Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
No, it was OJT. The tuition was more than a college degree.
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
- None
This one is tough for me to answer. I had returned to playing a couple of months prior to me finding Talkbass. However I had played for several years prior to hanging it up due to family issues... So total continuous, less than 1 year. Total over the years? 3 to 5 years.
I was 43 & played for a few months using books. Anytime I would Google something bass related, TB would always come up! I nailed my first band audition a little over a year after starting ... still with the same group nearly 4 years later. We rehearse at least once a week and try to play out at least once a month. File under Post Punk/Modern 80s/Indie Rock, I guess > Star Meets Sea EP, by Star Meets Sea
Focusing on bass, I started plunking around cluelessly at 16 after being given a cheap Mako P-bass. I only knew the blues scale in A more or less... After a friend showed me Rocksmith around 4 years ago, I remembered how much fun I'd have so I got more serious about it. It's not like I could play drums in an apartment. I found TB and studybass.com in that time and then started lessons with a great teacher for a about a year (and I still intend to return to them once finances are in order, after recent wedding/new house). TB increased my GAS of course, like most of us I'm sure, but also gave me a wealth of knowledge and experience to tap (in order to satisfy that GAS in clever ways... I think). There are great people here so sometimes when I should be practicing I'm here chatting; but it's all good and I'm still learning, just about other stuff instead lol
How old were you when you first started playing?
Piano 6/7; Drums 13; Guitar (just plunking) 16; Bass, plunking 16, serious around 30
How long had you played when you signed up?
Are you/were you a working musician?
In my former Montreal band we were (trying to be) serious about it
What kind of music do/did you play?
Structured and improv spacey ambient, rock and/or roll, and heavier stuff
How old were you when you first started playing?
Piano 6/7; Drums 13; Guitar (just plunking) 16; Bass, plunking 16, serious around 30
How long had you played when you signed up?
Are you/were you a working musician?
In my former Montreal band we were (trying to be) serious about it
What kind of music do/did you play?
Structured and improv spacey ambient, rock and/or roll, and heavier stuff
How old were you when you first started playing?
Guitar at 19, bass maybe five years later, off and on.
How long had you played when you signed up?
Guitar, over 20 years, Bass, over 10, I had a lot of down times where I wasn't playing bass at all.
Are you/were you a working musician?
Yep
What kind of music do/did you play?
Punk, originals, same band for over 17 years, I guess we're too effing dumb to take the hint...
Guitar at 19, bass maybe five years later, off and on.
How long had you played when you signed up?
Guitar, over 20 years, Bass, over 10, I had a lot of down times where I wasn't playing bass at all.
Are you/were you a working musician?
Yep
What kind of music do/did you play?
Punk, originals, same band for over 17 years, I guess we're too effing dumb to take the hint...
How old were you when you first started playing? 30 (I am now 31, so it's been a little less than a year)
How long had you played when you signed up? A month or so
Are you/were you a working musician? Nyet
What kind of music do/did you play? Lots and lots of Zeppelin (just call me Jenn Paul Jones!
--it's way beyond my level, but they're my favorite and they challenge me in terms of rhythm and movement, which keeps me inspired and working hard), classic rock, blues, alternative, grunge. Adamantly anti-country.
How old were you when you first started playing?
I started playing guitar in 1979 or so at age 10, and bass in 1983 at age 14.
How long had you played when you signed up?
Guitar for 28 years; bass for 24 years.
Are you/were you a working musician?
Yes.
What kind of music do/did you play?
Pretty much whatever I get a call for. Most of my gigs are music theater (somewhere between 175-200 shows in 2015).
I started playing guitar in 1979 or so at age 10, and bass in 1983 at age 14.
How long had you played when you signed up?
Guitar for 28 years; bass for 24 years.
Are you/were you a working musician?
Yes.
What kind of music do/did you play?
Pretty much whatever I get a call for. Most of my gigs are music theater (somewhere between 175-200 shows in 2015).
Last edited:
Started with a trumpet when I was about 9. Got my first guitar for my 13th birthday. Learned a bunch of songs , put a band together , and played our first gig (a New Years Eve party) about two months later. Played with a few incarnations of that band for about a year. In 8th grade , the coolest band in Jr. High schools bass player moved away and they asked me if I played bass. I said yes and they took me into the band. I had lied. I didn't play bass but bought one a couple days later and played with that band till the end of Jr. High school. A few freebies and a few paying gigs with them. Dang, 50 bucks was a lot of money in those days. Got into a band playing bass at the start of High school. Pretty cool band. Eight piece soul band playing James Brown , Motown and the like. Several paying gigs with these guys including a couple of college frat parties. What an eye opener for a 15 year old kid. Played with them till the middle of 11th grade when I wrecked the old mans '66 Charger and had to sell my gear to pay damages. Hot rods , motorcycles and general hell raising took over for about the next five years. No music for a spell. Picked up a 12 string acoustic somewhere in my early 20's (still have it) and played with friends from time to time. Picked up an electric 6 string and put a band together again a couple years after that. About four versions of that band kept me occupied for years. Played a few gigs each year but we got together almost every weekend. Finally , about 16 years ago that all fell apart and I didn't play much at all for a while. Fourteen years ago we (Me and my lovely wife Seahag) moved to this area. Shortly after that a buddy of mine told me they were firing the bass player from their band and would I like to take over for him. I said "sure" and went out and bought another bass. Got bored and left them after about a year and a half. Since then I have been in several local bands , four of which have been pretty successful. Currently playing bass in two bands and have been doing about 30 to 40 gigs a year for the past 6 years. Joined TB about 3 years ago.
