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How'd You Get Started on Bass?
- Thread starter Jewbass
- Start date
I played guitar as a kid, put it away in my 20s, came back to it in my 40s (!) with a much more serious attitude, and got a whole lot better. Though I never did anything about it, I was always 'bass curious,' and secretly thought that the bassist had some of the coolest parts in my favorite songs, esp funk.
So sometime last year I decided to jump in--like a lot of middle aged guys I realized it was getting to be 'now or never' time. I also noticed how the influx of cheap and (apparently) decent instruments and amps had changed the marketplace. I picked an SX Jazz style in a funky green color, like an old Desoto or something. With the help of a book or two and (mainly) youtube clips from people like MarloweDK and Jamersonshook I was able to get a feel for some classic bass stuff, and found I really enjoyed playing it. I joined in with a Reggae 'ensemble' (a class that forms a temporary band) at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, and dug that a lot. I'm not even a huge reggae fan but I like the teacher of that group, and reggae's a blast to play. Then other musical interests took over for a while and I put my bass down for several months. Picked it up a month or so ago as the Reggae Ensemble's teacher/leader asked me back. Even more fun this time as my theory knowledge has increased in the last year. I used to play Marley's 'Caution' on lead guitar, which is a great line, but the bass is even more fun.
For me it's 'just' a hobby but a very involving one, and with only about $275 invested so far (SX bass, refurb Acoustic B20 something like $90 from MF, new Brite Flats, $10 MF gig bag, books) it's a cheap one too!
I have learned an awful lot from these TB pages and I appreciate the whole conversation even as I lurk. In fact maybe I should add a TB upgrade onto my $275 investment.
So sometime last year I decided to jump in--like a lot of middle aged guys I realized it was getting to be 'now or never' time. I also noticed how the influx of cheap and (apparently) decent instruments and amps had changed the marketplace. I picked an SX Jazz style in a funky green color, like an old Desoto or something. With the help of a book or two and (mainly) youtube clips from people like MarloweDK and Jamersonshook I was able to get a feel for some classic bass stuff, and found I really enjoyed playing it. I joined in with a Reggae 'ensemble' (a class that forms a temporary band) at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, and dug that a lot. I'm not even a huge reggae fan but I like the teacher of that group, and reggae's a blast to play. Then other musical interests took over for a while and I put my bass down for several months. Picked it up a month or so ago as the Reggae Ensemble's teacher/leader asked me back. Even more fun this time as my theory knowledge has increased in the last year. I used to play Marley's 'Caution' on lead guitar, which is a great line, but the bass is even more fun.
For me it's 'just' a hobby but a very involving one, and with only about $275 invested so far (SX bass, refurb Acoustic B20 something like $90 from MF, new Brite Flats, $10 MF gig bag, books) it's a cheap one too!
I have learned an awful lot from these TB pages and I appreciate the whole conversation even as I lurk. In fact maybe I should add a TB upgrade onto my $275 investment.
Everyone I knew played guitar, my friend played bass but quit so I decided to take it up for the band(I was doing just vocals). I always liked the low end better anyway. Been doing it ever since.
Saw Primus on November 22, 1993. Bought a Yamaha 4-string the next day from a Pawn Shop. Joined my first band 6 months later. Still got the bass!
I've been playing keyboards for more than 12 years, and always thought of learning new instruments. Played some drums a few years ago when I had access to it, but never really got into it. A few months a go I got a cheap old bass for free, and started to practice... and now I practice even more, and record lots of stuff. It came pretty natural for me, I always play lots of complex basslines on the keyboard while playing chords with the right.
I was 16 and our high school musical was coming up. We were doing "Guys & Dolls" that year. The two bassists in the band wanted to play electric and our band director insisted on upright. They refused so he asked if anyone wanted to learn upright bass. I said sure! 6 weeks and bloody fingers later I played every note in that book!
Then I picked up my very own 77 P-bass so I'd have something to play after high school. Joined a Chicago/BS&T style band, got into Cetera's style, that all lasted about 4 years. Sold all my equipment and didn't think anything of it for years.
About 8 years ago I finally got the itch again, bought a used 78 Fender P-bass to play in a praise band we hoped to get going. Got involved with a local community band and found myself helping out with high school musicals and found an active praise band, also hooked up with theater troupes in the area.
So involved in music again I wonder how I ever left it behind. Just placed an order last night for an upright bass so I finally have my own UB to play.
Then I picked up my very own 77 P-bass so I'd have something to play after high school. Joined a Chicago/BS&T style band, got into Cetera's style, that all lasted about 4 years. Sold all my equipment and didn't think anything of it for years.
About 8 years ago I finally got the itch again, bought a used 78 Fender P-bass to play in a praise band we hoped to get going. Got involved with a local community band and found myself helping out with high school musicals and found an active praise band, also hooked up with theater troupes in the area.
So involved in music again I wonder how I ever left it behind. Just placed an order last night for an upright bass so I finally have my own UB to play.
