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Was Bass your first choice?

#161
I originally wanted to be a drummer, but the grade school music teacher talked me into cornet/trumpet instead. So, I played that from 4th through 8th grade, then quit before high school because the band teacher was a notorious jerk. During the summer of '82, between sophomore and junior years, my best friend talked me into trading my unplayed cornet for a bass guitar so we could put a band together. Bass guitar has been my main instrument ever since.
 
#162
Never played anything or had any musical knowledge before I bought bass. I was watching Maiden Live After Death and Steve Harris played big guitar then I said I want to played that, I didn't know that it was bass but it looked cool, so bass is first, one and only
 
#163
Kind of. I played violin in the 4th grade and at the end of the year the music teacher said they could use a bass player. Starting in 5th grade I played upright bass for a few years and then a friend asked if I had a bass guitar so we could start a band. He played guitar and his friend played drums...so I got a bass for Christmas. That was around 25 years ago. Isn't that how 90% of bass players start?... because someone needs a bass player.
 
#165
I started playing drums. Then a thief intervened and stole my drum kit (A gift from GOD this was.) I always had an interest in the bass and its sound so I bought a bass and amp next. I would like to say I never looked back, but the last few years I have started playing hand drums and percussion and enjoy recording with them.
 
#167
Call it serendipity, chance, karma or fate - in fall 1981 I and my cousin were at school, standing in line waiting for our lunch trays and he asks me "Would you like to buy a bass?" I was 13 then and was already listening to a lot of music and interested in learning to play some instrument, but it was still just a thought. So I answered "Sure, I'll buy it!" 34 years and countless bands and gigs later I'm still playing bass and loving it.
 
#169
My first choice was guitar, seeing George Harrison on Ed Sullivan when I was 2 I wanted what he was playing soooo bad! My second choice was violin. I got picked by the nuns in 1st grade to learn it in music class, however, having lost my left eye to cancer at age two I couldn't even see the damned thing when held properly LOL
 
#170
As a grade school child, the idea that a girl could play bass was as preposterous to the school board as a girl who wants to be an astronaut. First the piano, then I was auto-tagged for the clarinet the same way girls were sent to typing classes (to be secretaries). Graduated to alto sax, then tenor sax by high school band, then went through a number of instruments including the cello until I bought my bass after university.

One of the curious things about going from school band to an electric band was I was the only one who could read music. My music theory classes at university were largely worthless. The bass opened the doors of music theory and rhythm to me like no other instrument I played.
 
#172
As an Army Brat in Germany, Never had access to one until 1978. I was 15, and the AAFES catalog had flat bodied short scale basses. Then one was in our local P.X. I was drawn to the larger strings, lower notes. I worked for 1.90 an hour for a whole summer to get the $135.00 for it. I still have it.
 
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#176
jubl said:
Did you start on bass or another instrument and drifted to bass?

My path was direct. Any music I listened to, the ear always jumped to the low end so I was either destined to play bass or drums. No matter what type of music....rock, funk, country, big band, jazz, you name it, I always caught the bass or drums. Guitar was cool and stood out, it just didn't carry the soul of the bass. The walking bass lines on Johnny Cash albums, the groove on Isley Brothers, Earth Wind and Fire, Geddy or Chris Squire were wonderful. Even liked Duane Eddy and Billy Zoom's rockabilly licks, bass in a guitar disguise.
Click to expand...

Direct to bass! I have always been attracted to the low notes. It largely began with the Beatles: Sir Paul's deep yet melodic bass lines. My mother was a fan, and I became one too at age 5 or so. I didn't consider playing music myself for another 10 years, but at that time my brother picked up guitar, so I immediately chose bass -- didn't even have to think about it.

I'm so glad I did. I've tinkered with other instruments -- guitar, keys, drums -- but I'm perfectly at home with bass. It can be an advantage to play multiple instruments... it can help you become a better musician. However I prefer my role as support bassist. Over my career I've concentrated on keeping the rhythm and the groove, don't care if I never solo. Grooving and soloing are not mutually exclusive of course, but I'm just a weekend warrior playing in bar bands, I recognize my primary function and enjoy it. I don't care about the limelight: if butts are shaking on the dancefloor, then I know I'm doing my job. :)
 
#178
No.
I was ten years old.
One day a band played at school.
After that I wanted to play drums.But after my Dad found out the cost of the student kit He said "Uh.No"

Four years later I wanted to play guitar after looking at pictures of Howard Scott of War.
I commenced the constant,repeated barrage of"Dad,buy me an electric guitar.Dad,buy me an electric guitar.Dad,buy me an electric guitar"
Four years later he bought me a Yayashi semi-acoustic electric.Which I "dinked around" on for five years.

Then I discovered Stanley Clarke and bought my own bass in 1980.A pre EBMM Sabre.
 
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#179
No. Played the trumpet in jr high and high school. Wanted to play in jazz band but band teacher required marching band - no interest in that. Dropped it after high school. Acquired a used Ric years later but never learned to play it.

Fast forward 30+ years, talking to another parent at my son's soccer game. He asks me if I play any instruments, he and his friends have had a garage band since high school on and off. I tell him the trumpet story. He says come by, bring the horn. I practice for a month to get my lip back and then show up. Trumpet player in the band takes me under his wing but he's really good. Learned the changes to songs but couldn't keep up with the breathing for more than an hour (asthma). Meanwhile the bass player (third best guitar player) decides to quit. I offer to learn bass that night. I go headlong into it, take lessons from another TB'er, woodshedding from that point on.

That was 3 years ago. We picked up a great female singer/songwriter that insisted we get out of the garage. We've been gigging around LA every couple months for the last 2 years. It took me a long time to get to it, but I'm totally stoked to be a bass player. I've always felt the bassline of music, so glad I was able to do something about it.
 

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