• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New old bass player

#21
What a great thread! I studied piano from age 5-16, then took up trombone as a freshman in HS. By senior year I was first chair soloist, and continued to play through college. But music never came easily to me, and without structured lessons and rehearsals, I soon drifted off to other interests.

Still always had a thing for musicians, and wound up marrying a professional multi-instrumentalist with perfect pitch. That intimidated me for another decade. I was his critic, his manager, and his roadie over years of gigs. As much as I loved being around musicians and music, it never occurred to me to play. I'd convinced myself I wasn't good enough.

I have no idea what possessed me to buy myself a bass and a month of lessons for my 44th birthday, but I was hooked from day one. For so many years, I played music to please other people and had to force myself to practice. Now, it's something I do solely for my own enjoyment. Not only haven't I missed a lesson since starting four months ago, I've even picked up a second teacher and practice at least an hour a day, simply because I love being a musician.

Still not entirely sure where I'm going with it -- I'm a cardiology nurse IRL and not really looking for a second career in music. I'm also an atheist, so church bands aren't really an option except maybe the Unitarians. Something will come up when it's time ... it always does :cool:

p.s. Hubby and I are still happily married, and he is very proud of me :D
 
#22
I'm 52 and started playing bass at 50. Some years ago my son started to play guitar. This made me decide to try and buy a bass. I never played a string instrument before, but 40 years ago I did play some keyboard. So making music wasn't completely new to me. Nowadays my son and I are playing covers of Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, CCR and many others. It completely changed my life in a positive way.
 
#23
I'm 63 and started less than a year ago

Played sax in a band 45 years ago.

My Fender Jazz MIA and 100T amp were bought new

Taking lessons 2 hours every two weeks

PS Every one of you who are in your 40s and say you are old a full of crap. :)
 
#24
40 here. This December will mark my 2nd year on the bass. 9 years ago I walked into a music shop and looked at some basses, got a card of an instructor and walked out but never came back. Wish I did.

In any case, my wife bought me a starter bass and practice amp with 4 free lessons. I think she is regretting that :D

There is something very powerful about all of the sudden having music you listened to all your life, now at your fingertips. Like when I first played the intro of "Dazed and Confused" on my bass. A simple but powerful line.

I guess what I'm getting at is that I came to playing bass on a bit of whim but it has bitten me hard to the point where I think it's with me for life. I listen to music differently than I ever had, more attentive, trying to pick out that bass. And the music I listen too has changed too. Whether it is Geezer Butler or Oscar Stagnaro, I am now switched on like I never have been.

The funny thing is, when I tell my good friends, the guys I have known all my life that I play bass now, the response is that they laugh and say, "I always knew you were a bass player."
 
#27
Raw Amateur said:
40 here. This December will mark my 2nd year on the bass. 9 years ago I walked into a music shop and looked at some basses, got a card of an instructor and walked out but never came back. Wished I hadn't turned my back on it then.

In any case, my wife bought me a starter bass and practice amp with 4 free lessons. I think she is regretting that :D

There is something very powerful about all of the sudden having music you listened to all your life, now at your fingertips. Like when I first played the intro of "Dazed and Confused" on my bass. A simple but powerful line.

I guess what I'm getting at is that I came to playing bass on a bit of whim but it has bitten me hard to the point where I think it's with me for life. I listen to music differently than I ever had, more attentive, trying to pick out that bass. And the music I listen too has changed too. Whether it is Geezer Butler or Oscar Stagnero, I am now switched on like I never have been.

The funny thing is, when I tell my good friends, the guys I have known all my life that I play bass now, the response is that they laugh and say, "I always knew you were a bass player."
Click to expand...

That is so funny, I get the "I knew you were a bass player" line also.
 
