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What made you take up bass?

#101
frits51 said:
Really want to know?

I was sitting in church one Sunday about two years ago and I noticed (as if I didn't already know) that there was no bass player, only guitar and drums.

I heard a quiet voice that I have had heard a few times before say, "Why don't

Had I known how good this could be, I might have taken up the bass a long time ago. As it is, I waited until I was 60 to do something that I had wanted to do for about forty years.
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I didn't hear any voices but I got back into drums (I played in rock bands during my teens) at church due to the urging of our pastor. I really felt like we were missing something with no bass player so I decided to buy a bass and play in the worship team. I had sung a lot of bass over the years in ensembles, quartets etc and I thought "how hard could it be?" Well,it wasn't quite the same as singing and it wasn't easy but I started to get the hang of it pretty quickly. instead of buying a red sports car during my midlife crisis I bought a bass.

I've played a little over ten years now and wish I had started earlier. Currently playing for two different worship teams, I've been in a couple of bands, still playing in one, played fretless in a jazz ensemble and have recorded bass on a few projects as well.

Time well wasted.
 
#102
My story is similar our bassist left our church to pastor another church, God spoke to my heart till I felt like it was breaking, the church went and bought a mim fender jazz and fender rumble 100 and said there it is play it, I was aweful for awhile think I only hit one right note in each song, no drums and traditional southern baptist hyms but it didn't take long and I was walking bass lines and having a blast, now it's my passion and in my darkest times in life has kept me in touch with god
 
#105
I started playing bass guitar because I've played double bass since fourth grade. I wanted to try something different, but not too different. The techniques are different, but not to the point that I'd have to start learning from scratch. They both hold special places in my heart and have expanded by musical knowledge, but most people don't mistake a bass guitar for a cello.
 
#108
two fingers said:
Ha! Nothing so cool. I played low brass in the high school band. One day the band director called me into his office and said "I want you to play tuba in the Jazz Band." I said "Um...... not cool." Two weeks later he called me back into his office and said "There's a Fender bass and an amp over in the corner. Go home and learn to play it. In six weeks, if you don't know how to play bass, you will be playing tuba in the Jazz Band."

It worked. I was playing (pretty basic) walking bass lines in about six weeks. The rest is history. Hair got long. Attention span got short. Along came rock n roll, chicks, and money (which at the time seemed like a lot of money). It just snowballed.
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Ha!! Pretty much the same thing happened to me. Started on Tuba the beginning of 6th grade, and 3 months later for Christmas, I copped my first bass & amp.
But, it was hands down Gene Simmons who made me wanna play bass initially.
 
#109
Having no musical background (except trumpet in 4th-6th grade), I decided to start learning guitar at age 42 or 3--taking lessons from a wonderful teacher. The whole time I would always wonder "how does that bass line go?" and try to pick it out on guitar. I'd say things like, "I'd really love to learn bass sometime" but somehow thought guitar made more sense or was more approachable. Well, 2 years later my partner and teacher conspired with my family to pitch in and get me set up with a starter bass/amp for Christmas. I was thrilled and knew it was exactly the right thing! It just clicked. I've been at it just over a year and have hardly been able to put the thing down! As much fun as guitar had been, I was not practicing as much and not as motivated as I am with the bass. I'm still taking bass lessons and have connected with a local garage band which is a nice atmosphere to play with others without a lot of pressure as a beginner. It's been waaay too much fun and I know I'll be at it for the long haul.
 
#110
I have to admit...I started as a guitarist. When I started on guitar I was really in to punk music, so I wanted to write 4 chord pop punk wonder songs. lol About a year after starting to play guitar, I started a punk-ska band. We ended up with 3 guitar players and no bassist, so I begged my father to bring me to the local music shop and he bought my my first bass. It was a red Squire P-Bass. Since then, I have never looked back. It was like I found my musical calling or purpose. It helped that my father was a bassist as well, so it gave us a really great opportunity to spend time together and he was able to teach me a few things here and there. Since that first Squire bass, I think I have had over 100 basses now, lol. I still play a little guitar too, but just for writing and chord purposes. Being a bassist has allowed me to be in a lot more bands too. Everyone and thier brother plays guitar, but a good bass player is hard to find. I'm certainly not the best bassist, but I like to think I play with in my limits and hold it down pretty well. :)
 
#111
Project7Bass said:
Being a bassist has allowed me to be in a lot more bands too. Everyone and thier brother plays guitar, but a good bass player is hard to find. I'm certainly not the best bassist, but I like to think I play with in my limits and hold it down pretty well.
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Amen, Brother! I play guitar as well, but the bass gigs pay the bills (so to speak). Just for fun, I've been wanting to put together a power trio so I could play a little guitar, but I can't find a bass player to save my life! However, I get all kinds of offers to play bass.
 
#115
A friend's mom knew I was a music nut and asked why I didn't play an instrument. I said something along the lines of guitars had too many strings. (I had just turned 14) She said I should think about a bass since they have less strings.

That planted the seed that was stuck in my head for years until I finally went to a music store on my 17th birthday to check them out. I head a bass by itself for the first time and was 1000000000% sold.
 
#117
Always heard a bass line when I listened to music. Never had the luxury to try but from 16 I always wanted to play bass. I've always been involved with music, trombone, euphonium, and trumpet. After watching a friend play bass at an Easter program 2 yrs ago I decided to try to learn. Learned the basics and got an excellent instructor--best part all the theory and experienced made a direct transfer. I wouldn't miss my horns if I still had my basses. I was 59 when I finally picked it up. Glad I did.
 
#119
Starts out when i was around 8-9yr old, my parents asked me what instrument would you like to play? Now, growing up, there was a house full of guitars, basses, electric and double, a piano and drums. So the kid (me) says, " i wanna play bass". Right, then all the grown ups laugh. Then i'm told the story. First day home from the hospital after being born, my grandmother picked me up, took my baby hand, and strummed it across those gut strings on the bass. And said" he's going to be a bass player". True story. Guess i didnt really have a choice..lol.
 

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