The PURITY Poll: Bassists vs Multi-Instrumentalists

[dbsfgyd1]

are you a PURE bass player or do you study more than one instrument? Poll closes in a week, what say you?

I can play Bass, Guitar, brass instruments, and some woodwinds. I could play more if I wanted to, but have no reason to. Music is music here in the western part of the world. Doesn’t matter much the instrument is. They use the thirteen (including the octave) notes.

 

[burpgun]

I'm a bass player in my mind and if I'm playing with other folks that's the instrument I'd play.

But over many years, as I've gotten deeper into writing, production and recording, I've gotten into guitar because it's better suited to key parts of composition and interfaces better with electronics-think MIDI guitar. While I'm not great at guitar, I can execute my ideas well enough. In the last band I played live in, I ended up on guitar mostly because my pedal board was so over the top I couldn't really find anyone else to hold that role, and it was easier to find someone to do the bass I'd already recorded. I guess that technically leaves me in the multi-instrumentalist space.

 

[logdrum]

I play music -- it maybe using instruments not defined as bass. I am going back to singing. The original instrument

This is the most expressive for me. I get lost in it. Goes down to C like a cello and altissimo as high as 4 1/2 octaves. My dog does not mind

 

[Smooth_bass88]

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 !

yeah post a pic here of the tattoo when you get it lol!

 

[noahw1]

I said bassist but I do play some ukelele. I'm not sure if that counts.

 

[SJan3]

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?

Yes, Ed Sullivan and I did know what a Fender bass (all electric basses were referred to as Fender basses back then). My dad was a pro and took me to many shows where there was a Fender bass player if not upright.
Lots of Motown shows and Broadway plays among others.

 

[Michedelic]

Yes, Ed Sullivan and I did know what a Fender bass (all electric basses were referred to as Fender basses back then). My dad was a pro and took me to many shows where there was a Fender bass player if not upright.
Lots of Motown shows and Broadway plays among others.

None of that, pre-2/9/64, inspired you to take up the instrument?

 

[Dincrest]

During my childhood I dabbled with piano, recorder, baritone horn, flute... and my sophomore year of high school started playing bass guitar and have been an enthusiastic (if sometimes on and off) bassist ever since.


So I consider myself more-or-less a "pure" bassist (since the instrument I played most before bass was baritone horn so I was already a bass clef-er) and not a "guitarist who switched to bass." A part of me wants to learn guitar, though, so I can enhance my songwriting.

 

[Church-Bass]

I learned the organ formally as a kid (great foundation by the way), then moved to piano, then guitar, and picked up bass as a teen, then picked up saxophone and drums later. I also sing. So I guess I can play more than one instrument. But my passion and main instrument is bass.

Also, "pure" suggests playing more than one instrument is "impure" - not sure that's the intent.

 

[Dr McBalders]

Im 53 years old, and started on bass at 19, after the trombone of my earlier youth. Always only wanted to play the bass. Played nothing but bass until 8 months ago when I finally decided to give guitar a whirl. I'm left handed, so it was never simple to pick up someone else's instrument and give it a go. It actually has revived my interest in music quite a bit. I don't play out anymore, so the bass playing was getting a little stale. This has rejuvenated it quite a bit.

 

[wompwomp]

Also, "pure" suggests playing more than one instrument is "impure" - not sure that's the intent.

given the context of a bass forvm on the internet it is SO. VERY. OBVIOUSLY not the intent .

I'm so relieved the language police are on the case and keeping us safe on the internet tho.

 

[wompwomp]

man I really don't understand the kind of person who would try to borrow offense where there is simply none.

 

[wompwomp]

the title of this threak that I started is: bassists vs multi-instrumentalists.

THERE IS NO VERSUS. THIS IS NOT A BATTLE. grow the shag UP.

and I know it's only a few losers who do this stuff but it sucks. don't need it gonna go now. enjoy your peace.

 

[mikewalker]

Last twenty years I've mostly been gigging as guitarist-vocalist, but I strongly identify as a bass-player, AFTER ALL BASS GUITAR IS THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE!!

I currently own six guitars and three basses, but I only need three basses (One for rounds, one for flats, one for tapes...)

 

[Michedelic]

the title of this threak that I started is: bassists vs multi-instrumentalists.

THERE IS NO VERSUS. THIS IS NOT A BATTLE. grow the shag UP.

and I know it's only a few losers who do this stuff but it sucks. don't need it gonna go now. enjoy your peace.

Huh?

 

[wompwomp]

Huh?

exactly.

 

[turf3]

How many bands have you plated bass with?

1 - 2 points
2-4: 3 points
5 or more: 4 points

Have you played bass with two bands in 24 hours? Yes: 4 points

Have you played bass with two bands at the same time? 6 points

Have you played bass in a band with another bassist? 4 points

Three or more bassists in one band? 8 points

Etc.

 

[wompwomp]

I am first and foremost a bassist. absolutely love the instrument. I started 18 months ago.

I've been playing guitar for 30 years and mandolin for 15. I've been practicing drum rudiments to help a back injury for maybe 3 years but do not play drums.

to me bass is THE songwriting instrument.

 

[Paul New]

Both basses, saxophone, mandolin, keys…. I suck at all of those. Mainly I’m a blues harp player. Love them all but I am simple enough to be satisfied just playing harmonica over three chord or fewer blues changes. Chromatic too, but that’s a work in progress. Well, they all are.

 

[Geri O]

I think “purely a bass player” would have been a better choice of wording for this question over “pure”.

The way that’s worded insinuates that if one is a multi-instrumentalist, one isn’t “pure”, whatever that would imply.