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I was told this at my audition.....

BassDad1964

BassDad1964

Feb 6, 2018
559
1,485
62
Weirton, West Virginia
#1
I had an audition for a bass player/acoustic guitar payer yesterday at my church. The worship leader, who is a little overwhelmed, gave me 2 tunes to work up on bass, acoustic and be ready to sing them as well. No problem because I offered to sing if needed too.
I get there and she tells me that I won't be able to play my bass since the sound tech couldn't make it. (Everything is IEM's). She then said...

wait for it......



"If you can play guitar then I'm sure you can play bass too."

I am now a bass player in the rotation for Sunday Mornings. :bassist:
 
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#3
BassDad1964 said:
I had an audition for a bass player/acoustic guitar payer yesterday at my church. The worship leader, who is a little overwhelmed, gave me 2 tunes to work up on bass, acoustic and be ready to sing them as well. No problem because I offered to sing if needed too.
I get there and she tells me that I won't be able to play my bass since the sound tech couldn't make it. (Everything is IEM's). She then said...

wait for it......



"If you can play guitar then I'm sure you can play bass too."

I am now a bass player in the rotation for Sunday Mornings. :bassist:
Click to expand...

That’s pretty much how I became the bass player for my church’s praise band. They asked for volunteers for the band, I am a self taught rhythm guitarist. Never played in a band. But I volunteered. They asked, “ Can you play bass? We need a bass player”
I had never even held a bass. The music director volunteered to teach me, so I said “Why not?”
I was just a youngster of 44, so she began lessons which consisted of scales, and simple bass runs. During my second lesson, she said she was resigning as music director, and would only be there for one more lesson. After my third lesson, I was the bass “player”
I spent the first few Sundays, pretty much frozen in fear, playing root notes, and praying, that I didn’t screw up everyone else. I bought bass lesson books, rented videos,(this was 16 years ago) and practiced. I could only afford a cheap Kona bass, that I had to raise the action to almost cello height, to prevent buzz.
Despite all of that, it has become the most rewarding part of my life. The band has gone through 6 different BL, 4 different guitarists, 3 different drummers, but I’m still here. I will never be compared to great bassists, and when it’s my time to go, I don’t expect to be missed. But being part of the ministry, music provides, will be something I will never regret, or take for granted.
Relax, enjoy where God is leading you, and remember, that when it’s for His glory, there are no bad notes!
 
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#5
Deeper Texan said:
That’s pretty much how I became the bass player for my church’s praise band. They asked for volunteers for the band, I am a self taught rhythm guitarist. Never played in a band. But I volunteered. They asked, “ Can you play bass? We need a bass player”
I had never even held a bass. The music director volunteered to teach me, so I said “Why not?”
I was just a youngster of 44, so she began lessons which consisted of scales, and simple bass runs. During my second lesson, she said she was resigning as music director, and would only be there for one more lesson. After my third lesson, I was the bass “player”
I spent the first few Sundays, pretty much frozen in fear, playing root notes, and praying, that I didn’t screw up everyone else. I bought bass lesson books, rented videos,(this was 16 years ago) and practiced. I could only afford a cheap Kona bass, that I had to raise the action to almost cello height, to prevent buzz.
Despite all of that, it has become the most rewarding part of my life. The band has gone through 6 different BL, 4 different guitarists, 3 different drummers, but I’m still here. I will never be compared to great bassists, and when it’s my time to go, I don’t expect to be missed. But being part of the ministry, music provides, will be something I will never regret, or take for granted.
Relax, enjoy where God is leading you, and remember, that when it’s for His glory, there are no bad notes!
Click to expand...
Your story is similar to how I became a bass player back when i was 15. I played acoustic guitar in high school and the music director went to my parents and said that he needed a bass player for the school jazz band. Next thing I know my dad bought me a bass.
I have been playing bass in church for the past 20 years. We changed churches and there is an audition process to vet new players. They didn't know me or if I could play. This is the first bass player gig that I ever got without having to show any ability playing the bass. :)
 
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#9
Well, your audition went better than my church audition. I had 3 songs, listen to youtube, no practice, had to play it exactly like the original, no variance, no sheet music or notes, no amp/monitor, just ear buds or head phones. (which I never have used). One time thru. Poor on the 1st , crashed & burned 2nd, 3rd was OK. Never the less I am not playing !
 
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#11
BassCliff said:
Hi Robert,

"The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much" ~Luke 16:10

Make a joyful noise! :)


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
Click to expand...

An image search for "joyful noise" reveals:

36944d32aa5eacd3fca962c80934b197.jpg


Also, this one, which I personally found funnier:

upload_2021-4-30_6-53-7.png
 
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#13
BassDad1964 said:
I had an audition for a bass player/acoustic guitar payer yesterday at my church. The worship leader, who is a little overwhelmed, gave me 2 tunes to work up on bass, acoustic and be ready to sing them as well. No problem because I offered to sing if needed too.
I get there and she tells me that I won't be able to play my bass since the sound tech couldn't make it. (Everything is IEM's). She then said...

wait for it......



"If you can play guitar then I'm sure you can play bass too."

I am now a bass player in the rotation for Sunday Mornings. :bassist:
Click to expand...
I was in a similar situation. A band was trying to find a Bass Player and they couldn't, so they called me up and said... Hey, you've been playing Guitar for six years, do you want to learn the Bass? I said why not and went and bought a cheap Bass and practice amp and loved it instantly and never looked back. That was 30 years ago and I'm still loving it.
 
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#14
I was in a worship team with four acoustic guitarists and became the bass player then moved to another church and the bass player quit as soon as I join the worship team and I became the bass player.
I just accepted it is my destiny and here I am 17 years later and very happy.
By the way it's okay to start on one instrument and move to another.
Or be able to play multiple instruments, which I can.
 
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#15
If it's reading notes on a page in square meter to a click track, a competent guitar player could do it. But most times I've heard guitarists try bass, they've sucked at time keeping and coming up with/holding down a consistent groove. YMMV, but while there are obvious similarities in construction, the instruments play completely different roles. I'm more likely to trust a piano player to hold down the bass line with their left hand than give a bass to a guitar player.
 
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#16
The first time I dropped out of college, I decided I wanted to join a band and go on the road. I went down to the local Musicians' Union and looked on the bulletin board (it was a long time ago) for want ads for guitar players. Nothing, but lots of ads for bass players. I went home, bought a used Epiphone bass from an ad in the newspaper (Toronto Star), went back to the Union office, got a number, called it. The guy asked "got a bass?" "Yup!" "Got an amp?" "No." "Ok, you can borrow mine." We went on the road the next day.
 
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#17
About 15 years ago I went to an "audition" as a guitar player, did everything they asked and after the "discussion", they came back and said I would work out fine. Turns out that the BL's wife was very fond of Gimmie 3 Steps, and I had played it for the audition. We went over the the set list and yacked a bit,

Then... wait for it...

Btw, do have a bass? I said no, why? They handed me a used Yamaha bass and said I'd have it down in no time...

Some things never change, but it was great opportunity ;).

A former bandmate once said, and I quote (no malice intended) "guitar players are like cockroaches..."
 
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