, and one friend was a drummer (even though I have a kit, it didn't seem right) and I thought there were just too many guitarists. So I picked bass and rushed out and bought myself a $200 starting combo (of which I still have all the pieces) with money I had saved picking up little jobs here and there. I knew absolutely nothing about the instrument and was completely self taught for the first year, completely wrong too :eek: but I got a teacher and turned it around and got back on board and its hard to imagine me without a bass now!

And yeah, the bass playing is just too good with the classic Rush and Yes, impossible to not want to learn!
Click to expand...

Awesome! I guess it does help to know people who play music. Myself, I didn't have any musical friends until perhaps high school, and even then I didn't really hang out with him all that much.

And I agree: I cannot imagine myself without a bass either! It's too cool and versatile an instrument.
 
#71
This 'teenage identity issue' for me too, I'm still quite young. Did partially start bassing as a frustrated guitarist wannabe, but the 'this is actually more interesting, comfortable and fun to me' part kept growing from the start though.
 
#72
I have been playing for almost 4 years. It is such a good way to relieve stress and create something through what Im feeling that other people can hear and relate to.

OTOH, it's also been a boon in some ways, it's made it hard for me to maintain relationships. Very few people have the patience month after month, year after year, to say goodbye to me as I head off to band practice. It's very frustrating because I am very happy with how far I've come and I feel like I have the talent and youth (I'm 25) to really make a living playing bass but It has been a huge strain also. It's so hard to pursue my passion and also have to spend time away from those I love. It's also consumed countless funds, I don't have super expensive gear, but studio rent and contributing my share of a record that is costing 10K is not easy.

I guess, in the end, bands can come and go, relationships can come and go, money can come and go, but I will always love playing some of the songs I wrote on my bass, no one can ever take that from me.
 

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