Tell me about something great you did this year.

[Hot Rats]

I was told I saved a band. That's right. Bass player walks into the new gig and band is saved from a languishing and dismal demise. Band leader wanted to go with another guy, but 3 other band members said they would quit if I didn't get the gig. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

This is my favorite question to ask at the end of the year. Looking back on the past 12 months, what is something (music/bass related) that you've done or accomplished that made you happy?

For me, the biggest accomplishment was playing my first live show in over 11 years. For a variety of reasons I put my instruments away and let them collect dust after my last band ended in early 2011. Covid gave me a good excuse to get them out again and knock off the rust, and then in 2021 I joined a band. But it wasn't until this past May that we finally started playing shows and man, I had not realized how much I missed it.

Nice idea for a thread. I played in an Afro-Cuban ensemble and got to play that music for the first time after many years of just being a fan. I played upright and electric in that ensemble. I also played electric bass in a progressive jazz ensemble which was great. In September I played an orchestral bass composition for a festival, got to play arco for the first time on a paid gig. And a few weeks ago I got to play some Gypsy/Klezmer type jazz for the first time. Lots of firsts in 2022. Oh and got to record one of my compositions with full band in May. Thanks for the prompt!

 

[stigbeve]

Started gigging again in June with an original metal band. Hadn't played a show since 2016.
Always have the butterflies before the show but afterwards I'm glad I did it.
We have played 7 shows this year. A lot of fun for sure

 

[Isaac_James]

Nice idea for a thread. I played in an Afro-Cuban ensemble and got to play that music for the first time after many years of just being a fan. I played upright and electric in that ensemble. I also played electric bass in a progressive jazz ensemble which was great. In September I played an orchestral bass composition for a festival, got to play arco for the first time on a paid gig. And a few weeks ago I got to play some Gypsy/Klezmer type jazz for the first time. Lots of firsts in 2022. Oh and got to record one of my compositions with full band in May. Thanks for the prompt!

That's great, I would love to branch out into some new styles of music - I love my hard rock but it's easy to get stuck in a rut and not challenge yourself musically when you stay in your comfort zone.

Glad you enjoyed the prompt. I use this one every year, and thought it would be fun to bring it here too.

 

[voodoobassist]

My proudest moment this year was probably turning my grandson into a full fledged fisherman. I'd taken him out several times over the last few years, but this year, got him into some nice fish with an almost constant bite. Like just about every cast getting hit. He absolutely loved it!

Nice to know I gave him a desire for something that will bring him joy for the rest of his life.

Here's just a few from that day of fishing. His face tells it all.

 

[Isaac_James]

My proudest moment this year was probably turning my grandson into a full fledged fisherman. I'd taken him out several times over the last few years, but this year, got him into some nice fish with an almost constant bite. Like just about every cast getting hit. He absolutely loved it!

Nice to know I gave him a desire for something that will bring him joy for the rest of his life.

Here's just a few from that day of fishing. His face tells it all.

View attachment 4911953

Nice. And technically, bass related!

 

[Rib 13]

Started my bass YouTube channel about 7 months ago (link in sig)...and, surprisingly, its doing OK......I purposely try to do it differently than a lot of other bass channels so folks either like it or dont (and thats OK).......I get to use a bunch of fun creative skills doing it, including bass....Its time consuming but very rewarding to my right brain

 

[Thumpin6string]

I finally got my Franken fretless 6 string done after 5 years of gathering parts.

 

[Dincrest]

My highlight of 2022 was how the special ed students I work with inspired me to learn more music on my bass than I ever have (including a LOT of music I normally would avoid) and the few times I got to play for them were the best days ever:

"Gig" report (if you can even call this a gig...)
(In this thread I talk about the first time I brought my bass into the classroom, the second time I did because the students kept asking when I'd play again, and the third time when I capped off our summer school program with a memorable afternoon of bass, dance and karaoke).

My resolution for 2023 is to learn more music and I've set up something in Google Classroom where the students can suggest/request songs they think I should learn to play on bass (school appropriate, of course) so that way when I play for them again it's more special because it's not just my music time, it's our music time.

