The PURITY Poll: Bassists vs Multi-Instrumentalists

[Smooth_bass88]

100% pure, 100% naturally born bass player. Asked for an electric bass at age 12, and that’s been it ever since. No guitar, no drums, no keyboards, no xylophone, no tuba, no glockenspiel, no hurdy-gurdy, heck I won’t even play friggen upright fer cryin’ out loud.

 

[Crispus]

Yes!
Primarily a bassist but reserve the right to be mediocre at any number of instruments as well!

 

[eyvindwa]

100% pure, 100% naturally born bass player. Asked for an electric bass at age 12, and that’s been it ever since. No guitar, no drums, no keyboards, no xylophone, no tuba, no glockenspiel, no hurdy-gurdy, heck I won’t even play friggen upright fer cryin’ out loud.

Oh, I would LOVE to have a hurdy-gurdy, but they are so damn expensive!

 

[SJan3]

nice ... except McCartney plays guitar and keys like a pro, so ......

What's your point? I saw Paul with a Hofner Bass. Not a guitar, not piano. That all came later.
People think of Jaco as a BASS PLAYER. He could play piano, drums and other instruments but ask anyone who Jaco was and you'll get a great BASS PLAYER.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

H

Oh, I would LOVE to have a hurdy-gurdy, but they are so damn expensive!

i’d love to play bass backing up a famous hurdy-gurdy virtuoso. That would be such a killer gig

 

[Bringindafunk]

As a trombone player in the HS jazz band, there was an outstanding bass player who was also a cool dude. I had been thinking I'd like to get into rock bands and watching him rip off sick funk lines between songs solidified it for me. 30+ years later and the bass is all I've played. I have no interest in learning guitar, drums, congas, piano or theremin. Playing the bass is like breathing for me.

 

[salmon256]

I went through many instruments before choosing bass as my focus since I felt bass is truly in every genre. My only thing with this question is simply some instruments are a bit more basic or are stuck to very specific genres. I play bit of clawhammer banjo, tenor banjo, Anglo-Concertina, guitar - I consider those of course not guitar (I only play though open tuning blues and cowboy country) very specific to certain genres. I wouldn't say they are super super complex compare to violin or arco-upright bass. So I would say I'm a bassist who likes to learn solo folk instruments and solo tunes, don't get me wrong session, reels, jigs, from Irish, American, early pre-civil war music is complex but I can learn it quick or enjoy it since I'm playing it for fun and others as well. So I would say I am still a bassist foremost.

 

[salmon256]

As a trombone player in the HS jazz band, there was an outstanding bass player who was also a cool dude. I had been thinking I'd like to get into rock bands and watching him rip off sick funk lines between songs solidified it for me. 30+ years later and the bass is all I've played. I have no interest in learning guitar, drums, congas, piano or theremin. Playing the bass is like breathing for me.

Haha I was the same. I do miss low-brass days but post school and if you aren't studying it in college its a hard field to get into and very area specific to where you live in my case at least. Low-brass especially Euph was a fun time but it isn't cheap and you need a lot of dedication for me I enjoy that I can put down my bass even an upright as well and not lose my chops and be able to play every note haha. Yeah as well way more genres on bass compare to trombone... wouldn't trade it as well but do miss them a slight bit.

 

[salmon256]

If only I could play both at once! I sing, too.

If you can grow 4 arms you can get a double neck bass and guitar

 

[Gervais Cote]

100% pure, 100% naturally born bass player. Asked for an electric bass at age 12, and that’s been it ever since. No guitar, no drums, no keyboards, no xylophone, no tuba, no glockenspiel, no hurdy-gurdy, heck I won’t even play friggen upright fer cryin’ out loud.

I’ve been looking for a subject for a tattoo forever but thanks to you I just found it :

"Natural born bass player"

I just hope you don’t have any copyright on this !

 

[Core Creek]

I’ve gigged for $ on bass, drums, guitar and keys. I’m probably best at drums with bass a close second. Guitar is really only fun playing originals. I can’t improvise on keys but I can play anything I hear.

 

[Michedelic]

What's your point? I saw Paul with a Hofner Bass. Not a guitar, not piano. That all came later.
People think of Jaco as a BASS PLAYER. He could play piano, drums and other instruments but ask anyone who Jaco was and you'll get a great BASS PLAYER.

When was it that you first saw Paul? Any of the Sullivan shows, or later? During that first encounter, did you even know what an electric bass guitar was?

 

[Viggo51]

Primarily bass but can play guitar, mandolin, and drums.

 

[SuperTheBass]

Haha I was the same. I do miss low-brass days but post school and if you aren't studying it in college its a hard field to get into and very area specific to where you live in my case at least. Low-brass especially Euph was a fun time but it isn't cheap and you need a lot of dedication for me I enjoy that I can put down my bass even an upright as well and not lose my chops and be able to play every note haha. Yeah as well way more genres on bass compare to trombone... wouldn't trade it as well but do miss them a slight bit.

I was just telling my wife the other day that trombone was one of the most fun instruments I've ever played. It's just hard to justify buying one. They're pretty pricy even for a student model and I would have nothing to use it for other than irritating her and potentially our neighbors.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Started on guitar, but mostly bass on gigs with bands over the last 40+ years. But learned to play more instruments over the years.

Now? With writing and recording, I'm a multi-instrumentalist...

So it was only natural to gravitate to a 6 string bass...

 

[Jeff Scott]

are you a PURE bass player or...

Seriously?!?!?!?

 

[pfschim]

What's your point? I saw Paul with a Hofner Bass. Not a guitar, not piano. That all came later.
People think of Jaco as a BASS PLAYER. He could play piano, drums and other instruments but ask anyone who Jaco was and you'll get a great BASS PLAYER.

easy my friend, no antagonism intended.

Being as this thread poses something of a "pure" bassist vs multi-instrumentalist question, I just pointed out that Macca was not a pure bassist. And your very valid Jaco example also shows that, even being as much of a bass playing icon as he was, Jaco was not a "pure" bassist either, but an amazingly gifted multi-intrumentalist who happend to crush it on bass.

peace

 

[darev]

I formally studied voice for many many years before picking up a bass guitar. Singing melody over a counter-point rhythm is tricky and a blast a lot of the time. Practice practice Sure there are other instruments along the way as well but bass guitar and vox are definitely my jam.

 

[DuluthDank]

Long time bass player (upright with classical and jazz, more recently bass guitar with jazz and rock), but about a half year ago i started seriously practicing electric guitar. I've realized that some of my favorite recorded bass lines weren't even written and performed by people who were primarily bass players. And many of my favorite rock musicians are multi instrumentalists, as I feel like multi instrumentalists often see the bigger picture in a song better.

My current favorite living rock bass player is Brian D'addario of the Lemon Twigs...and he's a guitar player.

I also think that being hyper specialized makes more sense in the jazz and classical world I used to be in, less so in the rock world I currently find myself. Just my opinions here.

 

[Polfuste]

Multi.
Former guitarist, then bassist. I also play a little bit of percussions, drums and very very little bit of keys. But i'm definitely bassist.