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The Inevitable Question: Why The Bass?
- Thread starter Grinderman
- Start date
As a kid I kept falling of the clarinet row....ie clarinet, bass clarinet, Eb contrabass clarinet. Then of course there was Chris Squire and Mel Schacher (Grand Funk RR, never knew his name until now)
Then Casady, Lesh and Jaco.
Then Casady, Lesh and Jaco.
I started on guitar, like many of my friends. Formed a band with 2 other guitar buddies and a drummer at the age of 15. After 2 or 3 practices I knew SOMETHING was missing...so, I learned the bass lines and played them on guitar. My best friend said "hey, that sounds great but if you're gonna play the bass parts...why not play a bass?!"
The next day I took my guitar and amp to the local mom and pop music shop and traded it for an Aria Beatle Bass (1420) and a Goya bass combo amp. That was 48 years ago...and that started my journey.
BTW, we were playing Grand Funk and Alice Cooper songs (among others) so, Mel Schacher and Dennis Dunaway were my first bass influences. I still enjoy playing their bass lines!!
The next day I took my guitar and amp to the local mom and pop music shop and traded it for an Aria Beatle Bass (1420) and a Goya bass combo amp. That was 48 years ago...and that started my journey.
BTW, we were playing Grand Funk and Alice Cooper songs (among others) so, Mel Schacher and Dennis Dunaway were my first bass influences. I still enjoy playing their bass lines!!
I started playing drums in bands at 14. Seemed like every band I was in the bass player was the third worse guitar player (first two being lead & rhythm) never thinking rhythm section. So at 32 I decided to make some drummer really happy and never turned back.
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I started out playing guitar, but never really got anywhere. I decided to try out a bass about a decade ago, and really enjoyed playing it more than guitar. However, it wasn't until several months ago that I really started to focus on it. It's just fun to play, and I now I practice/noodle/play everyday.
I know this is condescending (and isn't aimed at anyone in this thread) but I feel sorry for people that play the Bass because they think it's easy, or because their band of guitarists needs someone to play the Bass.
Being mostly into Bass heavy music like Reggae/Dub and Funk I play Bass because I enjoy the sound of Bass and Basslines that drive that music.
Like Jah Wobble says - it's rooted, playing a big Dubby bassline through a big loud system feels like you're bringing some sort of fundamental power. It's not through fancy technical noodling and how many notes you can play per second, it's down to good timing and the power of bringing heavy sound pressure that can be felt as well as heard - there's no other sound/instrument I'd prefer to play (although I would quite like to also be able to play an Upright Bass, to me the Bass Guitar is a portable version of an Upright Bass and fills the same musical role, rather than being a low-tuned Guitar and playing that role).
Being mostly into Bass heavy music like Reggae/Dub and Funk I play Bass because I enjoy the sound of Bass and Basslines that drive that music.
Like Jah Wobble says - it's rooted, playing a big Dubby bassline through a big loud system feels like you're bringing some sort of fundamental power. It's not through fancy technical noodling and how many notes you can play per second, it's down to good timing and the power of bringing heavy sound pressure that can be felt as well as heard - there's no other sound/instrument I'd prefer to play (although I would quite like to also be able to play an Upright Bass, to me the Bass Guitar is a portable version of an Upright Bass and fills the same musical role, rather than being a low-tuned Guitar and playing that role).
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It was only in retrospect that I realized when I was a kid, around 1975 or 1976, and I listened to music, I was primarily listening to the bass line. It wasn't anything I sought out, that's just where my ears were paying attention.
Sometime later, again not because I had any idea of what I was doing, I told my parents that I wanted a bass guitar. But it never happened.
Fast-forward a few more years and I ended up with a MIJ Fender Bullet. And so here I am.
Sometime later, again not because I had any idea of what I was doing, I told my parents that I wanted a bass guitar. But it never happened.
Fast-forward a few more years and I ended up with a MIJ Fender Bullet. And so here I am.
I'd played the cello and double bass, so it would be weird to start playing the guitar. But more specifically, Peter Hook, the bassist from an 80s new wave band called New Order, made me want to start playing the electric bass from his lines. They were never too complex, but I fell in love with his tone and his melodic style.
Damn. A bass player actually attracted a female, let alone females. First time for everything.I was an introverted Orchestra Geek in grade school... got to Jr high and the band teacher needed to start someone on Bass guitar to prep for playing in the High school Jazz band.
he let me use his personal Bass, a gorgeous Fender PBass.
