I never expected that there would be so many others out there getting a late start when I originally posted! You all are an inspiration and only further my drive to learn more.
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Just Starting Out at 44 years old!
- Thread starter MikeyV
- Start date
I'm just starting out myself . I'll turn 40 in July. I've played guitar for awhile BUT I picked up a lot of bad habits. Never learned to read music just tab. I've always wanted to learn the bass since I was a kid. So I've made a promise to myself(& wife 
) I'd learn to play the bass,read music, everything the correct way. This way it won't be a love/hate relationship like it is with the guitar
) I'd learn to play the bass,read music, everything the correct way. This way it won't be a love/hate relationship like it is with the guitar Ha I see there is one other 63 year old doing it also, me too. I played in high school and even went on Nation wide TV on the Happening 68 show with Paul River and the Raiders.
The Viet Nam war interrupted my playing and then the house burned down with my Supper Beetle amp and Gibson OB-3. So I am starting over. Its a lot of fun to jam with others.
The Viet Nam war interrupted my playing and then the house burned down with my Supper Beetle amp and Gibson OB-3. So I am starting over. Its a lot of fun to jam with others.
Hi Folks,
At 16, I began playing bass and guitar with all the fury of youth. By 22, I closed the lid on my '66 Epiphone Rivoli, expecting to practice the following day, unaware that life would overtake me and I'd not open it again, with purpose, until this year when I'll turn 58.
Nice to meet you all.
Regards,
Pete
At 16, I began playing bass and guitar with all the fury of youth. By 22, I closed the lid on my '66 Epiphone Rivoli, expecting to practice the following day, unaware that life would overtake me and I'd not open it again, with purpose, until this year when I'll turn 58.
Nice to meet you all.
Regards,
Pete
Just joined here a few days ago after deciding, completely out of the blue, to buy myself a bass guitar and lessons for my 44th birthday. I picked up a gorgeous Hohner acoustic a few hours ago and it's still sitting in the case on my love seat, as I work up the nerve to try to hold it 
I started piano and organ lessons at age 5 and played trombone in high school and college, but at some point both became impractical for a single twentysomething who moved a lot. Then I married a professional musician (keyboards and sax). Even with a piano and keyboards around, I just wasn't motivated. Keyboards always felt like too much work to be fun.
It's been more than a decade since I picked up an instrument with the intention of actually learning something new, but I'm excited ... if a "44(ish)" club is in the works, sign me up!
I started piano and organ lessons at age 5 and played trombone in high school and college, but at some point both became impractical for a single twentysomething who moved a lot. Then I married a professional musician (keyboards and sax). Even with a piano and keyboards around, I just wasn't motivated. Keyboards always felt like too much work to be fun.
It's been more than a decade since I picked up an instrument with the intention of actually learning something new, but I'm excited ... if a "44(ish)" club is in the works, sign me up!
Hey all! I joined with a rickety wannabe bass a year ago but just wanted to say I last March I got a 4 string fretted bass and just last week I got a 5-string fretless.
I'm 54 and have the addiction bad! Can't play a dang thing yet, but I have TB and some books and I'm on my way!
I guess I had to wait till the kids were out of the house before I could "bloom".
I'm 54 and have the addiction bad! Can't play a dang thing yet, but I have TB and some books and I'm on my way!
I guess I had to wait till the kids were out of the house before I could "bloom".
Man this is so awesome. All of you guys are superstars in my book just for going for it. Thats what its all about, forget what everyone else says and do it and feel good. I just posted a thread up here today about which bass guitar course to get. I'm 49 and have attended a couple of Music schools off and on including Musicians Institute in LA. I guesss I just got caught up in the 9 to 5 grind and now I'm making another run at bass with lessons and maybe the Roy Vogt course. I recently got inspired again recently by just watching my father who is 69 years old and plays guitar and sings out on Venice Beach. He came out here in 2004 to just live his dream and he has done well and is a hustler, selling his CDs on the boardwalk and has lent his voice recently to songs on HBOs True Blood, Men of a certain aga and a couple of other shows. He had a massive heart attack back in May and is lucky to be alive right now but this guy is right back out there doing his thing on the boardwalk again. Dont want to go on an on about it but it just makes me think "Whats my excuse". I HAVE to do this NOW. Its eating me up on the inside and all you guys have just pretty much proved what I've been thinking all along and that is you are NEVER to old. Just do it. BASS PLAYERS RULE : ) PEACE
Bass Mentor
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- Apr 30, 2012
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- endorsing artist: Lava Cable, E&O Mari, Rupert Neve Designs
So wonderful to hear from you '' Mature Bassists''
Yes, playing music adds a dimension to your life and even expands the social aspect of it -- playing with friends, jamming, even doing some '' weekend warrior'' work....I've been teaching students 40-50- 60's who live great distances from me via Skype who love the expression of music and in so many cases were players in their younger years who for life reasons set music aside and now being '' empty nesters'' or some other lifestyle change want to resume and revisit the thing that gave them so much joy!
Yes, if possible get good instruction to learn/expand a skill to last a lifetime. Very important to learn good fingering habits so as to not cause joint or musculature problems
BTW I've been playing bass since '69 and pro since '75....( full time session bassist as well as bass instruction) and I still feel the same joy picking up the instrument as when I was 17...
Yes, playing music adds a dimension to your life and even expands the social aspect of it -- playing with friends, jamming, even doing some '' weekend warrior'' work....I've been teaching students 40-50- 60's who live great distances from me via Skype who love the expression of music and in so many cases were players in their younger years who for life reasons set music aside and now being '' empty nesters'' or some other lifestyle change want to resume and revisit the thing that gave them so much joy!Yes, if possible get good instruction to learn/expand a skill to last a lifetime. Very important to learn good fingering habits so as to not cause joint or musculature problems
BTW I've been playing bass since '69 and pro since '75....( full time session bassist as well as bass instruction) and I still feel the same joy picking up the instrument as when I was 17...
I'm a 45 y/o female who is about to buy a bass guitar and learn to play. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi guys! I'm 44, been in love with bass since high school. I never really got serious until about a year ago, when I started taking lessons. I'm going "full Monty" here, music theory, the works! My wife thinks I'm crazy as I "own too many basses". She only knows about 5 of them (I really have 14). Please don't tell her!!!
Bass Mentor
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- Apr 30, 2012
- 76
- 0
- Disclosures
- endorsing artist: Lava Cable, E&O Mari, Rupert Neve Designs
Good for you for taking lesssons! it can jumpstart your ability as well as enjoyment of just playing well and satisfying your own critique and taste... even better that you are studying theory...this will form the foundation on which all of your playing will build...are you going for playing on weekend gigs? jamming with friends? My older students are working toward these reasons listed including one who wants to retire early and play gigs in an R&B band......It is inspiring to see them '' getting it'' and putting it to use right away..How awesome to observe the student rediscovering a passion...
Steve
