Why bass

[MYLOWFREQ]

Don't know what went wrong where..

 

[Stones_Fan]

I started playing around 1986. There were several good drummers in my high school and they all complained about the lack of decent bass players. EVERYONE seemed to want to play guitar and I saw it as the quickest path to play with good musicians. I picked it up very fast and was playing in a very good band less than a year later. Guitar players are a dime a dozen. Good bass players, not so much...

 

[Plenny]

View attachment 3269100 I played tuba in high school and had bass beat into my head. Don't know any other part!!
Blast from the past photo from 1978 ! Back when I had hair !!!

Is that a King? I played one as well.

 

[GretschWretch]

Because all the power to direct the ensemble lies with bass. it's not for nothing that the Mothman is a bass.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

no vibrato bridges
no effects
it's literally BIGGER than an electric guitar

<yes, I know vibrato bridges exist for bass, but it's not the norm. Ditto for Effects>

 

[Plenny]

John Mcvie back in the 70's. A bass just breathes that soul into a mix. Without it, you might as well listen to music through a cheap AM radio.

 

[Paul Pops]

Welcome to TB!

Hearing what Jack Bruce's (Cream) bassline did for White Room... 'Nuff said.

P.S. I also play guitar but not at the same level as I play bass. When I need a break from playing bass, I play guitar for a few days, maybe weeks.

I liked that stuff, including Derrick and the Dominos.

 

[Ric5]

Why bass

Because it is cool

 

[klokker]

Because I always hummed along with the bass line from as far back as I remember. As to why that happened I have no idea.

 

[rashrader]

Wait.... There’s an option?!?

 

[Sixgunn]

Kinda silly but when I was 13 (already playing other instruments in school), I saw one in a music shop and was super fascinated by the fat strings. Never looked back.

 

[pappabass]

Is that a King? I played one as well.

I believe it was !!

 

[SactoBass]

Because...I’m too reliable to be a drummer.

LOL!!!

 

[DodgeSpiritRT]

Why did this "McCartney fan" choose to play the bass guitar?
I submit "Exhibits A, B, C and D", to the court:

A - "Dazz" by Brick

B - "Do It ('til you're satisfied)" by B. T. Express

C - "Slide" by Slave

D - "Firecracker" by Mass Production

 

[Plenny]

Hey, @Paul Pops, I'm even newer to this site than you. And probably newer to bass than you, too! I'm less than a week into moving from regular/rhythm guitar to bass. And all because the band I want to join has no bass player!

I've posted here about my entry-level rig ($99 for a Dean Edge 09 and $35 for a Behringer GX112 amp), and I'm expecting to receive a brand-new Ibanez GSRM20 MiKro tomorrow!

I'm using YouTube backing tracks to pick up the bass lines and get the feel of being part of the timekeeping unit rather than the fill-in harmony guy.

Welcome!

 

[AndyPanda]

The guitarist or keyboardist can play any chord they choose and I can turn it into a different chord with one note.

 

[packhowitzer]

For me it was either playing bass in a semi-pro capacity with a few years of playing pro mixed with many years of struggle as an amateur OR... being a photographer for Playboy International- jet-setting all over the globe to exotic locales to take pictures of even more exotic women in their all-togethers.

I chose bass. Some say it was a terrible decision on my part. Others say I'm a moron.

 

[hintz]

Why bass

Because it is cool

View attachment 3269187

That pic of the Ox is the epitome of coolness!!

 

[Mike Marshall]

Since I'm new to this site, it wanted to stir up some thought.
Here goes. Why did you start playing bsss, and why do you like to play bass.

My response would be; it's the backbone of all rock and roll. It's the backbone of blues. Some may say drums are the backbone, but it say drums need the bass too it's a marriage made in music.
What say yall?

I grew up in Detroit and Motown was on the radio and the bass work caught my ear and also The Animals
"We Gotta Get Outta This Place". Bass seemed to be an instrument with the freedom to create my own lines

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Since I'm new to this site, it wanted to stir up some thought.
Here goes. Why did you start playing bsss, and why do you like to play bass.

My response would be; it's the backbone of all rock and roll. It's the backbone of blues. Some may say drums are the backbone, but it say drums need the bass too it's a marriage made in music.
What say yall?

I started playing bass parts on a guitar while finger picking folk music back in the early mid 60’s. But I really understood the function of the bass probably before I started elementary school listening to hits of the day.

I think the reason I like to play the bass is there is a certain logic to it that is clear and easy to understand. Our job as a bassist is to employ that logic to make the music flow in an orderly fashion. Our 1st job however, is to make sure everyone else in the musical entity is as comfortable as posible, which will happen if your parts are logical and in good taste. The downside is it’s a lot like being an offensive lineman. Nobody knows you exist until you get flagged for holding..lol!

Best wishes going forward. If you only get 10% out of playing the bass that I have, you will have have led a great musical life! Rock on!