I've been a hippy , a greaser , a hot rod nut , a biker , a general hell raiser (with criminal intent), a family man and back to being a bit of a hot rod nut. Through it all , there has almost always been a guitar or bass close at hand. What a long , strange and wonderful trip it's been.
Oh yeah , for the record i recently celebrated the 24th anniversary of my 39th birthday.
I've been a hippy , a greaser , a hot rod nut , a biker , a general hell raiser (with criminal intent), a family man and back to being a bit of a hot rod nut. Through it all , there has almost always been a guitar or bass close at hand. What a long , strange and wonderful trip it's been.
Oh yeah , for the record i recently celebrated the 24th anniversary of my 39th birthday.
How old were you when you first started playing? 14
How long had you played when you signed up? 31 years.
Are you/were you a working musician? I have been in the past. Not so much lately. Still gig, but mostly because I love playing.
What kind of music do/did you play? I'm mostly a rock player, but I've also done jazz, fusion, blues, and lots of original projects too.
What made you want to pick up bass?
Started off wanting to be a drummer, my guitar player friend said "You should play bass instead.". When I told him I didn't know what that was, he took two strings off of a six string guitar, handed it too me and showed me a bass line. Changed my life.
How long had you played when you signed up? 31 years.
Are you/were you a working musician? I have been in the past. Not so much lately. Still gig, but mostly because I love playing.
What kind of music do/did you play? I'm mostly a rock player, but I've also done jazz, fusion, blues, and lots of original projects too.
What made you want to pick up bass?
Started off wanting to be a drummer, my guitar player friend said "You should play bass instead.". When I told him I didn't know what that was, he took two strings off of a six string guitar, handed it too me and showed me a bass line. Changed my life.
How old were you when you first started playing? 17
How long had you played when you signed up? 18 years
Are you/were you a working musician? Semi-pro for 30+ years
What kind of music do/did you play? Original folky/rocky/mountainy/acoustic/pirate
What made you want to pick up bass? Friends had a band, I was a champion air guitarist but hated playing guitar strings. Friends said get a bass and we will teach you to play. Got $100 bux from my mom's bf for xmas, bought a pawnshop Vantage bass, the rest is history. or something
How long had you played when you signed up? 18 years
Are you/were you a working musician? Semi-pro for 30+ years
What kind of music do/did you play? Original folky/rocky/mountainy/acoustic/pirate
What made you want to pick up bass? Friends had a band, I was a champion air guitarist but hated playing guitar strings. Friends said get a bass and we will teach you to play. Got $100 bux from my mom's bf for xmas, bought a pawnshop Vantage bass, the rest is history. or something
Never ever too experienced to learn new things. Been a great resource.Simple question.
Just want an idea of how far people were in their bass playing careers when they decided to join the site. Also a cool way to find out a bit about our fellow TalkBassers.
Some follow-up questions:
How old were you when you first started playing? guitar - 8, bass - 28
How long had you played when you signed up? 20 some years
Are you/were you a working musician? Yes
What kind of music do/did you play? Rock and Roll
What made you want to pick up bass? Job offer, no bassists, too many guitarists
As for me...
How old were you when you first started playing?
I was 15 years old.
How long have you played to this day?
Just over ten years, counting bass as one entity. My "bass birthday" was sometime in mid-January, 2006, where I started on double bass in middle school orchestra. I didn't buy my first electric bass until mid-April 2006.
How long had you played when you signed up?
A year and a half, roughly.
Are you/were you a working musician?
On and off. All groups I play for currently want to play out, but only two of the three do. Before I moved out of my hometown, my primary gig was working with a swing band and in jazz combos. I did that for about eight years.
What kind of music do/did you play?
Lots of jazzzzz... Nowadays, some rock/prog, acoustic originals (think reggae meets pop meets sappy poetry). Funk and a barely a pinch of jazz in one group (period).
What made you want to pick up bass?
The MIDI bass track to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to say I Love You" really caught my attention at age five. I told my mom I wanted to play bass, but I don't think she took me seriously. When I started working with the family business at 15, I reminded her and she took me more seriously and helped buy my first - a JBP J-bass.
Ductapeman
Ringmaster and Resident Geriatric
Well, I've been here less than two weeks and I've been playing since 1966--
How old were you when you first started playing?
I started playing cornet in grade school band at age 9 (4th grade).
I started playing bass guitar just before I turned 16 (summer of '82).
How long have you played to this day?
This summer will be 34 years on bass, 41 years in music in general.
How long had you played when you signed up?
Just found this site a few months ago, so 33-ish years?
Are you/were you a working musician?
I've been a working musician since 1982, some years more so than others.
What kind of music do/did you play?
