Why did you choose the bass?

[Binary1]

It's always fun to hear why some people choose one instrument over another.

For me, I played guitar for a few years and was decent at it, but it just didn't match my personality, if that makes any sense. The bass, however, did; it was dark, moody, unassuming. Plus, I'm conent to stay in the background rather than being a lead presence.

And, every concert I've ever been to, it was always the bass and drums that my ears picked up on first. A Stratocaster through a tube-driven Fender amp and/or a Les Paul cranked through some classic Marshalls sounds wonderful. But for me, a great sounding bass locked in tight with drums is where it's at!

What about you all? What made you choose the bass?

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I always liked bass, liked the low end. Played trombone in school which i found out later is very similar as far as the kind of parts played. A good friend got pretty decent at guitar when i was in 10th grade (22 years ago) so I picked up an $85 dollar bass guitar and started taking lessons and we started a band. Love playing, been playing ever since.

 

[mongo2]

The walk-down in the intro of "Jingle Bell Rock" when I first heard it as a kid.

 

[jmverdugo]

The bass chose me ... Actually my buddies had already taken the guitar and drums spots

 

[Winfred]

I was a teenager. My father played in a country/bluegrass band and they could never find bass players. He convinced me to try it. He bought it, so I got a free bass. I was hooked.

 

[FilTurd]

I was listening to the young bands in the early 80/81 frame like Shattered Faith, China White, Adolescents etc and I heard the bass lines James Rodriguez from China White was playing kind of a mix of punk and metal pre crossover speed metal and said to myself yhst sounds killer then I heard Bobby Tittle play these low wicked, fast paced bass lines. I figured that could be fun..

 

[jd56hawk]

It's always fun to hear why some people choose one instrument over another.

For me, I played guitar for a few years and was decent at it, but it just didn't match my personality, if that makes any sense. The bass, however, did; it was dark, moody, unassuming. Plus, I'm conent to stay in the background rather than being a lead presence.

And, every concert I've ever been to, it was always the bass and drums that my ears picked up on first. A Stratocaster through a tube-driven Fender amp and/or a Les Paul cranked through some classic Marshalls sounds wonderful. But for me, a great sounding bass locked in tight with drums is where it's at!

What about you all? What made you choose the bass?

I started out playing guitar, too, decent rhythm but I just couldn't really handle lead. Never felt quite right.
A few years ago my friend told me I should take up the bass and we could have some fun jamming at his 4th of July barbecues, Halloween and Christmas parties and maybe even check out the local open-mic nights.
Now, when I pick up my bass and plug in, I don't just play the bass, I become the bass. Seriously, I'm much more comfortable with a bass than a 6-string guitar and being comfortable is half the battle when it comes to learning how to play and what to play. Whenever my buddy asks me over, plays another one of his songs and I pick up my bass and follow along, I know that I'm going to make the song better...finding the perfect bass line to go along with whatever he plays is not only challenging, but fun.

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

I played guitar for 23 or so years and owned one bass simply for recording at home, and had come to a point that I wasn't learning anything new, wasn't improving, and was then invited to join a band on bass. Initially they had found another bassist (days before my first rehearsal) so I played guitar, then he was let go for not fitting the band's direction, and I was asked to fill in on bass until they found another. I did well enough that I'm now after a couple of weeks permanently on bass and loving it. It's a challenge, especially as I also sing, and I feel like I'm learning and progressing in music again.

So yeah, it happened by accident.

Because of it, I've learned a new appreciation for my album collection, listening to the songs in a different way. I've also put away my guitars and I play bass exclusively at home. It's also changed my approach at the front of the band, which used to be all moody, shoe-gazing, low-slung guitar, screaming vocal style. Now on bass I'm letting the bass provide the mood, so that I can get into the singing more, and worry less about what I look like.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Two words:Stanley Clarke.

 

[Geri O]

Never could play guitar. Besides bass, I play all the brass instruments, keyboards, and drums. I just didn't get guitar.

But bass literally chose me.

 

[Thisguy]

John Paul Jones.

 

[Off-Beat]

I love listening to guitars, to drums, vocals, brass sections, percussions, winds, orchestras, etc pp but the bass is always what catches my ear, always been that way and it's the only instrument I can really relate to.

