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How many years have you been playing?
- Thread starter gerardpc
- Start date
This June makes 12 years... Saved up a summer's worth of work to buy my first bass, a no-name short-scale, with a beat-up Fender tube combo, and my brother's first guitar & amp, also a couple of no-namers.
The first 3 years or so I played in a local band in my hometown, but I had a kid and joined the Navy, so I took a year break or so before I got the itch again.
Didn't really start getting into theory until a couple of years ago, and been working on technique a lot lately, but I'm definitely not as good as I should be...
(And if anyone says they're as good as they should be, I'll be surprised)
(And now someone will say it just to grind my gears...
)
The first 3 years or so I played in a local band in my hometown, but I had a kid and joined the Navy, so I took a year break or so before I got the itch again.
Didn't really start getting into theory until a couple of years ago, and been working on technique a lot lately, but I'm definitely not as good as I should be...
(And if anyone says they're as good as they should be, I'll be surprised)
(And now someone will say it just to grind my gears...
)It'll be 34 years this coming March (2008).
Wherever you are Jana Lawrence, god bless you for yanking that Zimgar electric guitar out of my hands in 1974 and saying "Nevermind, I'll play it...here, you play this bass."
Wherever you are Jana Lawrence, god bless you for yanking that Zimgar electric guitar out of my hands in 1974 and saying "Nevermind, I'll play it...here, you play this bass."
About 30 years now. Self taught, started learning with Kiss and Ted Nugent, worked my way up to Rush and Yes. I've been in progressive bands, top-40 bands, alternative bands and now a classic rock and blues band. Now I'm thinking about lesson and learning to read.
Thanks, it's been quite a ride. The alternative band went back and forth across Canada in a Ryder size truck, bunks in the box, and went to LA for some cool showcases. The classic rock band has played in front of huge crowds opening for bands like Joe Cocker and Pat Benetar.
Started seven years ago, at age 26.
I didn't really play an instrument before (except drums in school band when I was a kid - which did help a little in learning to play bass, but not all that much)
Why? People always seem to wonder why you'd pick up a new instrument at that age - my story is: After a divorce I found myself with a lot of free time and a desire to try things that I'd always wanted to try, but had never gotten around to. Younger brother was giving up on playing bass and offered to sell me his bass and gear. I encouraged him to not quit, and urged him to think about it. He quit, he was just done. I tried it and fell in love. Seven years later and I'm still doing it. I'm in a fun band and I feel like I'm starting to be able to hold my own with guys my own age. I'm almost starting to get past the feeling that musically I'm a child in a man's body. I'm doing my first gig on Feb. 23rd and we expect to start playing out in 2008. I'm stoked.
P.S. - Eventually the wife came back to me (no doubt because of the new found coolness of being a bass player) and I did take her back... problems we had have been fixed, and we all lived happily ever after.
I didn't really play an instrument before (except drums in school band when I was a kid - which did help a little in learning to play bass, but not all that much)
Why? People always seem to wonder why you'd pick up a new instrument at that age - my story is: After a divorce I found myself with a lot of free time and a desire to try things that I'd always wanted to try, but had never gotten around to. Younger brother was giving up on playing bass and offered to sell me his bass and gear. I encouraged him to not quit, and urged him to think about it. He quit, he was just done. I tried it and fell in love. Seven years later and I'm still doing it. I'm in a fun band and I feel like I'm starting to be able to hold my own with guys my own age. I'm almost starting to get past the feeling that musically I'm a child in a man's body. I'm doing my first gig on Feb. 23rd and we expect to start playing out in 2008. I'm stoked.
P.S. - Eventually the wife came back to me (no doubt because of the new found coolness of being a bass player) and I did take her back... problems we had have been fixed, and we all lived happily ever after.
Started on upright in 4th grade so around 9 or 10. Played thru 8th grade.
Bought a used Beatle bass copy (Univox) in 7th grade and have played electric ever since. So electric = 38yrs
In high school played in Jazz band and Vocal Jazz Chior. Also played in a weekend rock band. Union gig. We played high schools across WA state on Fri & Sat nights in the early 70s
Did go back to college for two years in '77 to study theory. During that time restarted playing DB, but stopped again when I left college.
Been in many T40 cover bands in the NW, mostly around the Seattle metro area. Also was in a bunch of original bands in the mid 80s thru 90s.
Moved to the OR coast 11 yrs ago. Semi retired but have found a few players to play with. In the summer/fall play with a couple of old bopper guys in a trio = keys,bass & drums.
Bought a used Beatle bass copy (Univox) in 7th grade and have played electric ever since. So electric = 38yrs
In high school played in Jazz band and Vocal Jazz Chior. Also played in a weekend rock band. Union gig. We played high schools across WA state on Fri & Sat nights in the early 70s
Did go back to college for two years in '77 to study theory. During that time restarted playing DB, but stopped again when I left college.
Been in many T40 cover bands in the NW, mostly around the Seattle metro area. Also was in a bunch of original bands in the mid 80s thru 90s.
Moved to the OR coast 11 yrs ago. Semi retired but have found a few players to play with. In the summer/fall play with a couple of old bopper guys in a trio = keys,bass & drums.
I started playing guitar back in 1972, when my folks got me an acoustic for my 18th birthday. Went electric in 1976, subsequently played in a few small bands (with the obligatory long hair - an Afro in my case). Gave it all up in the mid-80s when I got married and started a family. To make a long story short, I've rekindled my romance with music and got me an electric guitar in 2003, practiced my butt off, and now I'm not too bad. Started playing bass last November in our church's Folk Group, and I'm absolutely loving playing bass. I've been told I'm pretty good for a beginner bassist, it's my guitar experience that's helped me, and also getting good instruction from the Web - thanks, fender.com and TalkBass.
