Other fun instrument to play, except bass?

[Fender_Bender]

Hurdy gurdy.

Before you laugh, watch this

Kinda sounds like pissed off bagpipes.

 

[Paulabass]

With some bass pedals, you can lay down the lows with you feet, tap a bass melody, play keyboards with your other hand, and sing lead. Wait...that's been done

 

[PJMustangFreak]

The hugely talented bassist Dave Pegg says that mandolin is great fun. I'd have to agree with him! For me, flute is where it's at!

 

[bassstrangler]

 

[JRA]

electric violin: there are some ridiculously cheap ones, they can be routed through pedals for 'lead guitar' effects, and they come in some wild (psychedelic?) colors. .02.

 

[BassBrass]

you doin NOthin with pedals man, there's a whole world of sounds and techniques you are just ignoring and asking about some instrument it takes years to learn how to play, jeez start hurdy gurdy if you want too but don't inflict your learning curve on the public.

 

[Mvilmany]

I want a hurdy gurdy.

 

[bassbully]

Vegetables!


Awesome! My kind of jam.

 

[Slinger]

An Ashbory and an inexpensive multi-effects processor, a Zoom B3n or something like it.

 

[Flamingo21]

Quote OP:
Guitars are out, the principle of this band is "No six strings allowed".

Seven String Guitar?

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I already have a cheap Theremin that I have used a bit, but it's hard to control volume and pitch on that in a live situation.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

Jon Spencer's clinic on how to use a Theremin to rock out. Check these guys out, regardless: Minimalist lineup (two guitars, drums; I imagine the antithesis of what you guys are into), maximalist sound.

 

[Siggy]

I'm the bassist in a trio that plays kind of psychedelic, progressive, jam based rock music. The other two guys plays drums and keyboard instrument (mainly Hammond organ) respectively. We have been talking about getting some new and fun instruments to play along with to broaden our sonic palette and expand our jam sections. The keys guy have a bunch of different synths, a mellotron, a Pianet and some other stuff. He also plays flute. The drummer has been bringing some percussion instruments to rehearsals. But what about me? What could I get into?

Guitars are out, the principle of this band is "No six strings allowed". The synth and keys parts are covered. I already have a couple of FX pedals (delay, chorus and other) to play around with while playing bass. I have been thinking about Theremin, especially the Moog Theremini. I already have a cheap Theremin that I have used a bit, but it's hard to control volume and pitch on that in a live situation.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

I have fun with the mandolin. I like the different scale and tuning. It helps re-wire my brain

 

[CryingBass]

This

Or this

Own both, play them very seldom - as fun as they are!

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I like the electric violin idea.
Also, any wind instrument.
Extra cool points if you can handle a Moog Taurus at the same time.

 

[Stumbo]

Get to the Effects Forum ASAP.

Seems to me you need a pedal board with at least 10 pedals so you can become an efx factory. Or possibly a multi-efx pedal.

Or a bass with midi-out.

 

[CryingBass]

Right @Stumbo - Like one of these

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EDIT: Who ever said fun = cheap?

 

[Quinn Roberts]

I'm the bassist in a trio that plays kind of psychedelic, progressive, jam based rock music. The other two guys plays drums and keyboard instrument (mainly Hammond organ) respectively. We have been talking about getting some new and fun instruments to play along with to broaden our sonic palette and expand our jam sections. The keys guy have a bunch of different synths, a mellotron, a Pianet and some other stuff. He also plays flute. The drummer has been bringing some percussion instruments to rehearsals. But what about me? What could I get into?

Guitars are out, the principle of this band is "No six strings allowed". The synth and keys parts are covered. I already have a couple of FX pedals (delay, chorus and other) to play around with while playing bass. I have been thinking about Theremin, especially the Moog Theremini. I already have a cheap Theremin that I have used a bit, but it's hard to control volume and pitch on that in a live situation.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

Flute. If you wanna stay bass-like, then trombone. Both are simple to a point and fun as all get out!

 

[Quinn Roberts]

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I've seen a few bands with the EWI's and such. They're too cool!

 

[arbiterusa]

Bass is not my only instrument, not by a longshot. I started on violin and worked cello in later (bass after that). So there’s two ideas. You will have to learn bow technique but you’ve got the left hand mostly down already and either one of those two will improve your bass playing no end. I play drums a LOT, manage to pull a few gigs a year and that is nothing but fun, but you already have a drummer. A few other folks have suggested synths and I’ll second that - being able to play synth bass lines adds to your marketability. Plus messing with sounds is fun.

 

[Max Blasto]

I use flute.

If you need to stick to strings, I wand to second (third?) the Mandolin. Now for me the scale is too small so ive started getting into Octave Mandolin. Similar range as a guitar, but hey, it’s not a guitar!

And of course, there’s Bajo Sexto....