 

[Stevehill]

I played guitar for twenty years but never reached a level where I thought I would be able to play in a band, then one day a friend suggested I switch to bass saying I'd never be out of work, well he was right, I've been in demand ever since. I soon found I loved the bass far more than the guitar, it even suited my personality better, I leave all the attitude to the singers and guitarists. Funny thing is it took the switch to bass to realise just how important ( and cool ) our role in the band is. Final thought...Steve Harris is cooler by far than Dave Murray!

 

[NJSouth]

I waited until I was 45 to pick up the bass. Trombone player for years and took a 23 year break in that. Took trombone up but always had the ear for the bass lines and appreciate the low end. Trombone and Bass are a nice combo the music switches over nicely. i don't ever plan on playing anywhere but church or the basement but who knows. I am really enjoying it though. Great stress reliever.

 

[two fingers]

I played low brass in school. The band director called me into his office ome day and told me he wanted me to play tuba in the jazz band. I responded with something like "No offense, sir. But that just ain't cool. No thanks". A few days later he called me back into his office. He pointed to a brand new P bass and Peavey TNT amp and said "Jazz band starts in six weeks. You better be ready." (or something similar).

Six weeks later, not only was I in the jazz band, but was cramming for my first classic rock gig with a bunch of grown men. Their bass player had quit with no notice and the drummer had grown up with my mother. He begged he to let me go to the guitar players house for three days and basically learn how to play bass and memorize 45 songs at the same time. I pulled it off. That "fill-in" gig lead to my playing in that band for several years while I was in high school. While my buddies were running around the lake and playing pickup basketball games on weekends I was playing all over two states and making $500 +/- a weekend gigging.

Grown women took advantage of me. All the bass players in the area were humongous and adopted me and looked out for me in bars. I had more.money than I knew what to do with. And it was really cool to be able to say "Sorry, Stephanie. I can't go out with you Friday night because I have a gig up in Virginia. And we're playing Raleigh Saturday night. Maybe some other time?"

For a 15-18 year old them wuz good toymez.

Short version: Tuba made me a high school rock god.

 

[zisme]

for an alternative creative outlet, a fresh perspective, and to improve my guitar playing

 

[Ken J]

I play just about any instrument no key board or light stings though the ones I spend the most time with are my trumpets and basses.
Trumpets with the concert band and bass with the garage bands. I want to start adding tenor sax to my regular playing.

 

[sharkbait130]

I started out on guitar in Jr. High school. The guy that played bass in the coolest band in the school moved away. They asked me if I played bass. I told them I did. I didn't. They told me practice was the next Saturday. I bought a bass from a friend of mine who had quit playing it. Grabbed my Silvertone twin twelve and got my dad to drive me to practice on Saturday. Played with them for a year or so and got picked up my first year in high school by another band. Played with them for a couple of years having upgraded my amp to a Bassman 50 watt 2 12. That band broke up and while I was looking for another one , I wrecked my dads car and had to sell my amp to pay for the damage. No bass for the next 30 years. Played guitar and 12 string over those years , even played in a few bands. Moved to the area I'm living in now and a friend of mine from the area asked if I could replace their bass player that was moving away. Borrowed a bass , bought an amp and cab and away we went. That was about 14 years ago. A few bands later and a few equipment up grades and I'm still going strong. Still pick up the old 12 string from time to time but bass is my main instrument these days.

 

[pcake]

i played guitar and sang for years, and i liked doing both. i always loved the low parts in songs, but it just didn't occur to me to play bass. then one day a buddy of mine convinced me to play bass at a jam with him and his old band, and within seconds, something in me went *click* - this is it!

 

[Big Hoss]

You do not choose bass bass shoes as you.

Let me elaborate.

For me anyway, it wasn't really a matter of choosing bass. I simply never had any interest in a different instrument before playing bass. I play a little guitar these days, which helps me with my bass playing, and some percussion, which of course helps my bass playing.

I listen to music, I listen for the bass line, for the groove.

So it really wasn't a conscious choice per se. It was just the obvious choice.