I took piano lessons in elementary school, played clarinet in junior high, guitar in high school to the present. Took up bass at the ripe age of 46.
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Was Bass your first instrument?
- Thread starter WashburnAB95
- Start date
Started on trumpet in the 5th grade, then baritone, tuba and Sousaphone. I liked playing the parts of baritone and tuba so I think it led me to bass guitar. Also dabble on acoustic guitar.
Hmmm, lesseee...
Farted around with harmonica starting around 14 (?)
Decades of guitar diddling starting around, um, 15, 16-ish?
{Gradual realization that I wasn't exactly born to be the next Jimmy Page, or even Joe Blow. And, y'know, Life...}
Finally got some electric basses a few years ago (I'm a few weeks shy of 60), enjoyed them a lot. Also realized that since I'll never "perform," and I live in a tiny apt. (it's about this [ ] big), what the hey do I (or the neighbors!) need electric for? So now my only instrument is my ABG fretless.
I think it was doing a lot of home recording in the early '00's that convinced me my skills overall only go so far; my baseline level of coordination is just not so hot. And frankly I never had the personality for the spotlight, and (back when it was quasi-practical) never got into band situations that lasted very long, for all the reasons all you band veterans know too well. But I've always loved music, Mom was a very good classical piano & organ player (albeit w/stage fright), Dad was a good bass/baritone singer (before cigarettes did their damage), and I was exposed to all sorts of good music from pre-natal onward. But I outsmarted myself from learning to read music in grade school, since I could get the simple little parts by ear (I was whistling toddler obligatos to Mr. Bach while yet in diapers), plus I didn't see so well. Though I tried many times since, I've just never been quite able to read, lessons and practice notwithstanding. Guitar allowed me to doodle endlessly whilst daydreaming (oops), but I got as good as I was getting probably around my mid-30's. Playing fretless (no lines) means I have to listen, pay attention. I've also been reading the first, oh, 90-so pages of Hindemith's "The Craft of Musical Composition" (Dad's old copy from when he took P.H.'s course at Yale, even) where he derives the chromatic scale from the overtone series on C, and then derives the intervals from the combination-tones of the overtones. Or something like that. (It's available as an online PDF, if you're curious.) Since, with a bass in a quiet room, it's possible to hear some of those things, unaffected by the "equal temperament" imposed by frets, I've been finding sound-making much more interesting.
Sorry to slobber on and on... If I have a point, perhaps it's that making music is rewarding even if it's only for the spiders and you, so if it turns out you're not a [insert genre here] star, playing can still be fun and stuff, whatever your situation.
Farted around with harmonica starting around 14 (?)
Decades of guitar diddling starting around, um, 15, 16-ish?
{Gradual realization that I wasn't exactly born to be the next Jimmy Page, or even Joe Blow. And, y'know, Life...}
Finally got some electric basses a few years ago (I'm a few weeks shy of 60), enjoyed them a lot. Also realized that since I'll never "perform," and I live in a tiny apt. (it's about this [ ] big), what the hey do I (or the neighbors!) need electric for? So now my only instrument is my ABG fretless.
I think it was doing a lot of home recording in the early '00's that convinced me my skills overall only go so far; my baseline level of coordination is just not so hot. And frankly I never had the personality for the spotlight, and (back when it was quasi-practical) never got into band situations that lasted very long, for all the reasons all you band veterans know too well. But I've always loved music, Mom was a very good classical piano & organ player (albeit w/stage fright), Dad was a good bass/baritone singer (before cigarettes did their damage), and I was exposed to all sorts of good music from pre-natal onward. But I outsmarted myself from learning to read music in grade school, since I could get the simple little parts by ear (I was whistling toddler obligatos to Mr. Bach while yet in diapers), plus I didn't see so well. Though I tried many times since, I've just never been quite able to read, lessons and practice notwithstanding. Guitar allowed me to doodle endlessly whilst daydreaming (oops), but I got as good as I was getting probably around my mid-30's. Playing fretless (no lines) means I have to listen, pay attention. I've also been reading the first, oh, 90-so pages of Hindemith's "The Craft of Musical Composition" (Dad's old copy from when he took P.H.'s course at Yale, even) where he derives the chromatic scale from the overtone series on C, and then derives the intervals from the combination-tones of the overtones. Or something like that. (It's available as an online PDF, if you're curious.) Since, with a bass in a quiet room, it's possible to hear some of those things, unaffected by the "equal temperament" imposed by frets, I've been finding sound-making much more interesting.
