I weirdly was just reminiscing earlier today about how I started playing bass. I've still got group text going with my first band (~20 or so years ago). Anyway, I always picked up bass lines when listening to music - like that's what i heard/felt the most for whatever reason. Had some old crappy guitar at our house and I would try to randomly play stuff by ear every once in a while. Then a buddy who was in a trio my freshman year of HS asked if I wanted to play bass. I said yes, but I didn't even own a bass let alone any other gear. We worked through one or two songs with me learning the notes on the EADG of an acoustic guitar. Next thing I know, I bought a cheap bass and was in a band. Had zero training - so I completely learned how to play by being in a band and playing by ear. I took lessons for a couple years down the line, but my theory fundamentals have sadly played backup to my ear. I should be brushing up more for the sake of being better at composing and notating stuff when needed...
Oddly enough, even though I had tons of experience and lessons in theory, (my teachers stressed it more than even my college profs) I lean way more on my ears. I have this weird sense of knowing where a melody or even rhythm is going to go somehow, even if it's something I've never heard. Idk. My band teachers always commented on how well my sight reading, recognition of melodies/rhythm and time were. Even to this day I always thought I was talented, but really mediocre at best as a player. Especially technically, I've always seen myself as a sloppy hack that just makes it work somehow, matches my slacker mentality I guess.
It's odd I know notes, and can still read a little, but I barely really know the fretboard or keyboard at a glance. I can figure it out quickly from knowing where C on keys and the open/5th fret of guitars, but really I just know where to go somehow.
I definitely don't memorize and rarely have. I always looked to what was next and the interval to it. Maybe it's the understanding of intervals and knowing how I want the line to feel. Ya know natural, dark and minor, pleasant/dissonant. It's probably just from being immersed in it for so long and unconsciously knowing what will or can work within chords and whatnot. This helped so much and I attribute most of it to jazz and the way the teachers taught us. I never knew the technical jargon and terminology, but inherently knew it just from doing it.
I first played drums, starting about the age of ten. My twin brother started piano about the same time. By about 15 I was playing a bassment band with HS buddies. My brother had switched to bass as a buddy had a guitar.
Once I heard Hendrix, around that same time, I got interested playing guitar. Of course, being the only kid in the circle of friends who had and could play drums got me roped into playing drums in a smartass punk band by senior year or so though I desperately wanted to play guitar.
That didn't last.
I frequented the 'Garage Rock'/Rock scene in Detroit in my early twenties and eventually put together a 5 piece band with me as one of 2 guitarists. We put a helluva work in over about a year to end up playing 2 gigs and imploding.
Got married, dabbled in guitar still, though I had some terrible luck with the housing/mortgage crash and had to sell off just about all the gear I had.
I started dabbling with recording 'experimental' stuff for my own enjoyment, probably 7-8 years ago. Borrowed an Epi Thunderbird bass from my bro, who hadn't touched his basses since leaving a sreamo band he had done a DIY tour with and leaving it behind for 'a real job'.
It immediately appealed to me and I realized oddly that I always really approached guitar like a bassist. Bass made so much more intuitive sense to me. Since my picking skills were sloppy as hell and I was listening to a lot of Steve Harris at the time, I decided to start ground up with fingerstyle. And I practiced bass like I never ever devoted myself to anything else. I was hooked.
About 2 years ago-ish I met our Guitarist and we started up my current band, adding our drummer in March 2019.
I think that's why I gravitated towards bass too. Though 5 years back I realized I played bass a lot like a rhythm guitarist. Riffs were what I do, they just hit me constantly. I have a whole library of spontaneous partial songs and riffs recorded on my phone.
I didn't play at school. There were like 2 (decent music) drummers in the whole town, and I didn't feel like they would have chosen me as a bandmate. I was enough of a loser back then too. Never felt motivated to even try.
I started at 38 I believe, I can't remember anymore… After I moved to a bigger town BTW. For some reason I believed it would have been easier here (I was soooo wrong), and playing would have made my life happier or would have given me a reason. Lately I'm not convinced about it anymore. Maybe I'll just finish this record and then I'll quit for good. I just don't want to leave it unfinished 'cause it was a huge loss of time so better I'll have it finished at least.
When the times got weird, playing music was the only thing that made sense. The feeling of playing, even with recorded music just feels so good. Don't give up on it.
Anyway, I noticed a lot of similarities from everyone and myself. I started out on bass because a friend of mine played guitar and I wanted to start a band with him. That and I thought I couldn't play chords worth poopie. We mostly just played together but I learned so much and started spending all my time between sports and school. Looking back, I did always notice I paid attention to the bass.
About that time I learned my uncle's played guitar and they started a yearly jamfest at their place. I often ended up playing the whole day. They mostly played blues and 70's rock. I jam with them here and there to this day besides doing the jamfest.
A year later I joined a punk band that played a lot of misfits. We were off and on all hs, while also joining a few hardcore and a screamo bands for a short bit. In college I kept jamming with my friends and family but didn't play much. College sports are like having a second job. I think I kept the rust off by still being in band and jazz band.
Then right out of college my drummer buddy asked if I wanted to be in a metal band. Joined them, and that's how I found out about stoner metal. Been hooked since. Before that I only knew of monster magnet and Fu Manchu. After that band blew up, me and my buddy started a heavy psych/garage rock/jam band and been on and off since.
One thing I think I never would have learned without band, moreso jazz, was listening to everything all together. Being able to notice every little part and how they compliment and where to fit stuff. Being able to pick out parts and working with them on the fly is something I don't think I ever would have noticed myself. Took lots of training and is so surreal. That locking in is so huge, when it lines up just blows my mind.