As a child, I played drums for a couple of years, had to quit because of my neighbours...years after I picked up the bass because I've noticed that I was always listening in the songs to what the bass was playing, and since then it's been love...
I listened (and still do) to a lot of Pink Floyd and I wanted to learn something from it, my dad had played bass in high school as well, so he was there to teach.
So one day, I looked in my closet, saw my dad's old 1960's Fender Musicmaster he's had since he was my age, pulled it out and asked to be shown some stuff. My dad showed me a bit, gave me a book (I've been playing instruments for about 6 year now, starting on flute) and I taught myself the rest, using a lot of Pink Floyd stuff as a guide. Then I ended up switching from sax to bass in my school's jazz band and learned even more from then... and now here lol.
So one day, I looked in my closet, saw my dad's old 1960's Fender Musicmaster he's had since he was my age, pulled it out and asked to be shown some stuff. My dad showed me a bit, gave me a book (I've been playing instruments for about 6 year now, starting on flute) and I taught myself the rest, using a lot of Pink Floyd stuff as a guide. Then I ended up switching from sax to bass in my school's jazz band and learned even more from then... and now here lol.
i bought a used guitar when I was 14 or 15.
Tried to played and didn't really like it.
I then went to a friend's who had 3 or 4 basses and I asked him to sell me one. I bought a crappy jazz copy and a crappy little amp and then I knew I was made for the bass, not the guitar.
Tried to played and didn't really like it.
I then went to a friend's who had 3 or 4 basses and I asked him to sell me one. I bought a crappy jazz copy and a crappy little amp and then I knew I was made for the bass, not the guitar.
I started a band with two friends in high school. The problem was, we all played guitar. Since I was the least proficient, I was demoted to bass player- we pooled our money and got me a truly awful Memphis P-bass copy and a decrepit Randall amp. My shame was somewhat ameliorated by the fact I had the loudest amp in the band. It took me a couple of years to stop being a frustrated guitarist, but I eventually realized how cool bass really is and became a full fledged bass player.
When I was 14, some friends of mine and I decided to form a band without knowing anything about playing music. We formed a punk band, but I was also already a huge RHCP and Primus fan. I wanted to play bass. 'Course, my stuff sound more like Dee Dee Ramone than those guys. That was 16 years ago.
Most of my family played guitar. Uncles, aunts, dad, and brothers etc. I wanted to play to, but I didnt want to compete with them. So I chose the bass because none of them really knew much about it. No competition!
when I was about 8 my brother used to listen to a lot of Kiss and Motley Crue, so it always seemed like the bass player was the coolest guy in the band and got all the girls.
Now I know better...
Now I know better...
I started out on bass the same way I started out being a hockey goalie.......Nobody else wanted to do it...
Way back during my 20's I was a folkie with my acoustic guitar. I used to shun anything and everything that needed to be plugged in to make any sound.
Then in 1989, when I had my first baby, I ended up setting my guitar aside to raise a family. I never thought I would ever be able to get back into music - until three and a half years ago, when my middle child (out of 3), then 14, decided to take up the bass to play in the grade 9 jazz band. That's when I started hanging out at TalkBass and learned to appreciate what this instument had to offer. Since I really didn't want to get back into playing the guitar again, I thought the bass was my ticket to re-kindle my long-lost passion for music.
Three and a half years and four jazz bands later, my son is an accomplished bassist now. And here I am, a bass rookie, following in my son's footsteps!
Then in 1989, when I had my first baby, I ended up setting my guitar aside to raise a family. I never thought I would ever be able to get back into music - until three and a half years ago, when my middle child (out of 3), then 14, decided to take up the bass to play in the grade 9 jazz band. That's when I started hanging out at TalkBass and learned to appreciate what this instument had to offer. Since I really didn't want to get back into playing the guitar again, I thought the bass was my ticket to re-kindle my long-lost passion for music.
Three and a half years and four jazz bands later, my son is an accomplished bassist now. And here I am, a bass rookie, following in my son's footsteps!
Well I was already playing music - sax in band. I think my dad was wanting to learn how to play the bass and just hearing him talk about it got me interested. He listens to alot of different stuff from jazz, tejano, motown, so it wasn't hard to pick up those sounds around the house. I was into rock/metal. I always had musician friends so when it came time to put a band together I didn't know anyone who played the bass. So anyways we went down to the local pawn shop and found some beater equipment, I spent a few weeks with my cousins record collection and sooner than I was ready, I was playing in a band.
I was walking by this lake and suddenly a woman arose from the depths and bestowed me with the large sunburst object that said Fender Precision Bass on it and told be to go forth and conquer.
Hearing cool bass lines was a big part of it, but it took a while to make the jump. After trying for many years to get the hang of playing six-string I just decided I wanted try something new. About a year and a half ago I finally sold my Kramer DMZ 3000 (quite a nice axe that I bought in Germany) on eBay and used the $$$ from that to buy my '94 Fender P-bass. My only regret is not doing this a lot sooner.