#28
I am 62 and have played full-time professionally, years ago. But, sometime around 1957 or so something happened to me. I was sitting in my grandmother's parlor playing the old 1916 piano, making up stuff as usual (quiet, too, so no one would hear, ya know). On the music shelf in front of me was a calendar with a picture of the Grand Canyon on it. I had been playing for a long time, staring at that picture since it was right in my face, when suddenly the music began to have a story to it, and the picture seemed to as well. It was a wonderful euphoric feeling. But, as soon as I became conscious of it, it evaporated. But, it left me with a memory of that feeling, and with the hunger for it that has led me to play for it all the rest of my life so far. Talking to God? You could call it that. It's also the same thing that happens in transcendental meditation. I was seven years old and knew I had to have that feeling as much as possible. I soon became a good piano player---then guitar at thirteen and bass at fifteen. Majored in music in college, studied classical upright bass, played in the symphony for years, played guitar for a living for years, and have been a semi-pro bass player since 1988.

I can't help it, it's that hunger leading me on. I'm obsessed, and love it!
 
#29
Russell L said:
I am 62 and have played full-time professionally, years ago. But, sometime around 1957 or so something happened to me. I was sitting in my grandmother's parlor playing the old 1916 piano, making up stuff as usual (quiet, too, so no one would hear, ya know). On the music shelf in front of me was a calendar with a picture of the Grand Canyon on it. I had been playing for a long time, staring at that picture since it was right in my face, when suddenly the music began to have a story to it, and the picture seemed to as well. It was a wonderful euphoric feeling. But, as soon as I became conscious of it, it evaporated. But, it left me with a memory of that feeling, and with the hunger for it that has led me to play for it all the rest of my life so far. Talking to God? You could call it that. It's also the same thing that happens in transcendental meditation. I was seven years old and knew I had to have that feeling as much as possible. I soon became a good piano player---then guitar at thirteen and bass at fifteen. Majored in music in college, studied classical upright bass, played in the symphony for years, played guitar for a living for years, and have been a semi-pro bass player since 1988.

I can't help it, it's that hunger leading me on. I'm obsessed, and love it!
Click to expand...

I think that is what I am looking for...kinda envious but glad to know its out there. Keep looking.
 
#31
Okay I'll chime in. Played when I was younger, 18-19, even hit the sleep in truck burrito circuit. A couple of years ago the church I was doing an interim in had some bluegrass musicians. They let me sit in and borrow their DB, decided it'd be a hoot do some special music one service. I ended up playing a couple of times. Now I'm at a new interim and didn't have anyone to play with but still got the bug so I've purchased a couple of basses and got a decent amp and I'm taking correspondent lessons and loving my return to music. Hopefully, my next stop will have a praise band I can play with.

PS I'm 43
 
#32
I learned my first lines by listening to Stax/Volt and Motown Stuff...and listening to some Great Rhythm and Blues via the historic D.J. John R. at WLAC in Nashville in the late 60's. I lived in southern Ohio and would stay up all night in the summer taking in this great music and dreaming of what it would be like to actually hear these acts...yes..it was like a religious experience and I wanted to play music and feel what I felt when I listened to this great emotional music....
I feel there is a great story in all of you posting here as to what influenced you musically and spoke to you at an early age....
 
#33
Bass Mentor said:
.........
I feel there is a great story in all of you posting here as to what influenced you musically and spoke to you at an early age....
Click to expand...
In my case I did not grow up with music. Course the radio in my case was in the living room and only what the grown ups wanted to hear came from it.

During my late elementary school years I was in band playing saxophone, until the teacher told my Mother it was a waste of his time and her money. So that was the end of that venture. Band came at the same time as football, and football was what I wanted. I did not pick up an instrument for 35 years.

Then as an adult I enjoyed sitting in with the musicians around the campfire sessions playing my khomus

I moved to music late in life and now enjoy playing music with other people. If it were not for the band and jamming circles I'd probably find another hobby.
 
#35
I'm 54 took up bass about 7 years ago because of my kids, who wanted to play music instead of sports. Bass just went along with guitar.

But I had many prior years of guitar, keyboard, choir directing etc. It was much more of a classical background lots of theory, sight singing, sight reading etc. Music major in college (dual major). Bass came pretty easy for me.

I'm in a weekend warrior bar band with guys who have been doing this forever, and do a church gig as well.