Sorry to slobber on and on... If I have a point, perhaps it's that making music is rewarding even if it's only for the spiders and you, so if it turns out you're not a [insert genre here] star, playing can still be fun and stuff, whatever your situation.
Just to add to my earlier post, I was also a chorister as a boy and we trained in sight singing, unison and harmony.
But as an adult I am a terrible singer and limit it behind closed doors for when I practice my bass and quietly try to sing my lines as I play...
But as an adult I am a terrible singer and limit it behind closed doors for when I practice my bass and quietly try to sing my lines as I play...
Bassist4Eris
Frat-Pack Sympathizer
My grandfather was a church organist, and gave me his old practice organ when I was a young boy. The keys had numbers, and using those numbers, he wrote down the notes for "Silent Night", which I can still play on a keyboard to this day. Although I never gained any real proficiency, I still consider that to be my first instrument.
In grammar school, I signed up for band on baritone horn. I wanted to play trombone, but I signed up late, and all the trombone slots were taken, including a young lady that would become a well-known horn player on our local scene. The music teacher assured me that the baritone horn covered the same range as the trombone, but I didn't care. I just wanted to go "bwaaaaaaaawwwww" in a big glissando, which the baritone horn didn't do, so I didn't really practice. I'm sure the music teacher would be surprised if he knew I was going to become so dedicated a musician.
When I was 14, my dad bought me my first guitar. Although I was not the type of child to act spoiled or be ungrateful, I already secretly wanted to play bass, but accepted the gift with good grace and tried to learn. But I just didn't have the passion. At 16, I switched to bass, and that's when I finally got serious.
In grammar school, I signed up for band on baritone horn. I wanted to play trombone, but I signed up late, and all the trombone slots were taken, including a young lady that would become a well-known horn player on our local scene. The music teacher assured me that the baritone horn covered the same range as the trombone, but I didn't care. I just wanted to go "bwaaaaaaaawwwww" in a big glissando, which the baritone horn didn't do, so I didn't really practice. I'm sure the music teacher would be surprised if he knew I was going to become so dedicated a musician.
When I was 14, my dad bought me my first guitar. Although I was not the type of child to act spoiled or be ungrateful, I already secretly wanted to play bass, but accepted the gift with good grace and tried to learn. But I just didn't have the passion. At 16, I switched to bass, and that's when I finally got serious.
- Mar 1, 2005
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- Endorsing Artist: Crook Custom Guitars
Started w/ guitar around 6 y/o...didn't last long.
Started trombone for a year in 5th grade, and piano around the same time. Hung w/ trombone for a couple years, then picked up guitar again around 6th or 7th grade, and let trombone and piano go.
Started w/ tenor sax sophomore year, and picked up bass shortly thereafter...knew I was home almost right away!
Started trombone for a year in 5th grade, and piano around the same time. Hung w/ trombone for a couple years, then picked up guitar again around 6th or 7th grade, and let trombone and piano go.
Started w/ tenor sax sophomore year, and picked up bass shortly thereafter...knew I was home almost right away!
I very briefly played electric organ first (in Jr. High School). Had lessons but gave it up after a few months. It was in the early 70's and my instructor insisted on teaching gospel music but I wanted to play the Doors and other more trippy stuff. Never touched another instrument until I got into my late 40's and decided I really wanted to learn to play the bass.
And here I am today, still trying to learn how to play the bass. As a very wise person here on TB once said - as a player, if you're any good you know you could always be better.
