My very first real instrument was a nylon stringed avoustic guitar given to me as a present by my eldest cousin. I didn't know what bass was back then.. then I started taking classical guitar lessons as per my cousin's advice (a good one now I think!). Did that for about a year until I discovered the bass. Then I got my first bass which was a p bass copy. Never looked back!
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.
Why are you a bass player?
- Thread starter vindibona1
- Start date
I'm DNA-programmed to play bass, as that's always what I hear first. My wife grew up in gospel music and could hear and sing all four parts to anything, at which I was totally useless. But she only heard the bass guitar parts here and there, where I could hear them the way she could hear the vocal parts.
And though I was trained as a child on piano, when I was old enough to play in bands, there was no way I could get a B3 and Leslie and a Rhodes and gig with them: Couldn't afford all that, and the idea of moving all that crap from place to place seemed like WAY too much work. So I'm sure being a 'back slidden' piano player contributed to my delinquency . . . . . .
And though I was trained as a child on piano, when I was old enough to play in bands, there was no way I could get a B3 and Leslie and a Rhodes and gig with them: Couldn't afford all that, and the idea of moving all that crap from place to place seemed like WAY too much work. So I'm sure being a 'back slidden' piano player contributed to my delinquency . . . . . .
Great question, man. 
When I was a kid, my folks played big band and jazz and the upright just called me. I thought it was and still is the coolest instrument in the world. drool
But… I only grew to 5'5" so electric it was for me. Some time along the way I fell in love with it just as much as the upright.
I've played guitar. It ain't the same. And, FWIW, I'm not a bass guitarist, I'm an electric bass player - just like Leo intended.
When I was a kid, my folks played big band and jazz and the upright just called me. I thought it was and still is the coolest instrument in the world. drool
But… I only grew to 5'5" so electric it was for me. Some time along the way I fell in love with it just as much as the upright.
I've played guitar. It ain't the same. And, FWIW, I'm not a bass guitarist, I'm an electric bass player - just like Leo intended.
Last edited:
I was in school band, doing very well on trombone. As I looked around, I realized that except for Earth, Wind, & Fire, and Chicago, there weren’t a lot of trombones in rock band. So I decided to take up a rock band instrument.
Bass was the natural choice, cause the music was written in the same clef as trombone.
The next week I won a boat motor in a drawing, sold it for $350, went to a pawn shop, and bought my first bass and amp.
Bass was the natural choice, cause the music was written in the same clef as trombone.
The next week I won a boat motor in a drawing, sold it for $350, went to a pawn shop, and bought my first bass and amp.
I liked the sound of the bass but thought guitar would win the popularity contest. My parents both played, so guitar might have been the easier choice in some respects. But bass had the tone.
Went down to the local music store where I got my violin and trombone supplies and asked the old codger (I was 14, he was probably 30, lol) behind the counter which one I should pick. I know, last person you should ever ask for advice on anything is some guy working in a music store, but he gave me some of the best advice I ever got from anyone.
He asked me if I wanted to play around or if I wanted to work. I told him I wanted to work. He told me in that case I ought to take up bass, because there were never enough bass players (there were far fewer than now, back then) and I'd always have work.
38 years later and I still get calls and offers for work all the time. He wasn't wrong; in some ways he's more right today than he was back then.
I learned sax as a kid, then played with guitar a bit, but never had the discipline to get good. One day someone asked me to play 3 songs in a battle of the bands on bass. I will never forget how natural it came to me and the way it made me move! Tommy Tutone- Jenny, Rust Never Sleeps, and Let's Dance by Bowie. It was the Bowie that got me! That was 1985.
I love having one foot in rhythm and the other in harmony at all times. It feels like the best of both words for me. I love drums/percussion/rhythm but wanna be able to affect what's happening harmonically, too, and bass allows me to do both better than I could with any other instrument.
I was a trumpet player originally. I think what drew me to bass was just going to a few concerts. I cant sing, I struggle to use my hands and feet at the same time good enough to play drums well. And seeing a few shows Guitar just felt puny live and in person. Bass is felt and heard. It’s such a powerful instrument really. I guess that’s what drew me to it.
