i was playing classical guitar for 6-7 years before i picked up the bass and fell in love with its sound from the first time i played it.. 
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Was Bass your first instrument?
- Thread starter WashburnAB95
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Similar story with me, but with slight instrument variations: tuba at age 11, acoustic at 16, electric at 27, bass around 32, and I've been mostly bass with some guitar thrown in since then (almost 35 now). I'd like to add drums some day.
- Oct 18, 2012
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- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
My first instrument as a child was drums. Then I played keyboard, violin, guitar and then bass. I am primarily a bass player but also play guitar and keys in my current band.
Bass first definitely.
To be honest, it's still the only one.
I started with some friends at about 16, played a lot for the next 12 years, then pretty much stopped for twenty years.
Always loved music and tried to get back by learning mandolin - I know, I know, about as far from a bass as you can get.
That didn't work at all, but then I discovered the Octave mandolin and after some effort managed to learn a few scales and such on that.
I guess I was just kidding myself, anything other than a bass just doesn't feel right to me.
So now, I'm back where I belong, new bass in hand and excited as anything about learning all over again.
To be honest, it's still the only one.
I started with some friends at about 16, played a lot for the next 12 years, then pretty much stopped for twenty years.
Always loved music and tried to get back by learning mandolin - I know, I know, about as far from a bass as you can get.
That didn't work at all, but then I discovered the Octave mandolin and after some effort managed to learn a few scales and such on that.
I guess I was just kidding myself, anything other than a bass just doesn't feel right to me.
So now, I'm back where I belong, new bass in hand and excited as anything about learning all over again.
Always sang growing up. Played tenor sax from 6th grade, switched to tuba as main instrument in 7th, bass guitar in 10th, played tenor and bari sax in college jazz band, majored on tuba and also took trombone lessons. Played sax and sang lead in a disco/oldies band. Played bass in an alternative cover band and my originals band. Learned to play acoustic guitar when I started teaching elementary music.
Bass has always been my favorite instrument.
Bass has always been my favorite instrument.
I started on piano (age 4) my teacher was an old Anglican pianist. I hated it but my parents made me stick with it. Then I started playing guitar in my worship band at age 16 when all the bassists left the church (moved went to college etc) I said I will play bass so I took some lessons and I never looked back bass is all I play.
I learned a few other instruments along the way violin, cello, banjo trumpet etc but all I really play is bass.
I learned a few other instruments along the way violin, cello, banjo trumpet etc but all I really play is bass.
I can't say I played. More correctly is, I tried the acoustic guitar for a month. I didn't like it at all. Then, I switched to bass and fell in loooooove.
Trumpet first (started in the 3rd grade.)
Guitar next (started in the 7th grade , Played in a couple bands.)
The coolest band in the 8th grade lost their bass player (moved away) They asked me if I played bass. I said yes! (I lied).Borrowed and then bought a bass from a friend and hooked up with these guys through 9th grade. Got into a Soul band (this was the mid 60's mind you) and played with them for a couple years. Started driving and wrecked the old mans Charger. Had to sell off most of my equipment to pay for it. No music till I was about 21 when I picked up a 12 string guitar. Back to 6 string elec. in my late 20's and 2 or 3 bands till about 12 years ago. Moved and a local band with a friend of mine in it needed a bass player.Been doing that ever since.It has paid for all my gear that I use today plus supported my hot rod.
Guitar next (started in the 7th grade , Played in a couple bands.)
The coolest band in the 8th grade lost their bass player (moved away) They asked me if I played bass. I said yes! (I lied).Borrowed and then bought a bass from a friend and hooked up with these guys through 9th grade. Got into a Soul band (this was the mid 60's mind you) and played with them for a couple years. Started driving and wrecked the old mans Charger. Had to sell off most of my equipment to pay for it. No music till I was about 21 when I picked up a 12 string guitar. Back to 6 string elec. in my late 20's and 2 or 3 bands till about 12 years ago. Moved and a local band with a friend of mine in it needed a bass player.Been doing that ever since.It has paid for all my gear that I use today plus supported my hot rod.
I am literally that shameful stereotype of the failed guitarist who siwtched to bass thinking it would be easier. And for me it was, but mostly because I had a crappy guitar with a badly repaired cracked neck that was hard to play, and my first bass was of much better quality and a joy to play.
Piano in the conservatorium for 3 years, and then quit. But continued playing keyboards for 20+ years, until I picked up the bass.
I don't particularly care - I mean, if you're helping to make good music now, what does it matter how you got there?
Nope, no tat all. I only said "shameful stereotype" because a lot of bass players get incensed when it's implied that bass is easier to play than guitar, and that bassists are "failed guitarists"which of course is utter bollocks.
Not my first.
I began learning trumpet in 5th grade. (Still play occasionally)
I began learning electric bass in 8th grade.
I began playing euphonium in 12th grade and played that in college.
Today, at 29, my most loved and primary instrument is the electric bass.
I began learning trumpet in 5th grade. (Still play occasionally)
I began learning electric bass in 8th grade.
I began playing euphonium in 12th grade and played that in college.
Today, at 29, my most loved and primary instrument is the electric bass.
I was a Drummer for 2 years in Middle School and started playing Bass in High School while continuing on drums.
Cheers,
Jim
Cheers,
Jim
If you want to count it I played the Trumpet briefly in the 6th grade and then piano in Middle School, but really got into playing and performing music in the late 90's playing electric guitar. It was not until the mid-2000's that I really got into bass full time, however now it's really all I play full time. +1 to piano though, it really did help and most musicians will tell you at one point they played piano and how much it helped them.
I took a short stab at clarinet in grade school. My folks gave me an autoharp for Christmas when I was 11, started fiddling with guitar about the same time. Switched to bass at 14 - there were a ton of great guitar players in my high school and not many bass players...and once I got into it, I loved it.