And here I am today, still trying to learn how to play the bass. As a very wise person here on TB once said - as a player, if you're any good you know you could always be better.
Nope!
First instrument was piano, then organ, then trombone, then cello, then drumset - followed by classical, latin and Brazilian percussion and mallets. Then, about 15 years ago I switched to bass.
The funny thing was that I kept up with all the other instruments until I switched to bass. I would have some SERIOUS woodshedding to do before I could play them in public again.
Dan K.
First instrument was piano, then organ, then trombone, then cello, then drumset - followed by classical, latin and Brazilian percussion and mallets. Then, about 15 years ago I switched to bass.
The funny thing was that I kept up with all the other instruments until I switched to bass. I would have some SERIOUS woodshedding to do before I could play them in public again.
Dan K.
This thread is very enlighting. So are you guys telling me that the bass players are often the most experinced and best all around musicans in bands? Who would have thought that?
My parents made us play the hammond organ. This was in The Age of rock guitar in the late 70s when it really started to soar. My teacher liked barry manilow. Soooo uncool. Then clarinet (doh!) Drums, sax. I took 25 years off and picked up a bit of guitar. I bought a bass to accompany my son on guitar. Some guys at work found out I had a bass and invited me to jam. I realized I needed some help and started taking lessons. Now, the bass is home.
Classic Guitar when I was 10 and bass guitar at 14. I know basic piano but because I know basic music theory and that is. I'm a decent guitar player but have never played in a band situation. I always thought guitar and bass are pretty much the same from the learning stand point. If you learn guitar you learn bass guitar, everything is pretty much the same. Of course each has its own place in music but the musical theory is the same, that is why I find interesting when somebody say they play bass but don't play guitar.
Absolutely.... very often you find Bass players have well-rounded music experience.
Chefs too have a very broad background of various careers before becoming a chef.
Trumpet at age seven, switched to guitar at 14, and bought my first bass about a week ago at age forty-six. Along the way I learned mandolin and harmonica.
I hope you noticed my sarcasm
While many baselines may be simple to play you have to really listen and understand what everybody else is doing to play a meaningful line. I don't think it is surprising that the Bassist is often the primary arranger in bands.
Played cello at 8 years old, gave that up 
(really wish I didnt!)
Had a stint with bass for a few months at 13, gave that up quick.
About ten years later I picked it back up now that I really enjoy music and try to play what I like. I hope I can get my kids to play instruments someday, Ik my dad struggled with me.
(really wish I didnt!)Had a stint with bass for a few months at 13, gave that up quick.
About ten years later I picked it back up now that I really enjoy music and try to play what I like. I hope I can get my kids to play instruments someday, Ik my dad struggled with me.
In third grade I begged my parents to let me play cello, because I thought that is what the guy from the "Stray Cats" was playing in the "Rock This Town" video. I played for about 2 years than I got sick of lugging it back and forth to school and home three times a week. So in 5th grade I switched to the flute, because this time I was positive that this was what the guy from "Men at Work" was playing in the "Down Under" video, plus it was easy to carry and I was the only guy in the class with 6 pretty girls. I quit after one year because not only was flute hard to play when you are a 11 year old surrounded by girls playing wind instruments
and getting beat up on the way home for playing the flute daily, it is just a tough in general.
It's wasn't till years later when I was 16 years old that me and my skateboarding pals decided to start a punk rock band and a friend handed me a bass and said, "You play this!" and I never put it down since!
Over the years I have picked up other instruments (Sax, Trumpet, piano, guitar etc) but none of them feel as right as a Bass feels in my hands.
and getting beat up on the way home for playing the flute daily, it is just a tough in general. It's wasn't till years later when I was 16 years old that me and my skateboarding pals decided to start a punk rock band and a friend handed me a bass and said, "You play this!" and I never put it down since!
Over the years I have picked up other instruments (Sax, Trumpet, piano, guitar etc) but none of them feel as right as a Bass feels in my hands.