I've played mostly rock music over the years, '80s and classic rock. Recorded an album with a jazz guitar player once in the early '90s, and a local punk band in the late '90s. I played for several years with a Sammy Hagar tribute band.
I'm currently playing classic rock with an acoustic trio, and occasional fill-in gigs with local classic rock cover bands (band whoring I call it, although not as much as I used to do).
I have an original heavy funk project I'm finishing now, a progressive rock project that is started and slated to finish next, and have a very large work-in-process of arranging Baroque-era keyboard sonatas for string quartet.
There are a few other ideas simmering on back burners as well.
What made you want to pick up bass?
I've always liked bass. The music I liked most as a kid in the '70s (Rush, Yes, etc.) was very bass-driven. My best friend from Jr. High band started learning to play guitar during the summer of 1981, and a year later convinced me to trade my cornet for a bass so we could start a band. We still play together today.
I started playing cornet in grade school band at age 9 (4th grade).
I started playing bass guitar just before I turned 16 (summer of '82).
How long have you played to this day?
This summer will be 34 years on bass, 41 years in music in general.
How long had you played when you signed up?
Just found this site a few months ago, so 33-ish years?
Are you/were you a working musician?
I've been a working musician since 1982, some years more so than others.
What kind of music do/did you play?
I've played mostly rock music over the years, '80s and classic rock. Recorded an album with a jazz guitar player once in the early '90s, and a local punk band in the late '90s. I played for several years with a Sammy Hagar tribute band.
I'm currently playing classic rock with an acoustic trio, and occasional fill-in gigs with local classic rock cover bands (band whoring I call it, although not as much as I used to do).
I have an original heavy funk project I'm finishing now, a progressive rock project that is started and slated to finish next, and have a very large work-in-process of arranging Baroque-era keyboard sonatas for string quartet.
There are a few other ideas simmering on back burners as well.
What made you want to pick up bass?
I've always liked bass. The music I liked most as a kid in the '70s (Rush, Yes, etc.) was very bass-driven. My best friend from Jr. High band started learning to play guitar during the summer of 1981, and a year later convinced me to trade my cornet for a bass so we could start a band. We still play together today.
I signed up here at the same time I bought my first bass. I had been playing drums for 16 years at that point, though. I didn't really buckle down and start seriously studying bass until about a year later. So here we are, 6 years in the shed and I may not be the best ever, but I certainly qualify for the title of bassist! 
wmhill
Inactive
- Aug 20, 2012
- 4,054
- 17,209
- Disclosures
- MTD basses endorsed artist Bartolini pickups emerging artist TECAMP bass players gear endorsed
1- 17
2- 30 years & change
3- 26 +/-
4- 80- 100 gigs a year
5- right now mostly golden oldies (it pays good!) I have played country, funk, metal, disco at one time or another
6- I was a hang around with a bar band. I wanted to play guitar, but they mentioned to me that there was (and still is)
a huge demand for good bass players..... and Gene Simmons always looked bada$$ on the record sleeves.
2- 30 years & change
3- 26 +/-
4- 80- 100 gigs a year
5- right now mostly golden oldies (it pays good!) I have played country, funk, metal, disco at one time or another
6- I was a hang around with a bar band. I wanted to play guitar, but they mentioned to me that there was (and still is)
a huge demand for good bass players..... and Gene Simmons always looked bada$$ on the record sleeves.
How old were you when you first started playing?
About 15 years old.
How long have you played to this day?
Holy @#!@@! 50 years...
How long had you played when you signed up?
Uh, more than four decades.
Are you/were you a working musician?
Yeah. Started getting paid to turn electricity into noise around 17. Still do. Gonna keep doing it until I can't, anymore.
What kind of music do/did you play?
Everything and anything that came up/comes up. These days I'm an RnB-bred reverse Oreo playing in a rock band. I dig it.
What made you want to pick up bass?
Hearing James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, and Tommy Cogbill on the AM radio. I didn't know their names, but I felt what they were doing.
About 15 years old.
How long have you played to this day?
Holy @#!@@! 50 years...
How long had you played when you signed up?
Uh, more than four decades.
Are you/were you a working musician?
Yeah. Started getting paid to turn electricity into noise around 17. Still do. Gonna keep doing it until I can't, anymore.
What kind of music do/did you play?
Everything and anything that came up/comes up. These days I'm an RnB-bred reverse Oreo playing in a rock band. I dig it.
What made you want to pick up bass?
Hearing James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, and Tommy Cogbill on the AM radio. I didn't know their names, but I felt what they were doing.
I saw Star Wars May 25, 1977, at the Galleria in Houston, Texas. That was the day it opened and my 34th birthday.
How old were you when you first started playing? - 15
How long had you played when you signed up? - 27 years
Are you/were you a working musician? - Yes
What kind of music do/did you play? - Whatever I'm hired to play
What made you want to pick up bass? - It spoke to me. It made sense when I picked one up.
How long had you played when you signed up? - 27 years
Are you/were you a working musician? - Yes
What kind of music do/did you play? - Whatever I'm hired to play
What made you want to pick up bass? - It spoke to me. It made sense when I picked one up.
