Howdy folks, I’ve been spending so much time here, figured it was time to make an account.
Back in 2020 I found a Slammer by Hamer SB-4F/VS at Goodwill for $45. It looked brand new, had a gig bag, and dangled if the thing didn’t just speak to me. I had no concept of scale length, body shapes, nothing. I just knew it was a bass and I had to have it.
I’m in my early 50’s, played cello for a semester in 4th grade, piano in 5th, trumpet in 6th, and tuba in 8th. Haven’t really played music since. But, I did come up in the Little Rock, AR punk scene in the late 80’s and 90’s. I was primarily a visual artist at the time, but there was a lot of overlap in the art scene and music scene at that time, so I hung out with a lot of musicians, but somehow never felt the urge to join in.
in 2000 I moved to Olympia, WA to go to college. After graduating, I stayed in Oly, where I was co-owner in a radical used bookstore. Again interesting Indy music scene, but it didn’t call to me.
In 2007 I saw the documentary Towncraft about the LR, AR punk scene when I was on the periphery, and something in me was like, maybe I should learn bass?
Anyway, I guess that was burbling away on the back burner for until that fateful day at Goodwill.
I bought an Acoustic B100C, and then just never played the thing.
Then, coupla weeks ago, watched Towncraft again. Bass is sitting on its stand gathering dust behind me. And the spark landed on dry tinder.
I went back to YouTube, and found Rich Brown’s beginner lessons, and just vibed with him.
I’ve been practicing 15-30 minutes everyday, and even though I’m doing the most basic kindergarten stuff, I’m loving it. After I finish my Rich Brown exercises, I noodle around, finding notes and note combinations that feel good, trying to find rhythms that make them feel even better. I never felt that connection playing music as a kid.
I’m probably on the spectrum based on how I get obsessed with a given topic. Currently I’m just obsessed with bass. For the first 35 years of my life, I liked many different kinds of music, but I never really analyzed them. Now music i’ve loved for decades is fresh and new to me, and I’m coming to realize how much of the music I’ve always loved is tied to dope bass lines. Pixies, Violent Femmes, Morphine, freaking Marvin Gaye, and the Beatles, man did I underestimate McCartney.
Anyway, that’s me. Glad to be here, and share my humble journey.
TLDR: I’ve practiced on several different instruments, but I’m just now playing bass, and it is the first time I’ve PLAYED an instrument, like playing around, like a kid playing and having fun. I don’t really care about the product at this point, I’m just enjoying the process.
Back in 2020 I found a Slammer by Hamer SB-4F/VS at Goodwill for $45. It looked brand new, had a gig bag, and dangled if the thing didn’t just speak to me. I had no concept of scale length, body shapes, nothing. I just knew it was a bass and I had to have it.
I’m in my early 50’s, played cello for a semester in 4th grade, piano in 5th, trumpet in 6th, and tuba in 8th. Haven’t really played music since. But, I did come up in the Little Rock, AR punk scene in the late 80’s and 90’s. I was primarily a visual artist at the time, but there was a lot of overlap in the art scene and music scene at that time, so I hung out with a lot of musicians, but somehow never felt the urge to join in.
in 2000 I moved to Olympia, WA to go to college. After graduating, I stayed in Oly, where I was co-owner in a radical used bookstore. Again interesting Indy music scene, but it didn’t call to me.
In 2007 I saw the documentary Towncraft about the LR, AR punk scene when I was on the periphery, and something in me was like, maybe I should learn bass?
Anyway, I guess that was burbling away on the back burner for until that fateful day at Goodwill.
I bought an Acoustic B100C, and then just never played the thing.
Then, coupla weeks ago, watched Towncraft again. Bass is sitting on its stand gathering dust behind me. And the spark landed on dry tinder.
I went back to YouTube, and found Rich Brown’s beginner lessons, and just vibed with him.
I’ve been practicing 15-30 minutes everyday, and even though I’m doing the most basic kindergarten stuff, I’m loving it. After I finish my Rich Brown exercises, I noodle around, finding notes and note combinations that feel good, trying to find rhythms that make them feel even better. I never felt that connection playing music as a kid.
I’m probably on the spectrum based on how I get obsessed with a given topic. Currently I’m just obsessed with bass. For the first 35 years of my life, I liked many different kinds of music, but I never really analyzed them. Now music i’ve loved for decades is fresh and new to me, and I’m coming to realize how much of the music I’ve always loved is tied to dope bass lines. Pixies, Violent Femmes, Morphine, freaking Marvin Gaye, and the Beatles, man did I underestimate McCartney.
Anyway, that’s me. Glad to be here, and share my humble journey.
TLDR: I’ve practiced on several different instruments, but I’m just now playing bass, and it is the first time I’ve PLAYED an instrument, like playing around, like a kid playing and having fun. I don’t really care about the product at this point, I’m just enjoying the process.