Not a day goes by when they don't ask, "Mr. C, when you gonna play for us again?" Well, I gotta learn more songs first and you all are going to help me with that via my suggestion box.

 

[MichelD]

Got asked to join two very different but fun bands; an uptempo dance-music-oriented Cajun band with pro gigs planned for 2023 and a politically-oriented folk band with Celtic/Klezmer and Classical pieces incorporated as intros and solos.

 

[CallMeAl]

I quit my gigging band and set up a regular jam with a few friends. Better fits in my family-work balance, so I'm happy.

I'm playing a lot of guitar these days, so I've been recording a good bit of bass for my demos and backing tracks.

 

[logdrum]

Musically?
I practiced and learned to play and sing Wichita Lineman on my baritone guitar. Electric, of course, I'm not a cave man. It's still me, so sonically it's a lot like the sound of roller skates spilling down metal stairs. But I'm still proud of myself.
.

Congrats on all the Phds. Awesome to hear another Baritone guitar player. A local guy, made me a neck for my strat that I am not using, it is a 94 that has a Warmoth neck because the original was twisted. He made it 29.5 inch scale. But we tuned it Half Nashville like Pat Metheny, meaning 3 and 4 are an an octave up using the E and B string of a regular guitar tuned to D and A

 

[fretlessman71]

I am about to complete a note-for-note transcription of Ron Carter's bass line on "Red Clay" by Freddie Hubbard. Should be done by Christmas.

 

[Killing Floor]

I finally got my Franken fretless 6 string done after 5 years of gathering parts.
View attachment 4911965

Play as good as it looks?

 

[Jaygetsreal]

Lovin' this thread. Thank you @Isaac_James

 

[El8ed]

Celebrated my 40th wedding anniversary and recorded a song for my wife's celebration video (below). My first (solo) recording in 25 years.
Bought 11 basses and guitars
Lost 13 lb for no good reason (153 —> 140lb)



The rest is confidential …

 

[Isaac_James]

Started my bass YouTube channel about 7 months ago (link in sig)...and, surprisingly, its doing OK......I purposely try to do it differently than a lot of other bass channels so folks either like it or dont (and thats OK).......I get to use a bunch of fun creative skills doing it, including bass....Its time consuming but very rewarding to my right brain

Great! I gave you a follow and I will check out some videos when I'm back home with good headphones.

 

[Andy Marshman]

I joined a new ukulele group in our community. On a cruise to Hawaii about 10 years ago, I bought a ukulele and never learned how to play it properly. Our group grew from 8 to 24 this year and did 3 public performances. I learned how to play...then...they really needed bass to help them keep time and move things along so I volunteered to play bass. Purchased an acoustic-electric and solid state U-Basses and it's a huge success for everyone.
Our community also has a singing group - a choir if you wish, but it's not a church thing. Their performances have all been a-capella. My good friend, a multi-instrumental talent, and I volunteered to be their musical accompaniment starting next year. We're all very excited about that project too.
Music is my full time retirement hobby and no more bars with their late hours and flakey staff.

 

[Zoffy]

About a month ago, I started the violin. Up 'till then, I'd never even picked up a violin before. I'm 55 (almost 56) and ready for a new (musical) challenge and it's great to feel a sense of accomplishment playing even the simplest tunes - and I do mean simple. I think I needed the change; I really like the bass, but honestly haven't felt "bassy" in a while.

I did not know it, but GAS is a thing in the violin community as well. I just plunked down $50 for a new bridge (on a $100 violin) - and I am already eying a new $300 bow that I'm convinced will definitely make me a better player! Haha

Great post by the way, OP; I've enjoyed reading the responses so far!

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I wrote, performed and produced my first music video, released in March. I arranged Classical Gas as a slow duet of guitar and double bass. It was a long project that began in Dec. 2020. The story is about World Peace told by an unusual game of chess between players from Russia and USA, and three dogs. After a long process, I got the publication license approved one week after Russia invaded Ukraine.