I had a friend who played guitar. Then I had a friend who played drums. So then I asked and my wonderful mother gave me a bass for my 13th birthday. Then we formed a band.
The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft a Bass from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Lefty McGee, was to play Bass. THAT is why I am a Bass player!
Why do you like a certain flavour of ice cream? Or a certain TV show? Or a certain person? There's a saying in comedy - "If you have to explain it, it ain't funny". Why try to rationalize your emotional connection with bass? Just "shut up and play".I played bass back then too, mainly because I was the only one in the band that had a bass. I scored a used Teisco bass for $15 but had to run it through my Sears Silvertone amp. But I never connected with it like I do now, but learned the basics. And as we all know what you learn as a kid stays with you forever. I too could play drums but mom and dad wouldn't let me have a setso I beat on coffee cans- but learned to play. Perhaps it's the drum thing. We didn't have slap back then and bass is so very much more musical and in the forefront nowadays. I'm still not connecting with why I'm connecting so emotionally with it.
My father took me to music shool, he thougt it would be good for me to play an instrument ...
The teacher said violin, my father liked the idear and asked how long to learn to be a violinist.
About 7 years for starters the teacher said. I guess that was to long so dad wonderd about chello.
5 years. How about saxophone ? 6 years. Trumpet, Klarinet ? 3-4 years. Piano ? 3 years. Guitare ?
2-3 years ... So dad asked if ther's an instrument that didn't take years to learn ... Yes of course,
the teatcher replied. E-Bass ! Ok, how long does it take to learn E-Bass ? Sit down, have a cup of coffee, the kid's gonna be ready in 15 minutes, the teacher said ...
I simply enjoy deep tones ...
The teacher said violin, my father liked the idear and asked how long to learn to be a violinist.
About 7 years for starters the teacher said. I guess that was to long so dad wonderd about chello.
5 years. How about saxophone ? 6 years. Trumpet, Klarinet ? 3-4 years. Piano ? 3 years. Guitare ?
2-3 years ... So dad asked if ther's an instrument that didn't take years to learn ... Yes of course,
the teatcher replied. E-Bass ! Ok, how long does it take to learn E-Bass ? Sit down, have a cup of coffee, the kid's gonna be ready in 15 minutes, the teacher said ...
I simply enjoy deep tones ...
As many pointed out before :
- The groove
- Link between harmony and rhythm
- physical involvement/feeling perhaps more than other instruments except percussive ones of course.
And also one’s taste for the low frequency domain
Suggested reading « How the Fender bass changed the world » by Jim Roberts.
- The groove
- Link between harmony and rhythm
- physical involvement/feeling perhaps more than other instruments except percussive ones of course.
And also one’s taste for the low frequency domain
Suggested reading « How the Fender bass changed the world » by Jim Roberts.
I started out playing trumpet. I excelled playing, and I cut my musical teeth playing it.
At around 15, some friends were starting a band, and needed a bass player. They wanted me to be in the band, so I got a bass and amp, and started playing. A few lessons to get me correctly playing right (it was before the internet) and I was off.
I found the bass and trumpet were very close, and I’ve approached the bass from a single note, melodic instrument basis I got from playing trumpet ever since. This has created some interesting bass lines, weaving thirds and fifths and unconventional ways of playing over the years.
I was hooked on the bass from my first note, and I feel a big part was playing in a band setting from almost the moment I picked up the bass. I also play the guitar, mandolin and sax, but I just dabble with those, there isn’t any passion for them compared to the bass
At around 15, some friends were starting a band, and needed a bass player. They wanted me to be in the band, so I got a bass and amp, and started playing. A few lessons to get me correctly playing right (it was before the internet) and I was off.
I found the bass and trumpet were very close, and I’ve approached the bass from a single note, melodic instrument basis I got from playing trumpet ever since. This has created some interesting bass lines, weaving thirds and fifths and unconventional ways of playing over the years.
I was hooked on the bass from my first note, and I feel a big part was playing in a band setting from almost the moment I picked up the bass. I also play the guitar, mandolin and sax, but I just dabble with those, there isn’t any passion for them compared to the bass