My dream came true, my oldest kid plays lead guitar and my youngest is the drummer at the church gig. Better than throwing a baseball any day.
 
#36
49 is not an old man, you have many years ahead of you to pursue your love of music. I am 52 and I started when I was 16 because I felt a deep connection from a young age. My father was a well respected trumpet player and head of the the musicians union when I was a kid. Sadly he died when I was 11, so I started when I was 16 and taught myself, instructors were few and far between back in 1976, so the day I received my bass as my 16th birthday present I started learning my record collection, I knew nothing about the instrument but I knew how to tune it thanks to my step brother. Over time I learned most of my album collection but did not know the notes on my bass. I friend showed me them several years later. Anyway I started playing professionally 6 nights a week when I was 18.This has been my main source of income until after 9/11 when gigs slowed down. At that point I got into teaching at a music school and have authored 2 music guidebooks, 1 for bass and 1 for guitar. I am performing once again full time and touring with The Mosier Brothers Band which is combination of bluegrass, jazz, blues, latin, samba, rock and improv. I wish you joy and happiness in your pursuit of self enrichment and the magic and joy of music.

Your friend in Music

Winn Sizemore
 
#37
Congrats and welcome to the bassment. Bass players are simply the coolest people on the planet. I'm 56, been playing for 41 years and I'll never stop. Believe it or not, the music thing has always been there for you. You just woke up and found your voice on the bass. Stay encoraged and ask all the questions you want to. The TB commuity is very cool.
 
#38
55+ and only played bass a couple years now. Brought back to music by The Lord when discovered contemporary Christian music at a church our family visited only to hear a particular very wise and famous speaker who's book I had just read. We were not church-goers. Had not listened to music since the start of the disco craze of the early 1980s, was a 60s & 70s rock guy all the way. Then found a "young" church that would be attractive to our boys. Got drafted very quickly there into learning how to do sound because I walked around behind the sound booth to see all the pretty lights and cool knobs. Saw how much fun the worship team was having leading people to The Lord through music. Always wanted to play bass. Thought music might be a way to try to connect with my troubled teenage son. Bought a used $100 bass and taught myself how to kinda play. First time ever playing out was at church. Absolutely frightening. Two years later now the lead bassist on the worship team and the lead sound guy. That teenager is now the lead drummer, lead elec player and back-up bassist at church, his youth group band and his school's worship team. We get invited to play at local churches now when they do area combined youth group events. I get to play with my son - Praise The Lord! All I have to do now is just stand on stage holding my bass and let Jesus play all the notes for me. 50 ain't old - for a tree! Praise The Lord!
 
#39
59 years old, and I've been "playing" since I was 14. Played guitar and bass in some "better than garage band" quality bands from about 17 till around 22, then basically just didn't. Not sure why. Life's been really good to me, but I really regret that. I've kept guitars around ever since, being a "gearhead" type, and have gone through periods of hard work and study, only to go the next year without picking it up.

Well, my daughter has turned out to be the "real deal" on piano and clarinet and has inpired me to dive back in. At any given time, she has three private music teachers (Classical piano, Jazz piano and clarinet) and has been through several over the years, based on her progress, schedule, etc. The Jazz and Clarinet guys always have little side gigs, and seem to always be short a bassist. My daughter's like, "My daddy can play!"

I had put the bass down way back when, and I knew well enough that a bass is not just a fat string guitar. Plus, they invariably ask first, "Can you read?"

So, about 3 years ago, I bought a MIM Jazz bass and a used GK combo, and Ed Friedlands "Complete Bass Method". I jam to the radio, buy technique DVDs, force myself to read (not that it's that bad. I can't sight read at tempo, yet, but I can walk a basic line over a chord chart) and having a blast.

Right now, I'm still "in the closet" (NO, not THAT way!!!) but I'm working on getting out!!
 
#40
Welcome to the world of bass. I've been playing since I was 14, and in them days color TV was a novelty... Yes, music can be "sacred" without being "religious." I say your age doesn't matter, more important, as Joseph Campbell said "Follow your bliss."
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back