Started because I thought it would be fun. Got serious because I became fascinated with the sound of a fretless. Pushed forward because I found out there aren’t enough bass players in my neighborhood, about 45 mins. north of Seattle. Now playing 3+ years with a big band, and just started working on the upright.
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Why are you a bass player?
- Thread starter vindibona1
- Start date
Didn’t have to read far before I found ‘my story’ told by a fellow poster.
Bass and vocal services since 1968 and going strong.
Friend got into bass around RHCP/flea got well known. And i was/am fan of minutemen/firehose and nomeansno. So would plunk in his bass until i got my own. Had tried guitar (older brother had one) but picks and chords not for me. Playing with fingers just felt natural. Love the deeper tone. Not a fan of trebly guitar solos.
I started as a guitarist in my long-ago teens (mid-1960s) after hearing a few Ventures records Jammed with a few friends, I was lead guitarist by default, because I was lousy at chords but could pick out leads. We didn't have a bass player, but I could always hear the bassline in my head. I should have switched to bass back then, but didn't.
Fast-forward to the year 2000; I'm 51, disability-retired, lots of time on my hands. A nice-looking MIM Fender Precision Bass caught my eye, and immediately I knew I had to have it. Took some lessons, bought a Tascam Bass Trainer (the early model that played CDs) and became the best bedroom-player in my house.
Today I have a Fender Highway 1 Jazz, a little Eden practice amp, and the newer MP3-player version of the Bass Trainer. Still just a bedroom (well, living room) player, but having a ball.
Fast-forward to the year 2000; I'm 51, disability-retired, lots of time on my hands. A nice-looking MIM Fender Precision Bass caught my eye, and immediately I knew I had to have it. Took some lessons, bought a Tascam Bass Trainer (the early model that played CDs) and became the best bedroom-player in my house.
Today I have a Fender Highway 1 Jazz, a little Eden practice amp, and the newer MP3-player version of the Bass Trainer. Still just a bedroom (well, living room) player, but having a ball.
I dabbled in guitar and drums, then realized I could be the glue that holds both of those instruments together as a bassist. Plus, always being in demand is nice.
Guitar never fit my personality. My father is a professional drummer and I inherited my sense of timing from him. My mind thinks in bass.
My older -middle brother from 3, we have an older brother- was a big Incubus and RHCP fan around the time Californication was released so I heard him playing Science and before-Californication-and-up-to-By The Way tunes a lot. I vividly remember him practicing You'll Be a Hot Dancer and Under The Bridge at the time, but specially on the former, I was inclined towards that killing bass line.
Fast forward some 8-10 years and I listen...no other than Incubus' Light Grenades and fall in love with the bass line to Look Alive and many others and to Dani California from RHCP's Stadium Arcadium, but I was playing drums at the time.
I did take one my dad's guitars and started following the notes on the lower strings but I didn't have a bass for some 2 more years.
I only got serious about 3 years ago so about...5 years after I first got a bass? not good at maths
Fast forward some 8-10 years and I listen...no other than Incubus' Light Grenades and fall in love with the bass line to Look Alive and many others and to Dani California from RHCP's Stadium Arcadium, but I was playing drums at the time.
I did take one my dad's guitars and started following the notes on the lower strings but I didn't have a bass for some 2 more years.
I only got serious about 3 years ago so about...5 years after I first got a bass? not good at maths
I picked up guitar in '77, bass one year later. Honestly, thru the mists of time, I can't remember what my original impetus was.
I know that the first time I put my hands around a bass neck, it instantly felt like HOME. We understood each other.
After that, some of it was due to the fact that in any square mile of any pissant town there are two dozen guitarists, but good bassists are harder to come by.
I also love the unique place a bass holds...the melodic rhythm instrument and the rhythmic melody instrument. It can be exceptionally expressive.
It's my heartbeat.
I know that the first time I put my hands around a bass neck, it instantly felt like HOME. We understood each other.
After that, some of it was due to the fact that in any square mile of any pissant town there are two dozen guitarists, but good bassists are harder to come by.
I also love the unique place a bass holds...the melodic rhythm instrument and the rhythmic melody instrument. It can be exceptionally expressive.
It's my heartbeat.
There was a guy on Talkbass, many people despised him. If I said the name, a lot of you would remember him. Like that evil dude in Harry Potter, mentioning his name would get me banned.
I used to live next to him. We had a lot of good time together. Taught me tennis and skiing. Years later, I still remembered the stuff he told me and I decided to pick up the bass. Some time after picking up the bass, I found Talkbass and I saw the trails he left.
JFYI, the guy in real world isn't anything like on Talkbass. Opinionated, but Righteous and Meticulous guy and that rubs people the wrong way. Don't ask me for the name.
I used to live next to him. We had a lot of good time together. Taught me tennis and skiing. Years later, I still remembered the stuff he told me and I decided to pick up the bass. Some time after picking up the bass, I found Talkbass and I saw the trails he left.
JFYI, the guy in real world isn't anything like on Talkbass. Opinionated, but Righteous and Meticulous guy and that rubs people the wrong way. Don't ask me for the name.
I always heard the lows in every style of music. Now I am those lows.
Listen to “Escape” from the Exodus soundtrack. About 8 Contrabasses winding up. Oh Yeah!
Listen to “Escape” from the Exodus soundtrack. About 8 Contrabasses winding up. Oh Yeah!
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Why I'm a bass player...
I'm a bass player because if there's a God, God made me one.
I started on guitar. To meet girls. Did that for 10 years. I met girls. But not because I played guitar. Because I was a dashing young man. I didn't really love playing guitar. But I continued anyhow. One day, as with many bass players, I was asked if I'd consider playing bass. Sure. I started playing bass and met as many girls doing that as I did playing guitar. None. But I found I felt differently about the bass than the guitar. I fell in love. Not with a girl, but with a bass. Then I fell in love with a girl. She was awesome and felt the same way about me as I did about her, so I married her.
I still love the bass but can't commit to a single bass.
I still love my wife, and I'm happy to commit.
Or sumthin like that....
And they all lived happily ever after.
I'm a bass player because if there's a God, God made me one
.I started on guitar. To meet girls. Did that for 10 years. I met girls. But not because I played guitar. Because I was a dashing young man. I didn't really love playing guitar. But I continued anyhow. One day, as with many bass players, I was asked if I'd consider playing bass. Sure. I started playing bass and met as many girls doing that as I did playing guitar. None. But I found I felt differently about the bass than the guitar. I fell in love. Not with a girl, but with a bass. Then I fell in love with a girl. She was awesome and felt the same way about me as I did about her, so I married her.
I still love the bass but can't commit to a single bass.
I still love my wife, and I'm happy to commit.
Or sumthin like that....
And they all lived happily ever after.
the lady of the lake, her arm clad in the finest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur that I Bluesblaster shall be King of the low tones, then she smiled and her radiance fell upon me.
That his how I became as you say..... a bass player
That his how I became as you say..... a bass player
