• 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.

Poll | How many TBers don't actively play bass?

You come to TalkBass. Do you actively play bass?

  • Yes. I am a gigging musician

  • Yes. I gig casually or jam with friends

  • Yes, but I only play at home

  • No. I haven't picked up a bass in 6 months or more

Results are only viewable after voting.
#61
Also, been playing since 1973 as a weekend warrior, a regional band in the late 70s, a popular local band in the 80s, virtually nothing but playing at home in the 90s, cello in the 2000s, and finally three bands in the 2010s gigging locally nearly every weekend, sometimes two bands a day and weekly rehearsals two days a week. Loved it until drama spiked it.

now I'm in 1 band, gig about once a month and rehearse once a week and play backup at a local open mic and in a monthly blues jam. Try to practice everyday, but life gets in the way a lot.

I'm on Talkbass because people know more than me (aged horse, Jeff Genzler, Mr. Bergantino and others) and I have learned things I would not otherwise know. Also, I met some great folks here and hang out in the mediocre club.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker
#63
Not as busy as I’d like to be but gigging and recording with two bands that are both comprised of people with busy schedules so we gig when we can.

I used to pick up occasional gigs and sessions on the side but that hasn’t been happening lately. I’m hoping that opens up again as those types of things can be a lot of fun.
 
#64
I was the first choice on bass at church for every Sunday the past 5 years, until I told the leaders they needed to be better prepared, and people needed to practice more. Went over like a turd in a punch bowl.
Playing there less, fill in, but playing at least four shows a month since this past March in a progressive bluegrass band. I'm 62 and started playing upright 7 months ago after 40 plus years of electric bass. 3 members are in there early 30's, one guy is 57. The talk of age is BS. Just play.
Most people let their attitude get in the way more than their age...

And to the OP. No where in your post did anything even brush up against the idea of, if you don't play now your opinion doesn't matter.
Humans being human...
 
  • Like
Reactions: tb-player
#65
I’m in the 30-40 shows a year group. We add songs regularly but don’t over rehearse so I have to practice on my own consistently. I appreciate that there are all types of players here, from total newbies to players just starting to gig, current gigging musicians to guys like me who are close to or already retired and playing regularly for kicks, recording and session people to subs, church players to people who according to this thread barely play at all. We have builders, gear heads, designers, torts with flats folks and a few brainiacs who shower us with their infinite wisdom. We have 1 bass 1 amp folks to people who could star in their own episode of Bass Hoarders. I like hearing differing opinions, I’ve never been the club type that likes to be surrounded by people just like me. I say the bigger the pot the better the soup.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ProbablyTooLoud, JRA, mikewalker and 1 other person
#66
I haven't done an actual live show in years (and that last 5000-seater was only a fill in for a friend) but I am currently very active playing on other people's records, thats been my gig for the last while. Hope to settle a couple of lawsuits this year and then get a new live band together to play festivals and such. Just have to get my various existential crises sorted out first! :bassist:
 
  • Like
Reactions: HolmeBass and Dave Leighton
#70
I selected gigging musician, but I’d say I'm somewhere between gigging musician and gig casually with friends. I gig about two to three times a month throughout the year, and four to five times in the summer. I play in one group on a regular basis, the second group might gig three or four times a year, and I'm in a show that will perform about six times this summer. I also fill in another group a few times a year.
 
#71
My primary instrument is drums. Many years ago (1970's) I decided that learning to play the bass would help my drumming.
So, I just play bass at home. There have been a few times when my band mates would decide to switch instruments at a practice. That's the only time I have played bass with other musicians.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker
#72
thisheregiraffe said:
It’s a public forum on the Internet. You don’t have to prove you actively play bass to join the discussion. Folks who don’t play bass can still have opinions and an appreciation for the instrument that they want to share with everyone else. Big deal if somebody plays or doesn’t.
Click to expand...
I won't name names, but I know for a fact that one of the best drummers in Canada lurks here a lot, due to their life-long appreciation of bassists (and I guess "rhythm-section culture" in general...)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Marko 1, Dave Leighton and thisheregiraffe
#75
I come here for knowledge. I've learned much from many here. I blame many of you for me parting with my money, haaa. This is mostly a cool hang except for a very few whiners and a couple mean people but hopefully they'll come around and learn. And yes, still very active live. Enjoy!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swerve
#76
tb-player said:
OP here. Where'd this come from? I was just curious. I never mentioned needing to prove anything to be here.
Click to expand...
It didn’t come from anywhere exactly. Well, my head I guess :laugh: I suppose I could have been more articulate. Sorry if you took it the wrong way. I didn’t mean to imply you were being anything other than curious, if that’s what you took away from my post. I was just responding to the fact you seemed to find it odd that somebody was on online on TB talking about bass even though they hadn’t played bass in a long time. To me, it boils down to: It’s a public forum that anybody can join. Some folks maybe just like the bass even if they’ve never played or haven’t played in years. I guess I don’t really care if other TBers play bass or not. We can all join in the fun of appreciating bass. That’s all :-) In a similar line of thought, I’m a huge baseball fan and I like to participate in the MLB thread here on TB. I don’t find it strange if other baseball fans posting about baseball don’t actually play baseball.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sam Evans
#78
Full-time musician, retired in 2017 but still playing anywhere from 50-100+ gigs per year. Retirement means I don’t travel like i had to in the past, I don’t do any studio work anymore, and I stopped the “networking” part of being a pro musician (no more jams, no more playing in basements/garages, no more hanging out in clubs till 1am). I only play in a pre-set dedicated band and only play the music I prefer (jazz, in my case). If I found myself with no dedicated band relationship, I’d stop playing in a heartbeat. I play every day, and I always will, but I’m done chasing after any specific goals at this point in my life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Danny C, ProbablyTooLoud and JRA
#79
At home only - I have not the motivation and patience anymore for getting disappointed.

That being said, I play daily and will never give up on playing the bass, and sincerely hope that Talkbass is here to stay, for at least another few decades.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back