I practiced in the main band room as that's where the schools amp was.
Immediately I got a following of about 6 girls that would sit and watch me practice...
Needless to say... How could I not become a bass player..... I mean that bass really was gorgeous.
@Gaolee gave me POS Vantage when I was in sixth or seventh grade, along with a punk rock mixtape he'd made. Played my first shows in 8th grade, was playing gigs in clubs by tenth grade. I've taken breaks periodically, but I seem to always come back to the bass. I guess bass sort of chose me?
hi Grinderman 
Cool thread! Cool stories folks!!!
My Dad and my grandpa were musicians. Both played the violin and piano.
One of my earliest childhood memories is sitting on my grandpa's lap,
when he played.
That' s how he tricked my dad
, but it didn't work out for me.
I never liked the keyboard but I was always attracted by the sheet
When I was six I could read music without playing an instrument.
That helped me to avoid the recorder lessons the other kids were forced to endure. (thx grandpa!)
Why the bass?
I was drafted! Our local youth club had a bluesjam every other friday.
I walked into a "rehearsal hang". They didn't have a bassplayer but there was a bass and an amp...
Two weeks later I played the first time live.
The roots, fifths and thirds that I read from the pianoplayer's sheet got me through the gig. (thx grandpa!)
I also started to take drum lessons (nearly became a drummer) until
(thx Steve Harris!)
A week after I bought the album I bought my first bass and started a band
greetings
Wise
Cool thread! Cool stories folks!!!
My Dad and my grandpa were musicians. Both played the violin and piano.
One of my earliest childhood memories is sitting on my grandpa's lap,
when he played.
That' s how he tricked my dad
, but it didn't work out for me.I never liked the keyboard but I was always attracted by the sheet
When I was six I could read music without playing an instrument.
That helped me to avoid the recorder lessons the other kids were forced to endure.
(thx grandpa!)Why the bass?
I was drafted! Our local youth club had a bluesjam every other friday.
I walked into a "rehearsal hang". They didn't have a bassplayer but there was a bass and an amp...
Two weeks later I played the first time live.
The roots, fifths and thirds that I read from the pianoplayer's sheet got me through the gig. (thx grandpa!)
I also started to take drum lessons (nearly became a drummer
) until
A week after I bought the album I bought my first bass and started a band
greetings
Wise
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I was raised around music (family band) but didn't really play anything 
, then I ended up playing Alto Sax in High School but didn't stick with it (one of my biggest regrets), fast forward a few years (maybe around 1991-92) a friend needed a bass player, so I figured I try it, for whatever reason I could just play it, it felt right despite having never played a bass prior...fast forward a BUNCH of years...here we are, still playing having no formal training...and damn glad I stuck with it. 
, then I ended up playing Alto Sax in High School but didn't stick with it (one of my biggest regrets), fast forward a few years (maybe around 1991-92) a friend needed a bass player, so I figured I try it, for whatever reason I could just play it, it felt right despite having never played a bass prior...fast forward a BUNCH of years...here we are, still playing having no formal training...and damn glad I stuck with it. 
+1
I think it’s why when I go to see a band the bass player is usually the weak link. Nobody plays guitar, drums or keyboards because they are easy.
When I started learning and trying to bass in the mid-1980s, Peter Hook and Joy Division were very much an influence; a strong one really. My influences grew outward from there.
It's probably why George Murray from D.A.M. Trio became one my main all-time favorites. His work with Bowie and Iggy Pop are masterpieces to me. Similarly with Jah Wobble, Holger Czukay, and Steve Hanley. Dave Alexander and Ron Asheton on bass are also on the top of my list. There are others but those are the main men.
Steve Currie, Bruce Thomas, Tim Wright, and Peter Farndon are up high on my list. Mike Watt, of course.
Another perspective of where I'm coming from: The bass on Papa Was A Rolling Stone by The Temptations is forever a powerful, hold-everything, meditative groove. //Has anyone ever gotten to the bottom of the truth about who actually played on the recording yet? Was it in fact Babbitt?
Elegant minimalism and the minimalist approach has always been an strong fundamental characteristic that threads through virtually everything I've done as creative/maker in art, design, and music; regardless of whether it was as an ametuer, professional, hobbyist, enthusiast, expert, or whatever.
All of that is my north star.
People like that just don't get it. They have virtually zero shot at making music I could care about because they probably don't understand what music or songs need. I've got no time for them and that.
